Look at this! Two updates in two days! I'm so proud of myself! Ha ha. Now this chapter goes from lots of people's point of view but it's sorta necessary….

Disclaimer: Ally Carter owns all. Except Nick.

Chapter Eleven: The Real Deal

Macey POV

I came to a dead stop as I heard him, pulling Nick with me. My fingers were laced with his and I squeezed his hand. Leaning around the corner, I caught a glimpse of light brown hair and I knew the man had Bex. (A/N: Does Bex have brown hair? I couldn't remember.)

Nick pulled me back and gave me a questioning look. I pulled is head down to whisper in his ear. I couldn't help but shiver as I felt his warm breath on my cheek. "It's Bex. That's who he's threatening to kill."

Nick pulled back and stared at me. As a Senator's daughter, I'm pretty good at hiding my emotions. I have to be. But Nick's [probing green eyes seemed to say, "Let your guard down. You can trust me." All the fear that I felt was unleashed as I let my emotionless expression come to life. I was a spy but I wasn't a great one. Well, not when it came to Nicolaus Walker.

"We need to save her," I said urgently. He nodded. "Sneak. That's what we need to do." I peaked around the corner again and then pulled my head back. "They are backing this way. Grant's standing there looking helpless. And Solomon, Smith, and the rest can't do anything. We need to create a diversion."

Just then, with perfect timing, Liz and Jonas came sprinting around the corner with the junior class following swiftly behind them.

Well, that just made things easier.

Cammie POV

I stared at Zach, trying to comprehend what he'd just said. So far I'd seen five different sides of Zachary Goode. I still didn't know which was the real deal.

However, as I stared into his penetrating green eyes, I knew that that was the thing that made Zach a great spy.

"They killed…my dad and…your parents?" I repeated. "But…why? Wouldn't they be good assets?"

"Well, see, that's another thing I found out and it made me feel all the more guilty for ever being mad at my parents." He sighed. "The leader of the Circle of Cavan gave them an ultimatum: Either they join the Circle of Cavan or perish with an excruciating torture. They weren't about to betray the country so they chose to die. It was never a choice. They had known the risks."

"So…if there was no trace of them, how did the CIA know how they died?"

Zach gave a disgusted look and snorted. "The sick, twisted people sent a video of your father's and my father's torture. And my mom…was used in different ways, different reasons." His look was disgusted and angry. "Then they killed the Goode couple"—He gave a dry, humorless laugh at the pun, which was not intended—"and the amazing Chris Morgan." He shook his head. "The information was undisclosed. The only ones that the Director let see it were not those closest to my parents or your father. That's why your mother didn't know. Until now."

My mother gave a sharp nod. Still in spy mode.

"You see, Cammie?" Zach said, bringing my attention back to him. "You see why I didn't tell you? It's sick. Horrible. I wasn't going to put you through that." His fingers drummed impatiently against a table top. "But now you know."

I was about to respond—I had so many questions—when one of the burly security men popped his head in. "Miss Morgan, you may want to come up here. They need you."

My mother nodded. "You two stay down here. We don't need to put you at further risk." And she turned and followed the security guard.

A second of silence passed. I met Zach's eyes. We were both thinking the same thing. We nodded at the same time and then bolted through the door, following my mother to the first floor of the mansion.

What can I say? Spies aren't very good at taking orders. It's one of the many, many hazards.

Bex POV

I didn't fight, knowing it would be pointless. No use getting killed over something so overrated.

I stood against the man, helpless, as I watched Solomon and the others put their hands up. Surrendering. Surrendering me.

My eyes met Grant's. He was as scared as I was. As scared and as helpless. "I love you," I mouthed.

"I love you, too," he mouthed back. Then, ever slightly, his expression changed. His eyes shown with hope and even his posture radiated off hope. It was very subtle but still, I could sense it.

My eyebrows knit together and I was suddenly very glad that Grant could read my expressions. He lifted his lips for a fraction of a second and tilted his head. It took me a second but then it clicked.

Help had come.

Grant POV

I stood, helpless, as I watched the man who held the girl I loved at death's door slowly back up, toward the passage they'd come through.

Her eyes sought out mind and she mouthed, "I love you."

I mouthed back, "I love you, too." Then my eyes caught a slight movement behind the wall of men that had formed. It was so quick and agile that I wasn't sure I'd seen it. But I knew I had. And I knew who had come: Nick and Macey. Along with the rest of the junior class, Gallagher and Blackthorne students mixed in together. Working together.

Hope grew within me and I tried to convey this to Bex. For once, I was glad we could communicate with our expressions. She was questioning me. I lifted my lips for a fraction of a second and cocked my head. It took her a moment but I knew she'd gotten the message:

Help had come.

Macey POV

Grant saw us," I whispered. "We have approximately thirty seconds before we can kick these guy's' butts. Let's do this thing." My eyes jumped from face to face. "Tina, Jake, remember your job?" I asked each pair the same question. "After that, Nick and I will surprise them from either side." I met his eyes. "And remember, Liz, Jonas, you guys are going to stay here and try to stop the men from getting away." They nodded. "Got that?" Everyone nodded. I looked at my watch. "Ten seconds…five…four…three…two…one….Go!" I watched as Blackthorne and Gallagher students alike went in for the kill. Working together. Just like our headmistress and Dr. Steve wanted.

