Overpowered

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“Good morning.” I step into the kitchen. Power emanates from my chest and I hope it feels angry, not jealous. Of course it’d be better if I didn’t feel anything at all because showing weakness is not something Heroes do. “What’s going on?”

“Good morning,” he says, turning back and giving me a quick wink. Evan flips Nova’s pancake. He’s really cute with a spatula in his hand but that’s the last thing on my mind right now. “Are you hungry? We’re making enough breakfast for a small army.”

“How did you know where the pancake stuff was?” I don’t mean to sound like a bitch, but it probably comes out that way.

“Max and I make pancakes every morning.” He hands me a plate piled high with perfectly round pancakes with a slab of butter on top. “Hungry?”

Overwhelmed by a growling stomach, I take the stupid plate and sit at the counter opposite of Evan and my sister. You know, just so I can keep an eye on them. Nova finishes making her pancakes and they join me at the kitchen island for breakfast.

I don’t appreciate the jealousy that bubbles up inside me. Before Evan came around, my life was easy. Now suddenly it’s complicated. I wonder if it’s even worth it to date people. I should be focusing on my Hero duties only. I should not be staring at Nova, wondering if any of the small talk between her and Evan means something more than meaningless conversation.

The doorbell rings. They both look at me. “What?” I say. “If someone was here to see me, my BEEPR would have alerted me. Last time I answered the door unexpectedly I got kidnapped.”

“Is this bad?” Nova asks. Her knuckles turn white over her fork. “This is bad.”

“It’s not bad. I’m just joking.” I hop off my barstool and head to the front door.

“She wasn’t really kidnapped,” Evan tells her. “It was for her surprise birthday party.”

Nova’s expression goes from nervous to disappointed. “Oh.”

I check the monitor on the wall MOD and two Retrievers stare back at me as if they know exactly where the hidden camera is mounted. “Crap. We have to hide Nova,” I whisper, darting back to the kitchen. I don’t know why I whispered since the walls are soundproof. I grab Evan’s shoulder. “Take her into my dad’s office. Press her hand to the screen on the closet door. A secret door will open.”

I turn to my sister. “Stay in there. It’s undetectable. They won’t find you.”

She nods. Her hands tremble as she sets her fork on the plate. “You should hide my plate so they don’t think three people are here.”

“Good call.” I toss her plate, the pancakes and her glass of orange juice in the trash compactor. The doorbell rings for the third time. Evan takes Nova down the hall and I ruffle up my hair, yawn and open the front door.

“This is Hero Maci, what can I do for you?”

One is big and one is thin. But both the men in front of me are in the Squad that Max had mentioned. Their well-tailored charcoal grey suits and utility belt full of retrieving hooks are all the clues I need to know that these guys aren’t regular Retrievers.

The bulky one on the left speaks first. “Our database shows that you have a houseguest named Evan Letta staying here for an undetermined amount of time. We would like to speak with to him.”

“Um, sure,” I say with a smile. The thin one grabs my hand when I try closing the door. “Excuse me?” I snap, twisting my wrist out of his grip. “I am a Hero. Don’t touch me.”

“You are excused. I am Gary Geiger, second deputy in command of the Retriever Squad I am granted the authority to touch whomever I want. You will not close this door.”

“This is President Might’s house. Are you out of your mind with whatever amount of power you’ve been given? You can’t talk to me that way.”

“I am quite aware of who owns this home. He is, however, not our current acting president. We are here under the orders of Interim President Havoc.”

“Whatever you say.” My hand flies up to my forehead, making a sarcastic salute. “I’m sure as hell not inviting you inside.”

He nods. “Understood. But by law, you are not allowed to close this door while we are here. Please bring Evan Letta to us immediately.”

Evan emerges from the hallway, doing the same fake yawn thing I had done moments before. “What’s going on?” he asks.

I turn on my heel and head to the hallway, where I can both make it seem like I’m going out of earshot and also monitor the situation from hidden cameras screens in Dad’s office. “These pretentious idiots want to speak with you.”

Speak was an understatement. They cuffed Evan and took him back to their KAPOW pod without saying a word. Bastards. As much as I want to run after them, bash their heads into the concrete and steal my boyfriend back, that would only put their radar on me. I need to lay low as much as it kills me to do so. Evan trained as a Hero once. I know he can take care of himself.

My BEEPR lights up with a message from Max, telling me all is well with him but his mission will take him a little longer than usual. I let him know I received his message and then head down to the safe room to let Nova out.

She doesn’t look over when I slide open the heavy hidden door. She’s staring at a collage of photos on the wall inside the safe room. Me, Max and Dad throughout the years. “Your childhood looks like it was a lot more fun than mine was.”