Inheriting a SECRET (Corrigan & Co. #7)(40)

“Let’s go,” Stella says, not even breaking a sweat.

We hear music and screaming as soon as we get outside. The girls say they can walk, because they know we need them to, and we all blend into the crowd that’s enjoying the impromptu Storyside concert. I force myself to look at the band, and not at the people I just helped escape. I can’t draw any attention to them as they get away from the castle. I look at Noah, and he smirks back at me. Who knew we’d be so good at assisting in a prison break?





Chapter 15


Darcy

Sneaking back onto the island wasn’t as hard as I expected. Then again, who would ever think I’d want to come back? Jenysis is letting us stay in her house, which she rarely uses, since she usually stays with Brayden when she visits. It’s on a secluded part of the island, and has huge privacy walls. Ainsley and Aiden built a sophisticated security system for the property in less than an hour, so none of us are worried about being found. We’re just worried about how everything is going to play out.

“So what? We just have to wait here and see if ‘certain events’ happen?” Nate asks me in annoyance.

“Pretty much.”

“How do we even know something will happen?”

“Not everyone wants Brayden to be crowned. Something will happen. I don’t know what, but something.”

“Will it be enough to satisfy your oath?” Faith asks me.

“I hope so. If not, the jewels go back with me.”

“Can we see them? Are they like the ones at the Tower of London?”

“No, and kind of,” I tell Stella with a smile.

“Ugh. I have to protect pretty things, and I can’t even see them. How is that fair?”

“You’re not protecting them, I am.”

“We’re with you. Have you not realized that by now?”

“You can go back to the Society. Tell them you made a mistake. I hate that you’ve been thrown out because you want to help me.”

“We’re not going back without you,” Reina says, entering the room.

“What are you doing here, Rei?”

“I can’t be around Matt right now. His family loyalty bullshit is making me want to punch him. Hard.”

“You know why, Reina,” Nate tells her. “The last time he didn’t put his family first, Miles was physically abused by their father. He still feels guilty about that.”

“But what about us? Not just me, but you guys, too. You’re his family. The one he chose. How can he put all of us aside like we’re nothing to him?”

“He helped rescue us.”

“Yeah, but he’s going to fight you if it comes to it.”

“Then let’s pray it doesn’t.”

“How were things at the castle when you left?” I ask her, trying to change the subject.

“Everything seems to be on track for the coronation. Derrick was acting a little strange—on edge—but everyone else is just acting like it’s business as usual.”

Derrick’s cracking. I knew he would. I need him to in order for this to end. I just wish I knew what he was going to do. He’s such a wild card that it could be anything, because he’ll do anything to stop Brayden from being crowned.

“There’s still two weeks before Brayden is crowned. We should be there as security. I don’t trust the palace guards.”

“The ones Jen and I distracted were pretty smarmy. That’s why we couldn’t keep them away any longer,” Stella says.

“You did great. We got out,” Aiden reminds her.

“They must be Derrick’s. I know there are those who are loyal to Brayden’s family, but the ones who are loyal to Derrick are the ones I’m worried about,” I tell them,

“What would Derrick have to gain by keeping Brayden from becoming king?”

“Everything,” Reina answers for me. “Well, if he could get rid of Steven, too, that is. I looked through quite a few books in the library while I was ignoring Matt. I read all about their crazy laws and traditions. If Brayden and Steven are out of the picture, Derrick could be named king.”

“Son of a bitch. I knew I didn’t like that guy,” Wayne says.

“Can you still hack into the security system, Ainsley?”

“Sure.”

“Please do. If we can at least have eyes on everyone, we’ll know if anything goes down.”

“I’ll start right now,” she says, pulling out her new tablet.

Everything we had that was given to us by the Society is useless now. They’ve cut us off from most of our resources, but we still have each other, and I wouldn’t count us out. We’re definitely a force to be reckoned with.

“If you weren’t in more trouble than me, you could apply for my job,” Reina tells me with a laugh.

“Not hardly. No one can do as good a job as you, and Jane knows it.”

“I’m not sure I could work for them again, even if they did come to their senses. What they did to you—it’s just wrong. So wrong. They’re not the people I thought they were.”

“I feel the same,” Faith says, and all of the other women agree as well.

“Thank you all for the support, but we’ve done so much good. I want you to go back if you get the chance. You don’t have to socialize with them, or even be friends, but you can continue to do great things and save people. That’s more important than me.”