“Don’t worry, Adrian will be there, too,” said Ruby, winking impishly as she took Nova’s elbow. “He was going to visit Max for a bit and then meet us there.”
At the mention of Max, Nova’s thoughts catapulted over themselves. Max. Max. She’d been so bewildered when she’d been released from the prison, so full of disbelief and so eager to find a way to ensure Ace’s freedom, too, that she’d completely forgotten about Max.
“How is he?” she said, refusing to budge when Ruby tried to lead her toward the exit. “Last I heard he was recovering, but—”
“Oh, you don’t know!” bubbled Ruby. “He’s out of the coma and doing great! In fact, Adrian had the brilliant idea to let him stay—”
“In the hospital,” Danna practically shouted, startling them all. “For a little while longer. To make sure he has a full recovery before they move him anywhere else.” She shot a glare at Ruby and Oscar, one that wasn’t particularly subtle.
“Um … okay…,” said Ruby, cocking her head at Danna.
“And they’re rebuilding the quarantine,” Danna added, jutting her thumb toward the busy construction zone at the far end of the lobby. “But they’re going to make it nicer, bigger … make sure he’s extra comfortable this time.”
Nova’s mouth went dry as she took in the glass walls that were waiting to be finished on the mezzanine. “I didn’t think they would rebuild the quarantine.”
“Yeah, well, Max is safer here,” Danna said. “You know. From all the people who would hurt him. Like Nightmare and the Anarchists.”
Oscar cleared his throat. “Yeah, so, there’s a basket of garlic bread sticks calling my name from three blocks away … Are we going?”
“You guys go ahead,” said Nova.
“Oh, Nova, no!” said Ruby. “You have to come! I’m sure they’ll give you the day off after what you’ve been through.”
“Next time, I promise,” Nova insisted. Extricating her arm from Ruby’s grip, she walked backward, waving good-bye. “Have fun. Tell Adrian I said hi.”
“He’s going to be devastated!” Oscar called after her. “If his heartbroken tears fall on my chicken pesto deluxe, I’m blaming you! I don’t like salty pizza!”
“Noted,” said Nova, offering him a salute.
Her three teammates sulked grumpily toward the main entrance. Nova started to turn around when she crashed into an unexpected wall. Or—a chest that felt like a wall.
She tilted her head back to be met with the rosy cheeks and pearly smile of Captain Chromium.
“Oops, sorry, Nova.”
“Uh … hi,” she stammered, not sure what she should call him. Captain Chromium or just Captain? Adrian’s dad? Mr. Everhart?
She was saved from making a decision when Hugh clasped her right hand and gave it a solid handshake. “I asked Sampson to let me know when you came in. I wanted to be one of the first to welcome you back to the team.”
“Oh. Thanks.”
“And,” he said, releasing both her hand and the dazzling grin. His brow creased with regret. “I wanted to offer you a formal apology for this abysmal misunderstanding. I’m ashamed to think how we treated you, as one of our own, when your loyalty and dedication has been so unwavering. It’s just…” He shook his head. “All this turmoil that’s been going on lately, you know? The parade, Cosmopolis Park, the attack on headquarters, Ace Anarchy … sometimes I feel like we’re jumping through hoops set on fire, and every one of them is a little bit smaller. If we don’t keep ahead of all the threats and dangers, then one of these days, the whole thing will go up in flames.”
Nova narrowed her eyes, not entirely sure this was a good analogy, and also wondering whether the Captain was aware of the insensitivity of the statement, given what had become of the house on Wallowridge.
But no—she could tell he was oblivious.
And so she chuckled understandingly. “Well, good thing you’re invincible, at least.”
“Yeah,” he said, with a small shrug. “I might be, but there are people I care about that don’t have that luxury, and I’m just doing what I can to protect them. I hope you understand that we did what we had to do, given the circumstances.”
The circumstances, she thought. Those circumstances being that they had been prepared to execute her, without so much as a proper trial. Because they were the Council, and their word was law. Because they were Renegades, and the Renegades could be judge, jury, and executioner, if that’s what they felt was required for the protection of the