I dropped the file on Rob's desk and crossed my arms over my chest. "Done."
Rob picked up the file and raised his eyebrows. "Already?"
"I wasn't one of the best agents for no reason, Rob," I tutted. "Right, I'm off-"
"Not so fast," Rob said and shook his head. He pointed the the chair opposite his desk and I sighed and sat down.
"What?"
"Are you okay?"
"You did not make me stay and talk to you just so you can ask if I'm okay," I said and rolled my eyes. "What do you want?"
"Your help."
"You want my help? I thought I couldn't be trusted. Why would you want my help?"
"You can't be trusted," Rob shrugged, "but you're one of the few people that I can trust."
"Funny how that works out, eh?" I smirked.
"I'm preparing for a mission," Rob said.
"Shocker."
"I want you on it."
"Bummer."
"It's big, Daisy. Believe it or not, but we aren't exactly a secret."
I faked surprise. "Really?"
"Daisy, this is serious. We aren't the only organisation like us, there are more out there, however only one can remain."
"And?"
"I have a lead on another organisation like us, but they are corrupt. They kill the bad, and the good. They kill whoever, as long as they get paid."
"They sound terrible," I said dryly.
"I want you to help me stop them," Rob said.
"Why me?"
"Because you have a personal link to them."
I frowned and sat up in my chair. "Explain."
"The target that kidnapped you and tortured you works for this organisation. If you help me bring this organisation down then you bring the person that put you through hell down."
"He'll know my face, there's no way I can go on a mission where I'll be compromised," I said dismissively.
"You won't be compromised. The person that tortured you is working abroad. No one will know who you are," Rob said.
"What if I don't want to do it?" I said.
"I said I need your help, but I won't take no for an answer," Rob said sternly and I raised my eyebrows.
"Now there's a shock."
"Daisy, this is really important."
"Yes, you've said that."
Rob narrowed his eyes at me. "Just prepare yourself. I will tell you the details nearer the time."
I stood up from the chair and walked towards the door. "You better send someone to clear up the body."
UNKNOWN
"How did this happen?"
"We... We don't know, sir."
"So you can't tell my why a random teenager killed one of our agents!"
"I... No... We... We can't, sir."
The man stood up from his desk in frustration and slammed his hands down. "Then find out! How hard can it be to find a stupid teenage girl!"
"Harder than you think, sir."
"You've got her photo, track her down!"
"We've tried, sir. We've come up with nothing."
The man sighed and pursed his lips. "Bring me my son and a picture of the girl. I'll let him deal with this.
I looked to the side when somebody climbed onto the running machine beside mine and I looked into Eli's eyes.
"Hey," he grunted and I nodded, quickly looking away from him. "Rob told me about the new mission," he said and I rolled my eyes.
"Of course you're on it," I muttered.
"It's big. He's going to want the best."
"And I'm still under that category?"
"Surprisingly," Eli nodded.
"Nice," I scoffed.
"How are you, Daisy?"
"Wonderful."
"Honestly?"
"You don't need me to tell you how I am really. I'm sure you already know," I sighed.
"I do, and I'm afraid I have some bad news for you, princess," Eli said and I glanced at him.
"What?"
"Emma is on the mission."
"I should have shot you last night as well," I sighed and Eli scoffed.
"You wouldn't be able to even raise the gun before I took it from you," he said.
"You need your head pulled from your ass," I said matter of factly. "Wait... Why is she on it? She's not one of the best."
"She's the best for the role she's needed for," Eli sighed. "I don't want her there either."
"Mason will be mortified that his infested fuck buddy will be leaving him," I said.
"Nope, he's on the mission as well," Eli said.
"How do you know this?"
"I'm taking point. It's going to be an isolated mission, practically no contact with the Agency. Blake, Adam and I are in charge."
"Oh, fantastic," I said sarcastically.
"Rob had to make sure there was at least one person who could keep you in check, princess," Eli murmured.
"Keep me in check?"
"You're a little reckless," Eli shrugged.
"And you think that Blake and Adam can keep me in check?"
Eli shrugged. "I'm pretty sure they can, if not then I definitely can, princess."
"Excuse me?" I said. "You what?"
Eli raised an eyebrow at me and smirked to himself.
"You're delusional."
