12

Shit.

Carmen was petrified to move any part of her body. She felt like any wrong breath could get her into trouble.

Ryder was staring right at her and Carmen noticed a girl that was standing behind him, also looking at Carmen, perk up a bit. She wore a pantsuit and it was impossible to miss the gun that was holstered on her hip. Ryder, himself, was wearing a black tuxedo and Carmen took in the dark copper hair color. She remembered how she struggled to tell what hue it was through the pictures.

"You're a bit earlier than we agreed on, but that's okay," Ryder said, folding his hands before him.

What do I do? Carmen thought to herself.

She was standing here, motionless and not speaking, she knew that she had to look like a deer in the headlights.

Carmen then realized that she had stood still without denying being Isabelle for too long, even if she did now, he would have known something was up. Then, she felt a presence behind her and quickly glanced over her shoulder to see a tall man wearing a similar suit to the one that the girl behind Ryder had on, as well as his own gun on his hip.

Carmen took a deep breath and blinked.

Think, Carmen. Think!

"Carmen!" Claytons loud voice drew her from her thoughts as he spoke loudly and angrily through the ear piece. "What the fuck are you doing?!"

She didn't have time for this.

She had to act now.

"Is everything okay, Isabelle?" Ryder asked, Carmen looked back to him. His eyebrows were pulled together causing a crease between them.

Carmen spoke before even realizing what she was going to do.

"Yes, I'm fine." She forced a polite smile.

"Carmen," Claytons warning voice echoed in her ear canal.

"Can someone tell me what is going on?" Sophie asked.

Carmen went on, "I was just going to use the restroom first, if that's okay?"

Ryder nodded. "Of course, they're right outside the main doors and off to the right."

"Thank you, excuse me," she said with a smile before walking passed him. Carmen went to the main doors and made a hurry for the bathroom. As soon as she walked in, she realized that the room was empty so she quickly turned and locked the door behind her. She went over to the sink and braced her hands onto the counter.

What did you just do? she scolded herself.

"Carmen! Are you out of your mind?!" Clayton half-yelled into the speaker.

"I'm sorry!" she apologized, her voice rising in fear. "He thought that I was Sophie, and I didn't know what to do, I panicked."

"You deny it! What were you thinking?! You just put the entire team in jeopardy!"

"Clayton!" Ainsleys voice came next. "Back off."

Ainsley defending her? Carmen was too scared to even try to process that information.

"No. I asked you to do one thing, and you couldn't even do it. I knew you weren't cut out for this," Claytons angry, rough voice spoke loudly into her ear.

Anger rippled through her and she balled her hands into fists.

But, then a softer, soothing voice came over her ear piece.

"Carmen?"

Colton.

"Yeah?" She sighed.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to mess this up."

"It's a little late for that," Clayton said.

"Clayton," Sophie spoke.

"What?"

A beat of silence.

"Let her do it., Sophie suggested.

Even Carmen needed a moment to take this in.

"What?" Clayton hissed.

Sophie went on, "Carmen read his file front and back, she helped come up with the plans for this and knows what to do in case this goes haywire, she also needs to play the part of a drug dealer. She's been around more drug dealing on the black market end than I have. If anything, Carmen should have been the one doing this from the beginning. There's no one else who knows this task better than her, even you."

"No," Clayton rejected her idea. "Absolutely not."

"Clay," Colton started, "It's not a bad idea. Plus, it's not like Carmen can just walk back in there and deny being Isabelle now. He'll know exactly what's going on."

"No. I'm the leader here and I'm saying no."

"Okay, genius," Colton began with an edge to his voice. "Do you have any better ideas?"

Clayton said nothing.

"That's what I thought. Carmen?" Colton asked.

"Yeah?" Carmen replied as she ran her hands through her hair anxiously.

"Do you think that you can do this?"

Carmen closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. There was finally some silence on the speaker as they waited for her reply. Carmen had been here before, playing the role of the black market dealer. It was muscle memory at this point and there was some sort of dark comfort that she got to play that role again. After all, her life had changed over night and the being a dealer for the black market was all that she knew for so long. That was her normal, not being a spy. She definitely could do this. Carmen just needed to remember everything that she read in the files, and everything that Carston had taught her about the relationship between arms dealing and drug dealing. It should be easy, appeal to him and set up a meeting date. It's as simple as that.

"I can do it," Carmen announced. "Nothing changes, we just don't do the switch."

