Kaira Storm: The Teenage Girl's Guide to Saving the World in 24 Hours

Lesson Four - Keep Your Eyes On The Prize

I tiptoed out of Eva's room and quietly clicked the door shut. I looked down the upper hall of Nikolaev's mansion.

To my left was Mark's bedroom, Eva's seventeen-year-old brother and someone I could have fallen for in another lifetime. Further down the hall was Nikolaev's master bedroom.

To my right was the bathroom. Further down, at the end of the corridor, was the door to Nikolaev's home office.

I listened out, trying to hear where Nikolaev was. Was he downstairs? He usually spent the evenings in his home cinema room. But I couldn't hear anything.

All I could hear was the sound of my own heartbeat and Eva's words over and over again. My best friend.

I sighed. Whether her father was a mastermind terrorist or not, Eva was my best friend. It wasn't supposed to be that way. I was only supposed to pretend to be her friend to gain access to Nikolaev. That's my skill. That's what I do. But when you spend six months with a girl as kind and gentle and loving as Eva, you can't help but become her friend.

If it hadn't been for Eva, I don't know if I would have been able to push past my grief for Uncle Adam. Eva had been there for me when no one else was. Constantly moving from place to place meant I didn't have anyone close to me. Which I'm mostly fine with. But I couldn't help feeling guilty that I was leaving Eva right when she needed me the most.

I took a deep breath and moved forward. Just plant the devices in Nikolaev's office, then return and comfort Eva. Then you'll be on a plane back to Washington in the morning.

I made my way towards the home office. I had barely taken three steps when I heard a click behind me. A jolt of adrenaline pulsed through me.

'Kaira.' Mark's voice whispered behind me.

I turned to see Mark poking his head out from his bedroom. Oh, handsome Mark. How did you turn out so well with a father like Roman Nikolaev?

'Psst.' Mark waved me over. 'Come here.'

I walked over and stopped just outside his door.

'What?' I said.

'Nice shirt,' he said.

I looked down at my pyjama top. It had a picture of three disgustingly cute unicorns on it. Owen's idea of a joke. I folded my arms so that Mark couldn't look at the picture.

'It's ironic,' I said. 'I don't really like unicorns.'

'Sure,' he said. 'Can you just come inside?'

Mark stood back into his room.

'Why?' I said. 'I'm kinda busy.'

'Trying to break into my dad's office?' Mark smirked.

'No,' I said. 'I need the bathroom.'

'Two minutes,' he said. 'I promise. It's important.'

'Can't we do it another time?'

'Kaira, please.' Mark took my hand. 'It's about us.'

I felt myself blush. Damn it. I know where this is going. Mark's eyes were actually more pathetic and adorable than his sister's eyes. A real achievement.

'Okay,' I said. 'Just two minutes.'