PROLOGUE: Shrouded in Doubt.

SABINA SNEAKED GLANCES at Alex whenever she thought he wasn't looking. He was sitting across from her, staring at the peas on his plate. His mashed potatoes, peas and steak lay untouched. Sabina sighed internally-Alex had been acting fine for the last two weeks, but that was it; he was only acting. Sabina had seen him, once or twice, when he had thought no one was around. He'd looked so… dejected. She knew Jack's death was hard on Alex, however she didn't know what to say. And Alex didn't seem to want to discuss Jack.

Sabina glanced up and realized everyone was staring at her. "Did I miss something?" She raised an eyebrow at Alex.

"Sabina," her mother shook her head, "Your father just asked you what was wrong."

"'What was wrong?'" Sabina repeated, still confused. Sabina noticed Alex smiling faintly out of the corner of her eye.

"You sighed," her father supplied, as he reached for some sauce. "Is everything all right with school?"

"Oh? Yes, everything's fine!" Sabina rolled her eyes. "I was just thinking about… the pile of homework I have." Sabina was surprised at how easily she'd lied. But the last thing she wanted was for Alex to feel like he was under surveillance. "Speaking of work, of any kind, how's your new book going, dad?" Her father had ideas for another book, but Sabina hadn't been listening too closely when he'd been talking about it earlier. She wasn't actually listening now; her gaze kept flitting to Alex. He still hadn't eaten very much. Sabina gently nudged Alex's foot from under the table. Meeting his curious gaze, she mouthed the words are you all right? Alex nodded, deliberately taking a big bite of his food. Then Sabina's mother asked her something, and she was distracted momentarily.

Alex stuffed some food into his mouth. Despite the fact that his dinner consisted mostly of vegetables, it tasted good. Still, Alex found himself without much appetite. Sabina had been glancing at him all night and although she had been trying to hide it, Alex had found her attempts fairly obvious. He was touched, he supposed, that she cared so much, but he missed the old Sabina, the one who didn't tip-toe around him.

After dinner he and Sabina went out onto the balcony. The fresh air was a nice change after being inside.

"So…" Sabina gently elbowed him. "You're starting my school tomorrow." Alex nodded. "Nervous? Excited?" Sabina dropped her voice so that it imitated what a creepy old lady would sound like. "Scared?"

Alex laughed; his laugh held an edge. "After everything I've done?" But, truthfully, he was nervous.

"It'll be fun," Sabina assured him. "Well, not the learning, or the homework, but the part where we get to hang out will be great. And this time, I hope you'll stay out of trouble." She made a face. "Although, that's not the way it works, is it? Trouble finds you."

"More like MI6 finds me," Alex muttered. But that was behind him now-out of country, out of mind.

"So no more spy stuff? Promise Alex?" Sabina asked quietly.

Alex met her gaze. He was startled; Sabina looked really concerned. "Yeah, Sab, I promise." After Jack… he had no plans to ever go back into that world. "If you promise to stop worrying about making me sad, or worrying about how much I eat, and just act like yourself again," he added slyly.

Sabina dropped her jaw in shock. "I do not-"

"You're a terrible liar Sab," Alex grinned. The grin only felt slightly out of place on his face.

"OK, fine, I'll stop suffocating you." Alex watched as Sabina looked away. Her cheeks were a little pink-was she blushing? "I just don't want to see you that sad again."

"I'll be fine," Alex replied automatically. He'd been repeating those three words constantly the last few weeks. "And you're not suffocating me. It's nice you care so much."

Sabina scoffed. "Who says I care?" she teased. Alex laughed again, for the first time feeling he was with the old Sabina again, the real Sabina.

This time, Alex was certain he would never be return to the spy life again. He was going to be normal now, for good. But a part of him-a small part-wondered if he would ever truly be free. Too much had happened; he had lost too much.

Although Alex was determined to be free, a part of him, one tiny sliver, wondered how long it would be before he was dragged, lied to or blackmailed back into the world of espionage.