The fact that she doesn’t flinch is proof enough that something is way, way wrong.
“What happened to her?” Riley asks.
Dante slides him an angry glare. “Your father happened.”
Mr. Malone continues, “Rebel single-handedly infiltrated the band of traitors, led by this monster here. Those traitors are responsible for the deaths of heroes and villains alike, as well as numerous terrorist acts that have been kept secret for reasons of superhero security.”
Dante slams his hand on the table. “Bullshit.”
“That’s crazy,” I agree. “No way Rebel was working for her dad.”
Mr. Malone looks so grossly proud. “Due to the heinous nature of this villain’s crimes, I am personally calling for a speedy trial and execution.”
I clap a hand over my mouth to hold back the nausea that washes through me. Execution? He wants to execute Draven? Even knowing he’s his son?
The broadcast cuts back to the newscaster and Jeremy turns down the volume. For several minutes, we all just sit there, staring at the projection of the pretty, dark-haired newscaster.
After everything I’ve been through in the past week, Mr. Malone spouting lies about Draven and Rebel is too much.
My blood boils at the thought of him distorting the truth about two people who acted so selflessly to free villains from the heroes’ vile and illegal experiments. The. Last. Straw.
Over the last week, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’ve learned a lot about the world I thought I knew so well. Heroes can be evil. Villains can be good. Draven has shown me that more than anything else. And if that’s true, that bad guys can do good things, then it’s time to show the hypocritical heroes that the opposite is also true. With the right motivation, a good girl can do a bad thing. A lot of bad things. Especially if she has a little villain blood in her veins.
I stare at the video projection, focusing all my fury and disgust on the pixelated version of Mr. Malone. “We’re going to take them down,” I say. I turn back to the group gathered around the table. “We’re going to find my mom. Free Draven. Get Rebel. And bring the heroes to their knees. Every last one of them.”
Friend or Foe?
You Decide.
HEROES
RACHEL “REBEL” MALONE
Punk-rock edge, soft gooey heart, loves anything that pisses off her dad.
KNOWN POWER(S): TELEKINESIS
RILEY MALONE
Boy-next-door perfect, naive, loyal, aspires to be a hero with a capital H-E-R-O.
KNOWN POWER(S): FLYING
REX MALONE
Hero League President, perfect at anything and everything, expects to be obeyed.
KNOWN POWER(S): SUPER HEARING
JEREMY ABERNATHY
Tech genius, Kenna’s ex, addicted to video games, conspiracy theories, and chocolate milk.
KNOWN POWER(S): TECHNOPATH
ORDINARIES
KENNA SWIFT
Smart, snarky, capable, believes in doing the right thing, determined to find a way to create her own powers.
KNOWN POWER(S): NONE
JEANINE SWIFT
Brilliant scientist and inventor, obsessive, absent-minded, fiercely protective of family.
KNOWN POWER(S): NONE
VILLAINS
DRAVEN COLE
Dark, dangerous, devoted, full of secrets, with a massive hero-sized chip on his shoulder.
KNOWN POWER(S): MEMORY CONTROL
DANTE COLE
Rash, leads with his heart, puts family and friends first, head over heels in love with a hero.
KNOWN POWER(S): WIND
DEACON COLE
Kind, level-headed, thinks things through, believes in the innate goodness of people.
KNOWN POWER(S): WATER
ANTON COLE
Villain leader, charismatic, wanted for unthinkable crimes, feared by every hero everywhere.
KNOWN POWER(S):
NICHOLAS “NITRO” WILLOUGHBY
Makes bad decisions, loyal to a fault, easily flustered, extremely flammable.
KNOWN POWER(S): FIREBALLS
WILLIAM “QUAKE” WILLOUGHBY
Gruff, big as a truck, muscles on top of muscles, inked up, brewmaster.
KNOWN POWER(S): EARTHQUAKES
Acknowledgments
A powerful thank you to…
…our agents, Jenny Bent and Emily Sylvan Kim, for the tireless and dogged support for this project from the very beginning, and for all the emails, phone calls, and text messages that remind us that we’re not in this alone. We love you and are grateful for you every day of our lives!!!!!
…our editor, Annette Pollert-Morgan, for loving this world and these characters as much as we do, for tightening the boat into racing shape, and, most importantly, for the stick figures, doodles, and swoony hearts. Your enthusiasm is so, so appreciated.
…the entire team at Sourcebooks Fire for giving us a chance to tell our story the way we needed to tell it. Our baby is in excellent hands.