Knowing that Axel’s childhood friend Kenzi is still out there somewhere, being held by the Sinclair Syndicate, is hard. I don’t know Axel all that well yet, as I haven’t spent much time with him. But from the time I’ve had with him, I know Kenzi means the world to him. And the fact that she was taken all those years ago has severely impacted on him. When Axel found out that Lily’s brothers, Ares and Ezra, belonged to the Syndicate and that they had her, well, needless-to-say shit got real, real fast.

It’s good to have Ares and Ezra on our side, working with us as double agents. They provide us with intel on the Syndicate as they continue to work for them. They both despise being part of it, but they were born into that life. I feel for them, but they’re at least trying to do the right thing by helping us with Kenzi, as much as possible, without being caught by their own family.

Right now, I’m at home trying to get all my shit together to take to a meeting at The Agency so we can verify Kenzi’s whereabouts. I have some excellent intel I need to share with the team. So as I’m packing all that I need into my backpack. My bedroom door creeks open, and I spin around in surprise to see my mother peeking her head through the door.

“Mom, you can’t be in here. This is classified documentation.”

Mom rolls her eyes and looks away as I scurry in a panic to pack it all up. I quickly place it into a folder then stuff it into my backpack.

“Oh, c’mon, Everly. You of all people know you shouldn’t be bringing classified material home.”

I pause, pursing my lips. “I’m not bringing it home, Mom. I’m working from home. Searching for information here… from the net, and taking that intel into work.”

Mom steps into my room a little further and raises her brow. “Then who’s classifying said information?”

“Well… I guess it’s not exactly ‘classified’ per se…” I use air quotes, “… but… it will be.”

She slumps her shoulders. “Everly, are you sure you want to get involved with The Agency. I know it was your father’s dream, and I know you will be great at it. But honey—”

“Mom, I gotta go. I’m gonna be late.” Grabbing the last of the paperwork and files, I push them into my backpack and rush up to Mom to give her a kiss on the cheek. She weakly smiles, and I race past her heading down the stairs to drive into The Agency.

Getting in my car, I place my backpack on the passenger side floor and lock my doors. Pulling out of the drive, I make the short trip to the National Museum—the cover for The Agency—where our headquarters are located underneath. The museum is a fully functioning facility with dinosaurs, relics and all the stuff you’d expect to see at that type of landmark, but in actuality it’s a front. As you drive into the underground parking garage, there’s a specific elevator that gains access to the basement facility which holds The Agency, behind and beneath the museum.

It’s the perfect front, and no one suspects a thing.

As I drive the Washington DC streets, I can’t help but think about how everyone thinks I’m doing this job only for my dad. When in reality I’m doing this for me as well. Everyone always thought I was only capable of being that girl, the bubbly cheerleader with no brains, but I’m so much more than that.

I’m smart. I’m sassy. Sure. I know my way around a handgun, courtesy of my father. But the real Agency stuff, well, all that stuff I’m going to need training for, and I hope Jack is willing to give me the opportunity and spend the time getting me up to speed. Because I’m sure as hell willing to learn. I want this. Not just for my father, but for me. I want to serve my country. I want to protect the people. I want to help people. People like Kenzi, who can’t fight for themselves. People who need Operatives from The Agency to step in, and render assistance when in a crisis. I want to be a part of this, especially when you have antiheroes like Camilla who nearly took down the entire Agency with her underhanded repulsiveness. She’s Kace’s mother, and I feel bad for him. Not only was she the Director of The Agency, but she was also the woman who singlehandedly caused the collapse of The Agency to the point where it wasn’t functioning. She was a double agent and basically a terrorist in her own country, working against the USA, forcing mission failures, and having the SO7 operating for the enemy without them even knowing about it. The team took it hard but now Jack, who also happens to be Kace’s father and Camilla’s ex-husband—who Camilla tried to have killed—is in charge and everything’s back on track for The Agency. The impressive part about all this is, Camilla was found guilty and is currently in The Agency jail under close supervision and monitoring. I want to be a part of the new wave, a part of the uprising of The Agency and bring it back to its former glory days.

I need to do this.

I just hope Jack can foresee the type of role I can play. I’m damn good at what I do, and I must make him see that I’m needed by the organization.

