Free Between Shadows by Chanel Cleeton

the organization behind the Academy, pulling the strings.”
    For a moment I can’t speak, the words trapped in my throat. A secret organization behind the Academy? It had occurred to me that there was likely some infrastructure in place, some authority beyond the Director. But what purpose do they serve? And how has word of their existence gotten out? And why am I learning about this from Luke?
    “I think he was one of us,” Luke adds. “I think he was an asset.”
    No way.
    “What did he say about this organization?”
    “That they’d been lying to us all along. That we’re basically mercenaries, our missions farmed out to the highest bidder. That all the bullshit they’ve told us about writing wrongs and dispensing justice is crap. That we’re killers. Killing the innocent and guilty alike for their agenda.”
    Anger bleeds through his words. Luke was never the type to be happy as a pawn, and his disgust is even clearer now that he’s older and had a taste of life out on his own.
    I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’ve had my doubts about the Academy. It’s why I go to the church in Knightsbridge; it’s that voice that lingers in the back of my mind. This isn’t a good life, but it’s the only one I have. The only one I’ve ever known. I can look myself in the mirror everyday because despite the things I’ve done, I’ve always thought I was doing good—acting for a cause greater than myself.
    What if I was wrong?
    “Did you kill him?” I ask.
    “No. I wanted answers and I wasn’t going to kill him until he told me what I needed to hear.”
    “Did he?”
    “No.” Another dark look flashes across Luke’s face, and the pain there nearly steals the breath from my body. “He swallowed a pill and took his own life. It happened so fast—hell, it was so unexpected—I didn’t get a chance to stop him.”
    “Why wouldn’t he try to bargain with you? Why wouldn’t he want you to spare his life?”
    “I don’t know.” Luke leans forward, lacing his fingers together, his shoulders hunched. “I think he was more afraid of something else. Something worse than me. And maybe he thought this way he could keep his family safe.”
    “Have you checked on them?”
    “They’re gone. All of them. Like they never existed.” He sighs, meeting my gaze. “I’m not lying to you.”
    It’s not that I don’t believe him. Not exactly. But if he’s right, everything I’ve believed about my life up until this point is a lie. I trusted them with the most important thing I have; I gave up everything to keep my sister safe. And now with a few words, Luke has shattered the only security we’ve ever known.
    “What information did you find on Ares?”
    “Hardly anything, which tells me enough. I started trolling the Internet—anonymously, of course—for anyone who’d heard of them. I got a few hits from assets all over the world. They said they’d heard of Ares, but no one was willing to talk beyond that.” 
    “That’s not proof. For all you know, Ares is a completely separate entity from the Academy. You don’t know that they’re even connected. What you’re doing right now is enough to get you killed. And for what? You could be wrong about all of this.”
    “I’m not wrong. You know I’m not. Haven’t you felt it?”
    “We kill people, Luke, so whatever the reason, yeah I pretty much figured that wasn’t standard behavior. We’re not normal. We’re pawns to them; I’ve always known that. I’m not stupid.”
    “I never said you were.” The look in his eyes changes to something speculative that sends a wave of fear through me. “Is that why you changed your name? Because you aren’t a person anymore?”
    I freeze, whatever compassion I had for him quickly evaporating. He always was a calculating boy. Now he’s a dangerous man.
    “I don’t want to talk about my name,” I bite out.
    His voice is silk, curling through my insides, leaving a shudder in its wake.
    “Why not,