Reality Hero

by Ashlynn Monroe

  “Why won’t you tell us how you know Mind Man?” Alexi asked as she sat down next to Dina at the front of the bus. “It was in the paper.” There was no censor or whining in her voice, only curiosity.

  “It’s not important how I know him, and it’s no one’s business. He’s agreed to do this show, and now you have the chance to know him too.”

  The woman cocked a slender, red-blonde eyebrow. The pretty girl looked skeptical. Her mouth quirked up at a corner. “So the paper didn’t print the real story?” Alexi concluded.

  “It doesn’t matter if they did or didn’t. I won’t confirm or deny what the paper printed. Why is this so important to you?”

  She flushed a brilliant scarlet that was made all the more vibrant because of her hair. The effect was charming. Dina tried not to scowl, but she knew she was doing it. She just hoped Alexi didn’t have a reason to flush when Zane was around because the girl looked sexy yet vulnerable. Zane wasn’t just a hero; he had a hero complex when it came to women. This girl could easily get his attention with a single blush.

  “I just want to know why he agreed to do this show. Was he really lonely? I…I’ve had a crush on him since the first time I read about him in the paper. He seems so—sad, but brave. I’m afraid of falling for him if he’s only looking for some kind of publicity. I’ve never heard of Mind Man taking money for what he does. It makes me wonder how he lives. Is this about money?”

  “His reasons are his own. If you get to know him well enough, he might tell you. I’ve promised him I would guard his privacy as much as possible. I can tell you he’s not getting paid to do this and he’s never taken money for saving anyone.”

  Alexi’s eyes widened. “You must know him well. Was he born with those powers? Is he an alien?”

  Dina began to laugh, unable to help herself, but hid the sound behind a delicate cough. That wasn’t the first time she’d heard someone suggest other-worldly origins for her friends, but it never stopped being amusing. “I haven’t taken a DNA sample, but I’m almost positive he’s human with a little kick, that’s all.”

  “What makes you so certain?”

  “I read the papers. You’d have to be human to have that much compassion for others, right?”

  Alexi shrugged. “I guess.” She didn’t sound very happy.

  “What’s bothering you?”

  “I—I know most of us are here for the TV face time, and the bragging rights that we dated Mind Man, but you actually know him. Why isn’t he dating someone like you?”

  Dina felt heat rising into her cheeks. “I guess I’m not his type.”

  The girl’s eyes widened. “Will I be able to get my hair dyed before I meet him?”

  Dina hid a smile behind a gentle cough. “I don’t think it has anything to do with the hair. I have a feeling someone like Mind Man isn’t so shallow that he’d dismiss you because you’re blonde.”

  Alexi frowned. “He’s male. Aren’t they all a little shallow when it comes to sex?”

  Dina felt the air leave her body in a great gust, as if the wind had been knocked right out of her. Sex. She’d never thought about Zane having sex with any of these girls. Kissing. There was a very real chance he might kiss one or all of these women. The idea of him kissing that many women in front of her made her slightly light-headed. Is it too late to add a no kissing clause to the contracts?

  Alexi returned to her seat next to Virginia. Dina sat quietly, feeling like the queen of fools. She’d been so focused on the viewers’ reactions to Zane she’d forgotten to worry about the contestants. What if he really falls in love with someone? Then she remembered her sister. She wanted him to fall in love and for her sister to be happy, yet the idea of them finding happily-ever-after left her cold. Numbness settled over her heart. If she could just hold onto that emptiness, maybe she could endure what the next weeks had in store for her. Being around him so much recently had brought her long suppressed feelings back to the surface. She’d done so much to ignore her love that she’d thought she’d killed it. Unfortunately, her youthful passion had only been in a coma, because it was back with a vengeance.

  Why didn’t I just go with the idea of having a camera following him around and filming the daily life of a superhero? She hadn’t wanted to risk outing him. This idea had seemed safer and less invasive. She’d even convinced herself that he deserved to be happy, and the only way he’d really be happy is by finding love and forgetting about the past—their past.

  When the bus neared the destination, Dina stood and looked at the group. It took a moment for them to quiet down enough for her to speak. “We’ll be getting off the bus shortly, so please get your things ready to bring with you. My staff will get the rest of your luggage from the back. We’ll not be getting back on the bus, so make sure you collect all the things you brought.”

  Dina could see they were nervous. Some giggled and gawked out the windows, but some of them were quiet. She watched the realization that there wasn’t a spa or yacht in sight come over the contestants.

  The bus stopped, and Dina was the first one out. She quickly got out of the shot. Each of the girls wore a different expression. Most of them looked surprised and disappointed. Some of them even seemed angry. Purity and Susan both just wore curious expressions. Dina couldn’t have scripted better reactions from them. Elation filled her.

  Zane insisted she host the show, so she begrudgingly took on the role she’d have preferred to hire out. Dina prepared to reveal the carefully planned sleeping arrangements designed to bring about the greatest drama.

  “Amber and Susan will be sleeping in Cabin One, over there by the lake.” Dina pointed, and the group followed her to where she’d placed the two women. Amber caught sight of a spider web and went crazy. Dina tried to hide her smile. It was all on film.

