Finding Me (The Spy Chronicles Book 1) Read online

  “Wow,” I say.

  “Your mom and I met while we were getting trained,” Dad says. “I’m fourth generation to run the school. Actually, my great-great-great grandfather started the school. I took it over when I was old enough, and you, with the proper training, will do the same.”

  “Me?” I ask, feeling highly under qualified.

  “Don’t worry,” Nolan says. “I’ll train you.”

  “No. I will,” Dad says.

  Nolan’s jaw tenses and his knuckles turn white. I poke him with my elbow to get his attention.

  He looks at me, and I smile.

  Immediately, he loosens his hands and his jaw relaxes.

  “Nolan, might I remind you rules,” Dad says.

  “What rules?” I ask, looking at Nolan.

  He doesn’t say a word, but he looks angry again. I look at my dad, waiting for an explanation.

  “You can’t date anybody while you’re training,” he says.

  Oh my gosh.

  Why does my dad keep talking about dating?

  “Dad, I really wish you would stop talking about me dating,” I say, letting out a groan. I’m pretty sure my face is as red as a balloon. “Also, I never agreed to train. I’ve been following strict rules my whole life. Now that I’m free, I don’t want to go back to not being free.”

  “Fine. How about this,” Dad says. “If a guy wants to date you, I will let him. But only if he can win a fight against me.”

  “I’m not dating anybody. And considering who my father is, I doubt anybody will want to,” I say, this time a little louder. “But if I find somebody crazy enough to want to date me, I’ll let you know.”

  Everybody laughs, my dad included.

  I wasn’t trying to be funny, though. I was completely serious.

  Nobody in their right mind would try to date me—especially if my dad is as strong as everybody says he is.

  The pilot comes on the speaker, letting us know we’re about to land.

  Just how long was I asleep?

  Saturday, August 19

  Kyroptonite.

  Switzerland is only six hours ahead of Florida. When we land, it’s early morning, and when we arrive at “spy school”, everybody is up doing their early morning workouts. Which means that everybody sees the two black SUV’s pull up. They all stop what they’re doing to watch.

  This is great. I’ve spent my whole life living under the radar and now everybody is looking. I’m not sure that I like it.

  “Why are they staring?” I ask Gage, who is standing closest to me.

  “They’re all curious about you,” Gage says. “We’ve all heard about you. The mysterious daughter that disappeared with her mother all those years ago. Michael Sinclair does not talk about you to anybody. Now you, the mysterious daughter, shows back up, and everybody is wondering what’s going to happen now.”

  “I’m just a normal teenage girl.”

  He laughs, putting an arm around me. “Karlie, you are anything but ordinary.”

  “Gage, hands to yourself,” Nolan says, giving him a look.

  Gage rolls his eyes, but removes his arm.

  “Boys, I am taking my daughter home,” Dad says. “You guys should go home too. It’s been a long day. And night. Go get some rest. We will deal with everything later.”

  I look at Nolan, feeling panicked. I know I’m safe with my father, I just don’t want to be alone with him. Not yet.

  “I’m staying with Karlie,” Nolan says. “The rest of the guys will go home.”

  My dad does not look happy, but then he looks at me. His face falls a bit and he lets out a sigh.

  “Who knew having a teenage daughter would be the death of me,” Dad says. “I finally found my kyrptonite.”

  Nolan doesn’t say a word, but stands protectively by myself.

  “And it seems like I’m not the only one,” Dad says.

  I let out a relieved sigh.

  Nolan is sticking with me.

  No regrets.

  I wake up around two that afternoon. When I walk past Nolan’s room, I see that he’s on the bed asleep, so I walk down the stairs of my father’s house, not wanting to bother him.

  My father’s house—my new home—is nice. It’s a simple, two story, log cabin in the woods. Literally. Like, you have to drive a few miles on dirt to get out here. Nolan told me it’s impossible to get in and out of here without a 4WD in the winter time.

