by Sara Schoen
I cringed at the memory. I had been so willing to run after watching my siblings die that I took Demon’s offer of a new way of life, which led me straight to Sandstorm.
Both of them were on a mission at the time. Sandstorm was undercover and used me to finalize a few parts for his entry into a weapons trade before shipping me off to CIRA, while Demon had been passing through to offer assistance. It was clear from how Sandstorm talked to me that he was glad to have someone around who understood how he felt. He must have been so lonely. While he didn’t say much about what brought him to CIRA, he had explained how he joined CIRA two years prior to meeting me and his cover for his disappearance was that he had been killed in a car accident along with a few of his friends, who were also recruited as new agents. According to the cover story, two cars had collided on an isolated road after a night of drinking with his friends and he had been undercover ever since. Mass recruitments weren’t out of the ordinary, but I couldn’t help but wonder how CIRA made it seem as if five people had lost their lives. Whether it was in a boating accident as Demon, and a few other new recruits, had done, or in a house fire like in Whip Lash’s cover story. Car crashes were the easiest to pull off, and were fairly common so they didn’t draw a lot of attention, but they also needed a lot of effort and timing, which made them seem impossible.
“He’s still undercover?” I questioned with a sigh. I hadn’t thought about Sandstorm since I left him to finish his mission about seven years ago. Seven years. In all that time he hasn’t stepped foot in this building, met any of the new agents, and he most likely didn’t know who we lost. Hopefully he’s excited to finally get out and see what the agency is like now and experience other types of missions. I can’t imagine being undercover for so long and coming back to see all of the changes, the new faces, and then learning some of my friends had died while I was gone. My heart ached momentarily as I thought over the last part. It always hurt to remember lost friends, but it also reminded me why I fought so hard. I did it for them.
“Yes he is, but back to you. Tell me about the mission.”
“Can’t you just ask Rum when she gets back? She’s coming back in about an hour, if she isn’t back already.” I glanced back toward the file on his desk. I had more important things to do. I wanted to talk to Night Stripe and figure out exactly what she knew and who told her about Harley. Then I needed to find him and end this before anyone else could be hurt. “Rum and Siren are going to tell you the same exact thing.”
Sharp Shooter glared at me. “That’s the point, Spit Fire.”
“Fine.” I leaned back against his desk as I went into detail about the mission. “We went to California to find the guy the FBI lost track of—you know, the one who was killing all those families last summer. We spent weeks tracking him down in hopes of catching him before he could kill again. Then the CIA got involved, and with their combined resources we managed to find him before anyone else got hurt.” I paused for a moment as I suddenly realized how to get out of CIRA for a few weeks to track down my stepfather. It could work, if I was lucky.
“And?” Sharp Shooter prompted.
“We had to kill him when he tried to attack us. With the threat eliminated we each decided whether or not to stay. Siren and Rum stayed to do some cleaning up, but I was pulled aside by the director of the CIA. He said he may need me for another mission soon and I should come back to rest for a few days. I told him I needed some time to gather a few things before taking another mission and he seemed understanding. He said he would call me when he needed me and give me the details.”
Sharp Shooter glanced me over as if waiting for me to fold. “What exactly do you have to do before taking another mission, Spit Fire? What are you looking for?”
“I’m not looking for anything.” I made sure to keep my face stoic as the lie left my lips before continuing. “It’s a family matter I have to deal with.”
Sharp Shooter raised an eyebrow in curiosity. He knew my family was mostly dead, except for my father and stepfathers, because I had explained to him what happened after Demon and Sandstorm recruited me. Why else would I have been so willing to give up my life? No one would abandon their life, everyone they knew and loved, just to start a new one here without a reason. They were always trying to get away from something in their past. Something pushed them in this direction, and I’m sure Sharp Shooter had agents looking everywhere for possible recruits with something ready to push them over the edge. How else could Demon and Sandstorm have found me so quickly? Someone must have seen that I had nothing left to live for and called it in. Hell, maybe even Demon saw it himself and thought I would make a good agent. They took me in, found out what my strengths were, and worked with me on them until I could be turned into a weapon.
“What kind of family matter?”
“I heard my biological father passed away. I just want some time to figure out if it’s true and if it is I’d like to take a day and pay my respects.”
I could see the disbelief in Sharp Shooter’s eyes. In the seven years I’ve been here, never once had I mentioned my father to him. Frankly, I didn’t care whether he died or not because I partially blamed him for our family’s deaths. If he had watched out for us better, then maybe my siblings would still be alive. But if I had been more vigilant then maybe we wouldn’t have walked into that trap. It wasn’t right to blame him when my stepfather was the one responsible for sending us away, but it made me feel better to think it wasn’t entirely my fault. I couldn’t live with the guilt.
“Are you sure that’s all that’s bothering you?”
My gaze didn’t falter. I held his incriminating glare until he relented. Whether he believed me or not, I wouldn’t tell him the truth until everyone was safe from Harley and the remaining members of the Cardoza Cartel.
“You can have all the time you need, Spit Fire, but I want to be kept up to date on it. Tell me when the director calls, what’s going on, and I want updates during the mission. As for your father, you can request a day of leave should you wish to visit him.”
