A Hero in Hiding (Vexing Villains, #2)

by Alice Winters

“Can you help?” “Angrily,”

I didn’t sign up for this shit. You know that? Not at all,” I grumble as I sink against the car door and question everything. Most of all, I question why I can’t just take a nap and read a book.

Of course, off to the side are some wannabe heroes who will likely accomplish nothing more than getting in August’s way. They seem to run rampant in the city like they think if they have some kind of superpower and a mask, it’s their right to run into danger for a chance of being dubbed a hero or a vigilante or something.

She doesn’t understand that you don’t have to turn the other way when people are mean to you. You can enslave them and force them to make you food.

“I hate all of you,” I make sure they know. “But I also brought snacks.” I toss down a bag of celery, unwashed, uncut. Just toss the bag down with no shits given. The hero thing to do would have been to make cookies or brownies, so I opted for the villain aka lazy way of doing things.

“Baker, do you ever feel uncomfortable?” I ask since Baker is on his lap. “Nah, makes me feel young again,” Baker decides for some weird reason. I’m not quite sure how my brother deep throating an invisible penis makes him young, but everyone has their thing. Who am I to judge?

Dad reaches out to Mom as he dramatically stumbles back before realizing the pool is quite far away and stumbles back some more and… a little more until he finally feels the edge of the pool behind him. “My one true love, I leave this world with only you in my mind—” “What about me, Dad?” I ask. Dad nods quickly. “With you and my three beautiful sons in mind.” “What about August, Dad?” “My wife, my three beautiful sons, and my son’s boyfriend.” “What about Zacia, Dad?” “My wife, my three beautiful sons, my son’s boyfriend, and my son’s cat in my mind. Please, don’t forget me, and remember that I will, and have always, loved all of you,” he declares before flipping backward into the water and smacking down on his front before floating off.

the large innertube takes off, flying down the slide. August and Lex are laughing as they cling on desperately and I find myself loving every minute of it. God, how can something that’s not just sitting in my house, hiding from my family, and reading a book be so damn delightful?

“You dare think you could keep my favorite child from me?” “Wait a minute…” Brandon says, eyebrows furrowing. “I thought Nolan was your favorite! It’s not nice to lie!” “You dare keep my third-born son from me?” she asks.

“Deus, my family is coming, don’t murder them.” “I would never!” he says as I see his finger switch the safety back on.

“I’ve been a good boy!” Lex says, looking offended. “Look at my good boy face!”

Many people have gone through tragedies; you can’t allow yourself to become a victim in the hopes it makes their tragedy a little more bearable.”