VANESSA

"So," my mom passes me a plate of eggs and microwave bacon before she takes one herself and sits across from me at our small dining table. "That boy last night..."

There's several questions floating around in her pretty brown eyes. I smile at her. "He's a friend."

"So, you've got more than one good looking friend. Good for you." My mom winks and I nearly choke on the piece of bacon in my mouth.

"He's not interested." I state hastily. Then, even in a firmer voice, "And I'm not interested either."

"Okay." My mom shrugs. "Well, don't keep all your eggs in one basket."

I nearly ask her what she means when I remember that she still believes Ethan and I are a thing. I chuckle. "I won't."

"Good." She remarks, taking a bite of her eggs. "Oh, guess what? I got a new cleaning job that pays even more than the guy's house I had you clean."

My heart sinks slightly in remembrance. "That's good, mom. Just be careful. Okay? People aren't always who they seem to be."

She smiles. "I know, honey. I should be the one telling you that. Especially with these boys hanging around."

I nod. "Oh, I know. Everyone's got secrets these days."

She laughs. "Well, if you have more of those boy friends, feel free to invite them over whenever, even if we don't have the biggest of apartments. I can always hit the town to let you have your space."

I smile as she says, "Don't let your 'ole mom let you ruin your fun."

"You are my fun. Look at this delicious breakfast." I grin as I shovel in the last bite of food.

I get up and drop my plate off in the trash. "Mom, thank you for breakfast." I lean over and kiss the top of her head. "I'm going to head to work. Love you."

"Love you." She responds with a little wave, and then I'm off.

••

I stare into my boss's eyes with my heart in my throat. The walls of his office are closing in around us. The stern look he's passing me makes my stomach twist in an awful way.

"You can't take another leave like that." My boss firmly states. "You've taken up all of your business leave and personal leave."

Jesus. Was I out that many times? It doesn't seem like it.

"Yes sir." I peer into his disappointed eyes. "A lot has been going in my life recently. I'm sorry."

"Well, not showing up to work is unacceptable." He tells me and points to the door. "Now, get to work."

I nod once and leave with a giant hole in my stomach. Great. I almost just lost my job. I probably need to start putting myself first in this whole CIA business.

**

I'm the first one at the dinner table in the bar where Tony has taken me a couple of times. I pick us out a six-seater table, and selfishly I already order a fruity drink.

I'm actually sitting by myself for a while, but that's probably because I got here thirty minutes early. I thought there was going to be traffic, so I left my apartment early, but apparently, not a lot of people are out and about on a Wednesday night.

The only reason I know to come to this place and to be here by seven is because Tony texted me.

Yeah, he apparently got my number.

"Hey." A guy with dark skin and pretty brown eyes turns my gaze up to him as he stops at the side of the table. He smiles, the ends of his lips sparkling. He gestures over to a few of his friends who watch us from the bar. "My friends bet that I couldn't get your number. Could you help a guy out?"

His friends chuckle from where they are seated, but I look away from them and grin up at the guy. "I don't know about that. I normally don't give my number out to strangers."

"Well, I'm Chase." He extends his arm toward me, and I take it. He's a handsome man with smooth skin and a thick body. "And you are?"

"Vanessa." I softly reply.

"Well, Vanessa. Now, we aren't strangers anymore." He lets me know with a triumphant nod.

"Hey, hey, hey." A Hispanic accent floods the air and washes over me like a wave of warmth. "Are you talking to our girl?"

Chase and I both turn to the group of men who have just walked in--Felix, Ajax, Drake, Ethan, and Tony (the one who proudly called me "our girl"). They're actually a bit dressed up for tonight. The twins are both wearing slacks and matching black shirts while Drake has on a jacket and jeans. Hugging Ethan's broad chest is a white t-shirt that has a leather jacket over it, and Tony wears a button-up shirt with casual jeans.

I'm not going to lie. They all look great tonight.

And I also have to admit that I didn't dress them down. My hair is down today, curly as ever and draping over my shoulders. I wear just a tad bit of makeup and a black skirt. I have a yellow shirt tucked in it with the Latin word for love written in script on the front of it. I also wear heels, so I don't get up to greet them when they make it to the table.

