A/N: Hey loves! It wasn't too long this time, yay! I'm not sure how I'm feeling just yet but I'm doing better and the writing inspiration is coming off in waves. In short, until further notice, you will probably be getting sooner updates. The next couple of chapters are going to be some of my favorites. And you are probably going to hate me for a bit, but that's okay. Anyway, I guess you could call me a real-life Emai. Total insomniac, probably insane, psychopathic tendencies, dark humor, the color pink invokes rage, and constant storylines streaming into my head.

Ok, ok I'll stop babbling and let you get to reading. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

P.S. Ok seriously please tell me someone got that Nightmare Factory reference because if this ends up being the online version of whenever I talk about anything "nerd-like" in public where everyone just looks at me like I'm crazy, I swear to the universe I am going to bloody scream or something.

xxx

Perilous

Chapter Seventeen

I smiled. "Thank you, sir."

And then he hung up.

Cammie POV

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes," I said. "Why wouldn't I be sure about this? Are you not sure about it? Are you not in?"

Bex shook her head. "Oh no, I'm totally in- I just didn't think you'd want to do something like this."

"Well, I guess I'm not entirely sure." I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

She raised a hand, telling me to continue.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm sure about me, 100%. It's him that I'm worried about."

I jerked my head slightly backward, indicating Zach who stood having a drink and talking with Grant on the other side of the suite.

We had finished planning for the break-in and were all simply hanging out. Relaxing, conversing, mingling. Well, that's what the others were doing. Bex and I, on the other hand, were concocting a plan. To everyone else, it seemed like we were having a deep conversation. Though we were just out of earshot, spoke in hushed tones, and stood at an angle where our lips couldn't be read, they all seemed to believe that's what it was. Just two women talking after discovering that the murderer one had been chasing for most of their career was actually their childhood best friend.

Amusement at the situation flooded my thoughts. If Grant finally does propose, they'll sure have some interesting stories to tell at the wedding.

"Are you kidding?" Bex scoffed, crossing her arms. "He looks awful. It's only been a couple of hours since he realized yet he looks like a puppy."

"A puppy?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Yeah, a puppy who's been slapped. And kicked. Then ran over. Repeatedly."

I laughed slightly. "I've got to admit, I've missed you."

Bex smiled. "Same here. But really- he needs this."

Biting my lip, I placed my hands on my hips. "Yeah, you're probably right. Knowing Zach he won't sleep if we don't. Any other time, I'd just deal with it but we need him on his A-game tomorrow. Not only do we have to break into Prince's place, but there's also the gala. I can't believe a day got wasted because of my stupid nightmares and all that other shit. We could have used that extra time."

"Hey, don't blame yourself. I mean, come on, love. It's not like you can control it." She argued, placing her hand on my arm.

I nodded, then pulled her in for a hug. I covertly slid my keycard into her pocket, the keycard needed to get into my and Zach's suite.

With my lips next to her ear, I whispered, "You text Nick and I'll get Zach?"

Bex released me and smiled, sending me a wink before she walked away. I watched in the reflection of the window as she told Grant she was going to walk around for some fresh air. He nodded and she left the room.

A few minutes later, Nick took some Tylenol and bid us all goodnight, claiming he had a headache. Macey rolled her eyes and made a comment about him never being able to hold his liquor. Still, she kissed her fiance and let him leave.

Now, it's my turn.

I took a deep breath, turned, and made my way over to the green-eyed man who stood with his friend near the kitchenette.

"Zach," I said softly.

My hand on his shoulder forced his attention to me, interrupting him in the middle of his sentence. My other hand trailed down his side, feeling the muscles through his shirt before sliding into the front pocket of his jeans. I pressed my cheek slightly into his arm and looked at him with a small pout. I watched his pained, longing, gorgeous, and utterly confused eyes shift to me.

"Uh, yeah, Cam?" Zach replied, a bit of that confusion showing in his tone.

"I'm tired," I whined as I removed my face from his arm. "Can we go back to the suite?"

