Keeping Me (Spy Chronicles Book 2)(8)

The hair falls out and I try to push it back again.

“I hate this stupid hat,” I say, feeling frustrated. I just want to get out of this city. “I hate my stupid name. And I hate that I have to be here with somebody who doesn’t even want to be around me. I just want to go home.”

“Serenity,” Bass says, pulling me to a stop.

“It’s Sarah,” I correct.

“Serenity,” he says again, putting a hand on each shoulder. “Take a deep breath.”

I do.

And another.

It doesn’t help.

“What’s wrong?” Sebastian asks.

“It’s just... first Nolan. And Gage. And this whole new life. And the way we left my dad. I don’t even know if he’s okay,” I say. “And now I’m here with you, but I know you don’t want to be. I’m just a job.”

“Trust me, your dad is fine,” he says.

“How do you know?” I ask, looking up at him through my tears. “Nolan is the best, remember?”

“No, Serenity. Your dad is the best,” Bass says.

“But I thought Nolan...”

He cuts me off. “I wouldn’t have left if I thought your dad wasn’t getting out of there.”

“Okay,” I say, letting out a breath. That does make me feel better. I just met my dad and I need time to get to know him.

“And just because you’re my job doesn’t mean I don’t like you.”

“But you said...”

He cuts me off again. “I say a lot of things, Princess. If you really think you want to be my friend, get used to it.”

Friend.

“So, we’re friends?” I ask.

“Actually, according to our passports, you’re my little sister.”

I laugh. “That’s not weird at all.”

The train pulls up and we get on, along with a huge crowd of people that had been waiting with us. I start to grab a rail so I don’t fall over, but Sebastian grabs my arm.

“Germs,” he says.

“But I’ll fall,” I say.

“I got you,” he says, holding onto my arm.

I will never understand Sebastian. One minute, he can’t stand me and wants nothing to do with me. The next, he’s being super sweet and says that maybe we can be friends. But then again, maybe that’s just Bass.





One day at a time.





There is a vehicle in the parking garage at the airport that Sebastian has the code for. He pushes in the numbers on the door. There are keys in the center console of the car. I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but I kind of am.

“Just how long have you guys been planning my escape?” I ask, wondering just how long this car has been here.

“Your dad came to me the night I saved you from Nolan,” Bass answers. “He said that I was the only one he trusted right now. He’s not fully convinced that Nolan was working alone. He thinks somebody else on the team is an accomplice.”

My chest hurts at the thought. “Let’s not talk about that right now.”

Sebastian starts the car. I notice that the car’s GPS just said “no information found.” I figure it’s because we’re in the parking garage, but when we pull out, there still isn’t a map.

“What’s wrong with the GPS?” I ask.

“We took the GPS out of the car,” he says. “Don’t worry. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere in Arizona, we’re changing cars.”

“Arizona?” I ask, smiling. “Oh, my gosh. I’ve never been to Arizona.”

He laughs.

“So... you’re from America, right?” I ask. “I mean... you have an American accent.”

“Yeah, I’m from the US.”

“Where?”

“I’m from Texas,” he answers. “Small town of only about five hundred.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Nah,” he answers, keeping his eyes on the road. “My life at Spy School is exciting. Fun. I get to do something with my life. My mom... she had a chance to choose this life, but she chose to be ordinary. When I got the opportunity, I jumped at it.”

“How do people get chosen for Spy School?” I ask.

“A lot of different reasons. Some are chosen simply because of their parents. Some are chosen because they’re smart. One twelve-year-old girl spoke seven languages fluently, which is why she was chosen. Others, like me, are chosen based on skill.”

“What’s your skill?”

He grins. “Well, my uncle, Sander’s dad, has been teaching me to drive, literally since I was old enough to reach the pedals. He’s had me on the race track and on crazy courses. My mom didn’t know I was racing until I was recruited. She was so mad at him. She doesn’t like that I’m at Spy School. But my mom trained me, too. Hacking. Languages. Fighting. Shooting guns. She says she didn’t want this for me, but I’m not sure.”

“You’re lucky your mom cares,” I say. “I mean, maybe my mom did, but I didn’t know her. The woman who raised me...” I clear my throat. “Sebastian, I would kill to have a mother. A real one. To know that kind of unconditional love...”