Keeping Me (Spy Chronicles Book 2)(22)

“You should get some sleep. We have a long flight,” Dad says.

“Where are we going?” I ask.

“You’ll see when we get there,” he says.

That is so frustrating.

One thing that has driven me crazy since I met the guys is the number of secrets that are kept from me. I think I should know what’s going on.

“I promise I will give you some answers once we’re there,” Dad says. “Just be patient with me a little while longer.”

And I know he will. I don’t know my father very well, but I do know that if he says he will do something, he will.

“Okay,” I say. Because I can be patient with him. For now. Plus, I am exhausted. I’ve spend the last four days either in a car, or on a plane. And there is the fact that I’m still recovering from my concussion, so I’m exhausted. I close my eyes and drift right off to sleep.





Tuesday, August 29

Not cut out for spy school.





It’s Tuesday when we land.

The flight was nearly a twenty four hour flight. But we also lost a whole day, because we’re literally on the other side of the world—New Zealand. And it’s winter here, which I find very strange. I’m not used to it being cold in August. Not that it’s that cold, about fifty degrees Fahrenheit, but definitely cooler than what I’m used to in Florida.

When we arrive, there is a car waiting for us. I regret not wearing a jacket when we step off the plane, but we get right into the car, which has a heater going.

Everybody is really quiet in the car. I’m not sure if everybody is tired from the plane ride or if they’re all just scared of my dad—maybe a little of both. I’m actually pretty well rested. I slept for most of the flight. I must have been exhausted, to sleep for nearly twenty four hours.

“I have to tell you something,” Dad says to me, after about an hour of complete silence in the car. “I didn’t just bring you to New Zealand because I wanted to take a vacation. There is a lot more to this.”

“Okay,” I say, wanting to hear what this is about.

I still haven’t learned what Protocol Lex Luthor is or what it means. I think I deserve to know.

“I need a safe place to train you,” he says.

“Really?” I ask, my heart accelerating. I mean, I’ve been wanting to train. The guys are awesome at everything. And I am tired of sitting back watching them get to do everything. I want in on it. If I happen to see Nolan again, I want to be able to save myself.

“Don’t be excited,” Dad says. “Training isn’t as glamorous as it seems. I wanted to train you at the school—like I was. Like your mother was.”

His face falls as he says the last part, and I know he still misses her. I wish I had known her better; being at the school made me feel close to her. But we can’t be there right now.

“I get it,” I say. “I’m gonna have to work hard. And I promise I will.”

“You are,” he says. “There are going to be a lot of early mornings and late nights. The training is rigorous. I don’t even want you to train. You’re... I mean... you’re very small.”

“Underweight,” I say. “I know.”

“I... and I guess they,” he says, motioning towards the other guys in the vehicle. “Are going to be training you.”

Hunter, me, Dad, Jaxon, and Brett are all in this car. Behind us in a different car are Bass, Sander, and Gage. It’s probably best that the three with the biggest mouths aren’t in the car for this particular conversation. Maybe Bass would somehow talk my dad out of training me. It seems like something he’d do. And Sander would most likely be saying a ton of sarcastic comments.

“What exactly does the training entail?” I ask.

“Well, building up your strength, for one. You need to gain some weight. Not just weight, but muscle. You’ve got to learn how to fight,” Dad says. “You’ve got to learn how to shoot a gun.”

I cringe at that.

I don’t particularly like shooting guns.

“Don’t be scared of guns,” Dad says. “I’ll teach you properly and you won’t have a reason to fear.”

I nod, but I’m still scared.

“I would like for you to try and learn a second language. If you really insistent on being on the team with the guys, you’ve got to learn Swiss German. The guys primarily stay in Switzerland, which is the only reason I’m even considering letting you join their team. There is no way I’m going to let you go off somewhere else without me.”

I smile, because that is progress. Huge progress.

“There is also accent training, dance...”

“Dance?” I ask, cutting him off.

“We like to train our students in everything. You never know what situation may arise and it’s better to always be prepared,” Dad says.

“And dancing is going to help me—how?” I ask.

“Once, a couple of years ago, we had a two girls undercover in Russia. Their cover was ballet dancers. I mean, who would suspect them, right? But from that, they were able to take down one of the largest sex trafficking rings in the world,” Dad says. “So, dance can be important.”

His words kind of blow my mind.