Summers' Deceit (Hunters Trilogy Book 1)

by Sara J. Bernhardt

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Nothing.”

  He gave me that look again where he leaned forward and raised his dark eyebrows at me.

  I sighed. Your brother’s death wasn’t his fault—James I mean. It’s important that you know that. I shook Alex’s voice from my head. He couldn’t have. No. Dorian was surely lying. Aidan couldn’t have… I refused to believe it. Not my Aidan. “I don’t want to talk about it. Just be with me.”

  I moved closer and leaned against him. I met his lips and felt his resistance.

  “Stop it, Aidan,” I hissed. “Just kiss me.”

  I pushed him harder against the door, but he pushed me away.

  “Jane, what’s with you?”

  “I love you,” I whispered. “That’s all.”

  I was a terrible liar, and he knew it, but he took advantage of the situation, and for the first time let himself give in. He let me push him against the door and not only accepted but welcomed the kisses I was giving him. I couldn’t let what happened with Rudy mean anything. I was unsure whom I was trying to convince at the time—Aidan or myself. He pulled away from me.

  “I love you, Jane,” he whispered, “but just tell me again that you’re okay—besides the obvious issues.”

  I stared into his eyes and noticed genuine worry. He almost seemed to be expressing suspicion. “I’m okay,” I whispered. It was honestly the truth. I was okay besides the obvious, and since I was such a terrible liar, Aidan realized it was the truth, and his desire heightened.

  I led him to my bed and found myself desperate for him as I had once been—desperate to be close to him. I pulled my shirt over my head, and he moved away.

  “What’s wrong?” My heart sank into my stomach.

  “If you want to do this…” His voice dropped. “I’m sorry, but if you want to do this, I think we should wait until things settle.”

  “It may be too late by then,” I murmured, touching his face. “What if you don’t come back?”

  He smiled. “I’ll come back. I know you love me. I am not worried about that. I am not going to let one kiss from Rudy make me even as much as nervous.”

  I gasped, and he stared at me, almost laughing.

  “Damn, Aidan. How do you do that?”

  “You ask me that question a lot.”

  “Well…it’s like you have eyes that come out and follow me wherever I go.”

  He chuckled dryly, but it was that ringing sound I loved that trailed through me. “I wish. Neither of you were being very discreet. Becky and Aaron noticed too I’m sure.”

  I grumbled and pressed my face into a pillow.

  “It’s okay.” He laughed. “I won’t kill him. He loves you. I was prepared for him to fight.”

  “He doesn’t love me,” I said, lifting my face up again. “He just thinks he does.”

  “Jane, stop being so modest. He loves you, but you know I love you, and you don’t need to prove that to me. You shouldn’t have to prove it to yourself either—not any other way than being with me.”

  I nodded and pulled my white tank back on, suddenly embarrassed.

  “But don’t think I don’t want to,” he continued. “I do—of course. But I would rather it not be because of Rudy or The Sevren or your fear of me not coming back—for no negative reasons but because we care for each other. Is that fair?”

  I nodded and forced a smile. “I understand…but don’t leave.”

  He smiled and lay beside me on my bed and took my hand. “Rest your mind. Everything will be fine.”

  I couldn’t even rest my eyes, so it was obviously impossible to rest my mind. Aidan rolled over and propped himself up on his elbow. I turned to look at him. His eyes were darker than usual but still shone with that almost unnatural brilliance. He whispered my name, that way that never seemed to be my name but some foreign word he was speaking meant only for himself.

  “I know,” I said. “We should go back downstairs.”

  “We all need to be there for each other,” he said, almost annoyed. “I wish there was some way I could make you believe me that I won’t let any harm come to you—any of you.”

  I closed my eyes and sighed. “I wish that too.”

  I needed some time by myself after everyone left. With everything going on, it wasn’t easy to relax, but deep into the night, sleep eventually found me.

