The wind blew and the cabin moaned, and the look in Preston’s eyes made my stomach churn. I thought I might throw up.
“I’m not surprised about my father.” Preston was tracing circles on the table. I doubt he even realized he was doing it, but he kept doing it again and again. “He was a member of the Circle,” he said as if trying the words on for size. “Should I be surprised?”
He looked at Macey, who shrugged. “Our dads are politicians, Preston. Of course we grew up thinking they might be evil.”
“Preston.” I risked moving a little closer, sat down at the table and reached for his hand. “When I saw your dad, he told me the Circle leaders are planning something. We think…we think they are trying to start World War Three. And he told me you can help stop it.”
“How?” Preston sounded genuinely confused. “How am I supposed to know how to stop World War Three? That’s ridiculous.”
“I know how it sounds. It’s just…have you heard anything? Seen anything? Did your dad give you something for safekeeping or—”
“I don’t know anything, Cammie.”
“You have to. He told me you did. He—it was his dying breath, Preston. Now, think!”
“Cam.” Zach’s hand was on my shoulder, but I pushed on.
“You know something!”
“No.” Preston was rising, shaking his head. “No. No. Just…no.”
Even though the sun was growing higher, none of us had slept the night before. Stress and fear mixed with exhaustion, and I could sense Preston starting to crack.
Zach must have seen it too, because before I could press again, Zach took his arm. “Come on, Preston. Let’s get you some sleep.”
I thought I was alone on the porch. Right up until the moment when I felt Zach’s arms go around me. There are many advantages to being romantically involved with a spy, and totally spontaneous and unexpected hugging has to be one of them. I leaned against him, felt the warmth of his body against mine.
“You’re shaking,” he told me. He turned me to face him, ran his hands quickly up and down my arms. “You shouldn’t be out here like this.”
But it wasn’t the cold that shook me. It was shock or fear or maybe just the sensation of adrenaline draining from my body, so I shook harder.
Through the window I saw Preston sitting at the rickety little table, rocking slightly.
“How many will they send?” I asked. “For him.” I nodded in Preston’s direction.
“You mean the good guys or the bad guys?” he asked.
“Either,” I said with a shrug. “Both.” Then I had to laugh. “It’s getting harder to tell the difference.”
Zach shook his head. “I know the feeling.” Then he turned, and the sunlight sliced across his face.
“You’re bleeding,” I said.
I brought my sleeve up to touch the scrape near his hairline, but Zach moved away.
“It’s nothing. I’m fine. It’s not mine.”
“Bex.” I exhaled the word.
“She’ll be fine,” he told me. “I’m fine.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be fine again.”
“Hey.” Zach reached for me.
“What are we doing, Zach?” I asked, pulling away before he could surround me in his arms. “What is it all for? Are we really going to stop the Circle? Is that even possible?”
“Yes.” I’d never heard Zach’s voice so confident and full of strength. But I didn’t let myself believe it. I was too busy rambling on.