"Perfect," Colton responded. "Go kick some ass."

Carmen couldn't fight the smile she wore. She gathered herself before exiting the bathroom and began heading back to the ballroom. She passed Claytons table on the way and could practically feel the anger radiating off him as she made her way around him, but Carmen paid him no mind and continued on her way back to the bar.

She knew the character that she had to portray, it was a façade she demonstrated often whenever she made her sales. Carmen straightened, fixing her posture and approached Ryder and his two guards at the bar. "Sorry for the wait."

Ryder looked to her and smiled. "It's okay, let's have a seat." He motioned to two of the empty stools. They sat side by side and both turned in their seats to face each other. At that moment, the bar tender walked back over and placed the water in front of Carmen. Carmen thanked her and took a sip from the straw. Carmen noticed two of the guards take steps closer to the both of them and she tilted her head to the side. "Do they have to be so... close?"

Ryder glanced at the two of them and waved them off, they took a few steps back and he reverted his attention back to Carmen. "You'll have to forgive them, they're rather protective."

"It's okay, I guess I'm just not used to it seeing as I prefer to work alone."

"So I've heard," Ryder said in an observational tone. "So tell me, Isabelle, why did you decide to reach out?"

Carmen perked up in her stool and rested her right elbow on the bar counter, "Well, business has gotten a bit... competitive... recently. I want to make sure that I'm as protected as possible and the word on the street is that you're the best person to go to for that."

He nodded proudly. "That's correct. I'm sure that you've also heard that I need to be able to trust you. That's why I decided to host this event." The both of them looked around at the crowd of guests. "I saw it as a great opportunity to see how you do in my territory."

"That's understandable. I mean, you're not the only one investing here, after all. I need to know that I can trust you as well."

"You do prove a point," Ryder agreed. "How exactly would I be investing in you?"

Every detail from the files Carmen read popped up in her mind. "As you know, I work in the drug industry. The cartel has become a bit of a problem for me. But, drugs are where the most money comes in. Especially before arms dealing. So, if you were to sell me weapons monthly, I would return the favor by giving you a percentage of my earnings on top of what I would owe you for the weapons."

Ryder rose his eyebrows, clearly pleased with this response. "That's a very tempting offer. However, I think that I'll have to think about it. What do you say that we talk a bit more and come to an agreement by the end of the night?" He gave Carmen a soft smile, "I wouldn't mind getting to spend a bit more time with a gorgeous woman like yourself anyway."

Gross.

Carmen nodded and offered a flirtatious smile. "I wouldn't mind that at all."

**

There was a slight breeze that sailed across the rooftop where Alexa, Ainsley, and Luke stood. Alexa had finished assembling her rifle quite a bit ago as well as Luke. Ainsley, however, was struggling with trying to figure out why her scope wasn't lining up right. Luke was perched on the edge of the rooftop facing the building where their team currently worked. Alexa shook her head at him and crossed her arms. "You make me nervous sitting there."

Luke grinned at her. "Not all of us are scared of heights."

"Damnit!" Ainsley cursed, drawing the Thornton twins attention. She set her sniper rifle down and stood. "I grabbed the wrong scope. Colton has extra ones in the van. I'll be back."

"Be careful!" Luke called after her.

She didn't respond and Alexa reached up to click the button on her earpiece that would mute it. Luke noticed this and muted his own ear piece. "What's up?"

"Did you mute it?"

Luke nodded, but Alexa cocked an eyebrow that was a silent: Are you sure?

Her brother huffed a sigh and looked up, "Clayton, I think it's time to confess my undying love for you."

A beat of silence passed, and Luke threw his hands up in the air. "See? He didn't tell me to shut up."

Alexa rolled her eyes and inhaled deeply. "I need to tell you something, but you have to swear on your life that you won't tell anyone. I mean it."

Luke nodded and placed a hand over his heart, "Twins honor."

"Well," Alexa started as a sense of nervousness settled in her stomach. "Sophie and I have been together for a while, and she's amazing. You know how much I love her."

"Everyone does, Lex," Luke assured her.

"I'm thinking that maybe, it's time that I... you know..."

"Shut up!" Luke exclaimed and jumped up from his spot on the edge. "Are you doing what I think you're going to do?"

Alexa smiled softly at the bright and ecstatic grin on her brothers face. "I'm thinking about proposing to her."

