A Shade of Innocence (The Illuminati Book 1)

by Jane West

  Bane paused, catching my gaze. His blues were tender, “Yes, quite stunning, actually.”

  I dropped my gaze to the table. I could feel the heat to my cheeks. After a breath, my eyes lifted. “I'll never understand you. You're a hard nut to crack,” I blurted out, leaning back in my seat. “One minute you're giving me a compliment and then the next you're ready to bite my head off.” I shook my head. “I don't like moodiness.” I got enough of that from Sara. “One wacko in my life is enough.”

  “I'm a tough nut to crack, moody and a wacko?” His shoulders shook mildly as he laughed to himself.

  “It's not funny,” I snapped. “The way you acted was a dick move, dude.” I crossed my arms, feeling the sting of last night and the tears he forced upon me.

  “I'm sorry. I don't mean to laugh, but your choice of words is amusing to me.”

  “Where do you get your vocabulary? Abominable!” My brows puckered. “Who says that?”

  “Perhaps, you can get me up to speed?”

  “I don't know. You're pretty far behind. You gotta stop hanging out with Jesus!”

  We both joined in laughter.

  Soon our waitress returned with our food. She laid out newspaper over the table and dumped a huge pile of red looking bugs with whiskers on the table. She set down a basket full of our side orders, cornbread, corn on the cob and boiled potatoes.

  I must've had the look of doom plastered across my face. When my eyes lifted, Bane had the look of confusion.

  “Hmm, what's wrong?” His luminous eyes widened.

  “They're bugs!”

  A sudden rush of humor eddied in his blues. “They're not bugs, silly! They're fish.”

  “I thought the name mudbug was a metaphor. I didn't know they were real.” I looked up at him with dreaded shock.

  Bane threw back his head and let out a great wail of laughter. “Come on, where's your adventure?”

  “I don't know.” I tried to pick one up without squirming but quickly drew my hand back.

  “Don't worry.” He chuckled. “It won't bite. The fish is dead. There's nothing to it. Here watch.” First, he rolled up his sleeves and then picked a bug from the pile and held it up. “Now watch,” he demonstrated, “Pinch the head between two fingers with one hand, like this,” he held his fingers up gripping the bug, “Now hold the tail with your other hand.” He gathered the tail as he instructed. “Give the head a twist until it comes off.” He held the severed parts in his fingers, juice dripping down his elbows.

  “Uh, that's messy.” I laughed, handing him a napkin.

  “It can be.” He took my napkin. “Thank you!”

  I inhaled, trying not to freak out. I forced my hand to move and my fingers to grasp one of the nasty bugs. I fought down my gag reflex. Geez!

  I did exactly as he showed me, twisting the bugs head off. “Okay, now what?” I held up the decapitated bug, each part in each hand.

  “Now place the open part of the head between your lips and suck out the juices. This part of the crawfish is a delicacy.” He demonstrated how.

  I sat there, gawking. “You're kidding!” I crinkled my nose. “That's gross!”

  “Oh come on! Give it a shot.” He nudged.

  I swallowed as if I was washing down a ton of pills.

  “Okay, but no promises that I'm gonna like this.”

  He shook his head grinning.

  I wrapped my lips around the head, totally grossed out, and drained the juice from the beheaded bug. To my surprise, it was good, a little on the spicy side. My eyes lifted to Bane's face and I replied. “Not bad!”

  He smiled. Pride gleamed in his blues. “I never doubted you, Princess.”

  I smiled back. I caught that last word—princess. I recalled asking him not to call me that. Yet I found myself kind of liking it. His voice was soft edged and sweet.

  “What are you waiting for? Dig in.”

  We stayed until closing. I'd never talked so much in my life. We discussed nothing of great importance, unless one considered football a vital topic. He claimed his allegiance as a devout fan of the Dallas Cowboys while I preferred a nest of wasp. Bane nearly turned blue from laughter over my lack of fandom.

  When we arrived at my house, he killed the engine. An uncomfortable silence grew tight between us. It felt like Bane was struggling to tell me something.

  I sat there wringing my hands, wondering if I should thank him for the night and say good-bye. I always had a problem with proper etiquette. Strangely, I wasn't ready to leave his side. I hated to admit it, but I had fun tonight. I sat there waiting for him to give me a cue.