Zach's eyes widened. He sat down his unfinished glass of whiskey and nodded, taking my hand from his pocket and intertwining our fingers instead.

"Oh, yeah, for sure. I'm kind of tired too, actually." Zach looked back at Grant. "Catch you later, man."

Grant waved, downing the rest of his drink as we left.

We only passed a couple of doors before we reached our own. I released Zach's hand as we walked inside, sitting down on the bed. He sat next to me.

"So, exactly how mad are you?" He began tentatively, clasping his hands together.

I leaned back on my hands. "Oh, I'm not mad."

Zach looked up in disbelief. "You're not?"

"No." I shrugged.

My eyes connected with his. He was confused. Very, very confused.

With a sigh, I sat up again and my gaze grew cold. "No, I'm not mad, Zach. I'm fucking pissed."

"Ah," Zach pursed his lips. "Well, that makes more sense. For a second there I was trying to figure out which one of us had brain damage."

In the reflection of the TV, I saw Bex creep out from our bathroom. I could see a sliver of Nick there too, a syringe in his hand. Zach didn't notice. He was too focused on me and what I was saying.

"Yes, I'm angry. But I'm not naive and I'm not immature. I'm not going to lash out at you or ignore you or anything. This isn't a teenage rom-com, last I checked." I said, keeping Zach's attention on me.

Zach cracked a smirk, but it was dry, emotionless. It lacked its usual mirth, and for a split second, an image of his brother flashed into my mind. I ignored it.

"But you're still mad," Zach said. "So, obviously, there's going to be some type of tens-"

He was cut off by a wince and a look of surprise as he felt the needle slip into his neck. When it was pulled free, he looked over his shoulder to see Nick and Bex.

Zach turned back to me, and his smirk held a bit of amusement once again. "Well played, Cammie. Well played. I guess we're even now, but sedating me? That's kinda low, even for an assassin."

I smiled sadly. "You exposed me, Zach. I know it wasn't intentional, but I can't trust you. Not anymore."

Bex pulled Nick toward the balcony to give us some space. She gave me a nod of encouragement before shutting the glass doors behind them.

"Besides," I shrugged, dropping my smile. "That actually isn't what this is about."

"No?" Zach questioned drowsily. He lay back on the pillows, accepting that he would be unconscious soon.

"No," I confirmed. "We both know you wouldn't have slept tonight. Not with your guilt, me pissed at you, plus everything else we have to worry about. Sleep deprivation is not something we can afford to gamble with in the field, especially with the leader of the team."

He closed his eyes, chuckling. "You're not wrong."

"I know you, Goode. And you know me. Which is why you also know there will be a large amount of tension between us and I won't be able to trust you again for a long time. If ever." I admitted. It was true. Even though I knew it wasn't intentional, I remembered. I remembered running out of that room and hearing my name yelled behind me, from his lips. His voice. He was a spy, an assassin. One of the best. He's not supposed to make those mistakes. He's trained not to make those mistakes. I trusted him to use that training and keep my identity a secret, and he failed. I couldn't forgive that.

A small sigh moved past his lips. I heard him whisper something.

"Hm?" I hummed, trying to hear whatever he was wanted to tell me.

Zach forced his eyes open, fighting the sedative. "Why are you still here?"

My eyes widened.

Vague question, but I knew what he was asking. Why was I still in London? Why was I still on the mission? Why was I still there, with him and the others? I guess it was a simple question. Still, I didn't have an answer. Philosophy wasn't my strong suit. For most of my life, I'd been told to shoot first, ask questions never. The why was never important.

Except in this world, in the world I was taken from when I was 8 years old. Everyone in that world was fighting for the why. Why did they want to kill Princess Amirah, why did Catherine want me to forget most of my life, why did I keep my identity a secret, why did this have to happen to us?

The questions were never-ending. A part of me longed to go back to that life where there weren't questions. Where everything was black and white, and simple. I missed that life. That life was easy.

