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Dad laughed but did an admirable job at covering it up. “I expect you’ll let your staff know that any discussion with Nick that doesn’t pertain to school or homework will not be tolerated. Good day. Nick, let’s go.”
“But—”
“He saidgood day,” Nick snapped over his shoulder as he followed his dad from the office. The last he saw of the principal was the man sitting stunned behind his desk, face pale, eyes wide.
Nick’s plan to go upstairs as soon as he got home was thwarted by an unexpected guest waiting for them on the porch of their house.
“What’s he doing here?” Nick said, glaring at the figure waving at them. “Traitor. You, too, since this is obviously an ambush.”
Dad turned off the car and looked at his son. “He probably wants to make sure you’re all right. I didn’t explain much when I left the precinct, just that the school called about you. I didn’t know he was going to be waiting for us.”
“That’s what phones are for. Speaking of, we need to get me a new one.”
“Next weekend,” Dad promised. “And notice how I didn’t ask what really happened to your phone.”
“Itoldyou it was stolen on the train by a man who—”
“—who looked like a serial killer disguised as Santa Claus, I know. It was very descriptive. I expected no less.”
“Good,” Nick said. “Now thatthat’sout of the way, you should tell Cap to leave. I don’t want to talk to him.”
“Get out of the car,” Dad said.
Nick did, though he complained loudly. He slammed the door behind him, stalking up the walkway to their house. Cap’s mustache twitched as Nick got closer.
“Hey, Nicky,” Cap said. “All good?”
“Sure,” Nick said brightly. “Everything is fine! You know how it is. Prom’s coming up, my boyfriend is amazing, I have to start thinking about college soon, and what else? What … else? Oh! That’s right! Your new boss, Simon Burke, put a bounty on Pyro Storm’s head, and now everyone is after me because of it. How areyou?”
“Oh boy,” Cap said.
“Nicky, no,” Dad said.
“Nicky,yes,” Nick said savagely, fumbling with his keys. He managed to fit the key into the lock before throwing the door open, causing it to bounce off the wall. He dropped his backpack on the floor near the door before heading toward the kitchen.
“Come on in, Cap,” he heard Dad say from the front entrance.
“I don’t know if I should,” Cap said. “He’s scary when he wants to be.”
“Damn right I am!” Nick bellowed as he slapped together a cheese-and-ketchup sandwich, pretending it was the blood of his enemies. He had quite a few now for a sixteen-year-old. While not ideal, it certainly added to the mystique of him being a brooding hero with a dangerous sneer that disguised his bruised heart of gold.
“Get in there,” Dad said.
When Nick turned around, sandwich in hand, Dad and Cap were standing in the entryway, watching him.
Nick bit into his sandwich without looking away from Cap, chewing obnoxiously. Cap took off his service hat, holding it in front of him. “Nick.”
“Cap,” he said through a mouthful of ketchup cheese. “How are you? Betrayed anyone else lately?”
“Can’t say that I have,” Cap said easily as he sat at the table, service hat sitting in front of him. “Mary isn’t fond of me betraying anyone, much less her favorite kid. She says hi, by the way. Wants you both over for dinner soon. We’ll order takeout, I promise.”
“You can tell her I said hi back, but also make sure she knows I’m not very happy with you.”
Cap snorted. “I’ll do that, Nicky.” He sobered, glancing at Dadbefore looking back at Nick. “Sit down, the both of you. It’s time we had a conversation.”
Nick thought about telling him to piss off, but Dad jerked his head toward the table and Nick did as he was told. He made sure the chair scraped along the floor loudly to show he wasn’t happy. He sat down, crossing his arms as Dad pulled out the chair next to his.
Once they were both seated, Cap sat back in his chair, stroking his mustache. “Your dad said you saw that press conference. Thought I might come over and explain so you didn’t get the wrong idea. Seems like I’m a bit too late.”
