A Shade of Innocence (The Illuminati Book 1)

by Jane West

  “Oh, lord. What?” I didn't need my spirits lifted. I needed a heart transplant.

  “You and Jen should come with me to Speakeasy. It's a couple of towns over. It's sorta out in the boonies. Dark and ugly creatures hang out there.” Sam deepened his voice for the dramatics. “It'd be fun. You know, takin' a walk on the wild side.” He winked.

  “Speakeasy? What is that?” Jen asked.

  “It's a bar that only a select few get to see, a real treat. I go there all the time,” Sam bragged.

  I looked at Jen and asked. “Are you going?”

  She shrugged. “I'll go if you go. We can't stay long. School's tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, me too, I can't afford to miss another day.” I bit my bottom lip. “You know, it might be fun to get away,” so said the gal who never stepped outside the box. Me!

  Sam drew me into the nook of his sweaty armpit. Yuck!

  “Come on. We'll have a good ole time!” He flashed a lopsided grin. “I gotcha backs. I swear on all the liquor in the Louisiana Parish!” He raised his right hand.

  Jen burst into laughter. “Oh, you know he ain't lying when he swears on booze.” She high-fived me, and I paused, mulling around in my head whether I should step on the wild side or go home. My eyes bounced between Jen and Sam as they both gleamed with adventure. I sighed, pulling out from under Sam's arm.

  * * *

  Before we took off, I grabbed an application from the cashier at the snack bar. I thought I'd at least apply. The worse they could do is say no.

  For now, I was stepping away from careful Stevie and stepping into wayward Stevie like a nice pair of Stilettos.

  We piled in Sam's truck. He insisted on being the designated driver. Jen and I both took one glance at each other and burst into laughter. We both knew he was going to get drunk off his rocker. We were cool with that, neither Jen or I cared much for the stuff. Jen and I decided one of us would be driving back. No sweat.

  We passed a little town named Le Diablo. It wasn't much more than Tangi. Blink once and you missed the whole patch of homes and a store or two. After a mile out of town, we ventured down a dirt road that had more craters than the moon.

  When we finally reached our journey's end, we pulled up into a parking lot that had more craters than the dirt road. Glimpsing over the cars parked around the joint, gave me pause for concern from rusted out whoop-Dee-Doos to the crème-of-the-crop, cars filled the entire parking lot. What a strange mix of patrons, I thought.

  The building appeared dilapidated, not much more than a beat up metal box with nails and a few boards keeping it standing. The place gave me the willies.

  Maybe we should back out now while we had a chance. I looked at Jen as we scooted out of the truck. “Hey, I'm not so sure about this place.” I wrapped my arms around my waist as I kept eyeballing the joint.

  I watched as a couple staggered across the parking lot, arm in arm headed to the shadows of the trees.

  Sam bounced around the truck to our side, “What's wrong, Chickadee,” he nudged me with his shoulder, “You ain't likin' my friends?”

  “Nah, man, it's just where they hang their hat is where the problem lies.” I popped him in the chest with the back of my hand, pushing off from the truck and proceeded to the front door.

  Jen followed, and Sam brought up the rear or more like he was checking out the rear. I rolled my eyes. What a douche!

  When we reached the door, lively tunes were vibrating against the metal building. The air filled with static, making me intoxicated with a sense of freeness.

  I'd never been inside a bar before, and this joint screamed of peculiarity. Little did I know that Jen and I were embarking on a secret world of weird and eerie.

  Right when we stepped inside to a dimly lit corridor, Sam caught my arm and leaned into my ear. “If anyone hands you a drink, whatever you do don't drink it. You'll live to regret it.” He grazed my earlobe with his lips. Instantly, I tilted my head away. When Sam pulled away, I caught a strange stir behind his glint. It didn't give me the good kind of chills either. I hoped history didn't repeat itself.

  I played along and nodded to Sam as I rushed to catch up to Jen. She'd reached the bouncer and was pointing to Sam. Sam reached over me and leaned into the thick-chested man's ear, shouting over the earsplitting music. The bouncer nodded for us to pass. He unlocked the gate and allowed us to enter. A slight tinge of regret pricked my conscious. I secretly had hoped the bouncer had sent us packing.

  Once we walked past the entrance, we entered into a large room with blaring music. It was hard to make out the tunes over the pounding sounds.