  The weather here is a lot nicer than Florida. Back home, the high was near one hundred degrees and the second you walk outside it feels like you’re in a sauna. But here, the high today is seventy five. But that worries me. Just how cold does it get in the winter months?

  Downstairs, my dad is in his office. When he sees me, he motions me to come inside. I do, because I would like to talk to him. I know that I have wanted the guys around, but I want to talk to him alone. I know there is stuff he needs to tell me, and I’m curious.

  “Serenity. Karlie.” He lets out a sigh. “There is so much to tell you.”

  I nod. “I know.”

  “Can I talk to you about your mother?” he asks.

  I nod again, desperately wanting to hear anything about her.

  “Your mother and I had a very good relationship,” he tells me. “We met when she came for her training. She was fourteen. Her parents, your grandparents, were both doctors and she didn’t know anything about this life. She was chosen because she was a genius. The girl could speak five languages, and could do advanced mathematical formulas in her sleep. And she didn’t know who I was.

  “That was the best part,” he says, grinning. “She didn’t want to use me like the other girls did. Most girls wanted to date me because of my last name. But she didn’t even like me. In fact, she thought I was arrogant and cocky, which only made me want her more. It took me two years to convince her to date me. She was sixteen and I was seventeen. We were in love before our first date was over.”

  I sit there, soaking up every word he’s telling me. Even though I can’t remember my real mom, I feel a connection to her. Somewhere, deep inside, I can feel the love that she had for me.

  “I asked her to marry me when she was still sixteen,” he says. “I was crazy. And she told me so. So I waited. And asked her again when she was seventeen. This time, much to my surprise, she told me yes. But we couldn’t get married for another year, because neither of us were adults yet.”

  Engaged?

  At seventeen?

  “Don’t even think about getting engaged,” Dad says.

  I laugh.

  He doesn’t smile.

  Oh.

  He was serious.

  “Dad, I’m not getting engaged. Or even dating. So you have nothing to worry about,” I say. “Continue the story.”

  “Okay,” he says. “Well, it was a true whirlwind romance. We got married on her eighteenth birthday. In Vegas. Both of our parents were mad, but they couldn’t do anything about it. Right away, we got pregnant with you.”

  My mouth falls open. “Why? You were so young to have a baby.”

  “We were in love,” he says. “And we were happy that she was pregnant. I couldn’t wait to hold you in my arms. I never thought I’d be more happy than I was the day I married your mom, but I was wrong. The day you were born surpassed it. The second I held you in my arms, I fell in love. You instantly became the most important person in the world to me.

  “We had our lives planned. I was going to take over the school. My dad started training me for it. And Serena and I were happy.”

  Serena.

  My mom’s name.

  “Did you name me Serenity because her name is Serena?”

  “Your mother’s name was Serenity. We just all called her Serena,” he says. “Yes, you were named after her.”

  I’m starting to like my birth name a little better now. But it’s weird to be called by something that you’re not used to.

  “Your mother and I had a very happy marriage for the first five
years,” he says, continuing the story. “We never fought. And then one day, we got into a huge argument. I can’t even remember what it was over now, but your mom packed up and left. She took you. I thought she would come back. After a few days, I decided to look for her, but your mother… she knew how to stay hidden. I look for a few months and then gave up. I knew you’d be okay with your mom. I had hoped you’d come back, but…”

  I can see the pain in his eyes. He hates telling me this part of the story.

  “I got a call just over two weeks ago. Your mom’s body was found in the United States. She died days after she left me. And it explains so much. I know Serena. She would’ve came back…” his voice trails off and he looks at me.

  “I’m sorry, Dad.”

  “Me too,” he says. “I should’ve kept looking.”

  “You looked for me now. It’s okay,” I say.

  “No, it’s not. Nolan filled me in on what they did to you. How they starved you and locked you in a closet,” he says, then looks at my wrists. “How they hurt you. All those years that I thought you were safe, you weren’t.”

