Guitar Hero (Cape High Series Book 12) by R.J. Ross Read Free Book Online

much better use for you."
    "Because… I…" She stops with a confused look. "I'm not sure. I think I saw something I shouldn't have."
    "Do you remember what that was?" Nico asks.
    "No. I mean, it didn't stick out or anything, but I heard him talking about it after I was put in the tube." She frowns, slowly shaking her head after a moment. "I think… it might have been a woman?"
    "We need Mastermental," Superior says with a sigh. "While I can affect people by manipulating the physical aspects of brains, I can't do anything about the spiritual or the mental."
    "But I can—to a point," Nico says, heading for one of the long tables in the room and digging through various things. "All we need is this and a screen," he says, holding up a metal hoop.
    "Have you been ripping off people's powers?" Superior asks him curiously.
    "Not really," Nico says. "I just find this more convenient."
    "You like to prove you can do anything they can do," Superior corrects.
    "I have yet to figure out how to do what you do," Nico says, giving him a knowing look. "Your title is still safe."
    Doris looks from one to the other. "Aren't you two ACTUALLY family?" she asks finally.
    "Some family members get along better than others," Superior says. "Nicolas, here, is far too much like me for his own good—he's been fighting that fact his entire life."
    "Don't worry, Doris, we won't treat your precious Skye like we treat one another," Nico says as he walks over. "This shouldn't hurt, but it might feel strange. I want you to think back to what happened right before you were put in the tube."
    "You still don't understand—Tatiana is dangerous!" she starts out. "She's the reason I was going to help—" She stops as they both burst out laughing. "This isn't funny!" she yells at them. "She and Skye are out there somewhere and who knows—"
    "It's computer class right around now," Superior says. "She's intent on catching up with today's technology so she can talk Nicolas into making her something better."
    "I could do that without her taking classes," Nico says.
    "Of course you could, but she wants to know how to use it. But when you do make it, make sure the keyboard is reinforced—she keeps coming home complaining that they're too flimsy."
    "Will do," Nico says. "Look, Doris, we know how dangerous Mom—Tatiana is. We also know one other thing—the norm world thinks she's dead. The super world knows otherwise, but it doesn't matter. She's retired and living up here with the man she loves. That it just happens to be my father, well, we shouldn't judge her tastes. Sure, she's Russian, and sure she's a tank, but that doesn't mean she's not human."
    "I'm not human," Superior says.
    "That's right, he's the one you really can't trust," Nico says.
    "You're only half human."
    "So you can half trust me," Nico says without blinking.
    "But—isn't he Superior?" Doris asks.
    "We try to ignore elitist titles here," Nico drawls, "they make everyone feel uncomfortable."
    "Would you stop feeding the girl lines of hogwash?" Superior says dryly. "Doris, was it? Don't worry about Tatia, she'll take very good care of your friend. Besides, think about it—who is the one you shouldn't trust, the man that used her to get you trapped in a tube, or the woman that had no clue you were even in one?"
    "Why should I trust any of you?" she asks, glaring at the metal hoop Nico's holding. "What does that do? Are you going to brainwash me?"
    "Nope, just read your mind. I invented this to find out what happened to an unconscious kid. I figure it can get into the memories you can't recall just as easily."
    She hesitates, looking from one to the other. "If you try anything I'll scream this entire place down," she threatens.
    "That would be inconvenient," Superior says.
    She grabs the hoop and sticks it on her head.

CHAPTER THREE
      Emily’s phone ringing wakes up the bus. It’s the theme song from the latest Superior movie, I note curiously. She doesn’t get to it in time, because she