A Shade of Innocence (The Illuminati Book 1)

by Jane West

  Bane inhaled a sharp breath. “I lied to you to protect you. The attack is my fault.” His lips tightened. “That's why you can't be around me. It's too dangerous.”

  “Your fault?” The vibrancy in his voice caught me off-guard. “You didn't hire him, did you?”

  “No! God no, he attacked you on his own accord.”

  “Then why is it your fault?”

  His expression stalled and grew grave. “It just is, my love, it just is.” There was a pensive shimmer in the shadow of his eyes.

  I wanted to know what he was hiding. I knew if I persisted, it would only cause him to shut me off completely. With regret, I moved on to the next question. “Can you tell me why he attacked me?”

  “Don't concern yourself with matters that no longer exist. I made sure he will never bother you again.” Bane grazed my cheek with his lips and I shivered.

  “You are the most confusing person I know. You hate me!” I tried to get up, but he pulled me back into the fold of his arms.

  His sigh seemed conflicted. “Princess, I don't hate you,” he bent his head down and gently kissed the corner of my lips, “Quite the opposite.” The tenderness in his voice touched me.

  “You make my head spin.” I pulled away. “I recall you making it very clear that you didn't like my company.”

  “True… it has nothing to do with my feelings; for other reasons, my love.”

  Bane evaded questions like a drug-lord evaded taxes.

  “What is your reason?”

  “Let it go, please.” His blues pleaded, but it only infuriated me more.

  “Help me understand! Do you think I'd forgotten last time,” I snapped, “Because the words you threw at me were harsh, mean and hurtful.”

  A muscle in Bane's jaw twitched. “I'm sorry to have hurt you, but you must not dwell about the minor details of your attacker.”

  “I shouldn't dwell!” I shot up to a sitting position, holding back a truckload of curses. “That creature tried to kill me!” I met his gaze with intensity. “The least you can do is fork over an honest explanation.”

  A chilled silence settled between us. Then Bane spoke barely above a whisper, “Justice has been rendered.” He sighed as if holding some private emotion in check. “That's all you need to know.”

  “Rendered? That creep has been stalking my mom and me since I was a child. I have a right to know!”

  “Let's just say,” he kissed the hollow of my throat. “My family has connections, and you have nothing to fear.” His lips moved farther down to the soft folds of my breast. “You and your mother are safe.” His breath grazed my skin, sending me into a spiral. “He won't be bothering you any longer.” Although his kisses were mind blowing, his voice carried a certainty that ran cold in my blood.

  “Did you kill him?” My heart throbbed.

  For a brief moment, the silence loomed over us like a thick fog. Then Bane relented, “Yes.” He dropped it in the still air.

  I lay stunned by Bane's confession. The absence of emotion in his voice disturbed me, although I'd asked for it. I pushed him.

  “Is that why you didn't want the police to know?”

  “I saw no point in bringing outsiders into a family situation. We are more than capable of handling problems discreetly.”

  “Hey! Did you clean up the—”

  “Like I said, we prefer to handle our problems in private.”

  “The Family cleared out that mess and replaced the whole wall of lockers and replaced the floor in less than thirty minutes.” I gulped, shaking my head. “How is that even possible?”

  “Will you give it a rest?”

  “Give it a rest? You took a man's life.”

  “I did what I had to do,” he spoke a matter-of-factly.

  “Even though it was justified, you took a person's life!”

  “Did I tell you not to worry?”

  I scoffed, “Oh sure! That's easy for you to say when you've made me an accomplice to a homicide.”

  “I told you I have connections. No one will find out. However, you need to keep it under wraps. We don't need it to leak out.”

  I sighed. “Was it hard?”

  “Was what hard?” Bane's brows furrowed.

  “I mean taking another person's life?”

  Bane exhaled. “I did what I had to do. You said yourself it was just.”

  “Just or not, it can't be easy.”

  “I merely handled the problem.”

  He seemed tired, drained and aloof.

  “Oh, I see.” I tossed a faint smile, but deep inside, I wasn't sure how I felt about our situation.

