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have a choice,” Damien says.
    “And one more racist remark towards my daughter , and I will make sure you never get elected again,” Dad threatens him. “I think you’re forgetting that you’re at CIA headquarters. I could easily ruin you.”
    “How could you ruin me ?” the senator asks.
    “Three words,” Dad says. “Harvard. Junior year.”
    Senator Graham’s face goes white. “How do you know about that?”
    “When my daughter told me she was friends with Winston, I did some digging around,” he says.
    My face grows warm.
    Oh, my God. I am never going to get a boyfriend. My dad is going to do a background search on every guy I meet, and his extended family. I swear; nobody will ever be good enough for him.
    “My father and I don’t share the same views,” Winston tells my dad. “I mean, I don’t care that Layla is half Korean. I’m not racist.”
    “Winston!” his dad says, scolding him.
    “Let’s get back to the point,” Damien says, trying to calm everybody down. “Winston isn’t safe being Winston Graham. Honestly, at this point, we are not sure that Winston and Layla are safe anywhere. We’re going to put them into hiding at a special CIA location.”
    “And where am I supposed to say my son is?” the senator asks.
    “We are working out the details,” Damien says. “In a few days, you will be doing a press release, saying your son was accepted into a special boarding school. If anything, it will help your son get into Harvard.”
    “This terrorist group... what country is behind it?” Senator Graham asks.
    “North Korea,” Dad answers. “Officially, the group is not associated with the North Korean government. They are denying any association with the group.”
    “Why is North Korea after your daughter?” he asks.
    “That is private information,” Damien says. “And you, sir, are not in a place to know.”
    “Like hell, I’m not,” the senator says. “My son is officially involved. I deserve to know all the details.”
    “You don’t have security clearance,” Dad says. “And unless you want to be put through torture training, then you will never have clearance.”
    The senator curses.
    “I will do whatever it takes to protect my daughter. If you had any sense, you’d realize that I’m doing the same for your son.”
    Wait.
    My dad knows why they’re after me?
    Of course, he knows.
    Why can’t I know? It’s happening to me. I want to ask, but definitely not in front of the senator. My dad has a lot of explaining to do.
    And torture training? Seriously? My dad has had torture training ?
    “Sir,” Damien says to the senator, “I promise you that we will do whatever it takes to protect your son. I will see to it myself.”
    “A teenager will be looking after the safety of my child,” Senator Graham says sarcastically. “Yes, that makes me feel so much better.”
    “Damien Olsen is one of our best agents,” Dad says, defending him. “His parents were both in the CIA, and they died when he was thirteen while on a mission. The CIA recruited him, and he trained seven days a week for four years. He’s been a field agent for two years now, and I would trust him with my life. Hell, I am trusting him with my life. I know that he will get Layla to safety.”
    My dad’s words warm my heart.
    Senator Graham still doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t have a say in the matter.
    Winston and I are going into hiding.

    9 a.m.
    Worse ways to die.

    My dad and I only have time for a quick goodbye before I am put on a private jet with Damien and Winston.
    I hate flying. I’ve only done it a handful of times in my life, and each time I always have anxiety. The worst was my flight from South Korea to America. I was in the air for such a long time, and I was feeling extremely claustrophobic on the small jet.
    Winston is sound asleep beside me. Neither of us slept well the night before, but I’m too wound up to sleep.
    “You a nervous flyer?” Damien asks me.
    I