Page 72 of Villainous Rise

She looked like a Renaissance painting of beautiful devastation.

“Oh, honey.” I opened my arms.

Dawn launched herself at me and I nearly toppled backward into the door. She buried her face against my shoulder, her body trembling with silent sobs.

I stroked her hair, murmuring nonsense comfort words.

“You knew,” she finally whispered, pulling back to look at me. “You knew who Hunter was.”

I braced myself for the accusation, the betrayal, the anger that would surely follow. My shoulders tensed, ready to absorb the impact of her justified rage.

Dawn wiped her eyes with the heel of her hand, smearing mascara further across her cheek. “You told me once that some Supers keep their identities secret, right?”

I nodded cautiously. “Yes. Some do.”

“You couldn’t have told me about... about Menace.” She stumbled over the name. “Not without risking your career and legal trouble?”

“Something like that, yes.” I reached out to tuck a curl behind her ear. “There are rules, Dawn. Lots of them.”

She took a shuddering breath. “I’m trying really hard to understand, but I’m so angry at Hunter.” Her face crumpled, fresh tears welling. “Or is he Menace? I don’t even know who I’ve been sleeping with anymore.”

The confusion in her voice broke my heart. I’d been there, that moment when you realize the person you thought you knew had been wearing a mask all along.

I took a deep breath, my hands settling on Dawn’s shoulders. Time for some hard truth.

“Dawn, I don’t know who Hunter is or who Menace is. But I know who he is with you.” I squeezed gently. “He’s yours. That’s the only identity that matters.”

Her eyes widened, fresh tears threatening to spill.

“And honestly? If he didn’t love you as much as he does, I would’ve told you everything weeks ago.” I shrugged. “Rules be damned, consequences be damned. I’d have risked it all.”

“You would?” Her voice was small, uncertain.

“In a heartbeat. My job exists to maintain order, not to hurt my best friend.”

Dawn sank down onto the edge of the bathtub. She twisted her fingers together, staring at the marble floor.

“Do you really think he loves me?”

“Yes.” No hesitation. No doubt. “I think he loved you from day one.”

Her lips trembled into something almost resembling a smile. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’ve never seen a man look at anyone the way he looks at you. Like you’re the sun and he’s been living in darkness his whole life.” I leaned against the sink. “Also, he’s currently sitting out there looking like someone just ripped his heart out through his nostrils.”

That earned me a small huff of a laugh. Progress.

“What should I do, Annie?” Dawn looked up at me, seeking an answer I couldn’t give.

“I can’t tell you that.”

“What would you do?” she pressed. “If you were me?”

The question hit harder than she could possibly know. My mind flashed to Cipher, standing in the kitchen, watching me with those intense eyes. The memory of his hands on my body, his voice in my ear promising things that made my skin burn.

He’d betrayed me. Lied to me. Put me in danger.

And yet.