When it was almost time, I looked at Nick. "Ready?"

He nodded. I made to get up but he grabbed my wrist. I tried to ignore the tingling feeling that went up my arm (now was so not the time to be thinking like that) and I gave him a questioning look.

"Just…be careful. I could never forgive myself if you got hurt and I could've saved you." And then he was on the other side of the hall.

I blinked once but I knew I couldn't allow myself to decipher what he'd said. I stood and gave Nick a look. I held up three fingers. Three…I dropped one…two…Another down…one.

We both bolted from opposite sides of the hall into the chaos where we were winning the fight. Bex had been released and I looked for the man who'd threatened my friend. I spotted him but he was already too far to chase. I turned back to the fight. Most of the men were down. I attacked one, getting ready to do a roundhouse kick when I heard my mane. "Macey!" Nick cried. I turned. "Look out!" That's all he had time to say before my view of him was clocked and I was attacked by a brawny man. I ducked as he swung at me and did a roundhouse kick on him. He tripped me after he fell and I went toppling down next to him. Before he could even touch me, or I him, someone slapped a napotine patch on his forehead and threw him to the side. It didn't surprise me when Nick loomed over my body. "Macey," he said. "Are you okay?"

"Yes! I'm fine." I struggled to sit up and he hurriedly took my hand and pulled me up. He didn't let go of me as he engulfed me in a quick hug. When he pulled back, he let his fingers trail down my arm, sending shivers all through my body, and laced our fingers together. Looking around, I was surprised to find more than twenty-five people who were taking the "bad men" away.

"CIA," Nick whispered to me. "Someone notified them."

I was about to answer when I noticed Rachel Morgan come running frantically through, followed by Cammie and Zach, all of whom looked on guard.

Miss Morgan stopped when she realized no danger dwelled in the halls anymore. "Thank goodness," I heard her say under her breath. Louder she said, "Everyone get to your dorms…except you eight." She pointed to Cammie, Bex, Liz, me, Zach, Grant, Jonas, and Nick. "I need to talk to you all."

Cammie POV

"I need to talk to you all." My mother waited until everyone was gone before she turned to me and my friends. "Follow me." Without a word, we all followed. I knew where she was taking us. Back to the room full of computers.

Except that's not where she took us. At first. My mom took us to another room in Sublevel…whatever. She had us all sit down and she began to tell us what each of our value to the Circle of Cavan was. She basically repeated all that Zach had told me. I tuned it out. Zach took my hand and interlocked our fingers. I looked at him, trying and failing to hide my fear and anger. He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze and what was supposed to be a reassuring smile but it turned out more of a grimace.

I tuned back into the conversation when Bex asked a question that hadn't really occurred to me. I had just accepted it. "So…why do they want us all? Why don't they just want Zach and Cam?"

My mother gave her a sad smile. "Remember the mission that M16 sent your parent son last year? It was the same one Christ and Jared went on. Except your parents got out before it was too late." She turned to Grant. "Your father was also one of the CIA and M16's top spies. He did not go on this mission. He died diffusing a bomb under the United States capitol."

We all looked at Grant. He had never spoken much of his parents so I had just assumed he still had them. Obviously not.

"Macey…you know why you're wanted. Nick, we haven't quite figure out why they want you. You're an amazing spy but your family line doesn't really let us know that. I mean, your parents are amazing but they are very secretive—that's what makes them some of the most valuable spies." My mom smiled at him.

"Um, wouldn't they have figured out by now who my parents are? I mean…they're smart," Nick said. He tried to hide his dread but he couldn't. Macey took his hand and gave a comforting squeeze. It surprised me because Macey doesn't usually show affection, even to those she loves most.

"As for Liz and Jonas, well, they think that you would be wonderful for breaking the M16 and CIA firewalls…although Zach has already proven that he would be good at that as well." She clapped her hands. "Is there anything else we should tell them?" She seemed to be asking no one in particular.

Until Solomon answered. "No…not yet. Let's take them to the room." I didn't need to ask to know what room they were talking about.

We followed them to the room with the computers and I had to look at the faces of all those who they were after…but the main ones were the eight of us.

"How long have you been researching these people?" Jonas asked.

"We've kept a record on them for years but only recently found out that they were after you eight. When Zach…sent us the information."

I looked at my boyfriend with raised eyebrows. He held up his hands. "Hey, at the moment, it seemed more vital for them to know the information I had found out than it did for you. It would have just put you in danger."

I nodded and rolled my eyes. Some of my tension was slowly going away. "So what's going to happen to us?" I asked. I didn't want to say the words aloud so I didn't.

Bex beat me to it. "Gallagher isn't safe anymore, is it?" she said quietly.

My mom looked at Joe. They both shook their heads after staring at one another for a couple seconds. "Neither is Blackthorne." Joe turned back to my mom. "We have to get them out of here. Somewhere safe. Now. Tonight. No one can know where they are."