  Sunlight filtered through my window when I awoke. I sat up on my bed, drowsily flipping through the scrapbook my mom had packed for me. It hadn’t even crossed my mind a single time since I had moved. I stared for a long time at an old picture of me and Danny at the beach when we were about eleven years old. I remembered that day completely, but at the time, I couldn’t think about it. I slammed the book closed and dropped it on the floor.

  I lay back on my pillow and closed my eyes, sighing.

  “Jane, you gotta occupy your mind.”

  I didn’t even flinch at the sound of his voice. “I really wish you’d just knock on the door like a normal person.”

  He chuckled softly. “Normal? Where’s the fun in that?”

  I just shook my head.

  “Are you angry?”

  “No.” I sighed. “I’m sorry. Just irritable.”

  “I have some ideas in mind,” he said, “just to break the ice.”

  “What kind of ideas?” I asked, propping myself up on my elbow and turning to look at him.

  “I’m prepared for several outcomes, but…we are going to need your attic.”

  “Um…okay. Why?”

  “I would rather not have Walter asking questions.”

  “What are you not telling him?”

  He waved his hand at me, shunning my question. “I need to keep some stuff in the attic for a while. There isn’t anywhere at my place to keep it.”

  “What stuff?”

  “Just some things we may need. Please, Jane. I would rather not tell you yet. Just trust me.”

  I nodded. “Okay.”

  He actually used the door to carry three bags into the house. He opened the attic door and slowly unfolded the ladder. I tossed one of the bags in and crawled in after him.

  “So really, what’s all this stuff for?”

  “I told you,” he answered. “For plan A, plan B, and plan C to get us all out of this mess.”

  “Why don’t you just let me see what it is?”

  He sighed. “The only reason I’m keeping it here is because you have an attic. Remember, I can’t have Walter asking questions.”

  I nodded. “Wow.” I laughed. “My dad is such a pack rat.”

  Aidan laughed lightly and glanced at all the stacks of boxes and books covered in dust.

  “I wonder how much of my old stuff is in here.”

  “Whoa,” he whispered, crawling to the other side. “What’s in this?”

  I saw the old chest I had asked Ethan about when I first moved in. “According to my dad, nothing.”

  “Hmm… I think it needs a key.”

  “Eh, maybe. But it’s probably empty.”

  He shrugged. “Promise me something?”

  “I won’t open the bags, Aidan, okay?”

  He nodded. “I’m just trying to keep things from getting any more complicated.”

  I nodded, trailing my finger along the rim of the old chest. “I miss Ethan,” I whispered.

  He turned me so I was facing him and gently squared my shoulders. “I will get him out of this, love. I swear.”

  I sighed and rested my head in my hands. He wrapped his arms around me, and I let myself lean against him.

  “I wish I could tell you not to worry.”

  “You can.”

  “Yes…but what good will it do?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m not sure it will make me feel any better at all, but it’s worth a try.”

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “I swear to you that things will end up okay.”

  I sighed. “Thanks,” I whispered sincerely although his effort really had be
en wasted. His own worry was almost tangible. I moved away from him so I could look into his eyes.

  “So, when are you planning on locking me up at Luna’s?”

  His mood completely shifted when I heard him laugh. “Nothing gets past you, does it?”

  “I know you too well to think for even one second you don’t have something planned—or plotted.”

  He smiled. “I just want to keep you as safe as possible. And thank you for not complaining. You tend to not trust me enough.”

  I glared at him.

  “Okay, I understand why,” he answered, “but honestly, Jane, you’re too clumsy to deny you’re in danger when you aren’t moving.”

  Irritation rocked through me. I wasn’t in a mood to laugh.

  He pulled me into his chest. “I’m sorry. I’m doing a terrible job of trying to cheer you up.”

  I sighed. “I feel better just being with you. You don’t need to try so hard.”

  He smiled. “It’s my job now to protect you in every way that I can.”

  “I just can’t stop thinking about Danny,” I whispered, holding in tears. “They killed him, Aidan. I want them dead—all of them.”