Pulling my car into the underground parking garage, I park in my designated spot. Grabbing my backpack, I hoist it over my shoulder and look around before I slide out. I’m carrying crucial information. I don’t need someone taking me out before I even get it to The Agency.

I can’t see anyone, so I step out and walk briskly to the special elevator. I glance around once more, just to make sure, then I push the elevator call button three times with my thumb—there is a thumbprint reader inside the button—and wait for the light to turn green. Once it does, I push it once more. I smile looking at the rusty doors. To anyone else, they’d think it appears like a really crappy piece of equipment and probably defective. I know people would be more than a little hesitant about using it, including me if I didn’t know better. The first time Jack brought me here, I looked at it and thought, there’s no way I’m getting in that. I’m going to be trapped inside that contraption never to be seen again.

The doors shudder and squeak as they open, and I walk in with a slight smile. Turning to the side as they close behind me there’s a small box on the wall. Most people who step into this elevator wouldn’t even notice it, but we know. I open it to reveal a thumbprint detector, so I place my thumb on the pad.

“Welcome back to The Agency, Everly.” The digital voice echoes through the elevator as I turn around, watching the back of it slide open to reveal a stainless steel, hi-tech and far superior elevator. This one gives me a sense of ease. I turn and step up to the retinal scanner, the light shining brightly in my eye. Once it clears, the door opens and I walk through. The door closes behind me and then the elevator kicks into gear going down to The Agency.

The elevator opens, and as I walk the hall, I can’t help but consider myself lucky to be a part of this secret division of the government. I know I’m only here because of my father, I’m not stupid I know he did this for me. If it weren’t for him, my computing skills would have been put to use at some boring IT firm, and I would be withering away behind some desk stating the words of Roy from the IT Crowd, “Have you tried turning it on and off again.” But this, this is exciting and liberating. Living this life, though it can be dangerous and full of drama, it’s one that fills me with hope. Hope for the world, that it can become a better place, and I will be helping with that one bad guy at a time.

Smiling, I walk into the main room to see it bustling and alive. Operatives working at their desks, some heading off to the classified boardrooms, some standing around talking, computer screens lit up like Christmas trees with all sorts of information scrolling over them. Turning, I see Jack’s office to my left, the massive room taking pride of place in the space. The floor to ceiling window letting everyone see directly into his office.

Taking a deep breath, I head for the ramp that leads up to his area. As I get closer, I notice the SO7 are already seated in his office. Axel is looking particularly tense as Eli stands beside him for support. Blair and Tanner stand back against the wall. Noah’s at Jack’s desk on the computer. Kace and Luca are sitting in chairs by the desk.

This team is the best of the best.

The Agency’s elite.

You won’t find better Operatives than these guys and girl—let’s not forget Tanner. She’s one kick-ass woman. I might have a slight girl crush on her. I chuckle to myself as I walk up the ramp. Knocking on the door, Jack looks up from their conversation and gestures for me to enter.

Pulling on the handle, I open the door and walk inside, noticing Luca looking straight at me. He gives me a weak smile as the others acknowledge me with curt nods.

“Oh good, you’re here. As I was saying, Everly was given the task of matching photos Ares and Ezra obtained for us, to see if it was indeed a match. Everly, did you find a conclusive answer?” Jack asks.

I walk in and lean up against his desk pulling my backpack around and yanking out the folder with my clarification pictures.

Axel sits taller in his chair, his muscles tense and tight as he breathes heavier with each breath. I open the folder and hand it to Axel rather than Jack. That’s probably not protocol, but no one knows Kenzi like Axel does.

Axel looks at me, takes a deep breath and opens the folder. His breath catches, and he slumps into his seat seeming relieved, as he rubs the back of his neck while grimacing at the image of the woman who appears a little too thin, sickly in appearance, and very tired, but she has an attractive appearance none-the-less.

He sniffs and closes the folder with a simple nod. “That’s her… that’s Kenzi.”

Nodding. “Yes, that’s my findings. The facial recognition program I used concluded she’s a match with the photos you provided from her childhood to the new photo Ares and Ezra supplied. They aren’t clear by any standards, but they are enough.”