But in this world, in this life that I was dragged back into, I had to question everything. There was black, and there was white, but there was so much more grey. One part of me hated it, the other part of me didn't. It was conflicted, just like my memories. On one hand, my brain wanted me to remember. On the other, it also wanted to protect me.

By the time I was torn from my trance, Zach's green eyes were closed again. His chest rose and fell as he snored quietly in his sleep.

This time, I was saved. But it was only a matter of time before I had to face that question again.

I just hoped next time I'd have an answer.

"Hey, you alright?" Bex's voice asked from behind me.

I turned to see she and Nick returned from the balcony.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I smiled. If she saw through it, she said nothing. "That plan worked. Now we can do all that we need to do tomorrow without sloppiness."

"Theoretically," Nick muttered.

He sat the black case in his hand on the coffee table, opening it to reveal a variety of syringes and vials of liquid.

I sat down on the couch as he filled one of the syringes with the contents of a small vial.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked.

I nodded. "We have enough problems already. My nightmares will just blow our cover if I keep waking up as I have."

Bex shook her head at me, clenching the roll of duct tape in her hand. "I don't like this, Cam. Zach's part of the plan was easy but this..."

"Needs to be done," I said forcefully, finishing her sentence for her. "I will not be responsible if this mission goes south- that I promise you. But for that to be true, we have to do this."

She bit her lip apprehensively, but she nodded.

I moved my hair to the side and tilted my head. Nick brought the syringe to my neck and squeezed it down. It stung, but the pain was bearable.

After a few moments, he slid the needle out of my skin. I sighed, letting my hair fall back into place.

I moved into a more comfortable position for sleep and locked eyes with who once was my closest friend. "Bex, do it."

Bex ripped a decent-sized piece of duct tape from the roll. She kneeled on the floor next to the couch, looking down at me.

Her eyebrows raised, and I nodded in confirmation once more.

Hesitantly but surely, Bex placed the duct tape over my mouth.

I closed my eyes. Fighting the memories was hard. The number of times I'd been tied up with that same sort of tape over my mouth...It was haunting. When I opened my eyes, I figured Bex must have seen it on my face. But then I felt a tear on my cheek and cursed myself for showing that much emotion.

"Hey, it's okay. I'll be right here, and I'm carrying a gun." Bex lifted her shirt to show me the pistol I already knew was there. "No one's going to get to you, not on my watch."

I nodded and felt her soft hands brush my hair from my face before the drugs took effect and I fell into a deep sleep.

A/N: Well that's it. It wasn't anything all that special, but I liked it. Bex and Cam's relationship is building, Zach and Cam are going through some things, but for now, everything's chill. Like the calm before the storm...I'm teasing you and it's fun lol. Don't know when the next one will be posted because I'm going on a trip in a couple of days and I probably won't have much time to write, but I'll be working on it. Thank you guys for reading and I hope you liked this chapter!

Alecks454: Hi! Thanks for reading! Yes, Cammie is backkk. Hope you liked this one and that it explained the whole Zach thing. But just in case: Zach is the reason everyone knows Nightshade is Cammie. He called out her name and they all heard him. :)

me: Yay glad you loved it! Hope you liked this one too! Yes I think we're all glad that Cammie is back. And thank you! Totally wasn't planning it but then I decided, why not? Thanks for reading!

Duchess12: Sorry if I made you cry again with this one yikesssss. I could never kill Abby, I love her way too much. But somebody is dead...or hurt...;) Hey, I said I wouldn't make them endgame, not that I was putting it to rest hehehe (inset evil laugh & Zion's smirk). Yeah you're right they don't have a good ship name. But ooo maybe I'll reveal Zion's codename soon and you guys can mix it with Nightshade or Chameleon. Yay glad you loved it and hope you liked this one too! Thank you so so so much and I love you and yes I am also glad I didn't end it there lol. See you soon love 3333

Thank you all for reading and showing support for all 17 and soon-to-be more chapters of Perilous. Love you, I'll be back with Chapter Eighteen soon!

xxx