"Seriously?!" He nearly tackled her in a hug with how fast he threw his arms around Alexa. She laughed and hugged him back. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to do this. Santana and I started placing bets-"

"Hold on." Alexa stepped back. "You and Santana placed bets on when I would propose?"

"Well," he started. "We were more betting on who would pop the question first."

"Who won?"

"Me, obviously. You know I'd always bet on you."

Alexa shook her head at this with a smile. "You can't tell anyone. I don't care how excited you are. No one in this family can keep a secret if their lives depended on it."

"I can't believe I'm finally gonna get to be a man-of-honor!" Luke exclaimed.

"What makes you think you're going to be my maid-of-honor?"

Her brother shot her a shocked look. "If I'm not then I'm raising hell. I'm your twin."

Alexa shoved her hands into her pockets. "I'm kidding. Of course you'd be my... man-of-honor."

"All jokes aside, Alexa," Lukes voice softened and a more genuine smile appeared on his face. "I'm happy for you. After everything you've been through, you've always deserved someone like Sophie. I know how much she loves you and I'm so proud of you."

Alexa had to blink back the stinging in her eyes. Anytime that Alexa thought of everything that her and Luke had to go through just to get here, just for Alexa to feel comfortable with who she was and be accepted for her real identity, it made her emotional. She would forever be haunted by the memories of the nights both her and Luke cried themselves to sleep because of the abuse they'd endured by the very people who were supposed to love them most. The bruises on Lukes young body would serve as a reminder of how often he'd taken the beating so that she didn't have to. Every time her parents called her by a name that didn't belong to her, Luke would scream. He would scream and shout at them until the hitting began. Despite the scars on Alexas own body, she still considered herself the lucky one out of the two. She always thought about how much her brother had sacrificed in order for her to live her truth and be who she was. Alexa would spend the rest of her life feeling grateful to have a twin like him.

Alexa took a step forward and hugged Luke once more. "Thank you."

"Love you." Luke hugged her back.

"Love you too."

**

"You've never been to Germany?" Ryder asked Carmen.

She shook her head. "No, I don't leave the country often. I'm always wrapped up in my work."

"I think it's important to take some time to yourself every now and then. Business will always be here when you get back, especially in our line of work."

"That's a good way to look at it."

"Well." Ryders hand that was once resting on the bar slid over and gently rested on top of Carmens own hand. She hid the grimace that ran through her body and instead gave him a flirtatious look instead. "Maybe, someday I can take you to Germany and you can see all that you've been missing."

Carmen forced the corners of her mouth to turn up into a smile. "I definitely wouldn't be opposed to that."

After a few seconds of Ryder just staring at Carmen, he glanced over his shoulder to the dance floor and then back to her. "Would you like to dance?"

"I thought you'd never ask," Carmen said softly. The two rose from the bar stools and he offered her his hand, she gently took it in her own.

"Careful," Colton headed a warning to her.

Carmen had no way of responding so she only walked with her chin held high in the air and followed Ryder.

Once they reached the dance floor, Ryder turned to her and held her left hand in his right hand before placing his other hand on her waist and pulling her against him. Carmen placed her right hand on his shoulder and the two swayed back and forth to the soft music.

"Thank you for spending some time getting to know me tonight. All business aside, I've had a good time." Carmen forced a smile.

Ryder dipped his head in a nod, "Of course. I enjoyed having the chance to talk with you."

"Speaking of business... have you made a decision yet?"

A mischievous smile settled on Ryders lips. "Well, Ms. Faber, why don't you tell me what you think my answer is to that."

The swaying stopped.

Carmens stomach dropped.

Ms. Faber.

He knew who she was.

"What did you call me?" Carmens voice came out soft as she tried to hide the terror that would have shown in her tone.

Ryder smirked. "Did you honestly think that I didn't realize this was a set up?"

"SHIT!" Colton yelled over the earpiece.

Carmen attempted to step out of Ryders grasp, but his hand tightened dangerously around hers and he pulled her so tightly against his waist that she couldn't move.

She began to panic.

"Tell me," he began as Carmen tugged on his hand, trying to break free from his touch. "Why would they send the best tech inventor on the black market. That's something I haven't been able to figure out."

"Clayton!" Coltons shocked voice echoed in Carmens ear. "You're compromised! He knows who she is!"

"Fuck," Claytons voice came next, but it was barely a whisper.