Axel stands abruptly and starts pacing the floor, rubbing his chin, as cold tension fills the room. “So it’s her. Now we know that for a fact. So what the fuck do we do about it?” he asks, his voice rising slightly higher as he turns and glares at Jack.

“Yes, we know it’s her. So now we need to confirm her location and deduce a plan.”

Axel grunts, throwing the folder at Jack with brute force. “Fuck that! Look at her pictures. Let’s go, and fucking get her… they’re killing her, Jack.”

“How about we calm the fuck down, cowboy, and think this through. All we have is damn pictures. We can’t go scouring the fucking countryside looking for a ghost. We need hard facts before we can go in all guns-a-blazing. You know these people, Axel. They deal in explosives… warfare, all kinds of shit. We can’t go in without knowing what we’re up against.”

He scoffs, turning away from us all and running his hands through his hair. “Well, you better hope we get to her before she is a fucking ghost, Jack. So help me God…” he trails off and doesn’t finish the sentence.

Kace stands up and places his hand on Axel’s shoulder. “Everyone, take a breath. We want to get her back as much as you do. We need to take the Syndicate down and not get everyone killed in the process. We have to think this through, Axel. They’ve had her this long, they’re not going to hurt her now… we have time.”

Axel turns and glares at Kace. “She’s dying, Kace. I can tell just by looking at her pictures. This is not the girl I used to know.” He waves the picture around in anger.

“So why have they kept her this long? Why do they need her?” Eli asks. “Guys like this don’t just keep people around for no reason. They get what they need. Then they get rid of them.”

Everyone looks to Eli and furrows their brows. “Is it because of her ties to the Malice MC?” Blair asks as I remember Axel’s family are all members of a biker club, and he’s also a patched member.

Axel shrugs and shakes his head. “They’ve never made any demands on the club.”

Taking a deep breath, I prepare myself to say something a little controversial. “Right, so we have to discuss all the options. Kenzi doesn’t look like she’s being held against her will. Sure, she looks sick, but what if they didn’t take her? What if she’s there of her own free will?” I question.

Axel turns so fast I can hardly keep up as he glares at me so intently a flash of anxiety creeps over me. “Are you fucking kidding me? You think Kenzi’s working for the Syndicate of her own accord? Who the fuck are you to come in here thinking you own the fucking pla—”

“Hey! Calm the fuck down. She doesn’t know the backstory.” Luca stands up placing his hand on Axel’s chest, pushing him back and halting his hostile stance toward me.

Swallowing hard, I gasp at Axel’s sudden outburst. I know he’s hurting right now. Seeing those pictures of Kenzi would have been hard. But, honestly, it doesn’t appear like there’s anything holding her there against her will. I thought I was helping by putting all the options out there. I know there’s history between Axel and Kenzi, but honestly, I didn’t realize just how deep his feelings for her must go. I’m a little taken aback by his aggression.

“Look, if I’m going to be a part of this team, you guys need to tell me what’s really going on. I need to know everything.”

I glance to Axel as he huffs then shakes his head and he walks over to the corner of the room. He looks physically and mentally exhausted. Kace stands up, and Axel gives him a nod giving Kace the approval, all while Luca is still standing in front of me protectively.

Kace exhales turning to me as Luca hesitantly steps to the side to let Kace move in front of me. “Kenzi was Axel’s best friend, they grew up together. She’s another club member’s daughter. After high school, Kenzi went to away to college, but she and Axel remained in contact almost every day… then one day it all stopped.”

I raise my brow in curiosity and swallow hard, glancing over at Axel as he winces at the memory.

“She disappeared without a trace. Her apartment was left with a half-eaten dinner on the table, and school notes spread out as if she was studying. She was taken without a struggle. It was all very bizarre.

“They looked everywhere for her. Camilla promised Axel she’d find Kenzi to ensure Axel joined The Agency, but now we know Camilla was keeping Kenzi’s whereabouts a secret to keep Axel in The Agency.”

Letting out a heavy sigh. I haven’t met Camilla, but everything I’ve heard about her so far has been terrible.

“Can we get Camilla to break and tell us Kenzi’s whereabouts?” I ask.

Everyone shakes their heads.

“Getting Camilla to break is like trying to turn water into sand. We’ve tried, and we’ve used every trick in the damn book… trust me” Jack sneers.

