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release my grip on my seat. “A bit, yeah.”
    “I used to be, too,” he says.
    “How did you get over it?” I ask.
    “Truthfully, I’m not over it,” he answers. “But there are worst ways to die than in a plane crash.”
    “Your parents... what happened to them?”
    “They were on an assignment in Iran and they were caught,” Damien answers. “They were tortured for seven days before they were beheaded.”
    “I’m sorry,” I tell him.
    The truth is I worry about my dad a lot. Something bad could easily happen to him. I don’t know what I would do without him. He’s the only parent I have left.
    “I know your mother was killed,” he says. “So you know how loss feels.”
    “At least I still have my dad,” I say. “So, that is why you joined the CIA?”
    “Yes,” Damien says. “I found my parent’s killers, and I took care of them.”
    “Is Damien Olsen your real name?” I ask.
    He shakes his head. “No. I have a cover story, just like you. Though, what I just told you is the truth.”
    I nod, understanding. I know the CIA has their secrets, and I only know a few of them. Not enough to make me a target. Though, someday, I will join the CIA. I wonder if I will have to do torture training.
    “So, where are you taking us?” I ask.
    “I can’t answer that,” Damien says. “But you will be in America, somewhere underground. I am taking you to Agent Kim, and she will be taking you guys to the final location. I know that you worked closely with her this summer.”
    “Yes,” I say. “You won’t be coming with us?”
    “No. I have to get back to work. My job is to help your father. We are going to take this terrorist group down, once, and for all. I promise you, Layla, one day you will be safe,” he says with conviction, and I know he’s telling me the truth. Or, he thinks he’s telling the truth. He truly believes I will be safe one day. I hope he’s right.
    “Thank you,” I tell him.
    He grins, and I lean back in my seat. I feel better after talking to him.
    He’s right—there are much worse ways to die.  

    3 p.m.
    Together.

    Damien dropped us off with Agent Kim somewhere in Washington State. From there, we got in a car. The windows in the back were blacked out, so I had no idea where we are going. We’ve been in the car for two hours now, and we are showing no signs of stopping.  
    “I’m sorry I dragged you into this,” I tell Winston.
    “It’s not your fault,” he says. “I wanted to know. I was the one who pushed you.”
    “Yeah, but I knew better than to tell you. I could’ve gotten you killed.”
    “But I’m okay,” he says. “If I wasn’t here with you right now, you would be alone. I hate that you’re in this situation, but I’m glad I can be here with you.”
    “Do you still feel like you’re in a Bond movie?” I ask.
    He laughs. “Well, I definitely don’t feel like James Bond, right now. Somebody else is protecting us. If anything, your dad is James Bond.”
    “Don’t let him hear you say that. His ego is big enough.”
    Winston looks at me, with a big smile on his face. “To be honest, this is all kind of exciting to me. I like being here with you. I know that we only just met, but I’ve never felt like this before.”
    I feel my face grow warm. “I like you, too.”
    “You and I are in this together.”
    “Together,” I agree.
    Maybe being stuck in a secret underground facility won’t be so bad. At least Winston will be there. I’m pretty sure I couldn’t ask for a better “prison mate.” And who knows, maybe Damien is right, and this will all be over soon. Then I can finally have a normal life.
    Well, as normal as it can get for a CIA agent’s daughter.

Tuesday, September 24
    Damien Olsen.

    I step into the CIA headquarters early on Tuesday morning.
    I am not surprised to learn that I was right, the terrorists did come back to New Haven Academy. A kid is missing, though I’m sure he’s dead by now. I fear this is just the