Rehab for SuperVillains (18+)-Chapter 162: cheating

Freya’s lips curled into a smirk, her blue eyes glinting with suspicion. "She’s gotta be cheating. Supplements, tech, something. No way she’s that good naturally."

Kael shook his head, his grin wry, his hazel eyes calm. "Liss has always been ambitious. Probably just worked her ass off. She’s got that fire, you know?"

Rhea and Freya spun on him, their glares synchronized, their voices sharp.

"Don’t defend her, Kael!" Rhea snapped, her crimson hair bouncing. "She’s our enemy!"

"Yeah, stop taking her side," Freya added, her eyes cold, her sapphire necklace glinting as she leaned forward.

Lila tilted her head, her voice soft but curious. "Why’d you turn her down, Kael? Working with her sounds like a big deal."

Kael chuckled, leaning back, his eyes distant with memory. "Liss is like a drill sergeant from hell. Expects everyone to match her pace, no excuses. If you mess up, even by mistake. She’ll rip you apart, doesn’t matter who you are. Back in the day, she even chewed out our team leader, right in front of everyone. Strict doesn’t cover it—she’s brutal." He grinned, nostalgia softening his voice. "I’d rather build something here with you all than chase her shadow."

The news looped again, Liss’s image flashing—her electric-blue suit, her confident smirk, lightning arcing around her.

Rhea’s temper snapped, her amber eyes blazing as she hurled a burst of fire at the TV, a sizzling orb of orange heat.

Freya was faster, her eyes flashing as she flicked her wrist, an ice spike lancing through the screen with a crack.

The TV sparked, the image dying, the screen a shattered mess.

"No!" Kael yelled, leaping up, his hazel eyes wide as the chaos unfolded in mere seconds, even before he had a chance to react, his hands flailing uselessly.

Freya stood, her grin sheepish, her platinum-cyan hair swaying. "It was an old TV, Kael. I’ll get a new one, promise."

Rhea smirked, her amber eyes glinting as she sent a controlled flame to melt the TV’s remains, the plastic hissing and curling. "Yeah, and I’ll hook us up with a killer sound system. No sweat."

Kael groaned, his hand dragging down his face, his hazel eyes torn between exasperation and amusement, the Haven’s air now tinged with the acrid scent of burnt electronics.

Letting them roam freely without their power-suppressing collars, was a mistake.

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Lila," Kael said, turning to her, his voice steady, "Tila’s probably going to wake up soon. Time to head back to your room."

Lila nodded, her black curly hair bouncing, her glasses catching the dim light, the collar around her neck glinting faintly.

"Can I... stay with her today?" she asked, her voice soft but earnest, "We’ve never been apart this long without talking."

Kael’s hazel eyes softened, understanding the sisters’ bond. "Fine," he said, his grin warm.

He handed her a tray of food—leftover herbed chicken, mashed potatoes, and a cup of Lila’s chocolate pudding, still fragrant with cocoa. "Tila hasn’t eaten. Feed her when she wakes."

"Okay," Lila said, her smile small but grateful, balancing the tray carefully.

Kael led her to Tila’s room, unlocking the door.

Tila lay on the bed, her black hair fanned out, still unconscious, sleeping.

Lila stepped inside, and Kael locked the door behind her, the click echoing in the quiet hallway, ensuring the sisters were secure.

Back in the living room, Kael’s gaze settled on Freya and Rhea, their tension palpable.

Freya sat on the couch, her platinum-cyan hair loose, her hand propped under her chin, her blue eyes distant with intense thought.

Rhea paced, her white tank top and black pants clinging to her frame, her crimson hair swaying, her amber eyes smoldering with restless energy, her feet roaming around the floor.

"Freya," Kael called, his voice cutting through the silence.

Her blue eyes snapped to him, sharp and attentive. "Yeah?"

"What happened with Vulpes?" Kael asked, his hazel eyes narrowing. "Did you hand him over to a Villain Deposit Center?"

Freya’s eyes widened, her hand dropping, "No," she said, her voice low, a flicker of realization crossing her face. "We... didn’t. He is still the car’s trunk. I forgot to ask you what to do with him."