I glance to Axel who’s looking at the floor seemingly defeated. This explains his affiliation with Kenzi so much more, and now I feel sorry for questioning Kenzi’s motives. He knows her way better than I ever will, and if he says she’s there against her will, then he’s probably right.

“I’m really sorry, I didn’t know any of that. But I’m glad I do now because it makes me more determined to find Kenzi and get her back for you.”

Axel’s face is forlorn, completely drained.

“And how exactly are we going to do that?” Eli asks.

Jack stands up and rounds his desk. “We need to bring Ares and Ezra back in. See if they can find a location to go with the photo. Their ties to the Syndicate may aid us a great deal. They’re more help then you guys realize.”

Kace nods. “Okay, I’ll get started on finding out what we need to from the brothers,” Kace agrees as everyone gets up to head out of the room.

“Everly… wait a second. If you’re to be a part of this team I want you to be able to protect yourself. I need to know you’re safe, and at the moment all I know is you’re kind of okay with a handgun...” he runs his fingers through his hair, “… I can’t risk you in the field,” Jack relays, and I nod.

“Then have someone teach me the ropes. How to fight. How to protect myself. You know how willing I am to learn, Jack, teach me how to shoot. I want to be a part of this team in all aspects... I’m ready to learn.”

He nods, and he looks to Kace. “Kace has too much on his plate to take you under his wing, but he’s the all-rounder who knows everything.”

Luca grins wide and stands taller next to me, cocking his chin up like he’s the best thing in the room. Jack looks at him and sighs while clenching his jaw.

“I’ll do it,” Luca offers.

I roll my eyes. “No offense, pretty boy, but I want to learn how to protect myself not blow off my arm and incinerate myself.”

Luca chuckles and raises his brows. “Oh snap. Girl’s got bite, but it won’t save you in the field. I’m as good as Kace. Don’t let one dummy incident trick you into thinking I’m not good at what I do, Snow.”

Jolting my head back, I furrow my brows. “What the hell does Snow mean?”

“It’s your name.”

“What? Why?—”

“Enough of the crap, Luca. You’ll teach Everly how to be one of The Agency’s best, but no fucking around. She’s too important to The Agency for you to pull your usual shit with. Do you hear me?” Jack berates.

Luca pulls his legs together abruptly and gives off a salute. “Sir, yes sir,” he chimes with the biggest of grins.

“Don’t be a smart ass, boy. Just do your fucking job, Luca, before I plant my fake foot so far up your ass you’ll be chewing on metal.”

“Okay Jack, you have my word. I’ll take care of Everly. I’ll teach her properly. I’ll be good. I promise.”

“Do I get a say in this? Can’t Noah or Blair… hell, can’t Tanner teach me? Yeah, I’d feel more comfortable with a girl.”

Luca’s grin falls, and for a second it makes me feel a little bad that I’ve done that to him twice.

Jack shakes his head, waving his hand dismissively as everyone starts to walk out. “Luca is the man for the job. He just has to prove it. Go on, off you two go.”

Tensing my shoulders, Luca walks off ahead of me. I turn and walk out of the office and down the ramp wondering how the hell I’m going to train with Luca of all people. I arrive at the bottom of the ramp and head off to my station as Noah steps up to my side.

“Hey Everly, wanna go over the facial recognition software and see if we can narrow down the location ourselves with the proximity angling on the backgrounds?” Noah asks.

Hell, that excites me, and I nod with a great big smile as he pulls out his tablet, and we head toward his station.

Luca bounds up to us, popping his head over my shoulder and grins. “What ya doin’?” he asks as I shake him off my shoulder.

“Going to do some work. You know, like we’re supposed to be doing,” I tease and Luca smiles.

“Nope, wrong again,” he mocks, sounding eerily like Rafiki from The Lion King making a small smile creep up on my lips as he turns me to face him.

“Okay, oh wise monkey master, what are we doing then?”

“We’re fighting, Snowball,” he beams, grabbing my hand and yanking me away from Noah as he chuckles and pulls me through the room.

I groan and look back to Noah with an apologetic wince, and he smiles with a small wave.

“This should be interesting,” I murmur, with a roll of my eyes as a wave of nerves begins to flitter through my stomach.