I nodded, waiting for more to come but it didn’t. We stared at each other in silence. His steady gaze seemed as if he was attempting to intimidate me into telling the truth, but if that’s what he wanted he was out of luck. I had my story and I’d stick with it until the end. I waited patiently to receive an order and eventually he gave in.
“You can go now, Spit Fire,” he said with a quick flash of his gaze toward the door. “Thanks for coming in, and I still want a report when you get back from working with the CIA.”
“Great.” The word lingered in the air longer than usual, showing my distaste for these useless meetings. At least this time I got something out of it—a cover story. I raised my hand as a quick goodbye before turning to leave the room, trying not to give him a chance to call me back. I wasn’t fast enough though.
“Oh, Spit Fire.” Sharp Shooter’s voice picked up a few notches, as if he had suddenly remembered something. When I turned back I saw a familiar knowing smile that told me he knew what was really going on. “Night Stripe was in the team room with Renegade before they followed me in here. When you finish talking to them, send them back to me. I know they aren’t done talking about this.” He shook the file lightly in his hand. I noticed he didn’t mention the contents. He didn’t know I already looked inside, and thankfully he wouldn’t know that I intended to hold off their mission to Washington for as long as possible.
I nodded again. “Thanks, I’ll send them right to you when I’m done talking to them.” I quickly left, pulling the door shut behind me. Thankfully this time I made it out. If I spent too much time talking my lie could fall apart before I was ready. I could mess up my story and I didn’t want to let that happen. The less I said, the better, at least until I had finished and could tell them what I’d actually done.
Chapter 3
I looked for Night Stripe in the team lounge, but didn’t find her. I couldn’t even find Renegade to ask where she was. I was s
ure he would know where his girlfriend had escaped to. They seemed to keep pretty accurate tabs on each other while in the building and on missions, but they may not know exactly where the other is during the day. I had to find her before I ran out of time. I tried not to worry. This building was only so big and she hadn’t ventured through most of it. I knew she hadn’t taken a mission, otherwise she wouldn’t be pushing Sharp Shooter so hard about going after the Cardoza Cartel. She must be going stir crazy from being locked up in the building for too long and was looking for something to do. If Rum was back early then she’d be training in anticipation for facing the cartel again. They had caught her once and I knew she didn’t want it to happen again.
I followed my instincts and went to see if she was training. She usually spent the day training with Rum whenever her mentor was around. Even when she wasn’t, Night Stripe still spent time keeping up with her training, but not as intensely as when Rum was here to keep her motivated. They had become close friends despite Rum’s initial reaction to having to train Hess’ replacement and Night Stripe’s knee-jerk reaction to waking up here.
I remember seeing her running through the halls on her first day. The sheer panic on her face as she rushed passed agents, who looked at her in complete confusion and distaste, still made me laugh to this day. It had taken me a few moments to figure out why she was running until I saw Demon and Sharp Shooter chasing after her. I didn’t blame her for trying to escape. Demon and Whip Lash could have handled her recruitment better than kidnapping her. That would terrify anyone. A majority of us had known what we were getting into, while she was just thrown into it.
Meanwhile, Rum was still in pain over the loss of her mentor. She hadn’t expected to lose Hess, and then being forced into training her replacement didn’t make things easier on her. Rum talked about it so often I understood how she felt, but it couldn’t have been easy on either of them. She cared for Night Stripe, but refused to show it at first; just in case she didn’t make it back from her first mission. Even after the mission, they had a rough relationship. Though as I entered Rum’s training space I knew they had worked it out to a point.
Night Stripe crashed to the floor, most likely taken down by a move Rum had learned while training with monks, before Rum helped her friend back to her feet. Frankly, I wasn’t sure how much of Rum’s story I believed. I hadn’t bought the monk story from the moment I joined, but whether it was true or not didn’t affect me. It didn’t change the person she was or how I saw her, but if I had to guess I would say she made it up because she didn’t want to talk about her real past and figured making up a story would be easier than telling the truth.
“Hey, Spit Fire. What brings you here?” Rum didn’t even look in my direction. She was too distracted watching Night Stripe brush the dust off of her clothes and inspect the bruises present on her arms from their close combat training.
I wasn’t sure how she knew it was me, but at least she wasn’t yelling at me to get out as she usually did to anyone who interrupted her training. I’ll take what I can get. “I’m here to speak to Night Stripe. Then after, Sharp Shooter wants her back in his office to discuss whatever is in that file she left on his desk.”
Night Stripe waved her hand dismissively as she turned to get water. “He doesn’t want to talk about it until I have more information. Plus, Renegade will be needed for that debate. Otherwise, I’ll just end up on house arrest again.”
I didn’t argue with her. I’m sure Sharp Shooter had only told me he wanted to see her so he could let me know that he knew I was up to something. “More information on what exactly?”