  We were so tight in the two-seater sports that his breath warmed my cheeks. He slightly shifted in his seat looking at me. The beginning of a smile tipped the corners of his mouth.

  My breath stilled.

  Our eyes locked.

  I drew in a sharp breath, fretting if I might blow it like last time.

  “I enjoyed tonight.” Tenderness lingered in his blues. “It's quite pleasant talking to you.”

  I bit my bottom lip. “Thank you for tonight.” I smiled.

  “It was my pleasure, truly.”

  He quieted a moment, holding my gaze. Then in the next breath, he leaned over. Slowly, he was coming in. Our lips were almost touching. My heart hammered against my chest. The anticipation was too much. I wanted his kiss more than anything I'd ever wanted! Damn, just do it! I screamed in my head at him, and then…

  “What the hell do you think you're doing in that goddamn car, young lady?” I closed my eyes, mortified. Bane suddenly sat erect in his seat, shoulders stiffened.

  Sara stood beside the car on the driver's side pounding the window with the look of Frankenstein.

  Perfect timing!

  Appalled, I darted out of the car, rushing toward the house. I couldn't believe she was doing this to me. I didn't make it very far before Sara snatched me up by the nape of my hair, jerking me backward and forcing me to face her. Her teeth gnashed while she held a clump of my hair wound tightly in her fist. I flinched from the pain, flailing my hands at Sara's grip, trying to loosen her hold. “I thought I warned you!”

  “Don't do this here!” I flinched, tears streaming. I spied a dark silhouette in the moonlight approaching fast. It was Francis coming from the rear of the house. Was this some kind of intervention? Stop Stevie from having a life!

  “I told you, no boys!” Sara hissed through clenched teeth.

  It all went down so fast. Bane stepped in between Sara and me. With gentle authority, his hand forced Sara back. “I'm sorry. Is there a problem?” Though his body was taut, his voice appeared calm.

  A dark flash sped past the corner of my eye. It was Francis. He'd shoved Sara to the ground and was now standing in Bane's face, hostile, ready to wrangle.

  Francis was at least a head shorter and a good thirty pounds thinner. The odds were against him.

  Bane had me pressed against the car and his massive body was blocking Francis' reach to me. I watched in fear of the worst scenario that could possibly happen.

  “I think you should leave.” Francis bared his teeth. “This is a family matter.”

  I watched the two men, holding my breath, wary over the outcome of this horrible misunderstanding.

  “Family!” Bane scoffed. “Perhaps you should be the one leaving.” Bane's eyes spewed with cold, dead steel.

  “Listen, punk!” Something silver flickered in the moonlight. Francis had a switchblade clenched against Bane's jugular, “I won't think twice slicing you wide open and feedin' you to the gators.” His face twisted with vile.

  Holy cow! My heart lurched. The last thing I wanted was a bloodbath. I started to speak up, but in a blink, I was standing on the other side of the car, and Bane had Francis kissing the asphalt, arms spread and face flat, and Bane's knee buried in Francis's back. The knife had vanished.

  Bane bent low over Francis. I could hear murmurs, but I couldn't make out what Bane was saying. I gathered by Francis' twiste
d face, drool dripping from his mouth and spitting curse words in French, that it wasn't pleasant.

  Strangely, Sara's face appeared distorted with pain, as she struggled to shift her feet. It was as if she'd been cemented to the asphalt. She wasn't budging an inch, regardless of her attempts.

  In the next instant, Bane released his hold on Francis and Sara rushed to his side.

  Bane's back was to me. I couldn't see his face but by Sara's expression, it was apparent Bane must've got his point across. Her eyes bulged with what I assumed was fear.

  Next, Bane pulled away, making his way back to me. Sara and Francis quickly staggered to their feet, scrambling for the beat up old Cadillac parked behind the brush.

  I reckoned they were planning to ambush me. I wondered how bad this would've gone if Bane hadn't been present.

  I watched as Sara and Francis sped away.

  Unaware that I'd been holding my breath, I fell back against the car, hand pressed flat to my chest, raking in oxygen.

