Note: Whoa, thanks so much for the reviews, guys! I hope you enjoyed the preview as well, I got all excited writing it because of what I'm plotting next :D If you still haven't been PMed the preview, please let me know. I don't want to forget any of you.

Disclaimer: I created Costa Amenas, but if there happens to be some place out there with that name... well, I don't own it!

Chapter Twelve – Ego Profiteor (I Confess)

-Alex-

"Oh my God."

Addie's gasp sounded far away like she was at the other end of a tunnel. My hearing went in and out, a ringing noise fighting over the crackling in the distance. I remained rooted to the ground, watching those black shapes in the distance move around the giant ember. I realized that they were people, neighbors standing and pointing at it in their pajamas and robes. There were sirens and soon enough, a squadron of fire trucks and police cars rounded the corner further down the street, stopping near the house.

Before I could stop her, Addie took off. "Addie!" I snapped out of my stupor and caught up quickly; it seemed that she couldn't do more than a light jog and the pain was evident on her face. Then again, maybe it was because of the horror that was taking place. As we neared the burning house, I was starting to feel the heat and smell the smoke, a thick suffocating blanket that I knew was much worse inside.

Inside. Her parents were inside.

She turned to me with raw fear and flames reflecting in her glistening eyes and I knew she was thinking the same thing. By the time we made it as close as the police officers would let us, her panic was bubbling to the surface. "Alex. Oh my God, they're in there! They're in there, Alex—" Soon she couldn't say anymore, the tears streaming down her cheeks as she clapped her hands over her mouth.

I reached and pulled her close to me, watching as the men scrambled around us. None of them were going inside the house yet. Looking down at Addie, I saw that the wetness was visible on her face in the fire. And then I knew what I had to do. "Wait here," I told her, touching her cheek.

I was aware of someone shouting behind me as I ran for the house but I ignored them. As I stepped through the front door, the intense warmth immediately engulfed me. It was like I'd been thrown into a giant oven. Bright orange flames and thick smoke raged around me and for a moment I didn't think there was any way I could go without getting burned or even blinded. But Margot and Joseph had to be in here… they had to be.

I remembered the view from outside. The house wasn't completely consumed in the inferno yet, though the windows had broken through as the fire spread, eager to destroy everything from the inside out. Here, I could see nothing but another chance at death. Pulling my shirt off, I pressed it against my nose and mouth and dodged what flames I could, shouting for Addie's parents. The kitchen was bursting with smoke and fire; I couldn't find a way in. Doubling back, I went across the living room where the dining room was supposed to be but there was nothing to see except another invitation for death.

I started towards the stairs, which were—to my immense relief—not yet charred. At the top, the fire was billowing out of the master bedroom, about to catch the hallway. I came to a stop at the last step, wondering if I could make it inside. Already my eyes stung and watered and I was sweating profusely. I squinted through the flames, trying to see past them. As far as I could tell, the only inhabitants were swirling black smoke and its fiery companion. I tried calling for them again, but nothing but the crackling flames answered.

Just as I was making my way down the hallway to my room and Addie's, there was an explosion that knocked me to the floor. I looked back and saw that the fire had spread and the stairs were lost in its wrath. There went my escape plan. I shouldn't have expected that it'd last anyway. Pushing myself up, I approached Addie's room but froze when I saw the flames flickering towards the open door, as if they were trying to reach me. Instead I turned for my own room, breathing a sigh of relief when I saw that the flames hadn't yet completely destroyed it. The desk was utterly lost in them at one end and I pressed against the opposite wall, heading for the window. The whole house shuddered and a loud crack reverberated somewhere. I knew I had minutes, maybe less. The fire was eating its way towards me, just feet from where I stood.

I shoved the window open and pulled myself through. Below me on the street, spectators, firemen, and police officers were pointing at me and shouting at each other. Other than the red-orange madness behind me, the only visible lights were the red and blue of the trucks and cars. I saw Addie staring with her hand over her mouth. For some reason I looked back, back into the room. That was when something red caught my eye—it appeared to be a plastic carton with a pump protruding from it and it was sitting in the corner… the corner that was soon to be overrun with flames.