  “I don’t want to talk about my past,” I tell him. “It hurts to think about it. But you saved me. You and the guys… you saved me. I can’t think you enough for rescuing me.”

  “Is that why you like the guys so much? Because they rescued you?” Dad asks.

  I nod. “They’re my friends.”

  “I knew they would find you,” he says. “In my head, I imagine you with a great family. A mom and dad who love you. I told them to check on you and see how your life was. The plan was never to take you.”

  “I’m glad I’m here,” I say. “No regrets, okay?”

  “No regrets,” he repeats. “I want to hear your story from you someday. When you’re ready.”

  “Okay.” I wasn’t ready yet and probably wouldn’t be anytime soon, but someday I would tell him everything. “I love you, Dad.”

  My dad… the big tough guy who everybody is afraid of… he cries. “I love you, too.”

  And that pretty much melts my heart.

  I feel so loved, and it’s not something I’m used to feeling.

  Me and my dad… we’re gonna be okay.

  Boys are so confusing.

  Dad cooks breakfast for me, and I sit at the bar watching him. It’s two in the afternoon, but it’s never too late for bacon. Right about the time he starts cooking the bacon, Nolan enters into the room, taking a seat right beside me.

  “I knew you’d get up when you smelled food,” Dad says, still looking at the stove.

  How did my dad even know Nolan was here? He’s quiet, and my dad never once looked back to see.

  “You guys are scary good at this whole spy-thing,” I say.

  “You will be too,” Dad says. “You start school on Monday.”

  “Monday?” I ask, choking on the orange juice I had just taken a drink of.

  “Sir, are you sure that’s a good idea?” Nolan asks.

  “She can’t spend all her time with you,” Dad says, now turning around to face us. “She has to finish school. And I happen to run the best school in the world. Besides, I think it will be good for her to make friends. Maybe some girl friends.”

  “The girls at this school will tear her to pieces,” Nolan says.

  Dad looks worried, but turns around to continue cooking. “If anybody even thinks of messing with my baby, they will have a one way ticket back to where they came from so fast that their head will spin.”

  I grin.

  “At least you won’t have to worry about bullies,” Nolan says, smiling at me. He raises his voice. “However, there will be guys. Lots of them. Karlie is gorgeous. You and I both know that.”

  Dad turns around, a smile once again covering his face. “I sent out a massive email earlier today announcing Serenity’s arrival. I attached a special video of me torturing a spy that had infiltrated the school a few years back. I told them if any of them touch, look at, or even flirt with my daughter, I will do the same to them.”

  Nolan smiles.

  I glare at him. “How can you smile? This is awful. I won’t make any friends at all.”

  “As long as the boys stay away,” Nolan says.

  I smack him on the arm.

  “Ouch,” I say, rubbing my hand.

  He didn’t flinch or even move.

  Great. I hit him and it hurts me worse than it hurts him.

  “I’m going to have to dye my hair and change my name,” I say. “They’re expecting a blonde girl with green eyes. I’ll just die my hair black and wear blue contacts. I can go by Karlie.”

  “You’re not dying your hair,” my dad says. “If you even think of leaving this house to do so, I will handcuff you to the chair.”

  “Ditto,” Nolan says. “I like your hair.”

  “My hair is boring,” I say.

  It’s dirty blonde. Not quite brown, but not quite blonde. It’s so ordinary.

  “It’s the same color as your mom’s,” Dad says. “Different shades of blonde throughout.”

  “Huh,” I say, looking at a strand. Maybe it’s not so bad. “Fine. I’ll keep it. But if I don’t make any friends, it’s all your fault. At this rate, I’ll never get a boyfriend.”

  “I thought you said you weren’t interested in dating,” Dad says.

  “I’m not. But I might be later,” I say. “What if I meet a super hot guy at school?”

  Nolan growls.

  GROWLS.

