Chương 37

Everyone was inside the safe house. No one had relaxed since the last attack, but for now they were all under one roof. Hughie's father sat near one wall. Monique and Janine stayed close to M. M. Kimiko sat quietly near Frenchie. Adam and Butcher were at a table in the corner. For a short time, the place almost felt still. Hughie kept glancing at his father, and M. M. stayed close enough to see Monique through the half-open door. Then noise rose outside. Frenchie looked toward the door.

He moved out to check, keeping low as he crossed the hall. A few seconds later, he came running back in.

"People are here," Frenchie said.

"Many of them." M. M. moved first. He turned to Monique and Janine.

"Inside. Now." Monique held Janine and went into the inner room. M. M. closed the door after them and picked up a gun. Frenchie took another gun and stood near the wall. Hughie sent his father into the same room and came back out without a weapon. Kimiko stood too. She looked at the others and understood that they were ready to fight. At the table, Adam and Butcher were still sitting with cards between them. A few minutes earlier, Adam had gone to Butcher and asked him to play. Butcher had not refused.

Now Adam placed one card down and spoke quietly.

"You called the deputy director?" Butcher looked at his cards.

"I care about my friends too." He placed his card down. Adam nodded.

"Good." M. M. came toward them with his gun.

"What are you two doing? Get ready." He looked at Adam.

"My family is here. You are the one who has to protect them." Butcher stood.

"Relax. These are our people." The main door opened. Deputy Director Susan Raynor entered with armed men behind her. The soldiers spread through the room, but they did not point their guns at the Boys. That one detail told M. M. more than Raynor had said yet. This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Butcher walked forward and stopped in front of Raynor. Raynor looked at him.

"So you are ready?" Butcher's face tightened. He took out the evidence and the Compound V, then handed them to her. Raynor took them.

"As included in the deal, you all get protection, jobs, and security. No one touches your people." M. M. stared at her. For the first time in days, relief broke across his face. The gun lowered in his hand before he even noticed it. He opened the inner room and brought Monique and Janine out. The soldiers guided them carefully, with respect, not force. M. M. went to Butcher.

"You did good." Butcher looked away.

"I care about you lot." Adam watched Butcher's face. The words were true, but the pain was clear too. Butcher felt like he had lost the only path to Homelander. Butcher looked at Adam, then came near him.

"I have a job for you," Butcher said. Adam was about to answer when his phone rang. He looked at the screen. Annie. Adam had not called her once after everything happened. He knew she might not pick up, and he also knew she deserved answers. On the other side, Annie had been waiting for him to call. Each minute had made her angrier. When he did not call, she finally called him herself. Adam answered. Before she could speak, he said, "I know you want answers. I am ready to give them. Tell me where to come."

Annie was quiet for a second. Then she gave him the name of a park. Adam ended the call and looked at Butcher.

"I will be back. We will talk after that." Butcher did not stop him. He wanted to. Adam could fight Homelander. Adam was the only real hope he had left. But Butcher also knew that stopping him now would only push him away. Adam left. A little later, he reached the park. Annie was already there. She stood near a path with her arms folded. Her face was hurt and angry at the same time. The moment Adam came close, she spoke. She did not let him smile or ask if she was okay.

"You lied to me." Adam stopped in front of her.

"No. It is not like that. I did not lie to you." Annie's eyes hardened.

"You are not FBI." Adam paused, then said, "No. That part was a lie. I actually work with the CIA." Annie stared at him.

"You are lying again."

"I am not," Adam said.

"This is true." He took out his phone and showed her the video. In it, Raynor stood in front of Butcher and spoke about protection, jobs, security, and the evidence. Annie watched the video. Her anger did not disappear, but it became quieter. Raynor looked real. The words sounded official. That made the lie harder to understand, not easier. She looked back at him.

"Then tell me the truth. Who are you? Did you kill Translucent?" Adam answered without looking away.

"No. I did not kill Translucent. But our group did. I can say that much." Annie's worry grew stronger. She grabbed his hand and started pulling him.

"Come with me," she said.

"You need to surrender. The police can protect you from the Seven. From the Supes." Adam did not move.

"You do not need to worry about that," he said. Annie stopped and looked back.

"What are you saying?" Adam took a breath.

"I tried to tell you before, but the right moment never came. I want you to know something. Annie, the heroes here are not natural. They were made." Annie's fingers loosened on his hand. Adam continued, "Vought used Compound V. That is how Supes are created. I knew you did not know. I understood that when we first talked. That is why I did not tell you before. I did not want to hurt you before you were ready." Annie stared at him. Adam's voice stayed low.

"But you need to understand this now. Vought made all of it." Annie looked at him in shock.

"What are you talking about?"