CIA Issued Plane

5:23 P.M.

Zach's POV:

Usually, I'm not restless during flights. But for some reason, I couldn't stay still. I was beginning to feel a bit annoyed with myself. We were 7 hours into an 8 hour flight and I was bored. Yet bored doesn't sound like the right word to use but it's hard to explain.

I closed my eyes as I shook my head softly before resting my body against the plane seat. As I opened my eyes, I glanced over at Cammie. She was still asleep and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Confused with myself, I decided to look away. I must have been subconsciously worried about her or something. Cammie had knocked out the moment the plane took off and at one point I had woken her up because she began crying.

I had been on the verge of passing out when I felt her shift in her seat and the whimper that she let out was enough to break me out of my drowsiness.

"Dad..." She had whispered as her tears persisted, brows furrowing. Glancing over, I realized she was still asleep and her cries were beginning to intensify. I immediately sat up and shook her awake.

It wasn't hard to assume what the nightmare could've been about. I didn't ask her about it and opted to ask her the cliche 'what's wrong'? She had responded 'nothing' as she relaxed into her seat. A bit worried, I asked again but she smiled a little before shaking her head. She wiped away the tears and crossed her arms, once again staring out the window before falling asleep again.

I watched as the sun set reflected on Cammie's features and sighed as the co-pilot made his way towards us. I looked up and shot him a polite smile as he handed the files. He seemed a bit uneasy but I brushed it off. He walked away and I clutched the papers tightly.

I closed my eyes and sighed. I pursed my lips as I pondered anything and everything.

Matthew Morgan. If I was ever asked about them I could tell them the basic details. It was hard not to know his name considering he's a CIA legend. Skilled in his field, would do anything for things he considered important. It might have been that quality that resulted in him going MIA. No body was ever found but everyone was convinced he was dead, there's nothing to refute this theory.

Dead.

He's dead because of my mother, head operative of the Circle of Cavan. I let out a breath, annoyed at the thought of her. News got around my senior year that the Chameleon along with Duchess, Bookworm, and Peacock had taken down the Circle for good. To say I was relieved that they were gone would be an understatement. I remember hearing the news regarding my mother.

Jonas had burst through the door to our room. Grant and I had been playing cards on the bed and he looked like he'd seen a ghost. Grant shot him a questioning glance, out of breath Jonas collapsed on the bed. He grabbed my arms and said "She's gone. Your mom, she's dead, Zach," and I couldn't do anything at the moment but stare at him in shock. I couldn't feel anything for her, could hardly remember a single moment she'd been good to me.

Looking at Cammie as I remembered her, I couldn't help but feel a bit of guilt. I knew it wasn't my fault yet I couldn't help it. Regarding my mother, it was too late to help Cammie now. She had ruined her life but in turn Cammie had destroyed what my mother adored most.

I felt Cammie stir next to me as I opened the files I'd been handed. I quickly reminded myself this was classified as a level 10 blackout mission. The cover files read as follows:

Zachary Goode: Liam Clark

Appearance: Brown hair, blue eyes, broad shoulders, muscular

Height: 5' 10"

Origin: Milan, Italy

Marital Status: Married

Wife: Emma Roberts

Ring:

Below it was a ring pocket that contained a gold ring with a diamond. Elegant yet not too flashy. I eyed the diamond, figuring it was more than likely very expensive and couldn't help but roll my eyes. This ring was a good way to signify their high status.

Suddenly I felt eyes on me. I glanced over and my eyes met ocean blue ones. I started feeling a bit vulnerable as I had relaxed, stripped the mask I usually had on. I noticed she had been studying me. She tilted her head to the side, leaned forward a bit and opened her mouth to say something. My eyes shifted to her lips before I caught myself and looked away. She noticed the file and sighed, "How's that going?"

Mentally slapping myself for even staring at her lips, I shook my head as if to shake myself out of whatever had taken ahold of me right then. That was weird. I let out a breath before focusing back on the files and Cammie's question.

I casually handed her the file she needed as I refocused on the cover file. I flipped some pages as I scanned the basic details of the mission. I shrugged a bit before saying, "It's pretty good so far. Although this seems more like a level 8 or 9 mission, give or take. Apparently, these people are co-founders of some big company in Europe."

Cammie fell back into her seat. "Europe? So their company is located in Switzerland too?"

I slowly nodded. "Apparently. They relocated to Switzerland and moved in 3 months ago. They probably did this in order to get closer to the organization."

