Still working on more chapters, but I can't promise the next update will be soon. I'm almost finished with the book from my other series though, so I'm trying to complete that book so that I can put all my focus on this book.

I apologize.

Nicky's POV 

"I'm pleasantly surprised to find that you have better taste than Agent Stevenson in terms of living arrangements," I tell Agent North as I toss my backpack onto the couch in the living room of the safe house.

Agent North smiles at me as he leans back in his seat at the small dining table. "The hotel wasn't up to your standards?" He questions in amusement.

"I know a fair bit about crappy hotel rooms," I reply with a wave of my hand. "I've been in worse. I usually don't turn on the lights. I don't ever what to know what's in there."

He nods thoughtfully. "I bet." He studies me curiously. "Ryder said you've been evading these people for a while, just how long, exactly?"

There's no harm in telling him the truth on this one. "Four years."

He raises his eyebrows. "How old are you?" He asks me.

"Can't you just read whatever file the FBI pulled up on me?"

"I could, but I figured I'd actually try to get to know you myself."

I tilt my head as I study him. "Twenty-two," I finally say. "How old are you, Agent North?"

He waves me off. "Damien," He corrects me. "I'm Ryder's age. Twenty-five. We grew up in the same neighborhood. Went to school together."

"And eventually joined the FBI together as well," I say and he nods.

I study him further and an idea comes to mind.

"So," I start conversationally. "What can you tell me about Agent Stevenson?"

He smiles in amusement. "You looking for some kind of blackmail?"

"What would you say if I said yes?"

"I'd need to know what kind of bribe you're prepared to give me, and just what exactly you think you want to know," He replies.

I can't help but smile. "So, you're totally ok with ratting out your friend?"

"Oh yes, for the right price," He smiles widely.

I laugh. "That's extortion."

He shakes his head, his expression serious but amusement shining in his eyes. "Oh no, that would be illegal."

I smile. "I think I'm going to actually like you, Damien," I tell him.

Before Damien can respond, Ryder walks into the room, phone in hand. He looks between the two of us and then scowls at Damien.

"What the hell did you tell her?" He questions.

Damien smiles. "Nothing," He says as he leans back in his chair once more. "Yet."

Ryder continues to scowl. "You two looked like two thieving partners in crime a second ago." He points his finger at Damien. "I don't need you making his harder for me because you're saying things you shouldn't be."

"You should be more concerned with what I could potentially show her."

I can't help but laugh as Ryder shoots a death glare Damien's way. Damien just smirks and crosses his arms over his chest.

"I need to make a few more calls," Ryder says. He points to Damien. "You're on babysitting duty, and don't tell or show her anything."

"Babysitting duty?" I question coldly.

"I have yet to see you behave as anything other than a child, matchstick."

"I'm the child? How do you figure that when you can't even address me by my name?"

"You have a name?"

I glare at him, thinking that I should really become a magician because I was about to perform another magic trick. No one would miss him if he were to just disappear. Poof! No more Agent Stevenson.

The other option was running off on my own. Either one was ok with me because either way I would no longer be stuck in Ryder's presence. Though the latter was more preferable seeing as how I would be permanently no longer have to deal with Ryder rather than temporarily.

But just how to make him disappear . . .

"Hey," Ryder calls. "Care to join us in the land of the living?"

My eyes narrow further. "Were you speaking to me?"

"Yes, I was."

"Was it important?"

Damien tries to hide his laughter as a cough instead and Ryder glares at me.

"You and I are staying here a week tops," Ryder says. "Then we're moving. I want to get out of this state as soon as possible but the FBI has to have time to prepare the next safe house. There are only two bedrooms here. Agent North will be sleeping across the hall from you. I will be sleeping in here on the couch, that way I can make sure you're not sneaking off in the middle of the night."

"If I sneak off it will be in broad daylight and that will only be because you're so sure I can't do it."

He shrugs. "And you'll end up getting yourself killed. At least my job will be over."

I glare at him once more.

"Your eyes are going to get stuck like that," He tells me as he walks out of the room, phone in hand.

I flip him off even though he can no longer see me. Damien laughs. I scowl at him.

"What is his problem?" I question.

Damien looks amused. "One could ask what your problem is."

"My only problem is him."

"He's just trying to keep you safe."

"I'm pretty sure he'd push me in front of a freight train if given the chance."

"You've rubbed him the wrong way."

"At least I've accomplished one thing."

Damien shakes his head but the amused smile stays in place. "Ryder's a good guy. I don't know what you did to get on his bad side, but he'll get over it eventually."

"Sure," I reply. I'm not convinced. The only thing I can possibly think of as for how I got on his bad side is because I was quick with a few snarky remarks.

In my defense, Ryder started it first. I'm just the kind of person who has to have the last word. And he seems to be that kind of person as well. See how this isn't going well for us?

I pull my computer from the backpack and set it in my lap as I take a seat on the couch. My fingers fly across the keys and my eyes stay glued to the screen.