  I turn to look at him.

  “Trust me when I say this, none of the boys here are good enough for you,” Nolan says. His dark green eyes look darker than I’ve ever seen them before, and there is so much conviction in his voice.

  I swallow hard.

  “I’m starting to like you, Nolan,” Dad says, then he turns around and looks at us. “But then I see you looking at my daughter like that and I like you less.”

  “Like what?” I ask, looking between to the two of them.

  Neither one of them answers. Dad goes back to cook and Nolan plays with the lid on the jug of orange juice.

  “Boys are so confusing,” I say.

  Dad sits a plate in front of me, and then a plate in front of Nolan.

  “Yes, we are. You should stay away from all guys that aren’t me and my team,” Nolan says.

  “As much as I hate to say it, I agree with the kid,” Dad says, sitting a plate down on the other side of Nolan.

  I roll my eyes and begin eating. I eat so fast that I nearly make myself sick, but I don’t care. Having food is amazing. I don’t think I will ever get used to it.

  Monday, August 21

  Math and I do not get along.

  Nolan and his team had an assignment that they had to take care of, so that meant it was just me and my dad yesterday. It wasn’t so bad. He cooked me lots of food, we watched movies and ate lots of junk food.

  Today, I am starting school. Dad agreed to let Nolan, Sander, and the rest of the guys drive me to school. When we get there, I realize that they’re all going inside with me. All of them.

  Well, if my dad didn’t scare all the boys off, the guys certainly will. But maybe I will make some girl friends. If I was a girl, I’d want to be friends with a girl who has six insanely hot best friends.

  “Are you guys going to follow me around all day?” I ask, when I get to my locker.

  “We’re considering it,” Sander says.

  When I open my locker, I find my schedule inside, along with a school map.

  “We will walk you to your first class,” Brett says.

  I smile. “You guys are sweet. Really. But I think I can handle today on my own.”

  “You heard her,” Nolan says. “Everybody, you know your assignment today. Get to it.”

  They all grumble, but walk in different directions.

  Everybody except Nolan.

  “Don’t you have an assignment?” I ask.

  “Yep,” he answers. “You.”

  I gro
an. “Seriously? My dad assigned you to me?”

  He nods. “More walking, less talking. Mrs. Gunther is your first teacher and she has a no mercy policy when it comes to tardiness.”

  I start walking, but I’m not happy about it.

  No, not one bit.

  I walk into the classroom to find that it’s already full, and everybody turns to look at me.

  “Miss Sinclair,” the teacher, Mrs. Gunther, says to me. She looks behind me. “And Nolan. I do believe you already graduated from my class.”

  “Yes, m’am. But I am on assignment today,” Nolan says.

  “Right,” she says, then looks at me. “You, to the front of the class. Introduce yourself.”

  I walk to the front and look at everybody. Not one person isn’t looking at me which makes me nervous.

  “I’m Karlie. Or Serenity. Whatever. I’m from Florida. Pretty sure you all know my dad already. And that’s it,” I say, then walk to the only empty desk in the room. About that time, the door to the classroom opens and a guy with dark brown hair walks in. His eyes go to me as he walks over.

  “You’re in my seat,” he says.

  “Oops,” I say, then stand up. “Sorry.”

  Nolan comes up to stand behind me. His arms are crossed over his chest.

  The guy doesn’t back down.

  “Sebastian, get a desk for Miss. Sinclair,” the teacher tells the boy, putting emphasis on my last name.

  The boy backs up now. “Sinclair,” he repeats, then leaves the room. I can only guess the video my dad sent out is now playing through his mind. He comes back a minute later carrying a desk.

  “Where do you want it, your highness,” the boy, Sebastian, says to me.

  I look at Nolan, who is glaring at Sebastian.

  “I know this is the beginning of senior year, but torture training is coming up next semester. I would be nice to her or else I will personally make sure her dad is in charge of your sessions,” Nolan says.