  Bane's lips tight, in a fit of anger, stalked to my side. He muttered under his breath. “Fuck it! I've waited long enough.” He forcefully swept me into the folds of his arms, taking my mouth with a savage intensity. Possessively, his hands splayed over my face, drawing me closer.

  Our tongues collided, toiling with one another. My hands reached up, gripping his dark curls as I rose up to meet his forceful kisses. As smooth as liquid, his hands moved to the center of my back and reeled me in tighter. I delighted in every inch of his lean body pressed against mine as a swirl of fire licked through me, stealing my breath.

  Raising his mouth from mine, he captured my gaze. I stared back, my chest heaving. I touched my swollen mouth. My lips burned in the aftermath of his fiery kisses.

  “I've wanted to do that since the first time I laid eyes on you.” The huskiness lingered in his tone.

  I tried to make sense of what just happened in my front yard, the fight, the kiss. Wow! “Umm, I don't know what to say.” My brain felt short-circuited. I might've bitten off more than I could chew and it frightened me.

  “Are you hurt?” His eyes searched as his hands gently rested on my hips.

  “Hmm, I don't know.” I pulled away, needing air. “What did you say to my mom?”

  “It doesn't matter.” His eyes combed the neighborhood, “Come on.” He gently placed his hand on the small of my back and gently urged. I got the impression he might've been expecting more unfriendly company. “Let me get you inside the house.”

  I nodded, fighting back the tears.

  Once we entered the house, I switched on a lamp and then turned to Bane. “Would you care for some coffee?” I was starting to feel shaky as I ran my fingers through my messy hair.

  “I'm good. Thank you. How are you?”

  I felt his soulful eyes digging a hole through me.

  “I'm as well as expected, considering.” I rubbed the back of my neck. My head was throbbing from where Sara had yanked my hair.

  “I should have a look at your head. I can make it feel better.” He half smiled, taking a step toward me.

  I stepped back, eyes wide. “No! I'm okay.”

  He stopped, dropping his hands to his sides. “All right,” he paused, “I'm sorry you had to see that tonight. Your mom's boyfriend overstepped his bounds.”

  “Yeah, he's a creep.” I picked up my shawl and threw it over my shoulders. A chill rushed over me.

  “Does he bother you often?”

  “Nothing I can't handle.” I forced a smile.

  Bane blew out a frustrated sigh, raking his fingers through his black curls. “Why do I get the feeling he's threatened you before?” He stepped closer, placing his hand on my shoulder.

  “It's nothing. Really!”

  “You're shaking!” He smoothed his fingers over my arms.

  “I'm fine.” I pushed his hand away. “I'll be better in the morning.”

  “Why do I find that hard to believe?” He gathered my chin in the cuff of his hand, forcing me to look at him. “I give you my word; neither Sara nor Francis will hurt you again.”

  I believed him. Tonight, I witnessed his dark side. No argument, Bane could've ended Francis' life in a snap. I drew in a sharp breath. I felt enthralled and terrified at the same time. “Don't hurt them!”

  “Do you think your mother and that jerk had a right to attack you like that?” The Nordic blue in his eyes darkened.

  “No, of course not,” I paused. “I just think it could've been handled differently.” I fought back the knot in my throat.

  Bane flashed a dark smile. “Life isn't that simple.” His lips tightened. “I'm a hard man. I deal accordingly.”

  Mistrust washed over me. “They're my problem and I'll handle them the way I see fit.” I swallowed hard. “Maybe you should go.” My voice sounded harsh to my ears. If Bane turned on Sara and Francis at the drop of a hat, who'd say he wouldn't do the same to me.

  Bane stood there, his eyes drilling me. My shoulders stiffened as I held my gaze on the floor. I drew my arms around my waist waiting for him to leave.

  “Very well,” His jaw hardened. “I'll see myself out. Lock up.” He threw the door open and was gone by the time I reached the window. He flew out of here faster than a bat outta hell.

  I stood, frozen, shaking my head with complete utter confusion. How did Bane consistently defeat the laws of gravity? Was he superman or was I going mad?

