Stark's Winged Daughter (S.P.N.D. Book 3)

Chapter 6: Not What She Seems

***

Thankfully, Pitch didn't take advantage of what my dad did last night and give me a nightmare. I did, however, sleep like garbage.

Rising long before my Uncle and not much longer before the sun, I got ready for the day. By the time I was dressed Uncle Happy was knocking on my door.

"Come in!" I shout.

The door opens, and I'm surprised by what I see.

"Natalie, what a surprise."

"I'm here to pick you up, Miss Stark."

I look over at Uncle Happy, who nods. "I need to go check on Pepper, but you'll be safe. She's just dropping you off with Tony."

"Let me grab my stuff," I tell her with a sigh. "I'd like an explanation in the car, though."

Natalie gives me a polite smile and offers to help, which I decline.

***

With my stuff in hand- Uncle Happy said he would take Shadow with him -I followed Natalie downstairs. As we walked through the doors, a black van was waiting for us.

She opens the door to the backseat for me, and I see someone familiar in the front seat. A tall man with a leather jacket and black eyepatch that I've seen a few times before.

Director Fury.

"Hey, Fury," I say. Tossing my bag in the seat and getting in, I already know that I don't really have a choice in going. What happened to my dad to make him get me? "To what do I owe this visit?"

"A few reasons" Natalie answers as she gets in the passenger's seat.

"Miss Stark, meet Agent Natasha Romanoff," Fury tells me.

"Appears I was right about you." I smirk. "Partly, at least."

"You nearly compromised her. We had to let you in."

"And my dad?"

"That's where we're going now," Natasha says as we pull out of the parking lot.

***

"So just where are we going?" I ask from the backseat.

Director Fury is driving me and the woman I falsely knew as Natalie somewhere, but they won't tell me much. The two remain silent as I slump in my seat, annoyed that I'm not getting any answers. I look out the tinted window, though the landscape tells me nothing.

Eventually we pulled up to a donut shop. RANDY'S DONUTS is printed on a large sign shaped like a donut on the roof of the building. In the center of the donut, sits my father in the Iron Man suit.

Fury steps out first. "Sir! I'm gonna have to ask you to exit the donuts."

My dad tilts his sunglasses, but Fury just walks toward the entrance. Eventually my dad flies down and joins him.

I try to open my door, but find it locked. "Really? A child lock?"

"I could have sworn I unlocked it." The red haired woman gave a faint smirk. "I'll let you out."

Biting back a comment, I glare at her through the window. The door opens and she extends her hand to help me out, but I just ignore it and get out on my own.

She rolls her eyes. "You really are your fathers daughter."

"After last night I don't think you mean that as a compliment."

I follow her to the back door, where she tells me to wait for a moment and check to make sure there isn't anyone else in the building.

Then we walk out, her leading while I walk behind. My dad sits in a booth by the window, looking across at Nick Fury, who watches as we join them.