Rehab for SuperVillains (18+)-Chapter 189: Green Haired girl

THWACK!

The sound of splintering drywall echoed through the Haven as Kael’s body slammed into the far wall like a wrecking ball.

Dust burst outward in a choking cloud, and cracks veined up the plaster behind him like spiderwebs.

He dropped to the ground with a grunt, dazed, a thin line of blood trailing down his temple.

"Kael!" both sisters shouted in unison.

The green-haired girl stood in the open doorway, mouth closed now, breath even—like she hadn’t just shrieked with enough force to fling a man across a room.

Behind her, the so-called pizza delivery guy stepped in, tossing aside his cap with a casual flick.

He lifted a walkie-talkie to his mouth.

"Come, it’s time to loot."

A haunting pause.

Then a faint crackle of confirmation responded from outside.

With a wide, self-satisfied grin, he stepped fully into the Haven like he owned the place.

Combat boots clicked on the hardwood floor.

The door behind him creaked wider, and two more silhouettes moved just beyond the threshold—one with a crowbar, another with what looked like a duffel bag of tools.

Lila moved first, slipping in front of Kael’s crumpled body, arms outstretched.

"Stay back!" she snapped, voice trembling but firm.

Tila mirrored her, stepping beside her sister and shouting louder. "Get out! This isn’t your place!"

The blonde man paused, eyes narrowing at the sight of them.

He hadn’t expected company.

"Well, well, well..." he murmured, scanning both girls from head to toe. "Two of you?"

His voice was amused, almost gleeful.

"I only saw the curly one tailing those two glitter bitches," he said, brushing a gloved hand through his messy blond hair. "Didn’t expect a copy. You the backup dancer?"

"Who the fuck are you?" Tila snarled.

Instead of answering, he turned to the green-haired girl and raised a brow.

She gave him a forced, nervous smile.

When he didn’t stop glaring, she gave a weak laugh, as though he’d just told the funniest joke in the room.

Then he turned back to the twins.

"Where’s your registry tag?" he asked.

"You are with the Frost Flake and the Flame Lantern, aren’t you? Those two flashy heroes? The ones who parked that Zephyr X9 outside like they’re not asking to get raided in this shithole?"

He let the words hang, lips curling into a smirk. "You know what a car like that says to someone like me?"

He took a step forward.

"It says jackpot."

Another step.

"It says the morons living here either won the lottery or are secretly rich and loaded. Either way..."

He flicked the walkie back onto his belt. "I’ve given full clearance to strip this place clean. Don’t take it personal if you all end up dead. It’s just business."

Lila tensed beside Tila, and Tila bristled. "We’re not heroes," she growled. "But we can be your worst fucking nightmare."

The man’s grin grew wider, wicked. "Ooh. Chills."

He gestured lazily toward her.

"You must be the spicy one. And you..."—his gaze flicked to Lila—"You’re the... what, sick twin? You look like a medical condition. You got a frailty mutation or somethin’? That’d explain the glasses."

He laughed at his own joke again.

Loud. Rude.

Eyes demanding more laughter from the green haired girl beside him.

She chuckled weakly.

Again.

Tila clenched her fists. "You done flapping your gums?"

The man struck a dramatic pose, flicking his hair back like some overconfident soap opera villain.

"My name’s Radric. Raider. Gunman. Strategist. Opportunist. You name it, I raid it. And this?"

He gestured grandly to the room. "This dump is my lucky day."

Tila stepped forward. "All I see is a loudmouth with no powers and too much confidence. If your power is warming a seat or your bed, I’d believe it."

Radric’s grin cracked. His jaw twitched.

"You talk a lot for someone wearing a leash," he said, nodding to the collar around her neck.

Then, without warning, he jabbed a finger in their direction and barked:

"Kitty. Now."

The green-haired girl stepped forward—and screamed.

The blast wasn’t aimed at Kael this time—it was directed at the twins. A wall of raw sound erupted from her open mouth, vibrating the floorboards, rattling the walls.

But the twins moved.

Fast.

They split instantly, diving apart as the sonic wave tore between them, blowing the coffee table to pieces in a blast of splinters.

Tila rolled toward the hallway, grabbing a shattered piece of lamp from the floor. Lila darted for cover behind the kitchen island, dragging a heavy blanket off the couch and balling it in her arms as a potential distraction or shield.

"Split up?" Radric said, amused. "Cute."

He reached behind his coat and pulled out a matte black pistol, twirling it casually.

Tila threw the lamp shard. It hit his arm and bounced off uselessly. "Seriously?" he said. "That was your play?"

"Shut up," Tila spat.

"Kitty. Again," he ordered.

The green-haired girl readied another blast.

Lila ducked.

Tila ran—straight at him.

Another sonic shriek burst through the air.

Tila was mid-leap, fully exposed.

She wasn’t going to make it in time.

The scream curved toward her, warping the air—and then, in a blur, Kael was there.

He lunged from the side, grabbed her by the waist midair, and dragged her down behind the kitchen counter just as the blast struck. It shattered the window behind where she’d been, glass spraying like a frozen explosion.

Both of them slammed into the wall.

Tila was coughing, blinking dust from her eyes, still stunned.

And then she saw him.

Kael.

His body curled around hers protectively. Bleeding. Bruised. Breathing hard.

"You—" she started.

He didn’t speak. Just raised one hand and tapped at the back of her neck. A faint click sounded.

Her collar dropped off.

Her breath hitched.

Her powers surged.

They didn’t explode. They didn’t rage outward. But she felt it—the whisper in her spine. The weight lifted. The grip of containment unclenched.

He’d given her freedom.

She could kill him.

Right there. In that moment. With a thought.

Instead, she looked at him. Bloody. Hurt. Still shielding her.

And she smiled.

A small smile.

Dark. Dangerous.

Grateful.