  I fell into a chair by the window, trying to process what just happened. I swore he must have a damsel-in-distress obsession. Now that I thought about it, it started when Bane pulled me out of a fight with Gina, then that weirdo at the carnival stalking me, Sara's outburst at the diner and last but not least, the brawl with Francis in my front lawn. The common denominator of these events was Bane. How did he manage to be at the right place at the right time, every freaking time?

  I tapped my finger to my lip, tracing over that whole fiasco tonight. Sara appeared paralyzed, like glue to dirt. I mysteriously ended up on the other side of the car, and in a blink, Bane had disarmed Francis, pinning him on the ground. It happened so fast that it left me speechless.

  First thing after school tomorrow, I needed to talk to Ms. Noel.

  Lies

  The sun rosed to a bright morning. Unfortunately, it didn't help my mood any. I compared the Monday blues to an ass kickin' and a wicked hangover.

  I wanted to hide under my covers and stay in bed all day. I glanced at the alarm clock as I blew out a dark sigh, 5 a.m.

  The residuals from last night still lingered, clinging to my skin like a bad rash. I dreaded another altercation with Sara when she decided to show her face again. I reckoned I'd worry about that when I crossed that bridge.

  After I finished my paper route, I headed to school just in time to duck into the restroom. I stopped to wash my hands when the door squeaked open and footfalls crept in. At first, I didn't think much about it until I glanced through the mirror. Gina and Sally strolled in and stopped, standing a few feet behind me. Either the blonde had a sour tummy, or she had a bone to pick with me. My guess, it was the latter.

  I tossed the paper towel in the wastebasket and faced both girls. “Hey, Gina,” I nodded to Sally. “What's up?” I held my gaze, staying calm.

  Gina stepped forward. “I wanna talk to you!”

  The blonde's face hid nothing of her disdain for me.

  “Ladies, I'd love to chat with y'all, but I'm going to be late for class. You want to try this again after school, off school campus?” I figured that if Gina and I tied one on, we could at least do this off campus. There was a less chance of getting suspended.

  “I'd rather get this over with now!” Her voice was sharp as thorns.

  I dropped my eyes to her fingernails and drew back a quick breath. Those long-inch things that she called fingernails were lethal.

  I knew all about schoolyard scuffles. Most of the time, I tried to avoid them. I reckoned being the new kid put a target on my back. Not something I was prou
d of nor wanted. It just went with the territory.

  I sighed. “Okay, shoot.” I kept my eye on the hostile blonde.

  “I heard you went out with my boyfriend, Saturday night.”

  “Are we talking about the whole football team?” Throwing shade at Gina was better than a paint-ball fight.

  Gina's eyes went black. “I. Am. Talkin'. About. Sam!”

  “You know, several of us had plans to go out Saturday. Your boyfriend showed up at my door alone, lying through his teeth.” I leaned against the sink, crossing my feet. I kept my hands braced against the sink, ready for action. “I honestly didn't know he was dating you.”

  “Why should I believe you?” Her hands grasped her hips. “You've been after him the moment you got here.”

  I got the impression that Gina might be a bit green with jealousy.

  “Gina, I'm not interested in your beau. When he told me he was dating you, I left his ass.”

  “You're lying!” she growled. “Sam said you were all over him.”

  “What?” The hairs on my back pricked.

  “Give it up, Stevie! You two had sex in the back of Sam's truck. He dumped you after he got what he wanted.” Gina shot shards straight at me.

  “My name is Stephanie, and Sam's lying!”

  Gina stepped into my personal space. “With your daddy issues, any attention will do won't it?” She bared her white teeth, the kind of smile that made you want to barf.

  Okay, now the bitch was crossing the line. Pushing off from the sink, fist to my side, white knuckled, I stood toe to toe with Gina. “Keep my father outta your mouth, bitch!” I hissed.

  “What's the matter,” she laughed snidely. “I thought you liked attention?”

  I leaned closer. “I don't know. I'm not caring much for this,” I sneered.

  Her eyes washed over me as she drew back a scowl. “Sam saw you get into the car with Aidan Bane. Did you do him too?”

  “Now you're reaching,” I scoffed.

  Suddenly jarred from our pleasantry, the door squeaked, and footsteps echoed. We all three stopped, our heads snapping up in the direction of the footfalls. I half sweated that it might be the principal, Dr. Van. He'd love to catch me fighting on campus.