Page 82 of Spies Like Us

“We’ll stay alert, and I’ll be home in a little while. For now, the only thing we can do for her is not blow her cover. I have no doubt she will be fine. Don’t think about the beautiful, funny, loving girl we’ve gotten to know. Think about Phantom, who very nearly kicked all of your asses on her own.”

Max hangs up, and Ry gives me another squeeze. “Please be careful,” he whispers, because we both know this will be the last time we see each other until the end of the mission. “And take care of our girl.”

He looks frantic, and I give him a big kiss, taking charge for once. I grip his chin and angle his mouth so I can kiss him fully. When he pulls away, he’s dazed, and I feel a little smug.

“I won’t have to. She has this shit,” I assure him, positive I’m telling the truth.

Chapter 37

DAYTON

The next twenty-four hours are frantic. Max returns home and suggests we get some rest, but I’m pretty sure none of us do. When I hear Anders’s truck pulling up early Friday morning, I hurry downstairs to see if he has any news. I find Lathan fast asleep with his head on the kitchen table, his screen showing the cell that Mac is in, but now it’s not just Mac. Miller is there as well. He’s unconscious, and she is sitting on the floor with his head in her lap. I can see her stroking his hair and whispering words to him, but there is no sound.

Anders walks in looking dejected and tosses his keys on the table. “He’s gone,” he mutters as he pulls a beer out of the fridge, popping the top and downing half of it.

Ry bursts in and looks around, and his shoulders sink when he finds Miller missing. “They took him?” he asks flatly, and Anders nods.

“Yeah. I was distracted after work. Matthew needed me for something, and in that time, he disappeared. Keith told me he got a lift home with a female friend.”

Ry scoffs, but Lathan waves him over so he can see his boyfriend on the screen. “He’s hurt,” he says, looking at our teammates.

“Yeah, same as Mac. He’ll be alright.” I try to reassure him, but I doubt it works.

“There was another delivery too. Just after midnight, they brought another girl in. She was kicking and screaming. She was a real fighter. I could see her and Mac talking once they were left alone, but of course I can’t hear what was said.” Lathan sounds exhausted.

“Okay, it’s business as usual. The auction finishes at ten tonight, and payment is required within the hour. The merchandise will be shipped as soon as funds appear in the correct account. We need to be ready to move. Agents are watching the ports and trailing our suspects.”

“We just need to wait for Mac’s and Miller’s trackers to move. This will be fine. Be suited up and ready to go tonight by ten—full combat gear, vests, and helmets,” Max orders us.

“I’m not going to school today,” Ry argues, but Max shakes his head.

“You have to, or it will seem suspicious if you don’t. You also need to ask where Mac and Miller are. You’ve been seen with both of them, so of course you’re going to notice they are missing.”

Ry looks pained, but he doesn’t argue. None of us head back to bed, so I make us some breakfast. Nobody is particularly hungry, but we need to keep up our strength, so we pick at the food. My friends are unusually quiet and subdued as we all get ready for our day. Anders and I are going to keep an eye on the video feed. If anything goes wrong, we will extract Mac and Miller while the others stick to their covers. I already advised Kevin I wouldn’t be in for the next few days.

Max, Lathan, and Ry head off to school as I make a pot of coffee and take the first watch. Anders is going to grab a few hours of sleep, while I keep an eye on the video feed. Tonight can’t come quickly enough for me. I can’t wait to see the back of this town.

LATHAN

The day drags. There are a lot of questions regarding Miller’s and Mac’s disappearance, and by the end of the day, the rumor is he knocked her up and they ran off together.

At lunch, Jessica is overheard denying the rumors. “Mac was offered early entry to college and took it, and Miller worked late last night, so Martha gave him permission to stay in bed.”

I wonder how long it will take the house to realize that two more of the teens who live there have gone missing. Hopefully it’s the last time, and Percy will find suitable places for the rest of them.

Stella is practically gleeful in French. She keeps looking at Mac’s and Miller’s empty seats and giggling, but the woman does have a huge bruise blooming on her cheek, so maybe she has a slight concussion. Somehow, I have a feeling that Mac is responsible for the damage, and I can’t help but feel pleased.

When we get home, Dayton and Anders report that Miller woke midmorning, and that he was okay. I dug through the footage last night when we realized she’d been taken, and once again, there was a blank spot on the film, so we still don’t know for sure who is responsible. The only good part is that both Mac and Miller must know by now—unless they were caught by surprise.

I obsessively watch the auction page. The bids are creeping up, but the ones for Mac and Miller are the most furious. Eventually, it gets to an amount that leaves only three bidders. Usually, I’m happy being stuck behind a screen, but this feels like somewhat of a nightmare. I have the same training and skills as the rest of the team, but I prefer to be behind the scenes. I lack the confidence that’s needed when bullets are flying, but I’m still an asset with my other skills. It took me a long time to feel like I was an equal part of this team—not that any of them made me feel that way. I was considered an equal by them from the start, but my upbringing wasn’t the easiest. My foster homes weren’t nightmares like Miller’s, but at best, my foster parents were indifferent. They were happy that I had an interest in technology, and they didn’t have to entertain me. It wasn’t until Percy approached me personally and invited me to the academy that I felt seen. This team is everything to me, and Mac has quickly found a place in my heart. I love being around her, and I love that she sees me and doesn’t feel like she needs to change me. She likes me for me, nerdy traits and all, and that’s what I love best about her. She is going to bring fireworks when she does finally move into our house. It’s going to be a blast to watch her butt heads with all of our strong personalities. I’m going to make sure I have plenty of popcorn.

Ry and I arrive home before Max. The four of us hang around in the kitchen, at a loss for something to do while we wait for the final bids. Max walks in about half an hour later.

“I just got invited to a poker night with the ‘boys.’” He makes quote marks with his fingers. “Brock told me it was nonnegotiable if I didn’t want to ruin my father’s career.”

“Fuck. What time?” Anders asks, and Max grimaces.

“Ten.”

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