Cammie smiled a bit before opening her file. "So we can assume that this organization's base might be in Switzerland or the surrounding area,"

I looked over. She had phrased it as a question but I knew it was a statement. I hadn't processed that yet so I returned her smile and nodded. "Mhm. You're probably right. But first we need to go and get the dead drop. Right now we lack information and since this is the only way to get it so be it."

I flipped another page and read its contents. "We'll be in London for 3 days then we'll head over to Switzerland which is about an hour and a half away."

Cammie nodded as she analyzed her cover. As she flipped the page, without looking over she asked, "So where are we staying?"

Scanning the page I read aloud, "The Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane,"

"Fancy..." She squinted as she said that, her eyes scanning a line that caught her attention. "It's the Hyde Park Suite they've booked for us."

I nodded. Nothing less to be expected of the agency. My head shot up as I heard a quiet giggle come from my left. "Expensive fancy suite. Macey would be complaining."

I shook my head as I smiled slightly, having caught a glimpse of her fond expression as she mumbled to herself. I let out a sigh as I continued reading the file. I couldn't help but think of all the paperwork that would come out of this. My eyes burned at the thought of staring at a computer typing the details of what was likely a month's worth of a mission; that was if there were no complications. I closed my eyes, trying to get rid of the sensation and counted the minutes until landing.

Once we landed we were escorted to a car and driven over to the hotel. The car ride was largely uneventful, we simply went over our covers in farsi and assumed our role.

"So once you've gotten into your cover just remember to use a British accent. Oh, and the contacts," I grabbed my bag and handed her the contacts.

She accepted them, digging into her bag for a mirror. "And your accent?"

"Italian. We'll be there in 5 minutes."

She nodded as she began putting in her contact lenses. There went her blue eyes masked by brown lenses. She passed me her mirror as I followed. Green eyes switched to blue. Now it begins.

We thanked the driver and entered the hotel. Not only did we need to act the part, we need to look the part. We casually strolled in and checked in, getting our key card.

We opened the door and unsurprisingly we were met with fancy accommodation. Cammie sighed as she entered and headed into the right corridor, her suitcase dragging behind her. I stood in the foyer, scanning for any bugs at the entrance.

"To the left," Cammie yelled. I moved away from the entrance and peeked into what appeared to be the living room. She was by the viewing window, reaching to close the curtains. I couldn't help but smirk as I leaned into the living room entrance.

"Wrong way?" I raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at my lips despite my best effort to hide it. She pursed her lips and sent me a glare. Unable to help myself I chuckled, "If you're tired I believe the bedroom is to the left or maybe I'm mistaken?"

She huffed out in annoyance before letting out a laugh. "Very funny. Did you ever think about being a comedian?"

I shook my head, visibly amused before I made a motion to search for bugs. She nodded, beginning to inspect the living room. Deciding I should search other areas in order to make the process go by quicker, I made my way into the foyer once again, opting to head straight ahead finding myself in a room with a window overlooking the park. It was a small, spacious room as there was a closet, a safe, and an area to get ready. I hummed, figuring this was the Her room I had seen in the floor plans.

Floor plans I'd intentionally hidden from Cammie. I just wanted to see what she would do once we entered the suite. Can't blame a guy for wanting to have some fun. I mentally cursed, as the suite was obviously big meaning we would need to cover more space. It took us a good half hour before we were sure the place was secured. As expected there were a few bugs and we wasted no time destroying them.

Cammie plopped down on the bed, visibly tired, sighing as checked the time. It was nearly 10 PM and I couldn't blame her. I was jet lagged beyond belief and it had taken us two hours to get everything at Heathrow airport plus the hunt for bugs. Overall, it'd just been a tiring day.

That's when it hit me. There was one bed. Cammie must have sensed what I was thinking as she shook her head. "Don't worry about it."

I looked at her and pointed to the bed. "It's fine. You take the bed and I'll take the chaise lounge." I made my way over, setting my duffel there. I began to grab a shirt yet froze as I heard a tiny laugh behind me. I turned my head to face her, exasperatedly muttering, "Yes?"

"You? You're sleeping on that chaise lounge? Why are you acting like you'll fit? Your legs will be dangling and besides, there's plenty of room in the bed. It's a king sized bed. Just stay on your side and you'll be fine." She grabbed a pair of pajamas and a towel, heading towards the bathroom. "Oh. And if you kick me in your sleep, I can't guarantee you'll be fine in the morning,"

And with that she left, the sounds of bustling city life below us filling the room alongside the sound of the running water. I went ahead and ordered room service so Cammie would come out to some nice food. We'd been so busy, we had barely eaten. By the time Cammie came out, the food had arrived and I quickly went to take a shower.