  “I understand, but this isn’t the time for revenge.”

  “How did I know you’d say that?"

  “You know me too well,” he said, smiling. “In all seriousness, I just need to focus on getting Ethan away from The Sevren. You need to stay at Luna’s. I don’t want you here, especially by yourself. They’ll find you, Jane.”

  “They found me at Luna’s too. They can find me again.”

  He shook his head. “They won’t. We weren’t careful enough before. She’ll keep you safe this time. I promise.”

  I nodded. “I love you, Aidan.”

  “It’s okay,” he said calmly. “You don’t have to tell me that.”

  “I want to.”

  “Then next time…don’t say it like it’s the last time.”

  I ran my fingers through his hair and sighed. I thought it would be the last time. He hadn’t even left yet, and I was already saying goodbye.

  I had no idea what he had planned and wasn’t sure if I wanted to, but at the same time, I didn’t want to let him lock me up at Luna’s either. I didn’t want him sacrificing himself for me. Everything was falling apart, fraying at the ends and becoming unraveled.

  “Why Rudy?”

  “I told you—because you love him.” He turned to look at me.

  “And Ethan?”

  He hesitated before responding. “They took Daniel. You and Ethan were supposed to stay safe, but I got involved. I had no idea he was your brother. If I did—well, I don’t know.”

  My mind replayed the day in my room when he stared at Danny’s picture, seemingly stone cold terrified.

  “This is all about me,” he continued, “my betrayal of The Sevren and murder of Abraham. My involvement with you as well, especially because you are related to one of our victims—their victims.”

  I shuddered realizing he just included himself. The suspicion I had suppressed until now, refusing to believe the man I loved could have possibly hurt my brother, flooded me once more. A sick feeling pulled at my stomach, increasing with every passing moment.

  “I cannot tell you why they chose him either, Jane.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, because I don’t know. If I did, I would explain it to you in unmistakable clarity.”

  “Even then it wouldn’t make sense, would it?”

  “Probably not. It never makes sense for people to be so evil. Stop driving yourself mad trying to make sense of something that there is no sense to be made of.”

  I nodded, shedding slow tears. Before I even realized I was crying, he was catching my tears with his kisses. I heard quiet knocking coming from downstairs.

  “You should get that,” he whispered in my ear.

  We climbed down the ladder, and Aidan closed the door. I dried my eyes and walked down the stairs.

  “It’s probably Becky,” I muttered to myself.

  I opened the door to see Rudy. Before saying a word to me, he peered behind me.

  “Good,” he breathed, stepping inside. “You’re here.”

  “You’re happy to see me?” Aidan laughed.

  “Not happy,” he corrected, “but relieved.”

  “What’s wrong?” I asked immediately.

  “I’ve been feeling anxious,” he started. “I’ve been spending too much time worrying about myself, and now I’m beginning to worry that we are waiting too long for Ethan. If you have a plan, I’m ready to hear it.”

  “I don’t exactly have a plan,” Aidan answered, “but I’m prepared for a few different outcomes.”

  “What about plan A, plan B, and plan C?” I interrupted.

  “I meant mostly that I am prepared for what might happen.”

  “Which may be what?” Rudy asked, his voice sounding muffled.

  “I don’t know for sure,” he answered. “But blood will be involved, which is why”—he shifted his eyes to me—“you have to stay with Luna.”

  “They can find me there.”

  “Nobody will steal you from Luna,” he told me. “Like I said, we just need to be more careful.”

  “How can you be more careful than handcuffing me and locking me up?”

  He glared at me. “Be quiet, Jane.”

  I sighed and walked to the living room. Aidan and Rudy followed and sat beside me on the couch.

  “Let’s go then,” I announced.

  “What?” Aidan bellowed.

  “Let’s go,” I repeated. “Take me to Luna’s, and go save Ethan.”

  Aidan smiled. “Are you ready?” he asked Rudy.

  “I’m ready for anything,” he answered.

