Betrayal Codes

Chapter 7: Libby

The Agency has trained us for these situations — we've hidden in exactly nineteen vans during training over the years. Yet no training session could have prepared us to share the cramped space with three teenage boys.

"Could you please get your foot out of my face, Aiden? I swear, the stench is going to suffocate me soon," Shay whispers.

"Where else am I supposed to put it?" Aiden shifts, hitting my head with his elbow. I let out a curse, covering my mouth quickly and praying the driver didn't hear our commotion.

"Are you sure you've done this before?" Cole jokes, leaning in, breath tickling my ear, causing me to shiver while my heart begins to clang in my chest. Ever since he started being friendly with me, joking around and complimenting me, my heartbeat changes when he's near. Why did he have that effect on me? Why did my teenage hormones have to overpower the rest of my body?

"Shut up," I reply sharply, working to get my heart in control. These unwanted feelings were scrambling my emotions, causing me to react extremely. His gentle teasing made me pissed; Tucker's nervous fidgeting was getting on my nerves; and Cleo's tap tap tap on her keyboard was making my head spin. How did I let myself get so out of control?

Even though the van is pitch dark, I see him send me a What's up with you? look, to which I send a Nothing, get lost look in reply.

See? Extreme reactiveness.

The rest of the ride follows in silence, except for the occasional "Oof!" when the vehicle turns a sharp corner and we're thrown against the plastic crates surrounding us. When the van jolts to a stop, we wait for Cleo's cameras to boot up, showing us whether or not the coast is clear.

"Okay, the driver is getting out," Cleo whispers. "Approaching the back of the van, we may need to hide..." We shuffle behind the crate fort we made during the drive.

"Oh! Wait! They're leaving," Cleo exclaims, confusion echoing in her voice. "Wow, um, we're clear. The driver is heading inside."

"That was easier than we thought," Taylor remarks. No one makes a move to get out, probably wondering why this was the easiest van escape mission in history — I was too.

"Come on, guys. Better take the opportunity," I shrug, pushing the door open. Seizing this opening was vital. If we stayed too long, the driver would come back, preventing us from carrying out the plan. We would then fall asleep wishing we'd left when we had the chance.

We tumble out, stretching our cramped legs. I dive for our duffel before rearranging everything to its original form. "Let's get moving, guys. We can't waste precious time," I called behind me.

During this point in our mission, I enter a hawk-sense state. That's what Shay calls it when I'm extremely alert during a mission. I can hear and see almost anything, but this time, I didn't hear or see Cole.

"Sorry if I offended you back there," he says from behind, causing me to jump.

"Nope," I responded, maybe a bit too fast. "Here..." I shuffle through the garments in the bag until I find Cole's navy suit, passing it to him, glad for the distraction. "Go. Change. Quick."

"Yes, boss," he winks before fake-marching away. My heart pitter-patters in my chest, affected by the single wink. Fucking hormones.

Shay skips over to collect her outfit. "He's hot," she declares, snatching the burgundy, two-piece taffeta gown from my hand before following Cole down the path to change.

"I wish he wasn't," I mutter to myself. Dating locals is not illegal in the Agency, but is seriously frowned upon. Although it would be a great disguise, getting attached to a man you may never see again is dangerous.