Fifteen

I UPDATED CHAPTER FOURTEEN BEFORE AS WELL. Make sure to read it first. ;)

Brandon and I don't move from our position. We stay still, listening to the conversation going on. I try not to look too many times, afraid of getting caught. Now that I know I was right, that this USB key has something to do with The Bird Mission, I need to know more.

I look at the men again. When the man we followed here turns his head in our direction, I quickly back away, taking a deep breath. But I saw his face.

"It's him," I murmur, turning to look at Brandon. "The man at the reunion, that night. With the scar on the face. The one who shot that other man because he talked wrong about The Circle."

Brandon frowns. "Are you sure?"

I nod, glancing carefully at him.

"It's Charles Barton," I whisper.

But who he is, in all of this, is still a mystery. For now, the only thing I'm sure of is that he works pretty close with whoever the Master is.

"The Bird is a danger for us, right now. When will he realize it?" one of the men declares, anger in his voice.

"He already knows that," Charles Barton replies, his tone and his posture reminding them that he has the authority, right now.

"He wants us to keep things as they are. They will eventually fall into the trap," he adds, and the men start to laugh.

I glance at Brandon. He must feel the same way because he nods his head.

I'm 98% sure to know who they're talking about.

Brandon's hand finds mine. I almost retract my hand as if he's burned me, but I see his serious expression and understand. He wants us to leave before they notice us.

I want to listen for more. There is more. But I think we got enough information. I got enough to finally understand.

Nodding, I follow him as we make our way to the car.

*

"I knew it. Everything is... connected," I declare, glancing at Mr. Neil. "There's a bunch of people working for the same person... or the same organization. That night, on The USB Key Mission, the man was talking on the phone with someone... and he said the word Master. I wasn't sure at first, but..."

I pause, shaking my head. They're all listening to me intensely, and Mr. Neil has his eyebrows furrowed, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Turning to look at the board, I cross my arms. "I think The Circle is the organization. The Master is the one who leads it. And the Bird... I don't know yet."

I look at Mr. Neil again.

"With this list, we can find out what's going on. Who these people are and what they are planning."

"Maybe the Master's name is on the list as well," Brandon adds, his eyes fixed on the board.

I nod, waiting to know what Garry thinks. He takes off his glasses and smiles at us.

"That's great work. I'm proud of both of you. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, to work together again..."

I tense, giving him a careful look. He doesn't finish his sentence, and I let out a breath of relief.

"Thank you, sir. But to be honest, I didn't do anything, tonight." He pauses, glancing in my direction. "Sophia did everything."

I keep my face blank of emotions and look away. My eyes fall on Nova, and that's when I realize she's been quiet since the beginning.

"You're quiet," I say, narrowing my eyes at her. "What do you think?"

Nova looks up, glaring at me. Her icy blue eyes should scare me. Too bad I'm not scared.

She doesn't reply, and Mr. Neil talks before it gets awkward.

"Now that we know more about all of this, we will be able to use this list properly. Searching for the right people. Finding who the Master is could be extremely useful."

We all agree, and he dismisses us after that. Andrew and Brandon leave, and I don't miss how Brandon glances at Nova and I, probably wondering if it's a clever idea to leave us both in a room. Alone. With weapons all around us.

Probably not.

Nova turns to leave as well, but I stop her.

"You're angry," I state calmly, tilting my head.

To be completely honest, I don't really care. But a small part of me still understand why she is. And somehow, she has the right to be.

It's completely stupid. Just leave, you don't care at all.

But I choose to listen to my instinct. It tells me to stay and to talk to her. God knows why.

Nova narrows her eyes at me. "Why the fuck would I be angry?"

I raise my eyebrows. She scowls.

You're jealous. You're possessive of Brandon. He's your boyfriend. And he went with me, tonight.

I'm about to open my mouth to talk when she beats me to it.

"Have you ever been in love, Sophia?" she asks, her voice sweet and calm.

Oh no. She didn't.

My shoulders automatically tense and I glare at her. I can't even do anything. Because she doesn't know. She doesn't know I loved the same man she's in love with, now.

And so, I only step closer to her. Once we're facing each other, I smile forcefully.

"Listen, sweetie, I'll give you an advice. Love... will be the death of you. You should run while you still got the chance."

I don't know if this advice is for myself, at the end.

*

HIIII! I MISSED YOU.

Sorry if you waited for this update. :( that's what happens when you decide to write 1738172 stories at the same time. 🙃 OOPS!

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