Rhea stopped pacing, her amber eyes flashing, her hands planting on her hips. "That’s your screw-up, Kael! You didn’t tell us to do that!" she snapped,

Kael sighed, his expression wry, conceding the point. "You’re right. My bad. Alright, you two go deposit Vulpes’s body and take care of the Haven for a while. I’m heading to the DSHA (Department of Superhuman affairs) to grab our next mission. I’ll try for something harder, like you wanted."

Freya nodded, her eyes steady but edged with annoyance, her clenched fist relaxing slightly.

"Fine," she said, her voice cool.

Rhea shrugged, her amber eyes still sparking with irritation.

"Whatever," she muttered, crossing her arms. Their frustration hung heavy—maybe at Lila, maybe at the mission’s fallout, or maybe because of Lightning Lass—but Kael hoped a car trip to the deposit center would give them time to hash it out.

"I’ll drive you to the DSHA," Freya said, standing, her cape-less casual look a stark contrast to her hero suit’s elegance.

Kael nodded, his grin returning. "Works for me. Just don’t attract attention. Cover your faces." He grabbed a light jacket, his stun baton secure. "I’ve got work at the Department of Superhuman Affairs. It’ll take till late evening, so have dinner ready when I’m back. And please—don’t burn anything. Or melt anything else."

Freya’s lips twitched, a faint smirk breaking through. "We’ll manage."

Rhea grinned, her amber eyes glinting with mischief. "No promises, but we’ll try."

They piled into the Zephyr X-9, its obsidian body gleaming under the afternoon sun.

Freya slid into the driver’s seat, her eyes sharp behind a simple black cloth mask, her hair tied back.

Rhea, in the passenger seat, pulled on her black hero mask, her crimson hair tucked under it, her tank top shifting as she adjusted. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Kael sat in the back, his hazel eyes scanning the city streets as Freya drove, the engine purring smoothly.

They dropped him at the DSHA’s towering headquarters, a sleek glass building buzzing with heroes and officials in tailored suits, their chatter a low hum as they entered and exited.

"Be cautious," Kael said, stepping out, his jacket slung over his shoulder. "Deposit Vulpes, get the TV, and don’t stir up trouble. I’ll see you tonight."

Freya nodded, her masked face unreadable, her voice steady. "Got it."

Rhea leaned out the window, her amber eyes glinting. "We’ll swing by an electronics store for that TV and speakers, like we said. Maybe some groceries too."

Kael gave a thumbs-up, his grin warm. "Good call. Stay sharp." He turned, striding into the DSHA, the glass doors sliding shut behind him, the building’s hum swallowing him up.

Freya floored the gas, the Zephyr X-9 roaring through the city.

At Rhea’s insistence, they detoured to her base—a dilapidated house in a crumbling neighborhood, its walls scarred from her fiery outbursts.

Rhea dashed inside, climbing to the attic, her boots thudding on creaky stairs.

She hauled out another heavy sack of cash, the bills stuffed chaotically, a few lacy garments spilling out as she zipped it shut.

"Gotta fund the good stuff," she said, grinning, tossing the sack into the trunk.

They hit an electronics store next, its neon signs blazing, shelves packed with gleaming screens and speakers.

Freya, her mask swapped for sunglasses, negotiated coolly, her blue eyes scanning models, settling on a sleek 4K TV with crisp visuals.

Rhea, sunglasses low on her nose, picked out a surround sound system, her amber eyes lighting up at the bass-heavy demo. They paid in cash, Rhea’s sack lightening, and loaded the gear into the car, the boxes rattling softly.

A quick stop at a grocery store followed—Freya grabbing ingredients for dinner (pasta, fresh herbs, tomatoes), Rhea tossing in snacks (chips, soda, and, predictably, chocolate bars). They returned to the Haven, parking the Zephyr X-9 beside the building, its obsidian body blending into the shadows.

They hauled the TV, speakers, and groceries inside, the Haven’s worn floors creaking under their steps, Tila’s muffled banging a faint echo from her room.

Freya set to work on dinner, while Rhea unpacked the electronics, her crimson hair bouncing as eagerly opened them.