G.U.A.R.D. Book #1: Clandestine

-21-

    I felt sick to the stomach. When I realized earlier that Dustin and I weren't Mom's only kids, I didn't even think that one would be pointing a gun at my face not a day later. But here we were, I in the clutches of a sister I didn't know I had, and Knife not even having the decency to look guilty. No, her face was as stony as ever.

In the past, I would sometimes wonder what life would be like if Dustin was actually a girl, and what it would be like to have an older sister. We would probably do all those cliche things movies and books say girls do—like putting our hair up in messy buns, laying on a couch or bed together, and texting random friends. Or snapchatting each other, despite the fact we would be in the same room.

We would talk about the hottest actors on TV, then delve into crushes. She would give me advice because she's a few years older, and I would ignore her words of wisdom and do stupid things anyway. We would take seflies and post them on Facebook with captions like "#sistersforever#" or "#sistersarebestfriends."

She would give me makeovers while we talked about what we hoped the future would look like, and as our face masks are drying on a random night, we would eat unhealthy midnight snacks and sing along to our favorite albums.

Basically all the cheesy stuff guys think we do. Aka, everything Winter wouldn't let me do because it's too "girly."

What I didn't have in mind was meeting up in a flying gas station and having her point a gun at me.

As soon as her words registered, though, a few other things clicked into place. If Wing was my sister, and she called Knife "Aunt Carly," that meant Knife and Mom weren't only good friends; they were sisters. It made complete sense. Why she "cared about me more than other recruits," why she was always reluctant to discuss my family, why a falling out with Mom would be a whole lot bigger than if they had been "just friends." I mean, like Knife said, they weren't exactly on speaking terms.

And if Knife was my aunt, that meant Jay was my cousin. No wonder he was so caring.

"Did I just give away classified information?" Wing asked Knife.

"I doubt you care," Knife growled.

"Oh, you know me so well," Wing said dryly. "Here's something I do care about though: what was on the file you gave Mom?"
Knife stared at Wing a moment before saying, "Let the rookie go-"

"So she won't hear you dirty, little secrets? Just like you did with me growing up? No, I think I'll let her stay."

I shuddered in her grip.

"What was on the file?" Wing repeated.

"It wouldn't interest you-"

"Oh, I think it would, considering Mom left right after you gave it to her."

Knife slowly put her gun down. "She didn't leave because of the file, Blair."

Wing snarled. "Don't call me that."
Knife ignored the interruption. "You know why she left."
I hoped Wing—or Blair, whichever one—would elaborate further on the cryptic statement, but instead, she said, "Even if she didn't leave because of the file, you still gave it to her as she was leaving. What was so special about it that you didn't want it to stay in G.U.A.R.D.? And why is it so special that the League is after it?"

I knew it. The League didn't want me or Dustin. They wanted information—the file Knife gave Mom. Meaning Knife knew exactly why the League was after us.

"If you're just here for information, then let her go," Knife told Wing.

"Don't be stupid. The League wants her dead."