  “Rudy, meet me here tomorrow morning. Jane, I will take you to Luna’s early.”

  I nodded. “What about Dorian?”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “They wait for Abraham’s call. Dorian doesn’t know of his death just yet. If he did, he would have found me by now.”

  “And if he finds you?”

  “I just can’t be here when he does. I won’t let him find you again.”

  “So tomorrow?” Rudy asked.

  Aidan nodded. “Tomorrow.”

  Rudy left, and I sighed, falling into a more comfortable position on the couch.

  “You look exhausted,” Aidan whispered.

  “I haven’t been sleeping well,” I answered, falling into a deep relaxation.

  He nodded. “Rest then. If you’d like, I’ll stand guard.” He smiled that certain way, letting me know he was serious.

  I nodded and cushioned myself into a sleeping position. I felt the weight of a blanket drape over me, and Aidan quietly hummed to me until my body and mind drifted into unconsciousness.

  It was light that disturbed me. Light from the streetlamps flooded into the living room, casting a shadow on Aidan’s flawless features as he peered outside. He turned to look at me.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.” He let the curtain fall back into place to darken the room again. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “It’s okay,” I groaned, sitting up. “I need to be awake.”

  He smirked. “Why?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I just don’t really feel safe.”

  He nodded. “I know.” He walked toward me. “You know I care about you, and you know…”

  He broke off, whirling around back toward the window.

  “What is it?”

  “Shh. Jane, get your shoes on.”

  “What?”

  “Just do it,” he snapped. “Comfortable shoes. Running may be involved.”

  I ran upstairs and put on a pair of running shoes I could only recall wearing a few times. It was nearly impossible to tie the laces with my shaky hands. He followed after me.

  “Shit,” he grumbled.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “We’ll have to sneak out through your window.�
��

  I couldn’t answer. The blood had rushed to my cheeks, and I was shaking.

  “What’s going on?”

  “It’s okay,” he said. “But they found me. I knew they would—Dorian.”

  Just the sound of his name sent chills through my body. He opened my bedroom window and stepped onto the roof, pressing himself against the house. He stepped slightly to the right and offered me his hand. I stared at the paleness of his fingers for a moment, watching the shadows play upon his skin. His hand looked warm, but I had expected that cold tension I had felt in the woods. I took his hand, and all the uneasy feelings vanished. His hand felt normal, so normal I wasn’t surprised by it.

  I watched him grip the oak tree and whirl his legs around, almost spider like, and crawl down to the lawn. He signaled me to be quiet. I reached for the tree, but my shoes slid across the shingles, making a horrible scraping sound, and the slanted roof almost made me fall to the ground. I fell slightly forward and grabbed the branch. I clumsily climbed into the tree. I looked down to see Aidan silently signaling me to hurry. My limbs were shaking, and I couldn’t quite make it to the bottom of the tree before my hands slipped, and I fell to the ground.

  “Oh,” Aidan whispered, “are you okay?”

  I sat up with a groan. “Yeah,” I said, surprised he hadn’t been right there to catch me like he usually was. I pressed my hand to the back of my head, trying to stop the throbbing. “I’m fine.”

  I stood up, and Aidan crouched down, leading me into the neighbor’s lawn.

  “When I tell you to, you’re going to need to run. Okay?” he whispered. “As fast as you can. Just follow me.”

  “What about your car?”

  “I can’t get to it without him finding us. Don’t worry about it. Just run when I say.”

  I nodded.

  We crouched down, inching across the lawn. The houses on the street were dark, so I wasn’t worried about being seen by suspicious neighbors, but nor did I have any concept of what time it was. Aidan continuously peered over his shoulder at my house. He made eye contact for a brief moment then turned around to look at my house again.

  “Okay, Jane. Run.”

  I ran as quickly as my legs could carry me, imagining a dark figure chasing after me, but I still lagged pretty far behind Aidan. By the time we reached the end of the cull-de-sac, I was slightly out of breath.