  “I can’t believe your lousy show brought us to such terrible living conditions. I hate bugs, spiders, snakes, and nature. I want to go home,” the distraught woman shrieked.

  “Please calm down. It’s nice and clean inside, and this little spider web is just on the outside of the door.” Dina took her planner and swiped the web away, but it only exacerbated the situation because it upset the very large brown spider who’d made the web. The creepy-crawly ran across the door in a panic. Amber and several other girls screamed. Dina squashed the spider with her planner, thinking belatedly about the hate mail she’d get from all the spider lovers of the world.

  “I’m not sleeping in there,” Amber declared.

  “All right. Candy, would you please take Amber’s place?”

  Candy nodded and picked up her large bag. The women entered their home for the next six weeks. Dina led the remaining contestants up the hill to the next cabin.

  “Amber and Purity will be sharing this cabin. Any objections?”

  Amber looked at the doorframe and window frames before replying. “I guess this will do,” she said grumpily.

  Dina wasn’t sad to leave the drama queen behind when they continued toward the rest of the cabins.

  Cabin Three stood just across the trail, and she dropped off the Wright twins there. The rest of the women and crew walked down the hill until they reached Cabin Four. The remaining group left Alexi and Regina there. Farther up the trail and closer to the large shelter they’d be using as the meeting place before and after eliminations was the fifth cabin. The last two, Lacy and Sally, stayed there. Dina turned to the cameraman and spoke quietly.

  “Cut. I think we need to give them some time to settle in before pushing the camera back into their faces.”

  She went to her RV and unpacked her suitcase, feeling tired and a little cranky. Dina wasn’t looking forward to the next day when the filming would begin full time. With an exhausted sigh, she flopped back on the little couch. There was a king-sized bed at the front, but she didn’t have the stamina to stand up. A rest before the afternoon filming sounded wonderful. The makeup artist would never be able to hide how tired she looked.

  Her feet hurt. S
lowly, she pulled her swollen, damaged feet out of her pumps. If she didn’t have to host, she could wear appropriate footwear. Thanks a lot, Zane. Her fingers pinched the bridge of her nose. She couldn’t tell which felt worse, the throbbing in her feet or the pain in her head. She hoped she’d remembered to pack Excedrin. Damn it, Zane.

  As if he had ESP, Zane appeared in front of her. She gave a startled shout. Scowling, she shook her head grumpily. “You know how much I hate it when you use your powers unnecessarily.” Realizing what he’d just done, she paused. “How can you do that? You’ve been here before?”

  He smiled as if he were pleased with himself. “I found out where the studio was renting the RVs from. I made a point of entering the one I saw was reserved for you. Just so I could annoy you and make sure you were keeping your end of our bargain.”

  Dina tried to keep the gloomy look on her face, but she couldn’t stop a laugh from bubbling up and out of her.

  “Do you mean that in the five minutes of spare time you have between crime fighting and the day job, you went to an obscure, recreational equipment rental company and broke into this RV just to make sure that you could pop in whenever you liked? You really need a hobby. Okay, you’re here, so what’s up?”

  Zane sat down next to her. He put his arm around her shoulders, and she couldn’t deny how natural it felt to snuggle into the warmth of his massive, hard body.

  She liked the sensation too much, so she scooted away. He frowned. Dina focused on the carpet, unwilling to face his disappointment. His lack of disguise annoyed her. She needed to protect his secret to protect him. She couldn’t ruin his life. He was risking so much for her, but she couldn’t help him if he wasn’t willing to guard his anonymity. If anyone had been with her when he popped in this could have been a disaster.

  He chuckled. Sexy. She shivered, and felt her body react to his nearness. Dina glanced at his face and immediately regretted looking at him and seeing the desire in his eyes. The smoky look sent a sharp stab of awareness through her. She tried to back away farther, but she couldn’t get very far away in the small space.

  “I don’t bite. Why does it have to be like this? Holding you felt wonderful. I’m here because I wanted to make sure you were okay. You look worn out. If you don’t get some rest, I’ll back out of this thing.”

  “I’m fine, Zane. I just got up too early. It’ll only be a few weeks, and then I can get all the rest I want. Are you sure you’re not just here to check out your potential lovers?” Dina needed to put him on the defense. His game was so good. Zane made her forget how important it was for her to keep her distance. She loved him too much to give into her long-suppressed need.

  He didn’t smile at her teasing. Darkness clouded his eyes and his rugged face was drawn. He reached out and took a strand of her hair between his fingers, rubbing it. “I miss your natural color,” he murmured.

  She gasped as he yanked her close. His muscular body pressed against her. She couldn’t stop herself from closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around his neck as his lips touched hers. She moaned. His tongue slid between her lips and she felt it toy with hers. When he pulled his mouth away she blinked up into his face as she came back to reality.

  “You know how I feel about you. You can give me away to every woman on the planet, and I’d always come back for you. Why are you fighting it? How can you accept this strangeness between us? There was a time we could tell each other everything. It was as natural as breathing to hold each other. I just wish you could forgive me for not being as strong as you were. They changed me. I never wanted this. I only wanted you.”