The guy who was trying to flirt his way into my pants raises his hands and chuckles lightly. "I just saw a beautiful girl all by herself and tried to keep her company." He turns to me, forcing a smile onto his lips. "Have a good night."

"You too." I remark, not able to keep a grin off my face.

Tony and Felix takes seats on either side of me, Ethan sitting across from me with Drake and Ajax by his sides. A waitress swings by and picks up their drink orders, and then we are left to the silence.

Not for long, though. Tony makes sure of that. "Well, you look lovely tonight, Vanessa."

I can't help but to blush. "Thank you. All of you look great, too."

I glance at all of them, but for some reason my eyes remain glued to Ethan for a moment longer than anyone else. His misty gray eyes and long eyelashes catch my gaze like a bug caught in a spider web. So deadly.

I force myself to glance down at my drink and take a swig. I turn to Tony, asking, "So, what's the special occasion?"

Tony's eyebrows bounce. "What? Does there need to be a special occasion?"

"In our case..." I mumble as I look from person to person. They're all distracted doing other things. "Yes."

"Okay, well then the special occasion is to celebrate our new mental health assessor." Tony says matter-of-factly and with a huge grin on his lips. "And to tell you a little bit about ourselves so you don't have to waste time reading our files."

"Oh," The idea clicks into place in my head. "Okay. So, you all don't want me sniffing where my nose doesn't belong... Only where you want me to."

"No." Ajax fires at me with his hazel eyes flashing. "You can ask us anything you want to know, and we'll answer truthfully."

"Okay." I reply shortly. No question in particular pops into mind, so I say, "You know what? We should go back."

"Go back?" Tony queries as he takes a sip of his cold beer.

"Yeah. Let's pretend like we never met before." I say aloud, liking the idea more as I speak my thoughts.

When nobody responds, I reach my hand across the table to where Ethan sits. I hold it out, waiting for him to take it. He hesitates a moment, but then he gives in and takes my hand in his.

"Hi. I'm Vanessa Creech." I say to him as if we are total strangers. There's a funny look in his eye, but he plays along with it. "Nice to meet you."

He says, "I'm Ethan Turner."

Wearing a proud smile, I ask, "So, tell me a little bit about yourself."

Ethan lets out a sigh as if he doesn't want to answer, but I remain silent and await his response. Finally, he replies. "I'm twenty four, and during my life all I've known is the CIA. Ever since I was able to walk, really."

"Why?" I query.

"My parents both work in the CIA." He explains, meeting my gaze. "My sister works in the CIA, too. Doing her own thing."

"Cool." I think I've learned enough so that it doesn't sound like an interrogation. I turn to Ajax. "And you?"

"I'm Ajax." He says in his raspy voice. "When I was younger, I didn't have a good life... Until, really, your father took me into the CIA. There, I learned to how to hack. It's my life."

"Why hacking?" I question, peering at Ajax's relaxed expression. He acts like he doesn't give a damn, but I know him better than that. I know the human race better than that.

"Because my father had cameras installed in my bedroom, and I used to hack into them to give my brother and I privacy." He tilts his head. "Any more questions, stranger?"

On the inside, my stomach rolls, but on the outside, my eyes do. "Not at the moment."

I smile when I see the warm expression plastered to Felix's face. "What about you?"

"I'm Felix." He places his hands on the table. "And after I got saved by the CIA, I learned how to invent things. There were definitely ups and downs, but I love the CIA."

"Ups and downs? Name one of each." I tell him, wondering if I'm asking too much too soon.

If I am, Felix doesn't acknowledge it. He takes a drink of his beer and lets out a breath. "An up would be when my brother and I became agents. It was a long adventure, and we were proud to come out on top."

I wait, and he doesn't disappoint. "And a down would be when I first got a job."

"Why?" I ask, my fingers dancing on the condensation of my drink.

"Because I was transferred to a department where my brother wasn't." Felix explains, everyone's eyes on him. I'm sure they don't talk about this often. It's probably good for everyone. "That was the CIA's mistake, 'cause we work best with each other. We challenge each other more than anyone else, among other things."

"That's sweet. It's a good thing you guys were put together after that job." I say shortly, turning to Tony. "And what about you?"

