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Potential Sadie’s Café was perfect.

Sadie stood in the middle of the open space on the homey faux-hardwood flooring. Trying not to get her hopes up had lasted all of three seconds before she knew in her heart of hearts this was it. Every square inch of the walkthrough had only solidified that.

Nyah strolled along the white counter, being more shrewd with her assessment. Lorraine from the management company stood off to the side in a black pantsuit that made her pale skin look extra pasty.

Sadie tugged on the back of her lucky green blazer. Pairing it with dark-wash jeans and a white tee said business casual. That she was serious but fun.

“Is it okay if I take a few pictures for my investors?” she said. “They had a meeting today they couldn’t get out of.”

“Of course,” Lorraine said.

Sadie went to the counter to set her notes and the listing sheet down. Rent and utilities were absurdly high, but Joanie had told her not to let costs be a deterrent.

She gave Ny a smile. “I’m so glad my future manager could come with me.”

“I wanted to see it, too,” Nyah said.

“What sort of businesses does your group typically invest in?” Lorraine asked.

“Most recently, a food truck,” Sadie said. “That’s what they’re working on today.”

She’d told Nyah the same story. How dealing with pulverized Hot and Cold was tying up Joan and Mark and Perry.

In reality, she’d done most of the work yesterday, going around in maddening circles with the insurance company.

They wanted her to file a SuperWatch claim first and wait for word on that before making a determination.

Good thing she had an in with the Superheroes.

At least all the paperwork was helping her get more comfortable with that part of running her own business. The part she’d always been scared of.

“I’ve been involved with every aspect of that truck since its beginning,” Sadie added. “I’ve learned so much that I can’t wait to implement at my own establishment.”

Look at me, using all the big words.

“I think your coffeehouse would be a welcome addition to Knollwood Village,” said Lorraine.

“Yeah,” Sadie breathed, and snapped a few photos of the main dining area. Then the span of brown brick along the far wall. Then behind the counter. The faint hint of fresh produce still lingered from the former juice bar.

Nyah rested her hands on the right side of the counter. “Would you take orders here or the other side?”

“Hmm.” Sadie joined her to visualize both options. “The other side. Pick-ups can be on this side, closer to the exit.” She took a pic of the big front windows and giggled to herself. “My girlfriend will want to know about the windows.”

She glanced at Lorraine for a reaction. The broker smiled politely. Okay, good, she passed the I have a girlfriend test. And Joanie would laugh about the windows. Hopefully. As long as she didn’t think they were too much of a hazard. She was so bummed to miss this, but duty called.

A SuperWatch notification dinged on her phone as well as Nyah’s. A verified statement from the Supers about the video Gus had posted that morning. How did she still look amazing in a red-and-gold bodysuit she hadn’t worn in years? Well, she was Amazing Woman.

“I can’t believe Amazing Woman came back,” Nyah said, reading on her screen. “She’s a thousand years old.”

“Quake is her nemesis. She wants to finally put him away.”

Lorraine tilted her head. “Amazing Woman? As in the Hero from a few decades ago?”

“Yeah. She posted a message earlier today.” Sadie held her phone up to show the broker the replay.

Gus’s short video had been shot against the wall in the lobby at Super HQ. She sounded so much like her old self and less the tired woman she’d become: “I failed you before, Vector City. Big Quake said he’s come back to finish what he started. So have I.”

“Love her throwing shade by calling him Big Quake,” Sadie said.

People still wanted to know what was up with Spark and Ice, and if Breeze was also helping out.

The Supers were keeping mum, not willing to own up to how much the three of them were contributing.

It was kind of a dick move, but Joanie said she didn’t want to confuse or scare people if they saw Spark running around town.

“Sorry,” Sadie said to Lorraine, slipping her phone into her jeans pocket. “I’m just excited.”

“That’s all right.” Lorraine gave another professional smile. “I’m glad you’re not thinking about starting another food truck. That’s a risky enterprise with so much Supervillain commotion.”

“No kidding.”

“Which reminds me. There’s also the NSA rider attached to the lease you’ll have to sign. Standard language. It’s required for all our tenants.”

“I’m sorry, which rider is that?” Sadie asked, picking up her small notebook.

“The No Superpowered Activity agreement. It ensures you won’t willingly allow superpowers to be used on the premises. Nor will you host any events that feature Superheroes. Autograph signings, appearances, that sort of thing.”

Sadie blinked. Surely, she’d heard wrong. “That’s an actual thing?”

Lorraine’s thin lips tightened. “As you can imagine, those people make working in real estate quite a challenge. Inviting them onto our properties increases the likelihood of damage, which decreases property value.”

Nyah moved beside Sadie. Her furrowed brow said she didn’t know this was a thing either.

“It’s fairly standard these days,” said Lorraine. “More and more lease agreements are including them.”

“Isn’t that discrimination?” Sadie said. And crappy. And wrong.

“It’s not. It merely states what sort of events can be hosted at our properties.”

“By excluding a certain group of people,” Nyah said, giving Lorraine a This bitch face. Sadie loved her for it.

The broker made prayer hands, putting on a too-polite mask. “We appreciate the protection our Superheroes provide the city. We just don’t want to invite trouble if it can be prevented.”

This bitch! “Well, I for one don’t agree with signing any document that says someone can’t come to my café.

My goal is to provide a safe space for everyone.

That includes people born with superpowers.

” Sadie leaned forward for emphasis. “Which yes, Lorraine, they are born with . Where do you draw the line? Who do you get to say has to stay away next?”

Lorraine tittered uncomfortably.

Nyah crossed her arms. “Is that rider a dealbreaker?”

“It is required,” the broker said. “It’s for your protection as our tenant. It will also save you a good amount of money on liability insurance.”