I turned away just as there was a boom that rocked the whole house, the shock wave blasting through the window and sending me tumbling down the roof. Someone screamed as I fell off and landed half a second later with a crunch of metal and glass. A car alarm went off. The breath was knocked out of me, pain replacing it. As I struggled to sit up, I heard someone crying my name. I tried to call back to her to tell her I was okay but it took a minute for my lungs to work again. Two firemen approached me, shock and concern on their faces.

"I'm fine," I said, wincing as I stretched my arms out. My voice was raspy and my throat felt like sandpaper.

"What the hell were you doing in there? You could've gotten yourself killed!"

I shrugged and then grimaced at my shoulders. "It wouldn't be the first time."

I'd fallen on the Audi, right where the windshield met the hood. My body ached as they steadied me after sliding off to the ground. They continued badgering me. While they seemed to want to help, it also looked like they wanted to deck me for my stupidity.

Addie was there, being held back by two police officers. I vaguely knew that she could've taken them out if she'd wanted but finally they let go of her. She wrenched out of their grasp and flung her arms around my neck, making me cringe. "I'm all right," I told her. The firemen stood to the side, talking in not-so-low voices about me being an idiot. I wasn't surprised.

But I was shocked to see Ben and David approaching us, anxiety coloring their faces. "Alex! Addie! Are you all right?" Ben asked, looking us up and down.

I nodded. "I think so." I looked at Addie who just nodded. Her face was white; she was like a ghost in this darkness.

"Where's your shirt?"

I'd left it in the now-incinerated room behind me. "It got hot." Ben raised an eyebrow.

"I guess we came just in time," David said morosely, gazing at the house with a frown. "Come on; let's get you two out of here. These guys have a lot of work to do. You can explain everything in the car."

"Sir." We turned to see a young and blond EMT standing by, looking at me though he directed his words to David. "I need to take a look at him."

"I'm fine," I insisted again as Ben said, "He'll be okay. Trust me—he's been through worse." And we walked away, leaving the EMT looking pained and confused.

The SUV was parked just across the street, the emergency lights reflecting off the black paint. The four of us climbed in and Addie sat in the seat next to me. She took one of my hands in both of hers and I could feel her shivering. I put my arm around her, absently stroking her hair.

"They weren't in there, were they?" she whispered, making me wonder if she didn't want the two men to hear.

Looking outside the window, I watched the burning house pass us slowly as David drove, leaving behind everything in the unforgiving inferno. "No… no, they weren't."


-Addie-

I cried all the way to headquarters. Alex had his arm around me the whole time, keeping me warm and comforting me, and if I hadn't been so devastated and afraid, I would've been—well, to put it loosely—freaking out about it. But the only things on my mind were my parents and the fact that our house was gone, done for. Alex managed to explain to David and Ben what had happened before seeing the fire, especially about the Derek bit. They evaded my constant questions, telling me that I had to wait until we were at headquarters, and eventually I gave up, too anxious and exhausted to push them.

After we arrived, someone gave Alex a spare shirt and me a zip-up hoodie, which I was thankful for though it was a little too big for me. As we made our way through the vaguely familiar hallways (I'd only been here once because I worked mainly at a branch office), I kept Alex close to me, clutching his arm or his hand. I felt like I didn't have to be afraid of needing him near me and it seemed like he didn't mind anyway. In truth, the tiniest part of me was having a little party about the kiss we'd shared earlier, but dwelling on it made me feel guilty for using up that time to not worry about my parents.

The four of us entered a small conference room and it shocked me little to see that the rest of our unit was there. I didn't think I'd ever been so relieved to see Brian James. He and Julia weren't alone though: there was another agent that introduced himself as Holden and another man that I did recognize.

"Miss Daniels," the Deputy Director greeted me warmly, clasping my hand in a gentle handshake.

I forced a smile onto my face and nodded. "Anthony."

"Alex Rider." Despite the situation, I watched in disbelief as he shook hands with Alex.

"You two know each other?"

Anthony Payne smiled. "Why yes, I had the pleasure of meeting him last week. It's nice to see you again, both of you, of course."

"I'd say the same to you, Anthony," Alex replied in a cool tone, "but given the circumstances…" I pressed my lips together as the deputy gave a nod of understanding.

In the corner of my eye, I saw David and Julia talking in low voices. Not caring if I interrupted, I quickly excused myself from the director and tugged Alex with me. "David."