"What about me? Well, I'll tell you all about me." He says with a huge grin. "I lived with my mom in Mexico before we illegally moved here and became citizens after five years. But, I didn't spend all my time here in the U.S.. When Jerome recruited me, he saw my potential and sent me everywhere."

"Oh really? Like where?" The waitress comes with our food, and we all take a moment to begin eating.

A few bites in, Tony replies. "Italy. Germany. Russia. Spain." He grins and uses his hands to talk. "I was here. I was there. I was everywhere. I completed hundreds of missions and learned languages and cultures and more people skills and everything."

"Sounds like the life." I remark, hoping he'll tell me more details.

"I really am lucky to be where I am today." He nods in agreement.

After that, we all eat for a while. We mutter a few things here and there, but time flies and soon we are at the end of our meals.

"Well, I'm going to head home." I say softly, knowing I need to get some rest before work tomorrow.

The check comes to the table, and when Tony takes it in his hands, I laugh. "I didn't really mean it when I said you have to buy."

"I know. But, I don't mind." He tells me smoothly, shrugging it off.

I wish I could let that happen and keep the only twenty in my pocket for another time, but I pull it out and hand it over. "Here. I can't let you pay. Thank you."

He tries to give it back but I rise from my seat and say my goodbyes. Ethan stands up as well, saying, "I'll make sure you get home okay."

Then he nods to his friends. "I'll see you guys in just a little bit."

As soon as we step outside there's a coolness to the air that sleeps through our skin. I huddle closer to Ethan, but not so much that it makes it awkward.

"You didn't have to make sure I got home safely." I tell him softly, stepping toward the street to wave down a cab.

We haven't talked in private since he came to my house and told me not to be with the team anymore. He's probably still angry with me.

"Well, I wanted to tell you that you're impossible." Ethan smiles as if it is a compliment. "Really. We can't shake you."

"Okay..." I hear my own voice trail off. I know there's more.

"But you impress me." Ethan shrugs and tucks his hands in his pockets. "My team wouldn't have played that game with just anyone. You've really gotten under all of our skins."

Including his?

I nod. "Well, now I have to for the mental assessments. And you know what? I think even Drake has started to like me."

Ethan's head snaps my way as his eyes narrow. "I'll believe that when I see it."

"Okay." I smile at him.

There's a car that rolls up beside us, but it isn't a cab. It's a black sedan.

I turn toward Ethan, and I see the confused expression on his face as well.

Then, the backseat's door opens and a chillingly familiar face is revealed. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Smith."

I swallow. I recognize the girl from the auction in DC. She is the wife of the man who attacked us in our hotel, Mr. Warner. They're the younger couple Mrs. Fitz warned us about.

The woman has her dark curly hair up and her black clothing nearly camouflaging her in the darkness. Her snake-like blue eyes twinkle as she aims a gun at me. "Want to go for a ride?"

I look to Ethan. He's staring at the woman, his gray eyes dangerously darkening.

The woman tilts her head and chuckles when she sees the anger on Ethan's face and the fear on mine. "What? Do you think that you can run? I'll just follow you. And I'll kill a few people along the way. Sound good?"

My heart is ramming hard against my rib cage to the point that it hurts. Adrenaline sparks a fire in my veins. Trembling slightly, I watch as Ethan peers down at me with a calm gaze. "Don't say a single word to them. Not one."

I nod, and I follow Ethan as he gets in the car. His whole body is rigid, the friendly side of him gone completely.

Once I get it, I lean over to close the door, but while I do, an idea spurs in my mind. I close my eyes and take off the only bracelet I wore tonight--it's yellow, my favorite color. Maybe one of the boys will see it on their way out of the bar.

I let it fall onto the road before I shut the door. In the next second, the vehicle is lurching onto the street with all the doors locking.

The woman who sits beside Ethan smiles a mischievous smile that makes my stomach churn uneasily. There are two men in the front. The driver is unfamiliar, but the man in the passenger seat I recognize as Mr. Warner, the guy who raided our hotel room.

With a smirk, he passes his wife two pairs of handcuffs, and they're not the fluffy kind.

I hold my breath as she leans forward and hooks the cuffs on Ethan. His jaw works, and I'm sure he is grinding his teeth as he watches her put the next pair on me. She tightens them to a point that my skin is immediately irritated, and I know she does it on purpose because when she slowly pulls away, there's an evil sparkle in her blue eyes.

