Darkness of Light (11 page)

He yanked me closer to him, our bodies becoming aligned. My breath caught in my throat as he swiftly hooked the clip in the loop and gave it another strong tug to make sure it was secure. He stepped back, adjusting the tension of the rope, his eyes never leaving mine. 

My body trembled. I hadn’t realized I had stopped breathing until tiny, dark spots impeded my vision and the room decided to get a little unstable on me. I let go of my breath, hoping he wouldn’t notice my reaction. From the fraction of a smile glinting in Eli’s eyes, I was not so lucky.

I nodded at him.
Well played.

He shrugged.
I thought so. Are you sure you really want to dance with me, little girl?

I crossed my arms.
I’ve heard the Samba is enjoyable.

He smirked.
You are out of your league.

Don’t underestimate me.

Tango it is then.

“Wow, awk-ward.” Jason clasped his hands together trying to break the tension between Eli and me. Jason’s voice snapped me back into the room, and I looked up, startled. I had almost forgotten he was there. That was a bad sign—a really bad sign.

We finished the rest of our training and, as soon as I was unhooked, I thanked Jason and bolted out of the room. My phone showed a text from Kennedy saying they’d be here at six-thirty. That gave me ten more minutes. I walked outside, wanting to escape into the open air and the dark shadows hanging from the building. My body still buzzed with adrenaline, and my skin, where his thumb had touched me, zinged with heat. I leaned against the cement wall and closed my eyes, taking in a slow breath of cool air, trying to calm myself. 

Someone barged out the front door of the building. My eyes flew open with a start. I froze as I saw Eli barreling towards the parking lot, his hand continuously running over his face and through his hair. He reached his bike and threw down his bag angrily, profanity hissing out of his mouth. He leaned over his bike. He looked to be gathering himself together, his fingers digging into the leather seat. I didn’t move a muscle, afraid he’d turn around and see me. 

The front door creaked again as someone else pushed their way outside. “Eli?” A girl’s voice echoed over the night air, which I immediately recognized as Samantha’s. “Eli?” She walked towards him. I pressed myself harder into the wall, hoping I’d become part of it.

“What?” He sounded irritated.

“I was waiting for you.” 

His voice was clipped. “I didn’t ask you to.” 

“I know.” Her voice went from uncertainty to angry. “You never would because you don’t want to need anything from anyone.”

He pushed himself off the bike and turned around to face her. “Samantha, I’ve told you how I feel. I’ve warned you this is nothing more than what it is. I’m not looking for anything, but you continue to pursue it. You know full well what I’m like. I never deceived you.”

Sam was silent for a moment. “It’s her, isn’t it?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, please. It’s so obvious. I have eyes. I can see what is happening.” Her mood seemed to shift again and a strange laugh escaped her. “I’m surprised at you, Eli. I know you’ve done the gantlet of women, but I didn’t imagine you’d go there. I mean you do know what she is, right?” Eli’s jaw tightened and he stared back at Sam without an ounce of emotion. “I thought that was one line even you wouldn’t cross. She’s one of
them
, Eli. Do you get that? You most of all can’t forget what that means.”

“I have forgotten
nothing
! I know what I am doing. I have a plan.”

Samantha crossed her arms. “I’m starting to think there is more to it than that.”

The tension was so thick, I could feel it resonating off Eli, and see its visible sonic waves crash into me. Eli turned away and grabbed his bag off the ground. “I’ve had enough of this conversation.” 

“Oh, did I hit a nerve, Eli?” She sounded hysterical. “What’s wrong? Is wanting to screw an abomination too much for you?”

“ENOUGH!” he roared. “You’re out of line. Do not forget yourself.”

Stumbling back at Eli’s outburst, she bit her lip and shook her head slowly. “You really are a bastard,” she whispered and turned on her heels and ran back inside. Eli watched her for a moment. Cursing under his breath, he shook his head and climbed onto his bike. 