  Neon lights hung on the walls, showering the bar with an eerie blue glow. The place brimmed with heads bouncing in every direction. A huge crowd gathered on the glass floor, dancing. Lights from underneath the glass rotated from autumn orange, to neon blue, and to a hot pink.

  I spotted the bar. Bright blue lights and liquor bottles lined the mirrored shelves. Standing behind the counter was a cute bartender wearing a hat and suspenders, no shirt. He moved fluidly, pouring drinks, keeping up with the massive demand. I slipped Sam a quick glance. He was already licking his chops for the liquor bar.

  My unease escalated when I realized that the three of us were the oddballs to the party. I dropped my jaw, shocked.

  On the dance floor, my eyes washed over a sea of nude bodies. Shoulder to shoulder, shaking their junk, busting moves.

  My cheeks heated as I spun on my heels, facing the wall, keeping my back to the dance floor, “Jen!” I tugged on her arm sleeve.

  She turned to me, still watching the floor. “Yeah,” she yelled in my ear.

  “These people here are naked,” I nearly screeched.

  Jen laughed. “Yeah, I know! It's funny.”

  I glanced over at a table where a couple sat,” I jerked on Jen's sleeve again. “Look! Ten o'clock, at the couple in the booth. Girl! They're doing the deed!” The woman was giving the guy a lap dance, a very involved dance. Not something I wanted to watch.

  Jen gulped down air, parroting me. She latched a hold on my arm. “What kind of place did Sambo bring us to?”

  Jen and I started giggling.

  “I think we should go!” I glimpsed over my shoulder and then quickly back at Jen.

  “I think your right! Where's Sam?” Jen stood on her tippy toes stretching her neck, peering over the bobbing heads. “I don't see him,” she yelled over the music.

  “Crap! He left us.” My mouth tightened as I did a quick once over and then back to Jen's face. “You think he went to the men's room?”

  “Nope, I think we just got punked!”

  My eyes flew wide. “Aw hell,” I yelped, brushing my gaze over the bar once more. “Hold on!” I dropped Jen's arm and stalked over to the bouncer.

  When the burly bouncer's eyes lifted at me, he smiled as if he knew me from somewhere.

  He squatted down to yell in my ear. “Your friend left with another gul. Sorry,” he spoke gruffly.

  “Are you sure?” It would've been easy to miss Sam for all the traffic. Then again, we were the only ones dressed.

  “Toots, Sam's a regular,” he grunted out with a sideways grin. The kind of grin that left you feeling you needed to shower.

  Yuck!

  “Okay, thanks, mister!” I twirled on my heels, full of piss. If Jen and I make it out alive, I planned on killing that son of a bitch!

  I stalked my way back to Jen and stomped my foot ready to spit nails at our un-trusty friend. I leaned in, yelling, “Sambo left!”

  Jen's eyes widened, “That son of a bitch!”

  “That's exactly what I'm saying!” I crossed my arms, steam rolling off my back. “What are we going to do?”

  All at once, Jen's eyes lifted, a spark ignited. “Look who the cat dragged in.” She smiled like a fat cat on Tuesday.

  I snapped my head in the direction of her pointy eyes, and I choked on my breath. “Bane,” I whispered through frowning lips.

  He was g
laring our way too and not a happy look either.

  Jen and I shared an uneasy glance. “I think lover boy is pissed at you.” Jen summed him up, not taking her eyes off the red-faced beast, Bane.

  “I think you're right.” I kept my gaze even, watching the anger roll off his rigid body. The bouncer was speaking to him and snapping his eyes our way. The scowl on Bane's face grew darker by the minute.

  “Damn! I don't remember Aidan looking that good in a white shirt. Nice biceps!” Jen whistled admiringly.

  I nudged her arm. “Don't ogle too much! That's my man,” I kidded.

  Jen raised a brow. “Girl, that boy has it bad for you. He came here in the middle of the night to get you. Now that's love.” She nudged me back.

  “Yeah, you right.” I faked a smile at Jen. Bane was acting on his sense of obligation. I reckoned he had wanted his money's worth before some other boy put his grubby paws on me. I guess that was the woes of wayward Stevie.

  “Ought oh, here he comes,” Jen announced, jerking on my arm sleeve, watching the stomping tower making his way to us.