"What do you want?" Carmen spoke through gritted teeth.

"Now now, Carmen." He smiled once more. "Let's talk business later, for now I want your friends to come join us."

Before Carmen could even react, Ryder suddenly spun her around, and pulled her tightly against him by wrapping one arm around her waist, pinning her arms to her side and immobilizing her completely. Directly in front of Carmen was one of Ryders guards. He'd placed himself in front of Carmen and held one thing in his hand, a gun.

"Why don't we get them here?" Ryder whispered in Carmens ear, making her cringe.

Her eyes frantically surveyed the room, she spotted Sophie standing by the bar, drinking from a glass. Her eyes darted to where she remembered Clayton had been sitting. He was still sitting there, casually swirling his straw around his own cup, his eyes looking to everywhere but the dance floor.

It was who stood behind him that caused Carmens eyes to widen in terror. Standing behind Claytons chair, and looking down at him was the same guard that had been a bit too close to Carmen at the bar. He had his own gun in his hand.

"Clayton, behind you!" Carmen said loudly, not caring that it would confirm everything that Ryder suspected.

Clayton didn't waste a single second.

He jumped up from his chair while turning quickly. He was fast enough on his feet that Carmen barely registered that he'd landed a punch onto the face of the guard behind him. He suddenly grabbed the guard's hand that held the gun, while the guard attempted to recover from the hit to his jaw and slammed it down onto the table.

The gun went off and Carmen heard the sound of glass breaking from a window on the opposite side of the room.

That was when screams erupted, chaos began, and Sophie started to move.

While everyone ran for the doors and exits, Clayton was wrangling the gun out of the guard's hand and Sophie made her way to Clayton to help.

He didn't need it; he was holding his own quite well.

The gun clattered to the floor and the next thing to slam on the table was the guards face as Clayton held him there with one hand, the other holding his own gun to his head.

The room was now empty aside from Carmen, Sophie, Clayton, and at least five armed strangers. The other three were scattered across the room, one by the bar, the other by the dance floor and another planted before an exit.

The guard before Carmen raised his own gun and pointed it directly at her face.

Sophie drew her gun on him next and Claytons blazing eyes locked on Ryder.

"Stop," Ryder said loud enough for everyone to hear in the now quiet room. "If you shoot him, he shoots her. So, choose wisely."

"I could advise the same thing," Clayton replied.

"How did you know they were with me?" Carmen suddenly asked.

"I saw you two come in together. I figured this whole thing with Isabelle was a set up by the feds or something anyway, but when I saw the one and only Carmen Faber coming into my party. I knew you were in on it."

"How do you know me?"

Ryders laugh rumbled against Carmens back as his grip on her tightened. "Oh, don't be modest, Carmen. Nearly everyone involved in the black market has known your name for years. You've screwed shit up with practically everyone at some point because of your fancy little tech." Another sadistic laugh. "Just wait until the rest of the dealers find out that you're a rat. The bounty will be the least of your worries."

Carmens mind went blank.

Clayton's eyes narrowed as they went from Ryder to Carmen, with the same amount of confusion that she assumed was on her own face.

"The what?"

"I know you have snipers on the roof." Ryder ignored the question. "Tell them to come inside we can all have a nice little talk."

"Carmen. Don't." Claytons voice was low enough that Ryder may not have heard it from across the room, but it was enhanced in Carmens ear from the plastic device. He slowly shook his head at her. It was a warning not to.

Think, Carmen, she thought to herself. Think!

"You're outnumbered, buddy," Ryder sneered at Clayton. "I don't think you have much of a choice."

Come on, do something.

The wheels in her head turned, and turned, and turned, until finally...

A sigh of defeat escaped her lungs. "Alexa, Luke. I know you're hearing this. You both may as well come inside."

Clayton and Sophie both winced at the names. Claytons' expression to Carmen instantly shifted, pure hatred was in that gaze.

"But Clayton said-" Lukes's voice began, suddenly being cut off by Carmen.

"I know what he said." She swallowed hard. "But they already know that you two are there."

Please, understand. Otherwise, we all die, Carmen was pleading in her own mind.

"Fine," Alexa gave in.

"They're coming. Happy now?" Carmen spat over her shoulder to Ryder.

"I'll be happier when your friends drop their guns."

It was Sophie, at the edge of the dance floor with her gun was still aiming for Ryders guard standing before Carmen, who spoke. "No way."