  Lightly he fingered a loose tendril of hair on my cheek, tucking it behind my ear. His gaze latched onto mine and it was as if time had freeze-framed.

  Then I confessed my secret. “That creature wasn't human?”

  “Why do you say that?”

  I wrinkled up my nose, knowing how ridiculous it sounded. “Hmm, the creature's eyes reminded me of a cat, and he did some kind of magic trick. He popped in and out of sight, like Bewitch.”

  The bed slightly shook with his laughter. “Don't go around telling folks that. They might think you've gone mad, Love.”

  “I wouldn't be too quick to judge.” I nudged his shoulder with mine. “That man-creature spoke of weird things.”

  “Like what,” Aidan sounded mildly curious.

  “The creature kept saying I was very valuable to this ancient family.” I paused a moment. “He called this family the Illuminati.” A wave of dread swept through me. “Do you know what he meant?”

  “Princess, this man was a lunatic.” He kissed my forehead. “You can't put any clout to crazy.”

  “Aidan, he seemed very sure of himself.” I took in a sharp sigh. “Do you think there'll be others coming for me?”

  “I believe you worry too much, although, as I understood, he enjoyed potato chips with ice cream.” He smiled. “Such a dreadful palate, I dare say.” Humor swirled in his voice like chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

  “Now you're teasing me.” I tried to scoot away, but he crushed me against him, flushed to his lean body. He tossed his leg over mine.

  “Oh, no you don't.” He smiled against my earlobe. “You're not getting away. We're having a fetching moment.”

  I bit my bottom lip. “There you go again talking like you're from another century.” I smiled to myself.

  “Oh, hogwash! I do not wish to sound like any of these numbskulls around here.” He leaned in for a light kiss on the lips.

  Then a quick and disturbing thought surfaced, and I had to ask. “Have you ever killed before?”

  The mirth in his eyes vanished, and something unrecognizable hid behind his glint. “Yes, I have.”

  With anticipation and half fear, I asked, “Was it justified?”

  “Very much so.”

  I had to ask to clear the air. “Do I have anything to fear from you?” Different than I first thought, I figured if he'd planned on hurting me, he would've already. Rather instead, he appeared to be a first responder, continually pulling me out of the proverbial fire, saving my neck.

  “Have I ever harmed you?” His fingers clamped over my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Well?” His dark blues demanded.

  “No,” I barely spoke.

  “You have no worries, Love.” His voice was deep and comforting. Even still, he was as much a mystery as he was dangerous. Despite his darkness, I needed him.

  “I think you feel like you have to protect me. Am I right?”

  His dark brow shot up. “Why do you say that?”

  “Why can't you answer a simple question?”

  “The answer is, yes.” He slowly unbuttoned my blouse, exposing a lacy bra. The mere touch of his hand sent a warming shiver through me.

  “Why didn't you tell me that you're my landlord?”

  A humorous glint hid behind his blues. “I didn't see the need.”

  “I owe you rent, but I lost my job and—”


  Bane interrupted me in midsentence, “You have no worries. It's been taken care of along with other expenses.”

  I quieted for a handful of seconds, thinking. “Am I your kept woman?” Quite a tantalizing thought, but I'd pass.

  A sudden burst of laughter wafted into the air. “Of course you're not, silly.” Playfully, he weaved his fingers through my curls and disheveled it into a rusty mess. I snatched his hand away while the bed shook with his laughter. He had an infectious laugh. Something I'd never grow tired of hearing.

  I slid into my next question, “Why the generosity?”

  “Isn't it obvious?” Our eyes locked like two magnets and my breath stilled.

  I couldn't read his mind, and with this back and forth crap, he-likes-me-he-likes-me-not, I stormed at him. “If it were obvious, I'd—”

  Suddenly, his lips recaptured mine, more demanding this time. Soon I'd forgotten my anger as our bodies intertwined together, curling to each other's form like a puzzle.

  My body arched to his as a soft moan slipped past my lips.

  “You belong to me,” he whispered against my ear.

  Then as if a fog had lifted, following a long sigh, Bane gently lifted himself off me, though keeping me in the fold of his arms. He bent to kiss my cheek as he settled quietly.