  “What the fuck, Stevie!” He snatched me up by my upper arm. “You should never have come here!” His face was scarlet red, jaw tighter than a wound-up rubber band ready to pop.

  “Let go of me,” I hissed in his face.

  Bane's gaze turned to Jen. “Good evening, Miss Li, or should I say good morning,” he growled. “Do your parents know you're out this late?” His eyes were sharp and purposeful.

  “Huh… my parents are out of town.” Jen tucked her arms behind her back, eyes wide.

  “Of course, I can presume they don't know your whereabouts?”

  Jen slipped me a sideways glance that screamed loud and clear is-the-dude-playing-the-parent-role? “I swear I will never get into any vehicle with Sam ever again!” She raised her hand, vowing.

  “I'm glad to hear some of us have learned a valuable lesson.” Bane's heated gaze collided with mine. “Let's go! I'd like some sleep tonight.” He nodded to the exit door.

  As we passed through the gate, Bane gave a sharp nod to the bouncer. “Thanks, my man, for calling.”

  “No problem, Mr. Bane. Glad to help.” The bouncer winked at Jen and me. “You kids don't come back her' no mo!” He nodded his head at us, the kind of nod that promised if we ever showed our faces again, there'd be hell to pay.

  I shot him a funny look and picked up my pace, coming in behind the long legged, angry Bane. I heard Jen giggling at the bouncer. I think he slipped her his phone number. I had one word to say to that… jailbait!

  * * *

  Bane jingled his keys, gripped in his palm down to his side as he angrily strutted toward the parking lot. Jen and I picked up our step to keep pace with his long strides.

  It didn't take a mind reader to know that Bane was furious. I'd already stirred the hornet's nest with him earlier tonight when he left the house abruptly. I had no doubt that this was the icing on the cake.

  I had my own cake too. Bane had been holding a family secret and didn't share it with me until tonight. He might as well get his money back because I wasn't a participant in this arrangement he had with my mother. Speaking of which, I couldn't wait to see Sara. I had several bones to pick with her.

  We'd reached the end of the lot, and I still didn't see his Corvette. I was starting to worry that he planned to shoot Jen and me, leaving our bodies in the sticks.

  “Hey! Where's your car,” I called out, nerves on edge.

  Bane didn't mutter a word. He kept his strut at an even pace.

  When he clicked the remote, the headlights on a champagne colored Rolls-Royce flashed.

  I gawked in disbelief. Talk about the granddaddy-mac of all wheels.

  When we reached the car, Bane had stepped to the passenger's side first, holding both front and back doors open. He barked, “Get in!”

  Jen and I shared a quick glance as we climbed inside the Rolls. Jen took the backseat. I wanted badly to crawl in there beside her. Nonetheless, the steamy driver shot me a grave look of warning as he held the passenger's door for me. Lucky me, I get to sit with the grumpy driver.

  Once the doors shut, a swirl of leather encircled me. I'd never sat in a car with such luxury. The bright red interior gave me a little dose of excitement. Discreetly, I brushed my hand across the seat. The leather was cool to the touch, and yet, smooth as a baby's bottom.

  In the next breath, Bane's door opened and a dim light flashed and smothered as soon as he shut the door.

  Before long, we were encroaching the outskirts of Tangi, leaving Le Diablo behind in our rearview mirror.

  My gut told me that a heated argument was on the brink. By the hard line of Bane's jaw and the forbidding quiet that stirred between us, I knew it was coming.

  Despite Bane's foul mood, there was an upside to this. If Bane hadn't shown up, Jen and I would've been in serious trouble. Stranded in the middle of nowhere, at a bar that let just about any riff-raff come in was a recipe for danger.

  My curiosity ran with me wondering if Bane was a regular here. The bouncer knew his number. Then again, everyone knew Bane and his family. How was that possible when they were new in town?

  I sat in my seat, staring straight ahead at the headlights that swallowed up the road. The events of the night swirled in my head. I worried if Bane might take his anger out on Jen. Seeing firsthand how bad his temper could run, I wanted him to leave Jen alone. If I took the fall for our misjudgment tonight, the blame might shift on me and Bane would lay off Jen.