The cold water grazing my skin felt nice, waking me up a bit. I sighed as I washed my hair, pondering how this mission would go. I was a bit uneasy at the fact that the mission had a high level. I was perfectly aware looks could be deceiving, I'm a spy after all, but something didn't feel right about this mission.

I let out a breath as I exited the shower heading towards the sink. I looked at myself in the mirror, green eyes stared back at me. I looked down and dried my hair with a towel, setting the towel on my shoulder when I was done. I quickly changed into a t-shirt and sweats, my thoughts interrupted by the sound of my stomach growling. I could really go for some salmon fillet and a mixed salad right about now. I was practically salivating at the thought. I looked into the mirror once more, staring at my eyes.

Green. I quickly brushed away the thought of my mother and walked out of the bathroom. I made my way through the corridor and into the living room, spotting Cammie at the dining table at the left of the entrance. I quickly took note that in a worst case scenario, Cammie and I would be at a disadvantage due to the layout of the suite. From the foyer we had to walk straight and down a long corridor to the room. I doubt anything would happen but it was still a good thing to keep in mind.

Cammie was sitting at the table watching a show as she ate. She looked up and waved me over. She smiled, "The food is good. Obviously."

I nodded, sending her a slight smile and admiring the food. The salmon fillet and mixed salad did just the trick. I was fully satisfied, scarfing down my meal as Cammie glanced up from her show amused.

"You going to eat that?" I nodded towards her meal. For her, I had ordered a chicken caesar salad and wild mushroom risotto. She let out a laugh, stabbing her fork into her salad.

"Not satisfied with your meal Zachary?" She pointed her fork at my nearly finished plate. She laughed, shaking her head. She pushed the wild mushroom risotto towards me. "Here. Try some. It's really good."

I quickly dipped my fork into the dish, eager to try it. This earned another amused look from her and my eyes widened. "It's so good,"

She shook her head, stifling a laugh. "Figured you'd say that. How'd you know I was craving a Caesar salad?"

I tilted my head, smirking. "Come on, Gallagher Girl. Spy." I pointed at myself. She raised an eyebrow.

"You're such a kid," She smiled.

Once we finished our meals, we just stayed there relaxing a bit. The fatigue was really beginning to kick in right about now. I glanced down at my phone, noting the time. It was nearly midnight. I could feel the drowsiness beginning to take over yet I didn't move. Cammie was the first one to get up. She glanced at me and must've taken notice that I was halfway through passing out in the chair, that she helped me out.

She grabbed my arms and pulled me up, muttering, "Really Zach? Come on. Time for bed."

I threw my head back, letting her pull me out of the chair. Ugh. We made our way through the corridor, reaching the bedroom. I made my way to the bed, flinging the covers and flopping on the bed. Cammie rolled her eyes as she went to turn off the lights.

"Remember Zach. No kicking."

I grunted in response. "Yea, yea."

"Night." The lights turned off and I hummed in response. Finally. I closed my eyes and quickly fell asleep. God knows I needed all the energy I could get for tomorrow because tomorrow we'd receive the dead drop.

The Four Seasons Hotel at Park Lane - Hyde Park Suite

8 A.M.

I felt myself being shaken awake. I let out a groan. It was too early for this. I moved slightly, pulling the covers tighter in an attempt to ignore the shaking. I heard a sigh and hands being placed on my back and shoulders. Then a push. Before I knew it I landed face first on the floor. A laugh could be heard from above me.

"Who threw me off again? I swear to god. Grant!?" I sat up and looked at who was sitting on the bed. I shot a glare. Cammie sat on the bed clutching her stomach, laughing at the sight. She grinned at me, a sparkle in her eye as she pointed to herself, "Not Grant."

She erupted into another fit of laughter. I rolled my eyes, a smile tugging at my lips as I got up. I shook my head, brushing off my clothes. "Mhm. Laugh all you want. You're so funny."

I sat on the bed, bumping her with my shoulder playfully. It wasn't that funny so why was she still laughing? Amused, I looked at her. She almost fell over laughing. "Your...your face! You have the best reactions."

I shook my head, closing my eyes, the sleepiness slowly leaving my body as I glanced at her and took in the happy sight in front of me. It was...refreshing. In between her fits of giggles she glanced up at me, a sparkle in her eyes. Her giggles began to die down and she just shook her head, a smile plastered on her face.

I don't know why but I'm relieved we're getting along. I had to admit that Cammie and I have a connection and that it would lend very well to this mission in particular.