"No, I'm just better than you."
"Better at being a prick? Yes you are."
"You're better a being a bitch," Eli shrugged, but his tone was lighthearted.
Surprisingly, I didn't get annoyed by him saying that.
"I'm going to make this mission hell for you," I said sweetly.
"I'll do the same," Eli said, returning the smile.
"Game on."
"Game on, princess."
It was that night again. The night it happened. I could see Michael Moore clearly, above me.
I was screaming and crying, begging him to stop, but he wouldn't.
It wouldn't stop.
"Daisy!"
"No!" I yelled. "Please!"
"DAISY!"
My eyes flew open and I gasped loudly, looking up into Eli's eyes. "Shit," I coughed. I was sweaty and hot. "Bad dream."
"No shit," Eli said and slowly released my wrists. "You tried to hit me."
"Sorry," I muttered and rubbed my eyes, taking long breaths. "But you probable deserved it."
Eli ignored the last sentence. "You alright?"
"Fine."
"Liar," he scoffed and I narrowed my eyes at him.
"The nightmares are getting better. That's the first one I've had in a while," I said.
"No, it's the first one you've remembered in a while," Eli said and I frowned at him. "You get them quite frequently, you just don't remember dreaming about them. They started to get worse after you killed him."
"That was two months ago."
"I'm aware of that. I'm a light sleeper. I think I'm the only one who hears when you have a nightmare. However, the bad ones like just now... I think everyone heard that."
"Fuck," I groaned. "I thought I was getting better."
"You are. You're just a work in progress," Eli shrugged.
I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. "Thanks for waking me."
"I think the whole house thanks me for stopping your screaming."
"Was it that bad?"
"Quite," Eli nodded.
"Great."
I looked at Eli and frowned. I don't know why, but we have had a mutual understanding the past two months. We bickered and snapped, and he was still an ass, but we generally got along better. We were nowhere near best buds, but he had been helping me.
I was getting better with touch, thanks to our one on one frequent sparring sessions. I wasn't great with close contact, but I was slowly improving.
"Are you just going to stare at me?" Eli wondered and raised an eyebrow.
"You're in my room, if you don't want me to stare then get out," I shrugged.
"I should be the one staring," Eli said. "You look like a mess, princess."
"Excuse me?"
"Last nights dress and makeup is not an attractive look," he chuckled and stood up. "A clown is an accurate representation of what you look like."
"Oh fuck off," I snapped.
"Come down when you're cleaned up, Rob is here," Eli said as he walked to the door.
"Why?" I called.
"It's time for the long awaited big mission briefing."
As I descended the stairs into the lounge everyone turned to stare at me.
"What?" I snapped and crossed my arms over my chest.
"Nice of you to join us, Daisy," Rob said. "Take a seat."
I eyed the couches that everyone were squished onto and shook my head. "I'm good here," I muttered and leaned back against the wall.
"Now we have everyone, I can begin," Rob said and I took a note of everyone in the room.
Eli, Blake, Noah, Jack, Mason, Hampson, Carter, Tom, Dante and Emma.
"This is a big mission, it will be a long one and covert. Contact with the Agency will be minimal and extremely hidden. We cannot be caught. This mission could be high risk if it goes wrong. Everyone here has the option to back out," Rob said and looked around, waiting to see if anyone wimped out.
I raised my hand. "I don't want to do it."
Rob gave me a look. "You haven't got a choice."
"Now there's a surprise," I murmured.
"Right, listen in. The aim of the mission is simple. Get recruited into the other assassin agency we are planning to take down. This agency is corrupt. They kill whoever as long as they get paid. That can't continue. You will all attend a high school in the local town where this agency is located. The aim is to keep your ears open and get recruited. Simple enough?"
A murmur of yes's went around the room.
I stayed silent.
"You will each have to perfect your cover. It's vital you get it right. Now, a large group of young people moving to the same high school could be quite suspicious, so you will all pose as young offenders who have put in a group home in exchange for juvenile detention to try and get you back on the right track. However, your group home located in London, has been burnt down, thanks to Daisy who has a particular liking with arson."
"So you're giving me permission to burn shit?" I said.
"Not a chance. Daisy, your cover is simple. It's basically you. A troubled-"
"Troubled?"