Page 77

The aim was true, but the probes stopped inches from her chest, wires suspended in midair. Patricia lifted her head and grinned at them. “Almost.” The probes snapped and snarled as they spun slowly back toward Nick and his father.

“Drop it!” Nick shouted. “Dad, drop the—”

Seth’s eyes snapped open, and he growled, “Not today,” as his right hand curled into a fist, fire blooming around his fingers. Moving almost quicker than Nick could follow, Seth punched Patricia under her chin, fire exploding in her face, a blast of heat slamming Nick and his father. The taser probes fell to the floor as Patricia flew back against the fireplace, the scorched brickwork cracking under the impact.

But as soon as she hit the floor, she was up and moving, spinning around and raising her hands toward a wall. Nick felt thefamiliar thickening of the air as the wall began to crack and break apart, but it felt bigger, more focused.Oh shit,he thought wildly as Seth shot to his feet, grabbing Nick and Dad to shield them.She’s stronger than I am.

The house shook as Patricia Burke burst through the wall, a plume of plaster and dust billowing as sunlight poured in through the opening, and then she was gone.

Noise from outside, people screaming as the house settled and groaned. Nick coughed roughly, bending over and choking on the thick dust that coated his throat. He felt someone grab his hand and he was pulled outside. He blinked against the brightness as he hit the porch, falling to his knees and gagging, spitting, a thin string of drool hanging from his bottom lip. Before he could react, something heavy pressed against the top of his head, and he began to panic.

“No,” Dad whispered in his ear. “Just me. Helmet, Nicky. Put your helmet back on.” Nick stopped fighting as Dad pushed the helmet firmly on his head, the lenses inside the mask flashing. Strong arms wrapped around him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Seth slump down next to him, face covered with splotches of white, sucking in air.

Others, then. So many others who helped Nick and Seth up, away from the house, leading them down the steps to the walkway. Jazz. Gibby. Their parents. Mary and Cap. Bob. Chris. Mateo, apologizing profusely with a look of horror on his face. Sirens, in the distance, growing louder the closer they got.

And Dad. Dad, clutching Nick tightly, never letting him go. Dad, his chin on the top of his son’s head, rocking him back and forth, whispering in a choked voice that they were all right, they were good, they were safe,Nicky, I love you, kid, I love you so much.

He held on just as tight. Beyond his father, he saw people gathering on the street. Most looked scared, but more than a few started filming them and the house. If Dad hadn’t remembered the helmet…

Would it be so bad?he thought as Dad pulled Seth into the hug. Later. He’d worry about it later. Nothing else mattered because his people were safe.

For now.

“Uh,” someone said, and they all looked over to see Burrito Jerry standing nervously at the end of the walkway, the crowd behind him growing bigger. “So, the guy I kidnapped for you is gone. Tried to stop him, but then he made my shadow move on its own, so I made the executive decision to nope outta that. My bad. I hope you’ll still give me a good rating. But there’s good news! Matilda didn’t get a scratch on her.”