he gave me one back.
“I didn’t even get to paint my nails,” I complained.
Vortex looked down and chuckled. “Or put shoes on.”
Dropping my gaze, I realized he was right. I had only socks on. “That explains why my slide was so good.”
Vortex and Hurricane both laughed loudly. Their laughs were cut short when the elevator doors opened.
We walked into the briefing room, and I stood on tiptoe to try to find Austin and Alura, but the room was too huge and I couldn’t spot them.
“Sit with us,” Vortex said with a half-smile. “Your friends will find you eventually.”
“You sure?” I asked, insecurities rearing their heads.
“I don’t make offers I don’t mean. Come on, we don’t bite,” he said. He leaned closer and whispered, “Unless asked.”
Before I could respond, he walked down the stairs. I followed with Hurricane behind me.
We found three empty seats, and they sat with me between them.
It was both exciting and comforting to have them at my sides.
Alura’s comments came back to me, and I glanced at them both.
Could it work? Could I really have my own little harem of men?
“Seven class-four creatures appeared, spread around the city. There are also seven class-four creatures in Jeflan and Divhon,” the Director said and pulled up drone surveillance images of each city.
Twenty-one creatures spread across three towns? This was definitely orchestrated. But by who? It couldn’t be the monsters. Was someone controlling them?
My phone buzzed, and when I pulled it out, I saw Transistor’s alias, Tyson, as the ID.
I hit decline and quickly typed him a message: Can’t talk. In briefing regarding monsters.
“Boyfriend?” Hurricane asked, his head turned towards me.
I quickly put my phone away and shook my head. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
Hurricane looked over my head at Vortex, but neither said anything before turning back to the screen and the Director.
“The creatures are using some elemental powers, so we’re assigning teams accordingly,” the Director continued.
My phone continued to buzz in my pocket, but I ignored it. I couldn’t afford for one of the men beside me to read something they shouldn’t.
The teams popped up, and I scowled. I wasn’t with Austin, Alura, or Ion.
“Looks like you’re stuck with me for this battle,” Hurricane said.
I double-checked, and he was right. I smiled at him. “I’ll try to stay out of your way.”
We stood, heading to the dressing rooms, but the suited woman from the day before stopped me. “I finished your new outfit. It is in your locker with your hero name.”
“Thank you,” I said, my smile widening.
“I’ll see you guys back here for drinks,” Vortex said. He locked eyes with Hurricane. “Follow the plan.”
I looked at Hurricane, wondering what plan they were talking about.
Hurricane gave him a thumbs up before turning to me. “I’ll meet you at the hangar.”
I nodded and hurried out of the briefing room and to the dressing rooms. As she had said, there was now a locker with Violet Strike on the nameplate.
Not only was there a new bodysuit, but also boots and a holster for a possible sidearm.
I didn’t have a sidearm, but I still put it on.
Standing before the mirror, I couldn’t stop smiling. The bodysuit hugged me like a second skin and was low cut in the front. The Director knew how to utilize sex-selling to his advantage. He would get an influx of photoshoot requests no doubt.
Maybe I should have been bothered, but I understood that a major part of what kept the HA running was income from photoshoots and interviews.
“Looking good,” Crystal Woman said.
I turned to face her. She wore a white bodysuit covered with crystals she had made and filled with power. It showed more cleavage than mine, which was mostly because she was more endowed than I was. “Thanks.”
“Ready?” she asked.
I nodded and followed her out, glad I had someone to lead the way.
“Nervous?” she asked.
I chuckled softly. “Yeah.”
She nodded. “Good. When you stop being nervous is when you start making mistakes.”
Unsure how to reply, I kept quiet.
People rushed about everywhere, but with a clear purpose and destination.
Even if the Hero’s Association was corrupt, it was a well-oiled and functional place.
Crystal Woman pushed open a door that led to stairs and then a huge hangar with a dozen helicopters. She walked straight towards the middle one.
How did she know which helicopter was ours?
“It told us our hangar pad number on the team assignment list,” she said with a smirk.
“How’d—”
She laughed. “You looked confused.”
“That’s just her face,” Cobalt said with a sneer.
“Maybe while with you,” Crystal Woman