Page 67 of Fanning the Flames

She set her tote bag on the floor and pulled out the Brazilian blend Perry had turned her onto. Grinding the coffee beans that morning had been a calming ritual during all this upheaval.

The door opened fully, and everyone turned. It was Zee in their cream-colored Race bodysuit minus the facemask.

They limped into the room with a grimace. “Tell me you’re turning power blocking on next time. I got halfway inside and my speed cut out. I almost fell on my head.”

Mark snorted, though his eyes darkened to a warm aquamarine. Like his sister, his eyes always gave him away. He was into Zee.

Otis moved over to the table. “Did you find any evidence of where they could be hiding out?”

“No.” Zee rubbed their shin.

“Wow,” Mark said to the other Supers. “You have one whole Superhero out there while the rest of you are huddled inside.”

Oh yeah, he was definitely into Zee.

Crossing her arms, Darlene said, “We are formulating a proper plan.”

Mark dipped a tortilla chip in salsa. “Jesus, I thought Perry liked meetings. You lot take the cake.”

“We need to be prepared. Each one of us has our role to execute.”

“Use your superpowers,” Joan said. “Stop the bad guys. It’s not that hard.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” came from the doorway.

There stood Amazing Woman—theAmazing Woman! Well, an older white woman with ash-blonde hair falling past her shoulders. Her loose jeans and fisherman’s sweater saidcomfort.

“Hello, Gus,” Otis said. “Been a long time.”

Amazing Gus’s gaze swept over the room, pausing for a second on Perry.

Darlene squared her shoulders and marched over with a nervous smile (so she did actually smile). “Thank you for coming. I’m Catch. You may recall we met once many years ago.”

“I remember you.” Gus stared down at the hand Darlene had thrust out but didn’t take it.

Kade leaned forward, mouth slightly agape. “You look exactly the same. That’s…”

“Amazing?” Gus raised one sandy eyebrow. “Not having to use my energy to block bullets and laser eyes has resulted in me aging rather slowly these days.”

Her weary voice somewhat gave away her age, but wow. She really did look a solid thirty years younger.

Zee and Kade introduced themselves. Amazing Gus was similarly disinterested.

Mark grinned and pointed at himself and Joanie. “We’re Mark and Joan. It’s so weird to meet you. Perry never mentioned yourlong friendship.”

The way he drew out those last words made Perry scowl at him.

Gus arched her eyebrows, and her lips quirked. “So you’re the twins.”

“Hi,” Joan said. “It’s nice to finally?—”

“I thought you’d be taller.”

“Uh, no, we’re pretty average.”

Her gaze brushed past Ward, then Sadie. Then she turned to Otis and said, “Is this it?”

“Aura is also assisting us from Destine,” Otis said.

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