“I don’t care if it makes liability insurance free,” Sadie said, fury raging through her. Imagine a damn piece of paper telling Joan and Mark they weren’t welcome somewhere. That Gus couldn’t enjoy a cup of coffee after all she’d given the city.

She tucked her notebook in her blazer pocket, hands shaking. “I can’t in good conscience work with your company.”

Lorraine took a few steps toward the counter. “I’m sorry to hear that. This would be a perfect fit for your coffeehouse.”

It’s damn perfect, damn it.

“If you’d like to think it over?—”

“Oh, I’ve thought it over,” Sadie said, stalking to the door.

She took a last glance at the space that was everything she wanted but was now tainted.

“And you know what? You don’t always know who has superpowers.

What if I do, huh? What if I can read your mind or make it rain or shoot a great big fireball out of my mouth? ”

Lorraine’s eyes grew huge.

Nyah laughed and guided Sadie through the doorway. “Okay, Amazing Girl.”

“Treat people with more respect, Lorraine!” Sadie shouted, pointing a finger for emphasis.

She pounded down the sidewalk, hurt and angry and very, very disappointed.

Nyah kept pace with her, chuckling all the way. “I’ve never seen you get that mad.”

“That’s total bullshit,” Sadie seethed. “And it doesn’t solve the problem. Most damage is done during battles. It’s unexpected. We didn’t wake up Saturday morning thinking Hot and Cold would get stomped into oblivion that day. It’s not like signing a rider would have stopped it from happening.”

“Well, I’m sad they suck. That was a nice space.”

“It was,” Sadie moaned. “It’s perfect. But I couldn’t do that to?—”

Nyah watched her, waiting for more.

“I couldn’t sign anything like that. It’s discriminatory. Who knows what else they’d make me sign. That’s not a landlord I want to do business with.” She wiped at a tear that had squeezed out. “Sorry I wasted your time. You have to get to work anyway.”

“It was worth it to see you tell that woman off,” Ny giggled.

“People with superpowers have enough to worry about. They don’t need to be told where they can and can’t go.”

Nyah just kept staring at her, amusement written all over her face. Hopefully this passionate Super defending came off more like Sadie fangirling than?—

“Sadie,” Ny said. “I have to tell you. I know Joan is Spark.”

Sadie stopped short. The person on their phone behind her almost ran smack into her.

“What?” she said with a fake, breathy laugh.

“Don’t bother pretending to deny it.”

“What… But, um…” Shit. “How?”

“Amit figured it out when you got kidnapped by Trick. He told me, and then I couldn’t unsee it. Especially when Spark disappeared just as Joan began a new career.”

Shiiit . “Amit always knew Joan was hiding something,” Sadie grumbled. Shiiiittt.

“We haven’t told anyone,” Nyah said.

Sadie glanced around the sidewalk, then pulled Nyah into a narrow alleyway. “Thank you. It’s obviously a big secret.”

“So her brother. He’s Ice?”

Sadie nodded.

“Then Greta has to be Volt. She’s cool but sketchy as hell about her personal life.”

A small laugh managed to bubble through the knot of emotions in her throat. “No, Greta is not Volt. Volt’s in prison. Greta’s just Joan’s good friend.” Well, was Joan’s good friend.

“Huh.” Ny squinted at her. “Can I tell Amit that?”

“Tell him whatever you want. Apparently, everyone’s figuring it out.”

“Who else knows?”

“Never mind.”

Sadie leaned against the side of a building and covered her eyes. Part of her was glad she wouldn’t have to lie to two friends anymore. Amit would probably gloat. At least there were a couple of people she could really talk to now.

Nyah reclined next to her. “Are they working with the Supers? Did they become good guys?”

“Yeah. Sort of. They want to get rid of these really bad guys.”

A boy of maybe eight or ten wandered by on the sidewalk, chomping on a candy bar. He stared at them, chewing open-mouthed.

Nyah shooed him away. “Get in school.”

Sadie sighed, willing her racing pulse to chill out. It totally sucked to finally get her hopes up about her café and be prepared only to have it yanked away. Hard not to be discouraged.

Joanie was gonna feel terrible about the rider thing and that more people knew her secret identity. She really didn’t need another thing on her plate right now.

Still, Sadie had to be honest with her. Joanie was such an amazing partner, patiently working through their communication issues. Mainly Sadie’s communication issues. Not telling her would only make things worse in the long run.

“You want to come to VCC with me?” Nyah said. “Have a few laughs with Amit? Make some tasty drinks?”

“Sure.” Sadie gave her friend a pathetic look. “Can I have a hug?”

“You absolutely deserve a hug.”

They squeezed tightly. Sadie breathed in the familiar, comforting scent of Ny’s coconut body butter. “Thank you for keeping Joan’s secret,” she murmured.

“I don’t want anyone to know I know. You got snatched off the street. That’s freaky.”

“My new friends will rescue you.”

As they pulled back, Nyah said, “Wait, you’ve met the Supers? Like their real selves?”

“Yeah. We’re sort of friends with Lunk and Race.”

“Dude.” Ny slapped her playfully. “What’s the deal? Are they hot? I want details.”

“Well, I can’t give you too many details. But yeah, they’re both pretty good-looking. All the Supers are.”

They headed toward the sidewalk. “So your obsession over Superheroes finally paid off, huh?” Nyah teased.

Sadie giggled. “It hasn’t quite been how I imagined it, but it’s definitely exciting.”

“What’s the situation on their dating lives? Any of them single and looking to mingle?”

“Maybe. Oh, but guess what? Mark has a huge crush on Race, and it’s mutual.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“A Super and a Villain?” Nyah whispered.

“Former Villain,” Sadie corrected, then smiled to herself. “It happens more often than you think.”