“So let me get this straight...” Jace began, leaning forward as he was in the backseat while Chris was driving and I was shotgun. “You were recruited into a secret agency of assassins, who faked your death and trained you how to kill people for a living, and now your back in Watford to kill a drug lord, along with his army of drug dealers?” he clarified, sounding like he was talking about what his plans were for the weekend.

I flicked my finger in his direction and clicked my tongue “Bingo.” I leaned further back in the seat, resting my feet up on the dashboard.

Jace was quiet for a few minutes as he was in his own thoughts “That...has to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of in my life.” he finally announced, and I scoffed at his comment.

“If you don’t believe us just replay the scene back at your shop, I think the guns and drug dealers attempting to kill everyone sort of confirms we are not lying.” Chris replied to Jace while keeping his eyes on the road. Jace was basically sat in the front with us as he leaned forward so much he was almost sat on the gear stick. He was not looking at Chris as he spoke, but I could feel his gaze on me.

“I’m not saying you’re lying.” Jace assures “I just don’t understand how you got recruited.” Jace spoke to me, and I turned to glare at him. Due to how much he was leaning forward, his face was a little closer than I estimated.

“Why’s that exactly?” I questioned, his words getting to me. He was back in my life less than a few hours, and he was already getting under my skin.

“Because I’ve known you for years Faith. I remember what you were like, you used to get me to come and kill spiders for you.” Jace states, and Chris lets out a laugh. I grimace at his words, remember just how much of an idiot I used to be. “I just never in a million years would think that if an agency like this did exist, they would have recruited you.”

His words did not come out harsh, but they made me want to rip his throat out.

“And who would you have though they would recruit?” I queried “Maybe someone like Gina? Did you think that only whores with more STD’s than brain cells are capable of becoming assassins?” I snap at him, and I see him recoil a little from my ruthless tone “You say you’ve known me for years, believe me you have no idea who I am or what I am capable of.” I finally conclude, my voice could have probably cut glass it was so sharp.

Jace stares back at me, his face a little stunned by my words but he did not look offended. He had that same look of curiosity he had back at the shop. Chris inhales sharply at my words, and I could just imagine him saying in his head ‘harsh words Faith, harsh words’ in that amused voice of his.

Jace seems to have no response, and I turn my eyes away from him and stare back at the road.

The journey back to the agency was silent after that.

***

Chris and I lead the way in the Agency halls, while Jace follows behind. He’s like a kid at Disney land, looking around in amazement. I’ve had a go at him twice already when he went to touch the displays of antique guns. It was like dealing with an overexcited child.

We made our way to one of the questioning rooms in the building. Chris went to open the door, and I turned to Jace who stopped abruptly just before he walked straight into me.

“Sit and don’t move.” I order, pointing to one of the many chairs in the hallway. He looked like he was about to protest, but I shot him a look that basically said ‘don’t fuck with me right now’ and he quickly followed the order and sat down.

I turned to Chris and we both walked into the questioning room, Ed was sat at one of the tables with a few files spread out in front of him. I turned my head slightly to stare through the glass doors to check that Jace had not moved, and to my surprise he was still sat down. He was staring into the office, his eyes connecting with mine instantly. I turned away, not liking the feelings and memories that those eyes held when they bore into me.

“Ahh come to report on a successful start to the job?” Ed greets us, leaning back on his chair and smiling.

Chris and I exchanged an apprehensive look “Well, sort of.” He replied.

Ed furred his brows “What do you mean ‘sort of’. Either you are or you aren’t.” He sounded annoyed. This is what I mean, as soon as Ed hears a mission is not going well or isn’t completed, his nasty side comes out. And believe me, when I say nasty I mean vicious.

I sighed heavily as I prepared myself to explain what happened tonight.

“Well basically, this is what happened....” And I went on to explain every aspect of the night, leaving out the little hug between me and Jace. That would have earned me a few funny looks that I really did not want to deal with. I explained how that Dan guy ran out before we could kill him, and how he threatened Jace. I explained how we had managed to eliminate one place where the drug lord had planted his dealers. After I was finished, Ed remained quiet taking everything in.

“So basically, you fucked up?” He broke the silence, directing his question at me.

I gritted my teeth at his accusation. It wasn’t even me who fucked up technically; it was Chris as he did not kill Dan when he had the chance. Every single one of the guys I took on was no longer breathing, but yet he still directs his question at me. It felt like I was dealing with that one teacher that picks on you more than the rest of the class.

“Basically drug dealers are dead. I don’t really see that as a fuck up do you?” I retort, biting my tongue to stop myself from adding ‘asshole’ to the end of that sentence.

Ed’s eyes bore into me, and I could see him smirk at my response. He ignored my comment, and turned his head to look at Jace who still has not moved from the spot.

“So you want to know what to do with him then?” Ed asked, and both me and Chris nod. “Well, he is a civilian. So basically our job is to protect him.” Ed explained, his voice sounded amused.

He turned his head back up to us, but I could see his mocking eyes on me. The smirk on his voice confirmed that whatever he was about to say, I would not like.

“He will be your responsibility until this mission is over.” He informed me, and my mouth fell open in shock.

“What?”

His face was the perfect picture of amusement “He can’t go home because he will be dead by the morning, and since you two seem to be such good friends from what I hear, he will be your responsibility. He could be useful.”

