Page 27 of Breaking the Code

Tears sting as fear and hope collide when Damon’s voice breaks through the stillness of the night. I’ve been sitting here for hours, waiting. I started to believe he betrayed me.

We meticulously planned this night—me, Everly, Damon, Killian, and Rayth. It had to go off without a hitch for me to break free of the Order.

Unable to help myself, I throw myself at Damon.

“Thank God!” I whisper. “I thought you forgot me.”

“Never, kid. You saved my girl,” he says, pushing me away.

I grab both my backpacks. I hand one to him, and he scowls at me before slinging it over his shoulders.

“I’m ready,” I say. My voice is whisper soft, and I’m afraid he didn’t hear me, but then he grabs my arm and pulls me out of the room behind him.

Damon is one of the Order—or he was. He’s a decent guy. I mean, if you discount the number of people I know for a fact he’s killed, then he’s a decent guy. But when Everly went missing, he, Rayth, and Killian asked me to find her. They knew so little about her; I doubted I could find her.

And I can find anyone and anything.

But, I did it. I finally found her. When I did, their feelings toward the Order changed. All because it was Owen that stole her from their cabin. Owen Black is Everly’s stepfather and the head of the Order. He took her from them and held her hostage for months.

As soon as I figured out who she was, it didn’t take long to find her. Funnily enough, Owen had her stowed right under our noses. Pulling a few tech tricks out of my sleeve, I sent Damon along with Killian and Rayth to save her.

Now they’re returning the favor. Rescuing me from the hell Owen has had me locked in my whole fucking life.

Damon leads me through the mansion that’s been my home for most of my life. It wasn’t a home, though. It’s a prison—one I chose if you can call what happened at that point in my life a choice.

Damon pauses, holding his hand out to push me behind him. If he gets caught with me inside this building, he’ll be killed on sight. Owen’s made it clear that he has the final say in who is allowed to touch me and who I can spend time with. I belong to Samuel, but Owen is the Master of us both. The other members won’t hesitate to exact justice on Damon if we’re caught together.

Damon turns to me and presses his finger to his lips, then points toward the hallway, away from the people we can hear talking. Everything has been timed, so there would be very few people here. I don’t want any innocents hurt and I know Everly feels the same. We want the Order eradicated, but not at the expense of those who were there unwillingly.

I continue following Damon. Everything inside me vibrates with anticipation. This is the closest I’ve ever come to getting away from the Order.

If this doesn’t work, I’m not sure I can face living another day in the hell my life has become since my father died.

Then there’s the clock ticking away in the background, counting down the days until the Order really takes over my life. The deadline to get out is fast approaching. I have to get out before my next birthday. My mother’s wealth has been held in trust for me all these years.

This is the moment I’ve been waiting for since I was little. Tonight is the night I take back my freedom. The night I become a ghost and an official member of Societas Exspiravit.

“Time to make a run for it. You ready, kid?” Damon asks as we stop near a patio door.

Looking back over my shoulder, I nod, swallowing the fear and anxiety. Damon waits. When I look at him, his brow arches and I nod again.

“I’m ready,” I reply when he still doesn’t open the door.

“Stay low and on my hip. No matter what, keep running until you get into the forest. Everly and the others are out there waiting for us,” Damon instructs me.

Another nod from me and another pause from him.

“I got it,” I tell him.

“Good.”

Damon puts his hand on the door handle, takes a look around, and then he’s pushing me out the door. He shuts it behind us and then he’s off.

His strides out-pace mine, and I scramble to keep up. Damon reaches out and grabs my arm. He half drags me along with him. My feet trip over each other and I stumble. If not for Damon’s hold on me, I would’ve faceplanted with every other step.

My heart thunders in my chest. The blood rushes in my ears. My vision flashes with every beat. All of it together has me sick to my stomach and feeling like the darkness is nipping at my heels.

I look back over my shoulder toward the house. There’s nothing there. At least nothing I can see, but I feel it chasing me.

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