"Do you want Carmen to die right here? Right now?" he responded, no humor lacing his tone this time. "It only takes one bullet."

Sophies mouth twisted in disgust, she looked to Clayton in question. He hesitated before meeting her stare and gave a single nod of approval.

She flipped the safety on and knelt forward, slowly, and tossed the gun at Ryders feet. He instantly kicked it to the side. Clayton aggressively released the guard he held at gun point and glared at Carmen before putting the gun down onto the table and taking  a step back. The guard he once had a grip on, rose with a grave stare thrown Claytons way. The rest of the guards began to walk from their positions to Ryders side, including the one who had been standing in front of Carmen since the dance started only a few minutes ago. He kept his gun trained on her as he took his own place beside Ryder. Clayton and Sophie walked to the dance floor in unison. Stopping a mere 6 or 7 feet in front of the line of bloodthirsty people.

Ryder suddenly loosened his grip on Carmen and shoved her forward, Carmen stumbled straight into Clayton. Her nose almost knocking right into his jugular. He reluctantly caught her by the elbows, helping her maintain balance on her heels. It was uncomfortable for the both of them, but he wouldn't have thought twice about releasing Carmen if it wasn't for the cold, hard, metal that Carmen pressed against his back. He looked down at her with slightly widened eyes.

Carmen met his stare with desperate eyes. Get the clue, Clayton.

Clayton knew how much disdain Carmen had for him; he shared the same amount. But Clayton was far from stupid. He knew what Carmen was doing. If it wasn't for the fact that this whole plan just went to shit because of Carmen, he may have complimented her quick-thinking.

He would play along.

It would take a moment to conceal it in Claytons waistband.

Clayton could buy her that moment, but he wouldn't like it.

He played along. Once Carmen regained her balance, she stood close enough to Clayton to close any space between them. Clayton placed a hand on Carmens waist tugging her close to him. This earned a subtle but confused look from Sophie out of the corner of her eyes.

To Ryder and his soldiers, it would look as if Clayton was protectively keeping Carmen close to him, as if he cared for her. But Clayton only kept his hold on Carmen while she discreetly tucked her gun, that she'd carefully pulled from its holster when Ryder pushed her into Clayton, into the waist band of his pants.

Giving them a weapon that they would need.

Ryder fake-gagged at them. "You make an adorable couple." He rolled his eyes. The two scowled at him, not for mimicking their fake gesture of affection, but for even suggesting an idea like that in the first place.

When Carmen finally finished concealing the gun into Claytons possession, she stepped out of his arms and turned to fully face Ryder just as the Thornton twins strolled into the room.

"Ah, the rest of our guests have arrived." Ryder opened his arms with joy as an evil smile appeared on his face.

Alexa walked over to stand side by side with Sophie who was standing beside Carmen, and Luke placed himself beside his sister. Sophie took a single step to her right, towards her girlfriend, restraining the urge to completely shield Alexa with her own body from harm's way. The 5 of them stared down the 7 enemies lined up in front of them.

"You've got us all here." Carmen stiffened. "Now what?"

"I do admire that you're a 'get to the point' kind of person, Carmen." Ryder grinned.

"So, you've known who she is the whole time?" Luke asked, his voice deepening to the point of even taking Carmen by surprise and making the hairs on the back of her neck stand out.

Ryder nodded.

"Then why play along?"

"What can I say?" Ryder shrugged. "I like a game of cat and mouse."

"Clearly."

"What were you talking about when you said the bounty would be the least of my worries? What bounty?" Carmen spoke up, all eyes going to her.

Ryder shook his head at her. "What? You don't know?"

Silence.

He released an unsettling cackling. "That's rich, really."

When Carmen still didn't respond, and there was still uncertainty on her face, he went on.

"Carmen," he began. "Someone put a price on your head."

She blinked. "What?"

"Yeah. You must have really made someone mad, because a few days ago word got around that if you turned up dead, whoever did the killing would get about five million dollars. How the hell did you not know about this? I've heard that you're a loner, but if someone decided to put a hit out on me, I'd know about it right away."

Carmen struggled to process this information.

Someone wanted her dead? They were offering 5 million dollars for her death? Carmens first instinct was to run through a list of potential suspects that it could have been that placed the bounty to begin with. However, the look on Ryders face made her thoughts come to a halt.

"I assume that you think you're about to be five million dollars richer? Don't you?" She didn't bother to hide the anger in her voice. "That's why you approached me at the bar."

