British Exchange Agent

Chapter 38

"Trey, you need to calm down." I started, my voice firm. "I get that you care - and I'm grateful, but now is not the time or place for a big-brother-bashing session."

Alejandro glanced at me, dragging his eyes away from Trey, and smirked.

"Big brother bashing session?" He repeated, amused.

"And." I continued. "I have reached an agreement with Cyrus and the..." I paused, glancing at the men. Could I tell Trey about the Mafia? I caught Santiago's eye, and he nodded.

"And the Mafia. We share a similar purpose - taking down a target criminal."

Trey didn't move, but let out a low grunt, head still in his hands. Cyrus stumbled away from the wall, stretching his arm out and jarring it back in its socket. I winced at the crack, causing him to send an apologetic smile my way.

"How can I help?"

Everyone's eyes shot back to Trey in surprise. He slowly lifted his head up, looking around the room seriously. His eyes caught on mine.

"You're the only family I have in the whole world. You think I don't know about your assignments? I'm gonna help my little sister kick ass."

I raised an eyebrow, my eyes wide. He held up his hands quickly.

"I get it's your mission. You're fully capable. But if I can assist you in any way, count me in."

I glanced around the room, before my eyes drifted back to Trey. A smirk grew on my face, before I slowly nodded.

"Alright. Welcome to the team."

***

I stepped out of the shower, water still cascading down by body. The cold water was a relief from the heat refreshing. Crisp.

I wrapped a pristinely-white towel around myself, drying my skin quickly. Santiago's guest bathroom was a haven of black indulgence, laced with gold.

I slipped on the t-shirt they had provided me - it was the smallest men's shirt they had, but it still swamped me. Tugging on my dirty, ragged jeans, I screwed my nose up in disgust. It felt wrong to wear something so dirty after a shower.

Instead of my signature, tight ponytail, I decided to leave my damp hair down, settling uncomfortably on my shoulders.

Thump.

I flinched, my whole body filling with a surge of adrenaline. Spinning around, my hands shook as I scanned the area. My eyes landed on the shampoo bottle I had accidentally knocked over, and I swallowed, reaching down to place it back on the sink.

My hands trembled uncontrollably, my breathing coming out in short gasps. I was never this jumpy. I was always on high alert, but never skittish.

Never scared.

I let out a deep breath, folding the towel and placing it back on the rack.

"Calm down, Kayla." I whispered to myself, my words slow and shaky. "Don't be ridiculous." I let out a strangled laugh. "And now I'm talking to myself. Great!"

My eyebrows creased together as I unlocked the door and walked out of the bathroom, shaking my head. The room was dimly lit - the curtains had been drawn and the light was fading from the sky.

I walked over to the door, trying to calm my nerves. Why did I feel like something was wrong?

"Calm down." I whispered to myself.

Calm down.

Calm down.

Calm down.

All of a sudden, once my had fingers reached the door handle, a striking pain shot through my head.

Then, black.

Pitch. Black.

***

Cyrus's P.O.V.

"What do you mean she's not here?" I growled slowly, my hands clenching into fists as I slowly stood up. The guard trembled in front of us - a strange sight coming from a bulky guy standing at six foot. Trey shot out of his chair beside me, glowering at the man in front of us.

"She-she didn't come out of the guest room. We were standing outside, guarding it the whole time. There's just no-one there." He whimpered. My jaw clenched, my eyes flashing murderously.

"Then where did she go?" I asked, my words deceptively slow, calm. "Because she couldn't have been taken against her will; that would, of course, cost you more than your life."

He swallowed, blinking rapidly.

"I am sure-"

"What are you sure of?" Trey demanded, shoving his chair out of the way and causing it to crash to the ground. The 'man' flinched at the sound. "That my sister is safe? How can you be sure?" His features dark, Trey glowered at the guard, looking like he wanted to murder him.

"The only thing we found was this." The guard quivered, shakily holding out a lighter. My eyes widened as everyone else looked around in confusion.

"No." I breathed, taking the lighter from his hands and turning it over. It was metal, with black tinges all over it. "No. No. No!" I shouted, hurling it across the room. It crashed into the wall, cracking it badly.

I couldn't care less.

"What? Do you know where she is?" Hatrov asked, his brows furrowed. I paced back and forth, running a hand down my face.

"A few days back - in Mexico - Kayla used that lighter to burn Dereck's files. His computer. She didn't think I noticed her but I knew the whole time." I informed them, my voice low and empty. "I followed her."

"Wait a second..." Alejandro said slowly, holding up a hand. "You mean-"

"Yep. That's right." I interrupted curtly. "Dereck has Kayla."

"Isn't that your dad?" Trey enquired, turning to face me with a raised eyebrow. I stopped pacing to shoot him a murderous glare, my words coming out icy and deliberately slow.

"That. Man. Is not. My. Father."

*~*~*~*~*

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