I'm sorry for the long wait. I was in Chicago and the hotel have this Internet fee I had to pay and I was like, "No way."

So, I was a bit MIA. Anyways, this was the story I started on the day I got back. And I think I kinda lost my touch cause I didn't write in Chicago.

Tell me what you guys think

~C

Recap:

I stared at Macey as I said, "She told me she's Macey illegitimate sister."

Gasps erupted and we all looked at Macey for confirmation.

Finally, she answered, "I know."

Chapter Nine: Life Story

"What?" I croaked, uncertain if I'd heard her right. Surely not. Please tell me she did not say she knew that Justine Martin, or whichever name she prefers, is her illegitimate sister? The woman that's been trying to destroy Gallagher and Blackthorne is one of my best friend's half-sister?

"Yeah." Macey replied, deadly calm.

My head swiveled to meet Bex and Liz's questioning and calculating gazes. "I don't understand. How come both Blackthorne and Gallagher haven't come up with this conclusions themselves? It can't be that classified." Liz remarked, grabbing her laptop and situated herself comfortably on the bed. I didn't know how they could be so calm while my head was reeling. Bex, I assumed, would jump up and began spinning an idea, something that will help us but even she was sitting there, stupefied. If Bex didn't know how to react then that gave me a gauge on how horrible the situation really was.

I suddenly remembered Justine's words in the foyer: Something the files left out. Something I've kept a secret my entire life. She wasn't kidding. No one knows that she was the illegitimate sister of the mayor. I repeated the phrase to Liz, who seemed equally bemused and more than a bit upset. "That's not possible." She murmured. "She shouldn't be able to keep the secret that long. They should've found out a long time ago!"

"No, they couldn't." Macey spoke up. We all glanced at her, wanting to weasel out as much information about the girl as possible. And since Macey knew Justine was her sister when the entire government and the two top schools for exceptional hackers didn't, well, our sources were converted.

"Why not?" Bex demanded, stopping her lengthy pace to sit next to Macey.

"My father wanted the information exclusively classified. It couldn't be found anywhere. The only reason I knew was because Justine and I was reunited a couple of years back. It was brief but I recognized the girl my father told me about."

"Wait – reunited?" Liz asked, mesmerized. Her fingers were flying over the keys, quickly typing up some notes or doing some researches.

"Yeah. He brought us together when we were seven. I disliked her immediately and when I asked who she was, my father made me promised not to tell anyone. Even now, I recalled he sounded really desperate. I could understand why no one knows except for me, her, and my father."

"Explain it to me. Because I really don't understand it." I didn't say it meanly just simple curiosity.

"Her mom died right after she was born. And the last thing she made my dad promised her was that no one know about their affair. Naturally, he didn't object since it would ruin his image and his relationship with my mom. But the woman made my dad promised to tell her daughter that he was her real father." Macey finished with a soft sigh.

"That's horrible." I sympathized.

She shrugged. "My dad was gone for half of Justine's life and she lived with my dad's sister for a while. Aunt Lucy didn't know who was the parents, just that it was the child of my dad's friend. For a while, she started calling Aunt Lucy 'mom' and that's what my aunt became, her legal guardian. The only support he gave was child support checks. And the regular visits with me in tow but other than that, Justine didn't have any real relationship with her father. However, when she turned eighteen, she became emancipated and lost connection with both my aunt and father. I guess that's what made her so driven."

I felt a brief mirror of pain for Justine. My own father was gone for a part of my life. But I had my mom. And the other girl had only a stand-in for a mom. I registered back to the deal she'd offered. Was I starting to regret the immediate rejection? I want my dad back but would I willingly risk the safety of both of the schools just to get him back? He wouldn't want that. I know he wouldn't but this is my choice. Kind of like a fork in the road and to make matters worse, I have no idea which road to take. "So, that's her life story." I concluded. "Sad."

"You can't feel sorry for her." Macey said sharply.

"I'm not but I'm not totally heartless." I commented, frowning at her abrupt change in attitude. "I know how she felt. My own father was missing a big part of my life too."

She breathed out heavily. "I know. I'm sorry. But you need to focus on the mission. We can't afford to be distracted."

"Does Zach know this version of the story?" Liz spoke up, deeply immersed in thought.

"No, he doesn't." Macey frowned. "Didn't you hear what I just said? No one knows."

"Oh yeah. Sorry. But," She quickly typed something and resumed, "I think we should let the guys know." She saw Macey beginning to argue and quickly cut in. "I can assure you guys they won't let it slip. And one of us can do it so that Macey won't be breaking her promise to her dad."

I turned to Macey. "That's a good idea. But it's up to you."

"Yeah, sure. Tell them. They should know." She wiped a hand across her forehead and leaned back on her pillows. "Just – tell them to be careful."

Bex picked up her phone and composed a message to Grant. "Don't worry. They're on high alert."

"You should get some sleep." I told Liz.

"Later." She murmured.

Bex exited the room, phone in hands. Liz moved into the closet for some silence and it was just me and Macey. I inspected her, unsure of her snappy and crude attitudes. She pulled the comforter up higher and closed her eyes. I continued to stare.

"Can you stop? It's creepy." She asked, her lips twitching.

I walked over to the side of her bed and kneel down. "Something's up between you and Justine and it's not because of some sisters rivalry. What's going on?"

She opened one eye and in them, I saw insecurity and determination. "When I was ten, I had my first boyfriend."

My jaws dropped. I didn't get my first boyfriend until I was sixteen and that's still considered too early.

"Yeah, I know, I was a slut. Anyways, I was seriously in love with the kid. And she came and plucked him from me. That's why I sworn off boyfriends. I was small but I knew how heartbreak felt like and didn't feel up for it again. I held a grudge from then until now." She finished.

All I could say was: "You're not a slut."

She smiled sadly. "Then why can't I seem to get a steady boyfriend?"

I was silent.

"I thought so." She sighed.

When I opened my mouth to apologize, I saw that she was already asleep. I heaved a sigh of my own, kicked off my clothes, slipped on my pajamas and slid into bed, the sheets cooled against my feverish skin.

Bex entered and found my wandering eyes, "We're meeting up with Jonas, Grant, and Jason tomorrow morning at Starbucks. Zach's spending the day with Justine." She rolled her eyes.

"Alright." I answered.

"Good night." She said after sliding into her own bed.

"Night." I mumbled, already falling asleep.