"Carmen." Ryder held his hand out to one of the men standing beside him, who handed him a handgun, as he wickedly smiled at her. "I don't just think that I'm going to get that five mil, I know I am."

Glass shattered.

Blood splattered.

Ryder hit the floor.

It all happened so fast that no one had a chance to register what had just been done.

But, even with blood pooling around Ryders head on the floor, it didn't take long for everyone to piece it together.

Someone had shot through the window behind Ryder and his team, the bullet striking him directly in the back of the head and through the front. He was dead instantly.

But it wasn't just anyone, Carmens body heaved a breath of relief as her sisters' voice came over their earpieces.

"Bullseye," Ainsley said. Carmen could only imagine the smug smile on her sisters' face.

All of Ryders guards looked back and forth between Ryders dead body, the window, each other, and then Carmen. All their eyes wide and jaws dropped in shock.

The one who once had Carmen at gun point was breathing through barred teeth. Anger and rage glowing in his eyes. "You said you brought in all your snipers!" he shouted.

Carmens lips twitched upwards. "Did I forget one? Oops."

Even Sophie had to fight the impressed smile that threatened to appear on her face.

The guard only grew angrier. "I'm going to enjoy killing you," he growled.

"Actually, you won't," she responded.

As if reading Carmens mind, Clayton instantly reached behind him to pull out the concealed gun. He aimed and fired at the guard before any of the other ones realized what was happening.

The rest of them started to fumble for their own weapons as the guards' body dropped beside Ryder. Luke and Alexa were faster, Clayton got another shot off as Luke and Alexa pulled their own triggers. Sophie grabbed Carmens arm, pulling her down and out of the line of fire.

The popping sounds made Carmen flinch and it reminded Carmen right away of the attempt that Marcus had made on her life in The Grave District.

His words echoed in her head: It's nothing personal. It's a lot of money.

Her eyes widened as she was finally understanding what he meant.

Marcus was talking about the bounty.

He was going to kill Carmen for the 5 million dollars.

The gunfire stopped and Carmen looked up to see 7 bodies, bloodied and lifeless on the ground. None of them belonging to a single member of the Twin Operative.

Alexa, Luke and Clayton stood while Sophie was knelt beside Carmen. She hadn't even noticed that Sophie had been covering Carmen with her own body, protecting her from any chance of stray bullets.

"You guys," Colton's voice surprised all of them as he spoke through the earpiece. "You need to get out of there now. Someone from the party called the cops about the gunshot. They're coming through the front right now."

Sophie and Carmen jumped up. Carmen looked to Clayton. "Plan C?"

He nodded, knowing that she was referencing one of the many plans that they'd devised yesterday in the event that something went wrong. Plan C being the escape route through the back of the building.

"Let's go," Clayton said to the rest of them.

They all raced for the hall that would lead them to the back of the building. They heard the police entering the ballroom just as the door shut behind Luke once everyone was outside.

Colton had told them he had to move the van to a different block to avoid drawing attention, they all walked to the location that he told them to meet. It was an empty parking lot beside a closed clothing store. Colton was leaning against the van with his arms crossed. Ainsley and Santana standing on each side of him talking amongst themselves. The three of them looked up when they saw the rest of the group drawing near.

"Are you guys okay?" Colton asked, unfolding his arms and leaning away from the van as the group circled around them.

"We're fine," Clayton said. "No thanks to Carmen."

Carmens head snapped in his direction to find an angry stare, she gave him her own incredulous look. "Are you kidding me? It's my thinking that got us out of there to begin with."

"No, it's your lack of thinking that got us into that position in the first place," he retorted.

Carmen scoffed.

"You should have stuck to the plan," he said, his voice rising slightly. "You should have done as you were told. I told you to stay where you were, I gave you an order-"

"How many damn times do I have to tell you that I don't take orders from you?" Carmens own tone was rising in anger.

"Well, you'd better start learning how to!" Clayton was seething at this point. "I'm the leader here, not you!"

"Then act like it!" Carmen yelled. "If you could pay attention to anything other than your power-obsessed ego then you would have taken into account that he recognized me the second you and I walked through those doors and that he knew Sophie was there to set him up. We would have ended up in the same spot even if we did follow the original plan. If it weren't for the fact that I knew to leave Ainsley on that roof then we would probably be dead right now, especially considering that I'm the one who gave you the gun when he forced you to get rid of yours. So, you're fucking welcome!"

