Books » Embassy Row, Ally Carter » Official Lies and International Secrets

Author: warrior of camp half-blood

1. Chapter 1 2. Chapter 2 3. Chapter 3 4. Chapter 4 5. Chapter 5

Rated: T - English - Drama/Romance - Reviews: 17 - Published: 02-21-16 - Updated: 08-27-16

id:11803751

I fly past other embassies. The calls of Dominic fade behind me. He won't be able to catch me. Nobody can catch me.

When I reach the nearest entrance to the underground tunnels I slip inside and disappear. Silence instantly envelops me and I take a deep breath. Plunging forward into the darkness my feet lead the way. I do not care where I am going, just as long as it is as far away as I can possibly get. The furthest possible place seems to be Iran. As usual there is nobody here.

Flinging myself down at the edge of the pool I focus on the air around me. Breathe in, breathe out. In, out, in, out. Why would nobody tell me? I can almost see why they would withhold the information of me being my mom's murderer, but why this? I could have killed Dominic when I still accused the Scarred Man. Then I would have been orphaned and their would be no one to blame but me.

When I can get enough air into my lungs I lean over the pristine water and gaze at my reflection. Slowly I note the similarities-the pointed nose, the strong jawline, the natural downturn at the corners of my lips, the long legs that I always thought came from my mother actually came from Dominic's height. Why? is the only thing that runs through my mind, like an old film roll.

"Gracie?" Alexi stands just inside the entrance to the tunnel. His gaze flirts around the room. "What are you doing here?"

"Go away, Alexi." I drag my sleeve along my nose. He repeats the question. "What does it look like? Trying to figure my life out. What are you doing here?" I snap.

"I followed you. When you went into the tunnels I figured there was only a handful of places you could have gone." He lowers himself down beside me. His hands cup my face, thumbs skimming my cheeks.

"Did you know my dad isn't my real dad?" the words escape without being thought of. His averted gaze speaks for his absence of words. "Why am I the only one who never knew?"

"Jamie mentioned it once. He said it was a family secret and nobody could know-not even you. I swore not to tell; I never thought it to be a big deal. Your-his dad treated you like his own daughter. Who am I to intrude on family matters?"

"That's why I wasn't allowed back here after Mom died, isn't it? Everyone was afraid I would see Dominic here and learn all of it. Well, guess what, Adria, I figured it out!" I scream. Not remembering standing, I suddenly find myself standing over him. With each word my voice raises in volume. "He never told me! Grandpa never told me! Dominic told me just now. Do I even call him Dominic, or will he expect to be called 'daddy'? Nobody loves me," I add quietly as the thought decends. "If they did someone would have told me all of the secrets kept from me in my life."

Alexi's eyes are full of compassion. "Don't say that. Your grandfather loves you, Jamie loves you, both of your fathers love you, I love you." He searches my face anxiously for any reaction to the last words. Something flutters inside of me at his confession but I push it aside. He only thinks of me as Jamie's little sister, I remind myself. Because I can feel another episode coming, I place both hands on Alexi's chest and shove as hard as I can. He takes a stumbling step backwards and I continue pushing.

"Leave me alone, Alexi! I don't need you! I don't need anybody! You don't love me and you don't want to! I'm crazy, and nobody loves a crazy girl!" I slam open palms against his front and scream. He catches my hands and holds them between us, where I can feel the beat of his heart through his shirt. His body is pressed tightly so close against mine I can smell his shampoo. He says nothing, just wraps steady arms around me and holds me as racking sobs shake my body. For a moment I imagine these are Jamie's arms and Jamie comforting me. But I cannot imagine Alexi as Jamie for very long. They are two different people and only one of them is standing in front of me.

The front of his shirt is soaked with my tears but he couldn't care less. Gently my chin is lifted and the tears dried. When he bends his neck I meet him halfway. Alexi's kiss breaches all of my walls and barriers. It draws forth all the ugly parts hidden in the dark corners and leaves me standing raw and defenseless. For a time I forget who I am, what I have done, that we are from two countries with tensions between them. We are simply two teens sharing a moment alone. It does not matter that we are in the country of Iran.

"I know you're not just Jamie's little sister," he whispers against my lips before diving back into a breathtaking kiss.

A barely audible whimper lodges in my throat when he pulls away and I cringe at my own weakness. "Can we leave here?" I let Alexi lead me back into the tunnel. I take the lead, knowing these twisting tunnels better than he does. The hand on the small of my back brings a thrill. Not being able to help it I reach for his hand and lace our fingers together. Maybe I just need to be a regular teenage girl for a few minutes before we emerge from the dark and resume our lives in the world of international lies and secrets.

A disturbing thought scratches around in my mind. "Do you hate me?"

The tone of his voice is like I asked something insulting. "Why would you ever say that?"

"Because I won't ever be able to love you like you say you love me."

To my surprise he chuckles. A small kiss is placed on the inside of my wrist. "I'll let you take your time with that. One day, you will."