Double Agent

Deception

"Your ex?" I burst out, caught off guard by the admission.

Sage nodded, plucking a cushion from behind her and resting it on her lap. Her fingers traced the intricately threaded edge as I sat down at the foot of the bed, my mind catching up with the revelation.

"I guess that explains the awkwardness earlier." I shrugged with a small laugh.

"Pretty much." She agreed.

"Bad break-up?"

"It was more of a bad relationship by the end." Sage corrected me, "The unhealthy kind. We all have our demons, but Daya's got too much for our relationship to survive. I ended it, and it's been something that has left its mark ever since."

Sage's expression and affectionate tone left me in no doubt that she still cared about Daya. I wondered what the demons where that broke them apart, but I knew better than to ask.

"I can't imagine it's easy for her to see you and Luke together." I added, getting back to my feet and throwing some more items in the bag.

"I know it's not, and I hate how much it hurts her."

"Why work together if that's the case?" I asked, pulling a pair of boots out of the wardrobe and changing into them.

"Because those issues pale in comparison to others. We are all a family, and when one of us needs help, the rest will be by their side, no matter what."

What she said echoed in my head, I wasn't sure if she was referring to herself, Daya, or someone else by this point. I saw the flash of regret in her eyes, as though she'd said something that she shouldn't have. Before I could say anything else, she sat up straight, tossing the cushion aside and clearing her throat.

"Are you nearly done? We should be getting back." She said brusquely.

"Almost." I replied, taking the hint at the dramatic abandonment of the subject. "Just got to grab some stuff from the bathroom."

I moved around the bed, heading for the en-suite, and pushing the door partially closed behind me as I entered. I made a quick grab for some meaningless essentials, ensuring that I made just enough sounds for her not to suspect anything whilst I looked for the reason that I was really in here. I checked every hiding place in sight, but still no sign, until my eyes fell on a washing basket in the corner of the room. Making my way toward it, I lifted the lid and plunged a hand inside, feeling something hard below a thick jumper. Tossing it aside, I smiled to myself as I saw the gun beneath it and picked it up, noticing a folded piece of paper nestled underneath. I quickly and quietly unfolded it seeing Henry's handwriting scrawled across the page.

New ammo in suitcase lining, gun armed. We're watching. H.

My eyes darted around the room, looking for something to write with, falling on a pencil eyeliner by the sink. I scurried across the room, picking it up and turning the paper over quickly writing a short reply.

Sage & Eddie were at docks. Daya... No surnames. Urgent call from "Rae" this morning.

Tucking it back into the basket, I looked back at the gun in my hand. It felt reassuring to be armed again, my only concern now, was getting it out of the house and into theirs without being caught. Giving the gun a quick once over, I slid it down the side of my boot, and left the room.

"Okay, done." I announced as I rejoined Sage, throwing the bag of bathroom stuff into the case as she slid from the bed, straightening her top and bending to grab the duffle at her feet.

"Awesome."

She started for the door, whilst I grabbed the case, lifting it from the bed and beginning to wheel it out of the room.