Free The Distort Arc: Cape High Books 1-4 (Cape High Series Omnibus) by R.J. Ross Page A

sounding a bit stressed," she says, looking at his hair.  "So you're the reason they're... like they are."
    "What?"
    "I did start to wonder when all of the dead plants on the front porch came back to life," she says.  "Please, come in, we can talk in the parlor.  I was convinced when the television blew up, though.  You see, I've been doing this for a very long time.  In fact, I, myself was an orphan."
    "I'm not sure what you're talking about," Nico says blandly.
    "Supers," she says, turning to look at him.  "Your children are supers, and I give odds, Mr. Walters, or whatever your real name is, that you are one as well.  We have them, once in a while.  Not nearly as strong as your two seem to be--usually it’s a small ability, one that barely gets noticed and won't interfere with their life as normal citizens, but in this case I thought to myself, those two will definitely be picked up by the Hall.  I wasn't expecting their actual father, though!"
    She sits down on the couch, making herself comfortable, and pats the seat next to her.  "Come, tell me where you've really been for their lives."
    For a moment he stares at the woman, wondering if she's insane.  But there's a sharp look in her eyes that tells him there's a reason she can handle so many teenagers at once.  Slowly he sits down next to her, turning his body so he can see her.
    "I don't believe I should," he says.  "Secret identities and all that," he adds a bit tongue in cheek.
    "I'm betting you're a villain," she says abruptly.  "You've got the face to be one!"
    He starts laughing, unable to help himself.  "Now I'm hurt," he says in protest.  "How do I look like a villain?  It's the nose, isn't it?"
    "It's your eyes," she says.  "The eyes say a lot.  But I do believe you when you say you're their father.  Usually I would demand proof.  I wonder if I should this time, as well?"
    "I've got papers," Nico says.
    "Oh, papers are easy for you people, I'm sure.  Even discreetly getting rid of troublesome caseworkers is easy, I'd say.  Do you know how to handle teenagers?" she asks.
    "Not a clue," he admits.
    "Good.  The ones that claim they do usually have all the wrong ideas."  She stands.  "Well, I would tell Zoe and Sunny to pack, but I'm afraid they haven't gotten home yet.  I'm sure they'll be here soon enough.  I hope you don't mind waiting here?  I really need to make sure dinner doesn't burn."
    "No, it's fine," he says.  So they were that obvious, huh?  He waits until she's gone to open up the folders and read the information available.  He's even got school evaluations, although he's sure it's not legal for him to get them from the Hall.  A frown pulls at his lips as he flips through the information.  He doesn't know them.  He has their information, sure, but he doesn't know them.  They're complete strangers that just happen to--possibly--have his DNA.
    How are they expected to become a family like this?  He hasn't even seen his little sister in fifteen years, thanks to the "no super visitors allowed" rule, and she's the closest he had to a normal family life before this--
    The front door opens and he glances up, watching silently as two teenage kids walk in.  The girl looks like she's been crying.  She's so intent on getting to her room, or wherever, that she almost walks right past the door of the parlor.  It's only when the boy grabs her wrist that she stops.
    Well, then, Nico thinks.  They do know who he is.

CHAPTER FIVE
    You know, there's got to be a word for this.  I'm leaning towards "irony" but I'm not positive.  The moment I'm certain that our missing father will never even think about us is the moment I'm walking into the home and seeing him sitting on the couch.  I stare for a moment, since this is the first time I've seen him not behind a fence, and honestly I was right before.  He looks exactly like Sunny.  Older, of course, broader through the shoulders, all that, but he reminds me so much of Sunny that