He looked up at me and hesitated. "Listen, Addie—"

"No, David, you listen." I was aware of everyone watching us now and my hand tightened on Alex's. "My house was just set on fire; I know it wasn't an accident because my parents aren't there, so don't feed me some 'Everything's gonna be all right' story. You need to tell me what we're going to do about it."

Silence followed for a brief moment before he took a deep breath. "You aren't going to do anything about it, Addie." He held up a finger when I opened my mouth. "And I have a reason for that."

"Which is?"

"Castillo. You aren't part of this—"

"David, I don't care if I'm not part of this case! These are my parents we're talking about," I snapped, ignoring his flinch. I had never liked talking back to him, especially since he was my unit leader, but sometimes my frustration got the best of me. "What do they have to do with him anyway?" As soon as the words were out of my mouth, it came to me. "He… he took them, didn't he? He took my parents." The words came out in a horrified whisper.

"Yes," David admitted unhappily. "And I had some people run your cell for that number you said Derek texted you from. It was a prepaid phone. And they also checked in on him… he's home, in no danger at all."

I bit my lip. Alex had been suspicious about the text. I shuddered at the thought of what would've happened if he hadn't been there to stop me… but wait, who had it been from?

David was frowning, obviously trying to decide something. That was when a voice said, "We have to tell her." It was Alex. I glanced at him but he was looking at David.

"Tell me what?" I asked but they weren't paying attention to me.

"Alex, you know we can't—" David began.

"But we have to," Alex interrupted him. I could feel his hand starting to tighten around mine but it was probably an unconscious move. "It'll only make things worse if we don't. You and I both know that." His tone was firm.

"Alex." It was Ben this time. He was regarding him with a careful look. "Are you sure about this?"

Anthony spoke up. "I'm sorry, Mr. Rider, but she's not authorized to know—"

"With all due respect, sir, I don't believe Addie is the type to sit back and do nothing while her parents' lives are at stake." A chill ran down my spine at his words.

Not wanting them to continue pretending I wasn't there, I said, "I don't get it. What are you guys keeping from me?"

Alex turned to me and looked down at our entwined fingers, lost in thought. He played absently with mine as he spoke. "Addie…" For some reason my pulse jumped when he said my name. I fought down the embarrassment I was beginning to feel with the dozens of eyes on me… a stupid emotion to occur at a time like this. "I didn't come here for the reason you thought I did."

I frowned. "What do you mean? Did you not come here for Castillo?"

"No," he answered, shaking his head. He still wasn't looking at me. "I did… just not for the same reason."

"You lost me, Alex."

Sighing, he brought his eyes up to mine and for the first time, I saw the tiredness and sadness swimming in them. "MI6 did approach me with an assignment. It was—it is to protect you." He waited for my response.

"Protect me? From what? High cholesterol? Is that why you didn't want to go to McDonald's that one day?"

No one laughed but I didn't expect anyone to; humor was my way of avoiding uncomfortable situations such as this, no matter how weak it was. "After your last assignment, the one at the gas station, you were named a target for Castillo. I was flown here as a… as protection. Since you would be left vulnerable at school, I was supposed to be with you at all times. The CIA couldn't have secret service agents walking around with you everywhere." He smiled but it was thin.

I absorbed this information, perfectly aware of the other agents gauging my reaction. Deep down, I knew I had this coming. A part of my mind—unconscious most likely—had known this all along and had refused to step out from the shadows and come into light. I guess I'd been so focused on things other than the consequences of the failed assignment (which was quite unlike me) that I hadn't even considered this idea.

"We had to do it, Addie," David said quietly. "If you'd known…" He broke off but I knew what he would've said. I knew who I was. I had a pretty good idea of how I would react if they'd tried to put bodyguards around me or anything of that sort.

But I'd thought everyone—my parents, my unit, even my friends—would know better than to keep something from me. Didn't they think I might just have to be given time to adjust to such a circumstance? Didn't they think of how I'd feel when I'd eventually figure it out? Yet that was it: they didn't think of those things because they'd assumed I'd never know… not for long anyway.

"You… You actually did it. You lied to me," I said to David. Then, looking at Alex, I pulled my fingers from his grasp and watched his face crumble the slightest bit. "You lied to me."