  His words made her heart ache. She drew in a small, shaky breath. “Zane, I need to rest. I think it’d be a good idea for you to go. I’ll see you here tomorrow at nine, okay?” She couldn’t look him in the eyes. Oh God, stay with me. Touch me. Don’t ever leave me again. Fuck me until I can’t walk, but don’t leave me. She wanted to shout the words at him. Instead, she bit her lip to keep them to herself. Thank God he can’t read minds, only control them. Zane could force her. He could keep her mind prisoner, but he’d never used his abilities on her, not once.

  He stood, crossing his arms over his chest before poofing away without a single word. She closed her eyes, shaking. If loving her wasn’t a danger to him, she’d claim him as hers. Dina hated to hurt him, but it would hurt him more if she got him killed. Her love would only be a noose forever dangling just above him to use against him. Why couldn’t he see it? Why wouldn’t he understand?

  Zane stood toe to toe with Ian, their height equal, neither backing down. “Stop. Please, this is crazy,” Dina cried.

  Without warning, Ian’s electricity shot out, hitting Zane. Bridget ran into the room. She tried to use her ability to paralyze Ian. She’d only be able to hold him for a moment, but it would give Zane the time he needed. Ian turned and flung an electrical current at her. Bridget screamed, convulsing with the pain.

  “No, God no,” Dina muttered. Her friend fell lifelessly before her eyes. The fun-loving redhead was dead. Ian zapped Bridget with another burst, and she gasped. He’d just restarted her heart.

  Looking at Ian, Dina saw the cruel danger he presented with new eyes. He grinned. His cold eyes connected with hers. “I’m powerful enough to take life, or give it. That makes me the strongest.”

  Ella came running into the room. Her eyes widened and she skidded to a halt. She was the most dangerous to Ian’s ability and he knew it. Electricity and water didn’t mix. Ella could become pure liquid, vapor even if she chose. Before she could attack, he sent a blast of force at her. Her whole body seized.

  “No.” The small sound slipped from Dina’s lips as she watched her sister’s face pale.

  Ian was there without warning, holding Ella by the throat, sending his power into her body. Ella’s lips turned blue. He dropped her, dead. Screaming and sobbing, Dina went to her beloved sister to begin CPR.

  “Live, Ella. For once don’t be stubborn, sis,” Dina begged as she did chest compressions, then she breathed for her sister before returning to force her heart to beat. Willing Ella to live, blinded by her tears, she tried not to be hysterical, but her self-control was slipping. Ella’s heart was beating again and she took a few shallow breaths. Dina fell back sobbing, and then gathered her sister in her arms.

  The sound of grunts and flesh colliding with flesh barely registered on her consciousness. She looked over her sister’s shoulder to see Zane grab a vase filled with water and flowers. He smashed it over Ian’s head. Ian screamed as his control on his power flickered. The water cascaded over his face. His eyes glowed and she saw little blue currents running up and down his arms. She wanted to look away, but she couldn’t. Zane hit him, hard, and the younger man fell. She’d never seen such raw rage on Zane’s face before as he slammed the uncontrolled flickering form repeatedly until blood tricked from Ian’s eyes and nose.

  “Stop, Zane.” Dina’s voice was flat. As angry as she was with Ian, she couldn’t stand to see Zane kill him…for Zane’s sake.

  His fist paused midair. “Get out.” Spit and blood hit Ian’s face as Zane ground out the angry words.

  Ian wobbled to his feet, giving Dina one last look as he stumbled out the door.

  Zane slumped back against the wall. Tears filled his eyes. “I lost control,” he muttered.

  Dina helped Ella sit before she went to Zane and wrapped her arms around him. “It’s okay.”

  “No. When I saw him hurting you I wanted to kill him. I…I couldn’t control myself—my strength. I don’t care what happens, I’ll kill to protect you. No one will ever hurt you again,” Zane muttered as he pulled Dina into his arms.

  It wasn’t long after that day that the media started stalking them. Zane became irrationally worried about Dina’s safety. Organized crime resented the heroes. Threats were made openly as the police began arresting criminals foolish enough to take on the young vigilantes. Dina could see the stress of his fear for her. If those crime bosses found out
who they were, she’d be the target. They’d use her to kill him. Her resemblance to her twin put her in danger too. If someone thought she had power, they’d come after her. So she’d dyed her hair and walked away. She’d been cruel, making him think she’d stopped loving him, so he could get on with his life. She needed to protect them all. She was their greatest liability.

  She set her cellphone’s alarm clock for an hour. She was asleep the moment her eyes closed.

  Chapter 7

  Groggily, Dina slapped at the annoying sound. Tired, blurry eyes wouldn’t focus on the phone for her to turn it off. She popped the battery out in frustration. Pulling herself up she stumbled out of her temporary home. The makeup artist gave her a very dirty look when she sat down. The woman worked ferociously until Dina looked fresh, and her hair no longer stuck out in disarray.

  Dina walked to each of the cabins and asked the occupants to follow. Like the Pied Piper of single women, she led the procession up the hill, showing them the mess hall, toilet, and shower facilities. Gleefully, the cameraman caught all the traumatized reactions after they saw how rustic the conditions really were.