Ed was saying the words, but they were still not processing through to my brain. I dug my nails into the palm of my hand as I clenched my fists.

“You want me to babysit him?!” I almost yell, pointing at Jace. We all turned our heads to the doors to see Jace resting his head against the wall behind him while still sat down. There was a photo frame above his head which he decided to poke at that moment for some bizarre reason, causing it to come off the hook and hit his forehead. I could not hear him through the doors, but as the frame made contact with his head he clearly mouths a profanity from the pain, and then quickly fumbles forward trying to catch the frame before it smashed to the ground.

I told the moron not to touch anything...

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath while Ed and Chris snorted with laughter. I had to babysit that idiot whilst trying to do this mission?

“He’s a civilian Faith. He is exactly who we as an Agency aim to protect.” Ed informs me after stopping his laughter at Jace’s idiot actions “Once the mission is completed, we can decide what to do with him.”

My chest tightens at his words as I notice the familiar tone in Ed’s voice. It was the same tone he used with me when I was recruited, meaning that whatever he would decide would not be something I was going to like.

“So what do we do about going out and trying to finish this job then, do we take him with us?” Chris questions and I have to take a breath to calm myself down as the thought of Jace being stood in the sidelines while I wrestle a few drug dealers’ flashes through my head.

“Whatever you think is appropriate. Take him with you; don’t take him with you I don’t care.” Ed quickly dismissed us and grabs another file off the desk, giving us the hint he was done talking to us. He didn’t even care if Jace lived or died, the only reason he was doing this is because he knew it would get to me. Having some part of my old life permanently in my new one from now on was like a freaking entertaining TV show for Ed.

I turn my head back to the glass doors and at Jace. I see him sat back down, his eyes boring into me once again in complete fascination. I could tell he was still amazed that I was really here, and alive.

I also notice the frame above his head which he had hung back up.

Upside down.

***

So that is how I found myself driving Jace back to his house to pick up some of his stuff so he could move into the spare bedroom of the house which I shared with 3 other agents.

This is not how I thought my day would end.

Chris has gone back to the house to tell Connor and Drake we would be having a house guest, while I was lumbered with escorting Jace safely back to his. To my surprise, Jace seemed fine with being told he would have to move out of his house, and lie to everyone he knew about where he was going.

We had been driving for about 20 minutes in complete silence, tense silence may I add, before he finally broke it.

“What do I tell my mum then?” he asks, and I could tell just from his voice that he had only asked this in order to break the silence. I knew Jace well; he was a skilled liar and would have no trouble coming up with something. I did not point this out however, and answered his question calmly.

“Just tell her you’re staying with a friend for a couple of weeks, he just got out of rehab, you need some time away, your coming to terms with your homosexuality....” I suggested a list of things he could say “Anything that sounds realistic.” I add, not being able to help the snide remark against him.

I see him try and hide a smile at my words. “What if she asks for an address?”

“For fuck sake, you’re 19 Jace you’re an adult, just stand up to mummy and start acting independent.” I snap at him, fed up of the small talk he is trying to make. He will be fine with making up a lie, so I don’t see why he is trying to talk to me now. I tried to stay calm, but this boy infuriates me.

He cocks his head as he looks at me “Wow, in 3 years you really have mastered the being a bitch thing.”

“And in 3 years you really have kept up the getting on my fucking nerves thing.” I retort immediately.

“That’s funny, because if I remember correctly your nerves were not the only thing I was getting on.” He states, and I slam the breaks of the car in the middle of the empty stretch of road. I grab the knife from the pocket of my leather jacket, quickly flicking it open and diving towards Jace, pinning him up against the door with my arm pressed against his neck.

His eyes widen as he sees the knife, which I press against his cheek, not hard enough to cut. Yet.

“If you’re going to bring up things that make my skin crawl, you better be aware that this little baby is with me at all times.” I gesture towards the knife “So piss me off, and I will shove this knife so far up your ass your ancestors will feel it.” I threaten, my breath hitting his face due to how close I was.

He did not look scared. That is what angered me more than anything, he should be crying and begging for me not to hurt him, apologising like a pathetic little dweeb. But no, he stared back at me with confidence. He almost looked daring, like he wanted to see if I would have the guts to do it. I even noticed the corner of his mouth twitch a little.

“I am well aware that you can’t hurt me, I’m a civilian remember?” he reminds me with poise, and I grit my teeth as I realise if I kill him now I would be in a world of shit. I stare into those blue eyes that always seemed like they were burning right through me, being able to see every emotion I was feeling or have ever felt.

Could I even kill him? Did I even have it in me?

I forcefully push away from him, closing the knife and placing it back in my pocket.

I see the self righteous grin appear on his face as he sits back up properly. He looks at me with humour lining his face.

“And as for the whole ‘shoving a knife up my ass’, that would cause me to scream. And as we both know in this relationship” he gestures his finger between me and him “I’m the one that makes you scream.”

I retreat my arm back planting my fist straight into his face. He cries out in pain as his hands go to his now bleeding nose, which I made sure not to break so I didn’t get in too much shit.

He lets out a scream of agony, causing a smile to creep onto my face.

“I guess I’m the one to cause the screams in this relationship after all huh?” I smile sweetly.

I ignore his glare and start the engine, driving the rest of the way with an amused smile on my lips.



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