The question affected Night Stripe more than I had expected. She tensed and seemed slightly reluctant to answer as she looked toward the ground instead of at me. Sharp Shooter’s words must have gotten to her about starting a panic within the building. I knew she cared deeply for everyone in this building, as we all did. We looked at each other as family because that’s what we were, and we were all we any of us had left. Though Night Stripe wasn’t usually the type to hold back when talking to a friend. I noticed she quickly cast a glance in Rum’s direction as if to ask approval before speaking, maybe Rum had told her to keep quiet as well.
Usually, I would be more delicate on how to handle this, but I didn’t have time for these games. There had to be a way to rush through this. As soon as the thought crossed my mind I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. I knew how to get Night Stripe to talk, but pulling at her loyalty to other agents and the loss of life was low, even for me.
That didn’t stop me though.
“Night Stripe, I already know it’s about the Cardoza Cartel. I was there in Sandtown when we lost agents and I could have been one of them. I have a right to know if they’re back; everyone does. You can’t hide it from us and act like you’re protecting us. What good will that do?”
“It doesn’t do any good to tell you before we know everything either,” Rum interjected instantly, stepping up to protect her mentee. My assumption was right; she had told Night Stripe not to say anything. Now she wanted to keep me from asking for more information. “We don’t have all the information yet, and telling everyone with only bits and pieces will only make things worse. It’s best just to wait. You’ll find out soon enough.”
“But why do you both get to know what’s going on? How is that fair?” The words came out harsher than anticipated, but I couldn’t help it. I had to push them. Eventually, one of them would give up and I’d be on my way. I’d feel bad about hurting them later, but in the long run I was saving them.
Another pang of guilt rushed through me. I would be doing the same thing Night Stripe and Rum were trying to do. I was going to hide what I knew in order to protect them and hope for the best. I mentally shook myself. I would actually do something about the cartel. I would stop the cartel before they could kill more agents. I wouldn’t hide the information and stay in CIRA waiting for the right time to strike. I’d go now and end it myself.
“I’m not allowed to talk about it.” Night Stripe’s voice came out stronger than before. As if she was ready to argue the matter with me before I snapped at one of them again. She had a strong will and when angered she would fight, whether it was worth it or not. Maybe that’s what I needed.
“That’s never stopped you before,” I retorted.
Night Stripe’s eyes turned to slits; angered by me pushing her so roughly. Her mouth twitched as if she wanted to say something but was forcing herself not to reply. She opened her mouth, most likely to respond with a smart-ass remark, but Rum placed a hand on her shoulder and told her to relax. Soon after, Night Stripe turned to walk away, but I wouldn’t let her until I got what I came for. While there must be a punishment in place if she spoke about it, I didn’t care. I had to know what she knew so I could save them.
“Night Stripe, don’t turn your back on a friend. Hasn’t this job taught you anything? Shouldn’t you be loyal to those you work with and protect them as fiercely as you do others?”
“I am protecting you,” she yelled as she turned back to face me. “I’m doing what I’m supposed to. I’m looking into it. I’m gathering all the information I can, then I’ll tell people and together we will form a plan. We are going to do this safely and that takes time. I don’t want to lose more agents than we have to.”
“Time is something we don’t have if they are trying to assemble again, and this time, they’ll know we’re coming.”
“You think I don’t know that? You think I want to sit here and wait for them to prepare for us? I’d rather have them kill me now than risk your life or Renegade’s or some new recruit’s who is on their first mission.” Her words cut me like a knife. She knew better than most about the Cardozas and what they were capable of. She wanted them gone as badly, if not more, than anyone in this building. “I’m pushing Sharp Shooter as hard as I can, but I don’t have all of the information. Demon is currently in Russia with Katya trying to collect everything she has. She’s the only reaso
n we know anything about this guy. He’s trying to start trading with her as the Cardozas did with her father, and she’s taken the offer to help us. She’s acting as a double agent for us and risking her life and the lives of her people if he finds out and decides to retaliate. I can’t risk her, her people, and us on a whim. I need a plan.”
“You could have others who would help you with that!”
“That’s why they already know. I know you have something against cartels and mafias, Spit Fire, and I may not know exactly what it is, but I can see it’s already clouding your judgment. You don’t normally act like this. Something is wrong. It’s clearly triggered you, and if you want me to tell you what I know, then tell me the truth. Just remember Rum will know if you’re lying.”
Night Stripe smirked, knowing she had caught me. I didn’t want to tell them what I was planning. I turned to Rum in hopes she would help me. We've been friends longer than her and Night Stripe, but Rum flashed me a smirk similar to her pupil’s. I actually missed when they were at each other’s throats. This would’ve worked out better for me.
“Fine, long story short, my stepfather was in charge of a mafia. He was planning on marrying my mom and then taking control, much like Camden’s plans with Danielle. Well, he caused a divorce between my first stepdad and my mom, so she sent my siblings and I off to live with my dad while she sorted everything out. While over there, my brother and sister were killed. After she married him she figured out what he did and she died shortly after. I blame him for my family’s deaths. I’m trying to find him and I want to know what’s going on with the Cardozas because he used to trade with them.” I glared directly into Night Stripe’s eyes as I added, “You of all people should know about wanting revenge.” I hoped by adding that statement it would prevent Rum from realizing I hadn’t given them the whole truth.