Page 147 of Renegades

Nova was still frowning. “And when there are no bodies?”

“We’ll stage it to appear that the explosions destroy us both. They won’t be surprised if there’s nothing left. Now, stop dwelling on insignificant details and focus on the big picture.” Her eyes burned, suddenly intense. “They would stop hunting us. They wouldstop huntingyou.How much easier would it be for you to continue with your work inside the Renegades if no one was investigating Nightmare anymore?”

Nova swallowed, unable to form a counterargument.

“Besides,” Ingrid drawled, smirking, “you still owe me.”

“Owe you? For what?”

“Killing the Librarian.”

Nova laughed. “You didn’t—”

“Yes, I did. Say what you want about what happened that day. He would have told the Sentinel everything, and the Sentinel would have taken it right back to the Council. I protected you.”

“I wouldn’t have needed protection if it wasn’t for your asinine plan.”

“You wouldn’t need protection if you were capable of dealing with these situations when they come up. If you had the guts to take out Cronin yourself or Narcissa or even Captain Chromium for that matter. Face it, Nova. Despite all your talk, you’re afraid to make the tough decisions when they need to be made. That’s why you still need the Anarchists. That’s why you still need me.”

Nova clenched her jaw, angry sparks flickering across her vision. But her fury was overshadowed by the insecurities Ingrid’s words stirred up. Because of her hesitation, she had failed to kill the Captain. She wouldn’t have killed Cronin, even to save herself. She had chosen to let Narcissa go, knowing full well that she would endanger her mission going forward.

“You think about it,” said Ingrid, rocking back on her heels. “I’m sure you’ll make the right decision. How about I come back tonight and we can start hashing out the details? Right now…” She peered past Nova’s shoulder. “It looks like you have company.”

Nova glanced back.

Her heart launched into her throat.

Through a gap in the alley, past a chain-link fence and a half-disassembled car, a figure was strolling up the sidewalk.

She blinked rapidly, sure that the sight of him was some hallucination, some aftereffect of being in contact with Max, perhaps. Because what in this great city would bring Adrian Everharthere?

“Look at him, all distracted and nervous,” said Ingrid with a subtle coo in her voice.

Cursing, Nova turned and shoved Ingrid toward the wall, trying to push her out of sight. “Get back before he sees you.”

“Oh please. He’s caught up in his own thoughts—talking to himself, probably planning out whatever adorably pathetic thing he’s going to say when he sees you.”

“What?” Nova glanced back, but Adrian had already passed out of view.

“I trust you’ve noticed how he looks at you, observant as you are.” Ingrid’s grin turned teasing. “Be careful, little Nightmare. Renegade runs in the blood of that one, maybe more than anyone else in this town.”

Nova’s heart was still drumming, panic thundering through her veins as she pictured Honey in the kitchen, Leroy upstairs… but still, something about the look on Ingrid’s face gave her pause. “You know he’s the son of Lady Indomitable.”

Ingrid guffawed. “Of course I know that. She wasn’t the first superhero we killed, but she might have been the first one that really mattered.” Her cruel smirk made Nova’s blood run cold.

“You killed her?”

“Notme,” Ingrid said, as if this were obvious. “There was still something left of her, after all.”

“But you know who did. Was it an Anarchist?”

Ingrid stilled and peered at Nova, her gaze darkening. “What does it matter to you?”

Nova took a step back and shook her head. “It doesn’t.”

Then she turned and started to sprint back to the house.

“See you tonight!” Ingrid called after her, and Nova would have shot her with the stun gun again just to make her be quiet, except she didn’t have the time.

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