  I lay there with my heart thumping and clueless to what just happened. I wasn't totally in the dark about sex. I'd watched HBO and listened to past friends' talk, but this, —I was totally blindsided.

  I thought that we were going to have sex. Crazy as it sounded, I wanted him, and yet, I felt relieved that Bane didn't push farther. Despite my jumbled mind, he left me craving more.

  “May I ask you something,” Bane whispered.

  I lay in his arms, flushed with embarrassment. “Okay,” I whispered.

  “Have you ever been intimate with anyone before?” His voice was soft and probing.

  “Hmm…” Oh, crap! I must've sucked. My heated cheeks deepened. “Nope, I haven't.” I rolled on my side, facing away as I squeezed my eyes shut.

  “You've never gone to second or third base,” he probed.

  “Uh, no.” Now my cheeks blazed.

  “Apart from me, have you ever been kissed?” He kept pushing.

  “Uh… I'm not sure what defines a kiss.” I cringed, feeling stupid. I felt his silent laughter against my back. “A kiss is when two people join lips.” I heard the amusement in his voice.

  I flipped over facing him, flaming cheeks and all. “I was an unwilling participant.”

  He sighed. “I suppose I'm going to have to talk with Sam again.”

  “Why do I get the funny feeling there won't be much talking?”

  Bane shrugged in his usual arrogant way. “I'm more the silent type. I'd rather demonstrate.” He smiled.

  “I think you covered that chat already.” I sighed. “Sam attempted to kiss me, but he found nothing more than non-complying lips. It happened so fast that I didn't see it coming.”

  Bane withdrew a bothered breath. “Let me see if I have this correct. You lied to me about having sex with Sam?”

  I flinched from guilt. “I'm sorry. It hurt me when you didn't believe me.” I shrugged. “So, I lied.”

  A shadow of regret crossed Bane's face. “You're not the only one who needs to apologize. I'm sorry for not believing you.” Then suddenly the tone in his voice darkened. “You don't know Sam as I do.” He paused. “It would make me feel easier if you steered clear of him.”

  “How well do you know him when you just moved to town yourself?”

  “Let's just say it's a guy's thing. You know - locker room talk.” I could hear the acerbity in his voice. “When I think about the things he's—” Bane stopped in midsentence and then finished, “It makes me want to kick his ass all over again.” His muscles tensed.

  “You don't have to worry about Sam. I only liked him as a friend, and after that stupid stunt, he pulled, I don't even want to be in the same room with him.” I traced his brow with my thumb and smiled.

  His stormy blues gleamed as if we were two star-crossed lovers. That was when I knew. I had fallen in love with Aidan Bane.

  A bitter thought crossed my mind. I knew Bane didn't share the same feelings with me, and I hated myself for allowing myself to go there. He said himself that our relationship would end badly for me. I reckoned I was in for a crash landing.

  After a while, when my pulse settled, I began to melt into Bane's arms.

  It wasn't long before a gentle rise came from his chest and a soft snore drifted to my ears. I stilled, listening to the sweet rhythm of his sounds. It wasn't long before my eyes drifted closed and my thoughts meandered into a peaceful somber.

  Kicking Rocks

  Saturday, when my eyes opened, a shaft of light pierced the window and tiny specs of dust floated aimlessly. I stretched, yawning.

  Then memories of Bane flooded my mind. My eyes darted to the empty spot in the bed. The only signs lift of Bane was a faint woodsy scent and one long stem rose, red. I picked the flower off his pillow, careful not to prick my finger from its thorns and sniffed the delicate scent, “Hmm.” I smiled touching the rose petal to my nose. Roses always smelled like sweet pepper. A sense of giddiness licked through me as I released a heavy sigh. I wondered why he didn't wake me.

  I thought I'd kick around some rocks today and venture out on my bike. This time, it would be by choice.

  I stopped by Ms. Noel's first thing to see if she needed anything from the grocery store. She gave me a small list, milk, bread and butter. She added a few more coins for me in case I got hungry. Ms. Noel had a generous heart.