"We have some questions for you." Mrs. Warner says. "We traced your flight back to here, but couldn't trace you in particular." She places her hand on Ethan's chest. It makes my heart twist.

"You, on the other hand." Her attention shifts and the smile grows. "I found out all about you, Mrs. Creech. Funny, I thought your last name was Smith."

My entire body feels as if it is shutting down one organ at a time, starting with my heart. She continues. "We visited your apartment, but nobody was home. Then, one of my men spotted you, and now we are here."

She shrugs. "It didn't take long to find you. You were our top priority."

A gross chill rolls down my spine. "So, tell me. Are you ready to answer some questions?"

I don't say anything and neither does Ethan. That's when Mr. Warner passes back two pieces of black cloth. As Mrs. Warner unfolds them, Mr. Warner aims his own gun at us and says, "Put those on them. I had a feeling they wouldn't want to talk."

Mrs. Warner lifts one of the black cloths above Ethan, yanking it over his head. He's completely blind now. I'm next, and as soon as the black cloth is over my head, I realize it is coated with a drug.

I try not to breathe, but I'm too late. I've already inhaled the drug. My limbs go weak, my chest rising and falling to a slower and slower rhythm. My eyes droop until I can no longer keep them open.

Consciousness leaves me with a cold feeling in the darkness of my mind.

**

When I wake up, I keep my eyes closed because in a flash, everything that has happened tonight comes flooding back.

In the darkness of my eyelids, all of my other senses are heightened. I can hear footsteps, but for some reason they sound far away. And I can smell something. What is it? Fish? Or is that just my imagination?

I'm hanging by my chained hands, and even though it's a really small sound, I think I can hear someone else breathing.

Then, I can tell there is a change of light as a door opens. It's not a regular door, either. It sounds... metal?

"Good morning!" The familiar voice of Mrs. Warner bounces off the walls of wherever we are. I make sure I keep my eyes closed and my body limp. Maybe, she won't be able to question me because I'm asleep.

A hopeful second passes before Mrs. Warner clasps her hands and yells even louder. "Good morning!"

I hear someone else jolt, and I can tell whoever it is is also chained up. I easily put two and two together and come to understand that Ethan is with me, wherever we are.

The immediate emotion that washes over me is relief, but then there's a sickening pit in my stomach that grows when I hear the woman snicker. "It's a good thing you're awake. I need some answers."

Ethan doesn't reply. The woman sighs. "If you don't start talking, I'll go get my man, James. And you know what? He doesn't ask nicely."

She's greeted with silence once more. Instead of leaving to go get James, though, I hear her footsteps come near me. My heart races, my chest tightening.

Then, she grabs a handful of my hair and yanks my head back. Pain ripples from my scalp and neck, causing me to yelp and open my eyes.

The woman giggles from right behind me. "Good morning, sunshine. I thought I might want to ask you some questions before I get my uglier friend to come join us."

She releases me, and as I move my head to face forward, I realize we are in a shipping container. Two bars run across the length of the metal box, one allowing me to hang from it, and another holding Ethan hostage. He dangles in front of me, his gray eyes stormy with worry.

The only source of light are the holes that are poked into the side of the container. This brightens the place just enough so that Mrs. Warner can find the terror in my gaze. She shakes her head, "Don't worry, sugar. As long as you tell me where the weapon you bought is, nobody has to get hurt."

Oh, God. Even if I wanted to tell her where it is, I can't. I have no idea where the CIA put it.

"So," She smiles brightly as if she is a little kid asking for a lollipop. "Where is it?"

I remain silent.

Ethan nods, but the woman moves in front of me so that I can no longer meet his gaze. The anger pulling tight her pretty facial features drives stakes into my heart. This is like the worst scenario in the world.

"Okay. So, you don't want to answer." She huffs. "Next question. Who do you work for?"

The straight face I send her has her rolling her eyes. "Alright. I'm going to get James."

She turns on her heel. "I tried to play nice."

Then, she leaves Ethan and I alone.

I open my mouth and let words out, but they are shaky like the rest of me. "What are we going to