  Geez! I felt like a child, getting caught sneaking out. I huffed inwardly. Despite his indifference toward me, I had to make amends.

  I started my spiel. “Look,” I gulped, mustering up the courage, “I was the one who insisted we go. If you want to blame someone, then blame me.” I glanced at his tense face.

  Jen drew herself closer, sitting on the edge of the seat, propping her arms on the headrest.

  I quickly flashed her a nonverbal cue to let me do the talking. She nodded and slipped back into the back.

  Not that I made things any better, “Look! I'm sorry you had to come get us at this hour.”

  Bane kept his lips sealed, eyes glued to the highway.

  I continued, “We weren't drinking… and we kept our clothes on!” I squirmed over that humiliating confession. I paused trying to read his stone face. “Thanks for your trouble but you can drop us off at Mother Blues. Our cars are parked there.” I offered, hoping it would appease Sulky Sue in the driver's seat.

  “I took care of your rides,” he growled as he quickly pumped up the volume, Mozart.

  Ouch! Apparently, he didn't feel like talking.

  I tossed a quick glance over my shoulder at Jen. She merely shrugged.

  I gathered she was feeling the icy air too. I reckoned I'd just have to wait out the quiet storm.

  I invited Jen to stay the night, but she declined. Jen's aunt had called, instructing her to come straight home. The aunt would be there waiting.

  Someone contacted Aunt Betty and snitched. I had a sneaky suspicion Bane had something to do with that. I suspected the aunt would be reporting it to Jen's parents.

  Once we pulled up to Jen's house, I gathered by the dreaded look on her face she might be looking at a good week's worth of grounding.

  With a heavy heart, I hugged my friend goodnight. “Man, I'm sorry!”

  Jen blew out a carefree sigh and swatted at the air with her hand. “Don't worry about it. I'll get extra chores and have my phone taken away for a week, piece of cake!” Her sable eyes twinkled as she headed for her house.

  I watched as Jen made her way down the sidewalk to the front door. Right before she stepped up to the porch, the light flipped on and the door opened.

  “Yelp, that's a sure sign she's in trouble.”

  I felt terrible and a little envious too. Jen had family that loved her. Pain tore at my insides. I thought of my home situation. I blew out a harsh breath, ready to face the reality of my lif
e.

  With a heavy heart, I slid back in the car, shutting my door in silence. Still not an utter from Bane, he remained quiet the whole way to my house. I wasn't going to sweat it. I reckoned he'd speak when he got ready.

  I leaned back in the cushiony seat, staring out the window. I actually liked the quiet and dreaded the consequences of my irresponsible behavior tonight. Though I doubted Sara would be waiting by the porch light like Jen's aunt. I sighed longingly. I wished I could talk to Dad.

  We turned into my drive, and before the car came to a halt, I'd unsnapped my seat belt, my hand rested on the door handle, ready to flee the second the car came to a slow roll. I planned to get a head start, darting for the safety of a closed door.

  As I leaned into the door, Bane's fingers gently grasped my arm. “Wait,” he called to me softly. “We need to talk.”

  Oh, geez! He sounded like my parent.

  “Can't it wait?” I held my hand on the lever.

  “I want you to come home with me. You can stay on the far end of the wing, far away from me if you wish. You won't know I'm there if that's what you want. It's just,” Bane's voice broke, “I'd rather you stay under my roof than leave you alone and unprotected.”

  “Unprotected?” My eyes collided with his soulful blues. There was a genuine concern behind his glint that grabbed my breath. “You worry about me?”

  “Yes.” His voice was uncompromising yet oddly gentle.

  “I thought you were mad at me?”

  A moment had passed before he answered, “Yes, quite so. However, I still want you under my roof out of harm's way.”

  I scoffed, “Who's going to hurt me?”

  Bane leaned forward, so close that his lips were only an inch from mine. Sensually, his fingers gently traced the line of my chin, trailing up to my flushed cheek. His blues were so full of pain and unquenchable warmth that I closed my eyes, fighting back the tears that threatened. When he spoke, his voice was tender, almost a murmur, “There are things in this world that most people never see and,” he paused, “They're lucky. If they only knew the darkness that lurks amidst the shadows, it would be so terrifying that most would go insane.” Gently, his thumb grazed my lips. “I only want to protect you. Will you at least grant me this one wish, please?”