  Still, I hated taking her money. She earned only a few bucks selling her herbs and living on a set income. No matter how much I protested, she insisted more. Reluctantly, I'd taken her offer.

  I'd grown to love Ms. Noel. After my silly accident at school and no longer with a job, I'd been making deliveries to her clientele. I didn't mind helping. It eased my guilty conscious and gave me something to do.

  Besides, Ms. Noel's arthritis seemed to be flaring up more than usual these days. She never said one word of complaint, but I saw it in her eyes and the stiffness in her walk.

  I'd just stepped out of the Piggy Wiggly and mounted my bike when I nearly plowed into Sally. “Oh hey.”

  “Hi, there!” She broke into a broad smile. It occurred to me that I'd never seen Sally with genuine emotions. Her smile reminded me of a clown with a painted smile, crimson red, masking a frown. I think the real Sally stayed coiled in a dark corner, shivering from fear.

  “Where have you been the last few days?”

  Sally already had her nose to the ground, snooping like a hound dog. The girl had the schnoz for gossip. Everyone at Tangi High got the same treatment. There was no exception with Sally and her wayward tongue.

  “Yeah, I'd been under the weather.” I cuffed my hand over my eyes, blocking out the sun's glare.

  “I heard you cracked your head wide open?” She smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes.

  “Yep, that's what I keep hearing.”

  Oddly, my mentioning my accident felt rehearsed.

  “You don't remember hitting your head?” Her thick brows slammed together.

  She should tweeze those bushes, I thought snidely.

  “Nope. Concussion.” I stared back at her.

  “Well, you're lookin' good.” Sally's thick Southern accent struck me as odd. I didn't recall her having an accent.

  “Thanks. Gotta go!”

  I lifted my foot to the pedal and started to push off when Sally stepped in front of me and placed her hands on the handlebars, halting me.

  “Have you heard,” her voice spiked, “Sam and Gina broke up!”

  “Sally, I ain't got time for this.” I jerked my bike back to free her grip, but Sally didn't ease up. She clung to the handlebars like superglue.

  “You wanna know who Gina's dating?”

  “Let me guess,” I tapped my finger on my chin
as if I was mulling it over in my brain, “Oh, I don't know, the whole football team?” Okay, I'd cut below the belt. It wasn't like Gina didn't deserve it. The sting of her hateful words comparing my dad to road kill still bothered me.

  Sally giggled, flipping her wrist as if she was some kind of aristocrat with a fat pocketbook. “No, Texas!”

  My brow shot up. “My name is not Texas!”

  “Okay, sorry! Guess who Gina snagged?”

  Sally's face hid behind the sun's glare, but I picked up a peculiar spark in her tone.

  “Gina is dating the hottest guy in Tangi!” her excited voice bounced off my ears.

  “Dating your own brother doesn't count, Sal.” Forget the shade throwing. I decided to sling mud.

  Regardless of my twisted replies, they went sailing right over Sally's head. It was like do or die, announcing the latest gossip. “Gina is dating, drum roll,” —she smiled— “Aidan Bane!”

  My mouth dropped, and my surroundings became tunneled. Sally kept babbling, but her words were background noise to me. My stomach roiled.

  All at once, Bane's words stampeded through my mind, “I'm not a one-woman man, and I never will be.”

  I told myself that I didn't care. Apparently, I lied to myself. “Sally, I have to go!”

  When our eyes latched, I caught the smug glint in her eyes. I realized then that she knew I had feelings for Bane.

  After a moment of basking over her triumph, Sally stepped back releasing her grip.

  I suddenly wasn't in a rush as I was a minute ago. I had to ask, “How do you do it, Sal?”

  She drew in a sharp breath as if she was vacuous to her malicious intentions. “How do I do what?”

  I wrung my fingers tight around the handlebars. I hated the notion of giving Sal her first bloody nose, “Hurting me! It seems that's your one mission in life. What have I done to cause this ongoing strife between us?”

  “I don't know why you're attacking me.” She shook her head as if she'd lost her way to the last donut shop. “Don't kill the messenger.”