She reached over to her side of the bed, grabbing the file I'd handed her during our flight yesterday. She flipped to the page containing the very limited information of the dead drop. Without this, we couldn't move on with the mission.

"Eye of the city. It'd obviously be the eye of London except I can't put my finger on what it could be," She said as she stared intently at the hint, her brows furrowed slightly. I nodded as it had been specified in the locations that we'd be staying that London would be the sight of the dead drop. She glanced up at me as she continued, "I called the Director for more information and he informed me that the dead drop would occur at 5 PM today. Obviously, we have a few hours to figure it out but I'm still a bit jetlagged so my thoughts are everywhere. Plus in the past few hours I've known you...I've lost a few brain cells."

I gave her a playful glare at her teasing. "Oh shut up," I muttered and she laughed. It took us about an hour to figure it out, mostly because we were distracted as we got ready and shook off the remnants of fatigue we felt. I walked out of the bathroom, having taken a quick shower. I had opted for a casual look as I threw on a shirt and cargo pants. As I walked out, I was a bit frustrated I'd been distracted and couldn't figure out the clue. I thought about calling my father since he might know.

That's when it hit me. My father had always told me how he wanted to go to the London Eye with me so we could see an amazing view together. We'd planned out when we would go but never got to it because we were always being called away for missions.

I ran down the halls to tell Cammie I had solved it. That and also I was really hungry. By the time I got to her, she had already started breakfast. She looked up from her breakfast and shot me a bewildered look.

"The London Eye," I said as I sat down. I took the quinoa & chia porridge with goji berries I'd ordered. She raised an eyebrow before realization dawned on her face. She nearly choked on her breakfast as she said "Ohhhh,"

"The Ferris wheel! Damn..." She ran her hand through her hair, shaking her head in disbelief.

I nodded, happily enjoying my food. "Can't believe it took us this long to figure it out."

She nodded. "My friends and I would go there every time we came here. We have a lot of time to kill so maybe we should just walk around."

I agreed, continuing to scarf down my food. I glanced over at Cammie, who had an amused look. "Do you always eat that fast? No one's going to take it from you, you know?"

"Well yeah. It was too good." I looked at her dish. "What'd you order?"

She glanced down at the bowl in front of her. "Oh. It's a mixed berries homemade bircher muesli. Want to try some?" I nodded and tasted it. I nodded, giving it a 5-star rating. She laughed as she snatched her bowl back playfully, "Zachary, I swear, you're insatiable."

Having finished our breakfast, Cammie told me to give her half an hour to get ready. I decided to have a little fun and called out, "Match outfits with me?"

I heard a laugh followed by a "Go to hell" from the bathroom as she got ready. I chuckled as I grabbed the book I'd been reading on the plane for the first hour, wanting to finish the book before this mission really got going.

My phone buzzed next to me. I glanced over, marking the page I'd been reading before setting it down. It was a text message from a private number. Alarm bells started ringing in my head but that wasn't the part that truly alarmed me, it was the message itself.

Cameron Ann Morgan. Quite the name to live up to. She's definitely something, isn't she, Zachary?

P.S. London's had better weather than this

My brows furrowed, my eyes scanning the screen as if I'd read it wrong the first time around. It wasn't signed off and it placed an emphasis that whoever this was knew our names, the fact we were together and our current whereabouts possibly implying knowledge of our mission. I grit my teeth. Once Jonas arrives, I'll have him investigate.

"Ok. Let's go." Cammie walked out, grabbing her purse. She grabbed her phone and looked up, tilting her head confused. "Zach? Are you ok? You're kinda pale."

My eyes met hers and I nodded. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, opting to lie, "I'm fine."

I looked down at the text before getting up to follow Cammie out. She shot me a concerned look but seemed to have decided not to push the issue. I ran my hands through my hair, suddenly feeling drained and a weird sense of dread. Normally, I'd be cautious but the amount of dread would be kept at a minimum. This was different and I can't tell why.

It doesn't matter. Once Jonas landed, I'll find the person responsible and set up proper measures to ensure our safety and the missions secrecy. This person is trying to strike fear but I won't let them. I refuse.

In the original story I wrote, I found this chapter to be lackluster and SUPER cringey (it was so bad I'm so sorry 😭). I think it also affected the rest of the story in terms of rushed relationships, missed world building and character dynamics. While my uploading schedule may not be consistent, it's smth I find joy in doing and with better writing bc let's be honest the original was so cringey. I have no idea what I was thinking but anyway I'm rambling. Hope you liked the chapter. Have a nice day and thank you for taking your time to read this, if you decided not to skip over it.