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Zach was the first to react In a flash, he was turning to , "Run!"

He didn’t know that the ent Townsend was heading straight for him

"Zach, no!" I yelled, then jumped in between the two of the ht was a safer position

"Ms Morgan," Townsend snapped "Go!"

"You’re both telling me to run!" I screamed while Preston peeked out frohters in their prime behave like a couple of idiots

I don’t want to think about how long it h and loud, it pierced the air and reverberated in the narrow space for what felt like forever

Everyone turned and looked through the earlyhaze at Bex, who said, "If you boys want to beat each other’s guts out, I’et Ca the streets at five in the bloody " She started back down the alley, then stopped and added, "Oh, and Zach, if you’re going to run away from school, leave a note Even Cam did that"

Abby was there, too, Macey by her side I felt Townsend’s hand onme down the alley and back to the safe house Nobody seemed to notice or care about the other boy--the one in the corner, away from the chaos, until Macey stopped

She didn’t sound like herself when she said, "Preston?"

I don’t know if it was because she was seeing hiurative senses), but I could tell she was thrown in a way no Gallagher Girl is ever supposed to be "Preston, is that you?"

Then Abby was beside s that surrounded us, as if trying to place so in herat the boy, who nodded slowly

Somehow, Preston didn’t seem nearly as freaked out as he should have been when he told us, "I think we need to go inside"

He didn’t ask for introductions No one had to present clearance levels or ID It was as if Preston knew that being in that alley at that moment meant that you were okay to invite home Even when home was technically the United States embassy for the ambassador stationed in Rome

So Preston didn’t hesitate He just led our crazy band through the secret door, and then to another that cordoned off the hallway inside He stopped to punch out the code ht to change that more often," I said as the door popped open

He smiled "Will do"

When we reached another door, Preston looked up at a surveillance carin and a small wave, and a second later, the door buzzed and a uniformed marine pushed it open

"Welcome back, sir," the marine said If he was surprised to see Preston appear with three girls, a boy, and two grown-ups, he didn’t show it

Preston pointed to the elevator "Clear us through to the residence, okay?"

"Yes, sir," the guard said, and a moment later ere all inside an elevator with a lass hung overhead

"Cool place," Bex told Preston under her breath

"That’s the thing about having a dad who runs for president" Preston gave an aard ses" He took us all in, but really, he had eyes only for Macey "It’s good to see you, Mace"

Bex and I looked at each other He calls her Mace?

"Hi," Macey said "So…Rome?" She looked around the ornate car "It’s nice," she told him, and he nodded

"Yeah, it was this or the eht?"

Macey nodded "Yeah But I haven’t talked to you since the move"

When the doors opened, I could tell ere on the top floor because the light was different There was a tall ith a view of the city Lush, thick carpet was beneath our feet

"I’ll just be a second," Preston whispered, pointing to the opposite end of the hall "You guys can wait in the dining roo Cammie knows the way"

I started to say that, no, I didn’t, but before I could utter a word, there was a , "Cammie! You’re here!"

The first tiovernor of Vermont and a front-runner for the presidency of the United States The last ti by the way he threw open his ar, it was pretty obvious I didn’t remember the last tiood to see you and Preston back together again" Aered on the words, and from the corner of s you to Rome?"

"Fall break," I said, pleased with how natural the lie sounded "And I knew I couldn’t co by, because of…"

"Me," Macey said "I insisted we coh it’s early We only have a few hours before we catch a connecting flight and leave town"

"Oh, Macey, dear I didn’t see you there" It was probably the first--and last--ti Macey McHenry, but no one said so The a me, "And who are your friends?"

"Ambassador Winters, allow me to introduce lared And Rebecca Baxter looked like she was going to choke on her own chewing gum