"Hey," I call out. "Agent North?"

"Damien," He corrects me again. "Agent North is too formal. What do you need?"

"Do you think you could get me a phone?" I ask him. "I tossed mine away a while ago and haven't been able to pick up a new one."

He frowns as he thinks it over. "It shouldn't be a problem, but I'll have to confirm with Ryder."

Yeah, let's not confirm with Ryder. He'll come up with every excuse not to give me a phone. Well, I suppose if that happens I could always just borrow his.

I put my computer aside and get to my feet, a million thoughts running through my head as I walk around the small safe house. Mostly, I'm taking note of all the exits should I end up needing them.

I open up the cabinets in the kitchen, not really expecting to find anything, and I open the door to a small closet in the hallway leading to the bedrooms and bathroom. There's a broom and a couple of boxes stacked on top of each other. As well as a deck of cards and a couple board games on a shelf.

Card games are fun, except I have a habit of winning them since counting cards is something I could do in my sleep. I spot a chess game mixed in with the stack of board games.

I pull it out and walk back into the main room where Damien still sits at the dining table. Clearly, he's not concerned about me running off. Unlike someone else.

"You any good?" I question him as I hold up the game for him to see.

He shrugs. "Fairly," He replies. "I can beat Ryder." He pats the table and I put the game down. He starts setting up the board. "Which color do you want?"

I shake my head. "I don't care. I'll let you choose."

***

"Checkmate," I say for the fifth time and Damien shakes his head, but there's a smile on his face.

"I should have known I wouldn't be able to beat you. According to your file, you're some kind of genius."

I shrug as I start to reset the board. "I see patterns," I reply. "I notice things others wouldn't, and yes, I am a genius. Of sorts." He nods as he watches me reset the game. "And if you knew you'd lose, why did you insist on a rematch?"

"Temporary insanity."

I smile. "We played five games."

He smiles back at me and shrugs. "I like the game. Can't say I like losing though."

"Who does?" I question as I finish setting the pieces back up.

I notice Damien staring over my shoulder. I also notice the temperature in the room raises as the king of hell himself walks in.

Damien acknowledges him with a nod of his head. I acknowledge him by flipping him off.

"You want a turn?" Damien asks him as he gestures to the board between us.

"I have to amuse her as well as protect her now?" Ryder asks.

I glare at him. "Do you even know how to play?" I question.

He shrugs, ignoring my glare. "I've played a couple times. It's not my game."

"Because there's too much thinking involved for you to handle?" I question sweetly. Ryder glares at me. Damien bites his lip and ducks his head to hide his smile.

"I don't care for the game. It's boring," He states. "And if you've already beaten Damien, you're going to beat me. If you and I already know the outcome what's the point in playing the game?"

"I need practice," I tell him.

He gives me a flat look. "I doubt that." I notice he's giving in though and I keep my face blank. I'd love to have something to hold over his head every time he calls me stupid. Like me winning a few chess games against him.

Finally, he motions for Damien to move and he takes a seat across from me, staring blankly at the board. He moves a piece.

We sit in silence for a while as we take turns moving our pieces back and forth.

"So," I start as I take one of his bishops. "How often have you played this game?" I ask. I watch carefully as he moves his piece.

"I haven't played in a few years," Is all he says.

I frown in confusion as figure out my next move. "Why not?" I ask him.

"I used to play with my sister. She really enjoyed the game and she was good at it," He replies, watching in boredom as I move my piece.

He makes his move without thinking, and I take his queen. He doesn't seem to care all that much.

"So what made you decide to play against me now?" I ask.

He moves a piece. "I've come to a conclusion."

"Oh?" I question. "And what would that be?"

"You, miss high and mighty, believe everyone who's not up to your level of intelligence is stupid. Beneath you, below you. Like because you're some kind of genius that immediately makes you better than other people."

I glare at him. "I do not."

"Maybe you don't realize you do," He says as he looks up from the board to me. "But I know for a fact that while I believe you to be completely incompetent in terms of street smarts, you believe I'm a complete and utterly stupid person. Hence the reason you choose to try and handle this ridiculous mess yourself and run off on me."

I shrug and don't deny what he says, but I still feel my anger flare once again at his words. I take another one of his pawns.

"So," He starts again. "I've come to realize that the only way to get through to you that I'm not the idiot you believe me to be, is by proving it to you."

"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?" I ask him as I hide my smile. Three more moves and I'll have him in checkmate.

He shrugs. "I didn't have the slightest idea. I don't hold up to your level of intelligence, but just because you believe you're smarter than me doesn't mean I'm as stupid as you believe."

I look up from the board to him. "Oh really?" I question doubtfully.

There's no spark of anger in his eyes, no mischief. His expression is completely unreadable.

"I don't believe I'm smarter than you," I correct him. "I am smarter than you."

He shrugs nonchalantly. "Whatever you say."

He moves his piece and looks up at me.

"Checkmate, carrot top."

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