In a world where superpowers are rare but real, Ryan Carter has spent his entire life living in the shadows, partially by choice, but also by necessity. At least, that's what he tells himself.
As a shadow manipulator who is reluctant to use his powers too openly, Ryan is scraping by delivering pizzas in New Avalon's industrial underbelly. He's seen what happens to people with relatively minor powers like him who get noticed by the superhero teams, corporations, or criminal factions. They end up owned, imprisoned, or dead.
But when a mysterious woman with her own abilities and seemingly unlimited resources makes him an offer he can't refuse…
Nadia Cerná sees connections where others don't, especially in financial transactions, profit margins, and potential hostile corporate takeovers. She says she needs someone who can move unseen in the city's various social strata. Someone who can be her eyes and ears, and maybe even a little more. She says she needs Ryan, and when he asks, she insists her activities and ambitions don't stray too far into the gray for his comfort. But is she on the up and up, or will she drag him into the very thing he's always avoided?
But the deeper and more involved Ryan gets, the less his concern is about doing something that might get him locked up, and more about making sure he doesn't fall for someone way out of his league. Just as he's coming to terms with all of that, he meets Amy, Nadia's sharp-tongued business partner, who is immediately hostile, openly doubts his value to their organization, and threatens to derail everything.
From black-tie galas to underground punk shows, from penthouse seductions to street fights, Ryan must navigate a world where enemies wear capes, allies share beds, and the cost of justice might be way too high to pay.
For mature readers who like their heroes flawed, their action intense, and their relationships complicated.
