A Penny For Your Tears [Z.M]

Twenty-Four

"What will you say if he asks you for your name?" Louis asked as paced about the room.

"Uhm." I hummed with creased eyebrows, not sure if this was a trick question. "Olivia?" I answered eventually and Louis groaned, throwing his head back in frustration.

"Wrong!" He exclaimed and I fought back the urge to punch him. We had been at this for almost a week. Louis was in charge of training me for the mission and clearly there was no love lost between us. I wondered why no one else could do it but apparently this was Louis' specialty and besides I learned that Sander was in charge of technology while Alexia was in charge of logistics. Liam, Niall, Louis, Harry and Zayn being the ones to actually execute the missions, Zayn was the leader of course. Harry and Zayn were currently busy strategizing and preparing for trip, Liam was sick which was slightly worrying as we were leaving to Russia tomorrow and Niall was busy with something so that left me with Louis. He wasn't to keen about  being stuck with me for a week but he knew the importance of the mission so he put his disdain for me aside.

"What's wrong with that?" I asked, exasperated.

"Volkov likes his girls, weak and innocent. If you're able to reply his question that means you're not weak enough in his eyes. We've been planning ways to infiltrate his system and save those girls for years, we can't lose it all just because he didn't want you." Louis explained as he grabbed his water bottle and took a sip.

"But, what if he doesn't pick me because there are other girls he thinks are better?"

"As long as you do as we told you to, trust me, he'll pick you." Louis took his phone from his pocket, sending someone a quick text. "I told Zayn you're ready, he should be here soon. He's prepping the jet for tomorrow, so it'll take a while for him to get here." I looked at him surprised.

"You think I'm ready?"

"Yes,"He nodded, putting his phone away. "You are. You're surprisingly good at pretending to be all weak and innocent so he'll fall for that easily. You know how to make a radio and to map coordinates for when you get in and you've learned how to shoot a gun. You're good to go."

I couldn't help but smile at his words, this was perhaps the least hostile thing Louis had ever said to me. "Wait, did you say that you had a jet here?" The thought only just now striking me.

"Yeah, we do. It's not too far from here but still far at the same time. It's better to use our own jet than go to the airport, it brings less attention towards us." I didn't  realize how serious all of this was until now, this was really something each of them invested so much in to and not for their own gain but for that of others. Of course, they had money from the drugs they sold as a cover up but that was mainly used for the maintenance of this whole operation and of course they needed to make a living somehow. Louis and I remained silent for while we waited for Zayn to come. I glanced over at him but saw that he was already looking at me, a heavy and sad look in his eyes.

"What?" I laughed, trying to play off the awkwardness.

"Olivia," He began looking around if anyone, if Zayn, was coming into the room. "Look, I know that Zayn and Harry have told you that everything will be alright, that we'll get there before he can do anything to hurt you. I'll be honest with you, Olivia, that simply isn't true. A lot can happen between the time you get in and the time we get in, you could get hurt, badly. Olivia, do you understand this." Louis grabbed on to shoulders with both his arms and stared intently into my eyes, trying to be certain that I was understanding what he was saying. I gulped giving him a small nod. I knew he was right, I could get hurt, but I couldn't back out, not now.

"Why are you telling me this." I let out in a frail whisper. He sighed running his hands through his hair.

"Because, unlike Harry and Zayn, I'm not in love with you.I can tell you the truth and won't make false promises of being able to protect you.I want you to be certain of what you're getting yourself into."