"I'm sorry—" Alex tried to say but he choked on his words. "Addie, I had no choice. I've wanted to tell you for a while… You know MI6, they forced me into—"

"Is that your excuse?" I stared at him, anger starting to bubble inside me.

"No. No, that's not what I meant. Honestly, I didn't think…"

"You didn't think I'd find out." Shaking my head, I stepped backwards to better see everyone in the room. "What did they tell you then?" I asked him, my harsh tone clipping my words. "Did they brief you on every little damn thing about my life? Give you a file that told you everything?" Everything… the death of Joshua would've been on that file. Looking into Alex's eyes, I already knew the answer. My stomach twisted with unease.

"So it was all a lie, then," I almost whispered as the tears started to fall. Alex's features were distorted with exasperation. "Every part of it… every minute was a lie, wasn't it?" My words sounded like they were taken off some sappy romance script but they applied all too well; I was thinking about the time we'd spent together, revealing things we never would have otherwise. Was that all a ruse as well? Had that been part of his cover? And what about that intimate moment earlier? I couldn't bear to think that the sparks I'd felt were one-sided. The very possibility sent a spasm of ache through me and I clenched my fists, trying not to double over. It was all one big fat lie.

Then I laughed a short, cruel sound that startled some of the agents. "And I fell for it too," I said bitterly. "I can see now why you're such a good spy, Alex. You played your part well." I couldn't help but inject some acidity into it, hurt accompanying it against my will. "I would know." I spoke so quietly I wasn't sure if he'd heard… but he had. It was evident in his eyes.

"Addie," Ben stepped towards me, only stopping when I shot him a glare. "This isn't his fault—"

"And you know what the worst part is?" I ignored him, looking back at Alex. "I trusted you." My voice was starting to waver and my body was trembling but I didn't care. "I really trusted you, Alex, more than I should have," I said, my voice rising. A tiny voice in my brain was telling me to stop, yet that didn't matter to me—I was too anguished to. Something overcame me then, a hot blast of anger and resentment… and then I was shoving him away from me. "I actually trusted you!"

I felt someone grab me but I twisted my arms from their grip, keeping my glare on Alex. My cheeks were wet with tears and were also probably red. But I was done. I couldn't be there in the same room with him anymore. I turned to the door, vaguely aware of Ben and Brian shadowing me. Just as Ben opened the door, I looked back at Alex. His eyes were tightened with pain but that did nothing to dispel the anger washing through me. "And you were right there, too." I shook my head slowly. "You could've saved them," I whispered before leaving.

I was back in the room in less than five minutes. It had taken about two for me to calm down in the hallway but the process had been slowed by Brian's less-than-helpful consolation… or what could pass as one. I'd sat with my back against the wall and my head in my hands, trying to find the strength to tell him to shut up. Ben had gone inside and I knew that Brian had been left with me for a reason.

I'd been considering different ways to knock him out when the door opened and David poked his head out. Apparently they'd decided that they were going to tell me everything and let me in on the case because Alex had argued that it was "the least they could do." I could only bitterly imagine that he was feeling something like guilt.

And so I sat at the table near the projector screen, several seats away from him. I'd already been informed in several things like the man named Mather and the double agent we'd lost to him. I sat uncomfortably, bouncing my leg as they explained the broken window and Samuel Webb, some incompetent "criminal" who'd been spotted by Alex. It wasn't until the subject turned to Kylie that I stopped fidgeting and listened with a growing horror that made me sick.

"Alex came up with the idea of telling them the truth," Ben explained. "That's why they've gone to Florida. We offered them the short trip to stay safe… and to, well, adjust."

I stared at the tablet in front of me that displayed information about the operation, unsure of how to feel. So they'd gone out and told one of my best friends that I was a CIA agent, shipping her family off as if it would make things better. Fabulous. And to think that the stupid piece of candy that was meant for me had sent her to the hospital… I shut my eyes, gripping the edge of the table. Someone said my name but I ignored them, concentrating on my breathing. Everyone I loved was in danger. How would I ever live with myself if something happened to them?

Opening my eyes, I looked at David, who was watching me warily. He was probably thinking I was going to pass out. I didn't blame him. "So how do you know this Mather guy has my parents?"

