Legend & Lace

9. What Happened To Just Walking In Like We Own The Place?

Chapter 9

What Happened To Just Walking In Like We Own The Place?

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," I said, stopping up short. All three of them turned to look at me like 'breaking into Antecedent' was a regularly said thing between us. "What in the heck do you mean, we're breaking in?'

Drake looked at me in confusion, eyebrows furrowed. "How else are we going to get everything without anyone knowing? And it's not like we've never broke into a place before..."

I raised the hand that he wasn't holding. "Uh, this girl hasn't. I've always had...you know...clearance to go into specific areas of a company."

Kenna snorted, rolling her eyes as she switched her computer from one hand to the other. "Yeah, but Laney Conroy doesn't. And don't worry. You'll have these two with you. And it's not like you're going in blind. I've had my fingers in Antecedent's security system for months now and they don't even realize it."

"But..."

"She really has," Cruz admitted. "They don't suspect a thing...which is scary on both parts."

"But we can't..."

"We'll talk about this once we get settled, how about that?" Drake promised, tugging me toward the train.

Of course, my mind was running away from me as we boarded and found a car where there weren't many people who'd be able to overhear our conversations while on the way to London. Settling in, I put my bag in my lap, glancing out the window to silently say goodbye to Scotland, even though I knew we would be back one day.

It wasn't until the train pulled out of the station that Kenna opened her laptop, her fingers immediately flying over the keys before she grinned and turned it toward me and Drake.

"See. It's a hell of a lot easier than you'd think. And once we finish all this, I'm seriously going to consider upgrading their security throughout all of the Brotherhood and Knights systems. I know I'm pretty damn good, but there are still some in the Order who can get in, even though not as easily as I can."

On the screen, multiple video feeds were streaming. I knew so many of the people shown, but the two I was searching for weren't anywhere to be seen.

"John and Emmy aren't there today...another reason we're going tonight."

"Are they at Paddon?" I asked, leaning forward to look more closely.

"No. New York," Cruz said. "They're there to celebrate Emmy's birthday with her family. Everyone's there, actually, which is perfect timing for us."

Regret gnawed at my stomach as I looked over at Drake. He was thinking the same thing I was.

"Then what's your plan?" I asked, looking back at Cruz and Kenna. "We just go in without security knowing anything, Kenna disables everything, Cruz and Drake act as lookouts, and I go down to get the book and the key?"

Cruz and Kenna looked at each other before Kenna nodded. "Yeah, that's pretty much it."

I groaned, leaning my head back against my seat. "You know something's bound to happen. Someone's going to mess up and..."

"And now you're going to jinx it," Kenna laughed. "But I know you're sneaky, so if something were to happen, you'd be able to hide."

"You know you'd be able to," Drake grinned, bumping his shoulder against mine. "You used to scare the shit out of me all the time, sneaking up on me...and you still do."

"Because that's easy, but this..."

"You're just nervous because you've never actually broken in somewhere before."

"And I would rather it not be Antecedent."

"Oh, don't worry!" Kenna said brightly. "This totally won't be the only place we break into on this trip!"

***

By the time we were halfway to London, Drake and Kenna got up to get us all food, leaving me and Cruz in a weird but comfortable silence. By weird, I mean it was still strange to see him here. I was still getting used to all of this, though that idea was going to become reality when I found myself sneaking around Antecedent later that night in the dark without anyone other than us knowing I was there.

"I'm still trying to get used to seeing you two again," Cruz admitted as he looked at me. Apparently, he'd been thinking along the same lines I had. "I thought Kenna was crazy when she said she thought she saw you...and now you guys are here."

I shifted in my seat, resting my chin in my hand. "We knew it was only a matter of time before the past caught up with us. I'm just happy it was you and Kenna and not anyone we didn't want to deal with."

He sat there still, staring.

"Has it really been that bad?" I asked quietly. "I mean, after everything happened."

"You weren't the one who had to stop John from practically starting an all our war with the Order. Even Juliet was siding with him. Luckily, Emmy and I were able to talk him off the ledge, so to speak. She was upset and angry, of course, but she didn't want to risk lives when she knew it wasn't going to get you and Drake back."

"And Em's pretty good at persuading him."

"And calming him down when he loses it. They're a lot better these days...or they were when I saw them last. They're keeping track of the Order, though nothing's really happening on that front. Vince thinks he's won, though I wouldn't put it past him to want to try and claim his prize, which would be getting his hands on the book and keys."

"Yeah...I'd like to see him try."

***Well, I've missed writing author's notes...so here we go!

I know this chapter is on the small side, but it was a filler and the beginning of what's going to be a fun next chapter.  We're breaking into Antecedent!  

Anyone want to guess who we're going to run into?  

Chapter 10 is hopefully going to be up by this weekend, so be on the lookout!

Don't forget to comment and vote and, of course...

Happy reading! 

- Ansley***