Silence. Clayton only scowled at her, breathing hard and not speaking.

"Oh my god," Carmen started with a laugh. "Did I finally shut you up? Everyone take a picture; this might be a once in a lifetime moment."

Clayton's eyes went wide, and he opened his mouth to say something else in response, but Ainsley spoke up first, "Carmen, that's enough."

"Oh, shut up, Ainsley!" Carmens enraged glare went to her sister next.

Ainsley blinked in astonishment.

Nobody moved.

"You know what?" Ainsley crossed her arms and shifted her weight. "No. I'm done with you treating me like shit."

"I treat you like shit? Are you kidding me?" Carmen balled her fists at her side. "You ran off for five years, Ainsley! You don't get to tell me how I'm supposed to feel about you right now."

"Oh my god." Ainsley rolled her eyes. "You need to let it go. It happened! It's over! It's in the past! You, mom, and dad are fine anyway, so stop treating me like I'm some villain in your life."

Carmens shoulders slacked. Her glare disappeared and she only stared at Ainsley in pure shock. "What... what did you just say?"

"You heard me," Ainsley snapped.

Carmen couldn't believe what she'd just heard.

Ainsley's words repeated in her head once more: You, mom and dad are fine.

She thinks dad is fine, Carmen thought to herself. She doesn't know.

Anger boiled in Carmens veins, and she returned to her senses, her lip curling as she spoke to Ainsley. "You're sick!" she shouted.

Ainsley's face shifted to confusion.

"You are a spy!" Carmen was breathing hard between each sentence. "You had the ability to at least have the decency to check on how your family had been doing over the past five years, and you're telling me that you didn't?! I knew that you're low, Ainsley, but this... this is a whole new level!"

"What is your problem?!" Ainsley yelled back.

"Dad is dead!" Carmen shouted.

A small gasp escaped Santana's mouth and Ainsley went so still that Carmen started to wonder if she was even breathing.

"What?" Ainsley's voice broke, no one had heard that soft of a voice come from her in all their time of knowing her.

Carmen had struck, and she'd struck deep.

"He died over a year ago," Carmens voice lowered as tears threatened to rise at the topic of her father. "You would have known that if you'd bothered to keep tabs on us."

Ainsley unfolded her arms and stumbled back a step. Everyone looked to her in surprise, shocked to see her so wavered. "You're..." Ainsley swallowed hard and shook her head. "You're lying..."

"Why the hell would I lie about this?"

No one spoke for a few seconds before Ainsley suddenly turned on her heels and ran, taking off towards the road.

Santana shot Carmen a look that convinced Carmen that she was planning her death. Carmen didn't care.

She'd hoped that after all these years of not seeing her family, Ainsley would at least want to see if they were okay. It would have shown that she still cared.

Clearly, she did not.

"Ainsley!" Luke called out as he ran after her. Ainsley disappeared behind the corner of the clothing store as she ran away. Luke followed soon after.

Silence hung in the air of the rest of them before Sophie finally spoke, "That wasn't cool, Carmen."

"No," Colton began, to Carmens surprise, drawing her eyes. He looked to be in disbelief as he stared at Carmen. "It wasn't," He said.

The look on Coltons face seemed to snap something in Carmen. He was the only person here that she believed to be her ally, but judging by how he looked at her now, she knew that was no longer the case. Maybe he never was to begin with. After all, he's known Ainsley longer than he's known Carmen. They were close. Of course he would side with her.

"You know what." Carmen shook her head. Her eyes darting between all of them. "I don't know any of you people. You think that keeping me on surveillance for three months means that you know anything about me? You don't. So, screw all of you!"

Carmen turned to walk away when Claytons voice halted her steps, "Carmen."

"What?!" She whirled on him. "Are you going to tell me that I had no right to tell her the way that I did? That I shouldn't have said it like that?"

Clayton slowly shook his head. "No," He said, his voice calmer than it had been only a couple minutes ago. "I was going to say that I'm sorry for your loss."

She couldn't hide the surprise that flashed across her face.

"I'll take you back to the hotel," Clayton said.

Without saying another word or trying to fight him on it, Carmen looked over her shoulder at Colton one last time to see him staring at the pavement with a cold expression. She sighed heavily and followed Clayton to find where the valet had parked the car they came in.