Without a word, he tapped a few keys on the laptop in front of him and a document appeared on the projector screen. There was a photo of two people sitting in frail-looking chairs in what seemed like a rotten, dirty room, their hands bound by ties in their laps. Black bags concealed their faces and there were telltale marks of abuse on their skin. Even if it weren't for Dad's tracksuit pants or Mom's rolled up sweats, the letters JAM that were tattooed inside my dad's wrist were enough to tell me it was them. Most people thought it was a peculiar thing to get inked into his skin until they were told that it represented Joshua, Addie, and Margot.

"They didn't leave a message. We only received the photo," David said quietly.

"Because you already know what they want," I said flatly, looking away from the screen. I suddenly remembered that I wasn't the only one they wanted—Ben had mentioned Alex but my feelings of betrayal and hurt were almost too stubborn to let me feel any kind of remorse.

"We already have their coordinates," Anthony spoke up, gesturing toward his tablet. We all picked up our styluses and pulled up the necessary information. "Communications Intelligence managed to obtain them but I imagine that Mather wanted them to. If he's going to want Daniels and Rider, there has to be a location."

"Wait." It was Holden this time, leaning forward to look at Anthony. "Are you suggesting a trade-off?"

Anthony nodded. "That's what it appears to be. I mean, it seems like that's what Mather wants. Why else would he kidnap her parents?"

Before anyone else could say anymore, I said quietly, "So they're located in Mexico? Right next to the Gulf of Mexico…" I studied the highly detailed map on the tablet, an idea churning inside my mind.

"Yep. It looks like they've been hiding out in some sort of tunnel system at the edge of a small village," Ben noted. "Conveniently, it's such a small place that sometimes it's left off most maps."

"Costa Amenas," I murmured the name… Pleasant Coast. Huh. But no longer was I seeing the map in front of me. I was forming a plan, something I already knew half the people here would disagree with. "What's your plan then, David?"

David took a deep breath. "We've already called in a team of Navy SEALs for extraction. They should be ready for us in a few hours after they've been briefed on the situation. Ben and I will go with them while Brian and Julia stay with you two here. We just have to hope that we can extract your parents safely…"

I tensed myself, ready for the argument I was about to throw myself into. I'd only given it a few minutes' thought but I knew that it was what I wanted. It was something that had to be done. "No," I said, shaking my head. "The only way my parents will survive this is if you bring me along." Just as I'd expected, everyone stopped and stared at me. David looked furious.

"Addie, it's too dangerous—"

"That's out of the question!" Julia snapped, her dark eyes piercing mine.

"As if I haven't noticed that, you guys," I said quickly, "but I've been in danger from the moment I stepped into that gas station. How can this be any different?"

It was the wrong thing to say.

"How can this be any different?!" David repeated through gritted teeth. His face was contorted with complete disbelief and rage. "Addie, you're practically suggesting a suicide mission! I can't let you hand your life over like that!" He made a wide sweeping gesture, nearly hitting Ben in the face who sat next to him.

"Well then, fake it or something! You have to at least let me be there!"

Ben shook his head and I could tell that he was trying to keep his own temper in check. "They would never fall for it. You're going to have to trust us with this, Addie."

"We'll keep you perfectly safe here," Brian threw in and I would've laughed if it wasn't for his serious expression. Deep down, I knew he meant it.

"I have an idea."

I looked up to see Alex gazing intensely at his tablet, twirling the stylus nimbly between his fingers. For another moment he didn't speak, making me wonder if I'd imagined it. But then Holden nodded and prodded, "Go on."

Alex put down the stylus and said simply, "But it includes me… and Addie."

"Being in the field?" Ben asked.

"Yes."

"Then no," David answered, shaking his head and sitting back.

"Just listen to me," Alex insisted, leaning forward to see him. "I know it will work… because it's worked before."

Brian snorted and leaned back to throw one arm over the back of his chair, using his other hand to tap his pen against the table. Ben gazed at Alex intently with a strange look of curiosity and I had a feeling I wouldn't know what the weird connection was. Everyone else—other than David, who was glaring stubbornly in another direction—waited patiently for the explanation.

"What's your plan?" I asked a little too loudly. Alex met my eyes but I kept my face smooth. The look on his face said that he didn't think I'd believe him or agree. "Try me," I added.

Then he shrugged and leaned forward, propping his forearms onto the table.

"All right, here's what we do…"