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“Handsome as always,” came Theo’s voice. I spun about to see him and Julian in their pressed super suits as they stepped out of a portal. They were a handsome couple on a bad day. Right now, they looked as if they were going to go on a press tour.
“He’s not too shabby,” Julian said.
“Don’t force me to have you removed from my club.” I gave Julian a tight hug and kissed Theo.
“He gets sexy when he’s bossy,” Theo laughed.
“Trust me, I know. Our walls aren’tthatwell insulated.”
I ignored the banter. It’d spiral out of control and I’d never get out of the office. “You two should be out there with me. This is only happening because of you.”
“Nope.”
Theo nodded his head to agree with Julian. “We might have provided an opportunity. But you’re the one making this happen. Here, you’re the hero.”
If they made me cry, I was going to be pissed. I swore I wouldn’t get worked up. I knew it’d be a battle all night as emotions bubbled to the surface. It was already difficult to keep my heart from working its way into my throat. They came to support me. They might be my anonymous benefactors, but they stepped back and let me shine. Dammit, I was going to cry.
“Before you get worked up, we have something for you.”
Theo reached through a portal and pulled out a package wrapped in silver paper. He thrust it into my hands, excited by whatever was inside. “Guys, you didn’t have—“
“Just open it!” Okay, maybe it was Julian who was overly excited.
I tore at the paper to see an empty picture frame. There was a vacant square in the middle and a similar rectangle beneath that. I wasn’t sure what to make of the gift. An empty frame?
“I told you he wouldn’t get it,” Theo said.
“It’s for the article they’re going to write about you on opening night. The spot beneath that is for the first dollar you make. It’s a reminder of where you started.”
A knock sounded on the door. With no fanfare, Theo and Julian vanished into a portal, waving as it closed. I’d see them in the club as they played the role of patron. I set the frame down and opened the door to see Bruno in dress pants and a vest. He had insisted on wearing less, but I didn’t want it to become the premier sex club for heroes. Perhaps that’d be the next business we opened.
“She’s getting restless. If you don’t come out, she’s going to walk.”
“Damn talent,” I said as I straightened my tie, rushing out of the room toward the club. With a final turn, I spotted the diva waiting at the door that would lead onto the stage.
“Scarlet,” I said. “I was getting ready. Are we being dramatic?”
“Absolutely,” she said with a smile. She gave Bruno a slight wave before pointing to the circular window. “See why.”
I squeezed passed her in the narrow space and pressed my face against the glass. It didn’t seem possible. Not since before the depowering had the club ever come close to being this full. It was standing room only, and if that wasn’t enough, the A-list heroes had come. Front and center, Sentinel held a stein of beer along with the other Centurions.
“It’s… packed.”
“For me, obviously.” Scarlet chimed in. When I didn’t respond, she grabbed my head, the silk of her gloves scratching against my stubble. “I had a good run here, but it was time for me to go. They’re here for the new. They’re here because the right person—”
It was heartfelt, but I didn’t need a pep talk, not if I was going to avoid more tears. Before she finished, I pushed my way into the club. As I walked up to the stage, the crowd roared and glasses clanked together. Scarlet had built Midnight Alley, but it was time for me to push her legacy into the future. Learning to look forward had become a new mantra in life.
In the crowd, I spotted heroes that had long since retired their suits. There were those that still protected our street. Peppered between them was a younger generation, the up-and-coming saviors of Vanguard. Staring back at me was the past, present, and future of Midnight Alley.
I approached the microphone, and the room grew quiet, but the energy didn’t diminish. Much to the dismay of our pianist, I lifted his martini off the piano and claimed it as my own. “Maldito. I’m not going to bore you with a speech. I don’t have words for this. So I’m just going to say…” I raised my glass high into the air. “As long as I stand, the heroes of Vanguard will find haven in Midnight Alley. As somebody who gets kidnapped more often than he should admit, this citizen thanks you.”
The crowd roared with laughter. Glasses chimed as people toasted. I swallowed the martini in a single gulp. Sorry, Mr. Piano player, but I needed that.
“Without further ado, the real reason you’re all here. For one night only, a former hero to Vanguard, and still my personal champion, Scarlet Drozdov.”
Like a queen, she barged onto the stage. The slit up the side of her shimmering dress made a promise that the audience would receive a sensual and sultry performance. Before she stepped foot on the stage, the sound of her humming carried through the club. In true Scarlet fashion, it held an edge of power, and by the time she reached the microphone, the pianist followed her lead. With a slight shove, she pushed me out of the way and took the microphone.
I jumped down, joining the throng of leather suits, masks, and far too many capes. They patted me on the shoulder and congratulated me on a successful opening. Aiden popped up long enough to gather quotes for Revelations. I half expected Damien Vex himself to appear to get the scoop on the club’s new ownership.