My mom's eyes filled with sadness as she looked at each of our faces: Bex, who had become as a second daughter to her; Liz, who had always been the smart one in the crew and a total asset to Gallagher; Macey, who had just joined but who was the descendant of Gillian Gallagher herself; Zach, her daughters boyfriend, the one who cared so much about me; Jonas, the perfect match for Liz, another she had adopted unofficially; Grant, a boy who had helped Bex through sophomore year, knowing her parents may never return; Nick, who had changed Macey in the slightest way, made her realize that there were people who cared; and last of all, me, her own daughter, someone who reminded her of her husband. She was now in mother mode as she went around to give each of us a hug. When she reached Zach, I heard her whisper, "Take care of her as long as you can. Please."

"Of course I will, Rachel," Zach muttered back. Rachel. He'd called my mother Rachel. She had already accepted him.

As she reached me, I smiled in thanks and then embraced my mother. "I love you, Mom," I said. "I promise that I won't let you down. I'll see you soon. I love you."

At this point, my mother was almost unable to talk. She managed to get out, "I love you too, Cammie. You remind me so much of your father and for that, I'm sure that everything will be okay." She pulled back and nodded at Joe.

"I will go get your things. Everything is packed for you. We don't know how long you will be staying where you're going. I've sent for a CIA jet to take you to this place. They will protect you. You'll leave as soon as it gets here." He left the room.

I watched my mom follow him and, despite myself, tears filled my eyes. I didn't know how long it would be before I saw my mother again.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

We sat in the room for what seemed like days but in reality, it was only a couple hours. I was curled up on Zach's lap. I had been crying silently for the last hour and half and then finally, my tears were all dried up. He had his arms around me and I couldn't help but think, I feel so safe here in his arms.

A man decked out in CIA clothing came in. He was followed by a few others who had bags for us. He took each bag and threw it at one of us. "Put these on. They will be your cover. Your disguise." We did as we were told. I numbly stood from my comforting circle and slipped on the clothes without even looking at them. I put on the glasses and the wig and then turned to look at Zach. In spite of the situation, I laughed. He looked like an old man getting ready to go on a vacation.

He smirked at me but I knew that deep down, he was glad he could make me laugh.

When we were all dressed, the CIA agent said, "Alright then. I'm Agent Chip and I will be the one with you at all times. If you need anything, come to me. I am here to protect you so please don't try sneaking off. This is not your only cover for right now. Just until we reach our destination. I will give you your files on the jet. Follow me." Agent Chip. Huh. Interesting name.

We followed him through the doors but he didn't lead us back to the elevator. He led us down a tunnel. We passed a whole bunch of really nice cars. When we reached that tunnel, Agent Chip warned, "Touch any of those and they might just blow." No one tried to touch them anyway. We all knew what kind of weapons were made and protected here.

When we finally reached the end of the tunnel, it was dark out and I wondered how long we really had been in that room. A jet was waiting for us. There were CIA agents surrounding us. Protecting us. Shielding us from danger and unwanted eyes.

We were getting closer to the jet and just as Agent Chip was getting ready to lead us on, he was shot and went down. He wasn't dead and he gave a weak order for "Agent Hendrickson" to get us on board safely. I barely noticed the helicopter above us before CIA agents were shoving my friends and me quickly toward the jet. Agent Hendrickson motioned us all in quickly as she (yes, she) ordered the rest of the agents to fight them off and keep them that way. Help was coming.

She followed us into the jet and quickly started it. "Come on, come on," she muttered over and over again. "Buckle up," she threw over her shoulder as an afterthought. I noticed that Agent Chip's body was on board. She caught me staring and said, "Precautions. He is not dead but there is a very unlikely chance that he might live. Until he is dead, we can't leave him anywhere. Knowing Drew the way I do, he'll fight it until the very end." Drew. Must be his first name. She didn't seem the least bit devastated that he could die.

More tears filled my eyes as I watched the CIA agents and Circle of Cavan agents going down one by one. Already people were dying because of me. How many more would die just so I could live?

Zach pulled me closer to him as the jet moved farther up into the sky. He unbuckled me and pulled me into his lap. "Sh, Cam, everything will be alright." I buried my face in his chest. "Just sleep, baby, just go to sleep."

My last words before I drifted into unconsciousness were, "I love you. Sorry your shirt is all wet."

He said something back and laughed but I didn't hear it. I fell into unconsciousness, wondering how I would cope without my mother. Again, I asked myself, How many more people were going to die because of me? Then I was gone…

So what did you think? It's not my best chapter and it has more action than I planned. Again, my mind got away from me as I wrote this. I didn't really want to make them leave in this chapter but I suddenly felt like it was the right thing to do. I almost ended at the part that Cammie said, I didn't know how long it would be before I saw my mom again. But I decided that I'd given you guys enough cliffy's. Review please! This is a long one and I hope you guys like it. Even though it's not the best written.

Sneak peak into next chapter:

I screamed as someone grabbed me from behind.

That's all you get. =D Ha ha. Review and let me know what you think!!! Let's try for…150? Think you can do it? You guys were one off but I decided to update anyway. See how much I love my readers?

~XJamesBondX