Page 117 of Fanning the Flames

Then she got up to the heavy slabs.Damn.How were they gonna move them? They needed Kade for this.

“I can probably freeze them,” Mark said.

“Don’t hurt her,” Perry stated.

“She can’t get hurt.”

“She’s ninety-three. She’s not as invincible as she used to be.”

Mark set both hands on the biggest slab, concentrating so it froze slowly. Perry and Joan pounded on it, breaking off pieces. Gus was fine. She had to be fine.

Joan caught a flash of red and gold. “She’s over here.”

They broke more off until they saw Gus’s arm, her blonde hair, her face. She was unconscious, and her eye mask had nearly fallen off.

“Gus!” Perry choked out. “Can you hear me?”

Her lower half was beneath a smaller hunk of concrete that Joan and Mark were able to shove enough for Perry to pull her out. He held her to his chest. “Gus. You have to wake up.”

Mark shot worried eyes at Joan. Gus wasn’t bleeding, wasn’t bruised, but was unresponsive. That brave woman had walked headfirst into danger after swearing never to do that again.

A hero sacrifices for the greater good.

CHAPTER21

Sadie followed Ward into the back entrance of Superhero headquarters. He’d had to come out and allow her through the blockade surrounding the area. A few texts and a quick call from Joan had not been enough to squash her nerves. She needed to see everyone.

“How’s Gus?” she asked.

“As far as I know, she hasn’t woken up yet. It’s been…”

“I’m sure it has.”

They passed the kitchen where a man and woman in pantsuits murmured over coffee mugs. The gray-haired man looked familiar—spotless in a politician way.

“Is that Mayor Thorpe?” Sadie said.

“Yes, with our liaison to his office. We have some other key civilians milling about. They have seen our Heroes without their masks but don’t know anyone’s real identities. Please refrain from using their names outside of where we’re going.”

Ward approached a closed white metal door. It led to a large hospital room with one empty bed and one surrounded by Heroes old and new in their civilian clothes.

Joan turned, her face softening. She took big steps across the room.

Sadie hurried to meet her, heart about ready to leap from her chest. “Oh my god,” she exhaled, crushing Joan in a hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Are you all right? And Tenia and Morris?”

“We’re fine.” She squeezed tighter. “I’m so proud of you.”

Joan had been a force of nature. She’d worked with Darlene. Taken on Prowl. Did not back down from Quake to defend Gus.

“Is Gus doing any better?” Sadie said, pulling back.

“She’s coming in and out of consciousness.”

They walked to where Gus was hooked up to monitoring equipment. Perry sat next to the bed, holding her hand, looking more distraught than Sadie had ever seen. The whole group looked worried.

She gave Mark a quick hug, then squeezed Perry’s shoulder. Glancing around, she asked, “Is everyone else okay?”

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