I let out my breath, not realizing I had been holding it. From that tiny movement, Eli’s gaze shot in my direction, his blazing eyes finding mine in the darkness. As our eyes locked, a light flooded the parking lot. Ryan’s familiar Nissan pulled up in front of me. 

“Em,” Kennedy yelled as she rolled down the window. 

I closed my eyes, cringing. There was no doubt now as to the identity of the person eavesdropping—as if I had a choice in the matter. Without looking over at him, I dashed to the car, just wanting to get away. Kennedy was trying to climb into the back so I could have the front and, in my eagerness to get in, I flung myself into the front seat, pushing her headfirst into the back.

Ryan scoffed and then laughed as Kennedy’s muffled squeaks sprang from behind us. “Jeez, lady, in a hurry?”

“Sorry, Ken.” I turned to look at her. “I’m just really ready to get out of here and hangout with you guys!”

“Oh Holy Hotness Batman!” Ryan’s gaze was directed out the window at Eli. “I don’t know why you’d want to hang out with us when you have playmates like him at this school. Now there’s a Happy Meal I’d like to order.” 

Eli was straddling his glistening, black motorcycle. His hands were wrapped around the bars, and his feet still on the ground, staring at me. 

“Some playmates bite,” I said. 

“All the better.” Ryan’s eyebrows shot up and down.

Kennedy’s wiggled in-between our seats trying to get a better view. “Wow . . .”

Ryan’s reaction didn’t surprise me, but seeing Kennedy stare at Eli with wide, unblinking eyes and a strange, confused look on her face made something twist inside my stomach. I couldn’t help but follow her gaze even though I knew who she was looking at, and I found Eli staring back at her just as intently. 

“He’s dangerous and very dark. Death surrounds him . . .” Kennedy mumbled. 

My head snapped back to her. “What?” 

She stared at Eli in a trance-like state. 

“Ken?” I said louder.

She pulled her eyes away from him, shaking her head. “Sorry, there’s just something peculiar about him . . .” she trailed off. She realized we were all looking at her and a deep blush covered her cheeks. “Nothing, just ignore me.”

Eli’s gaze seared intensely through the window as it returned to me. .

I turned to Ryan, feeling the intensity of Eli’s stare. “Can we just get out of here, please?” 

“Sure thing, my salty M&M, but only if you tell me what is going on between you and ‘Mr. Throw Me Up Against a Wall’ because I know there is something titillating going on there.”

“Ryan, please.” My eyes grew wild as he sat there, looking back at me with a sly smile. “Fine. Just go, please.” 

He hit the gas and within seconds I was away from Eli’s penetrating gaze. I sighed with relief. I didn’t like him having such an effect on me. I took a deep breath and turned to look at my friends. A huge burden seemed to lift off me. I felt lighter and happier. My eyes misted up. I had missed them so much.

“Oh no, missy. You are not going to get out of this with those crocodile tears. Now talk.” Ryan shook his head, smiling. 

“There’s nothing to talk about,” I refuted, causing them to snort. 

“Please.” Ryan’s glance had me withering in my seat. “There was more tension back there than a southern woman’s girdle at a bake sale.”

I laughed, and shook my head. “There’s nothing going on, I swear.”

“Hey, Pinocchio, remember who you’re dealing with here. I can sense these things better than a clairvoyant on acid,” Ryan replied. “Spill it.”

I bit my lip in hesitation. If I told them, then I was admitting there was something to tell, that there was something going on between Eli and myself. But if I thought I would get out of talking with these two, I was sorely mistaken.

Ryan was first. “So, the incredibly hot, bad boy who rides a motorcycle, his name is . . . ?” 

I sighed, defeated. “Eli, his name is Eli.”

“Eli what?” Kennedy sat up in her seat, her chin settling on the back of my headrest. 

“Eli Dragen.”

Ryan started coughing like he was choking, while Kennedy’s eyes became so wide I thought they were going to fall out of her head. My stomach tightened into a knot as I watched them.

“W-Wh-Who?” Kennedy stuttered. 

“Eli Dragen.” 

“You do know who he is, right?”

“No.”

“Ever heard of the RODs, the Riders of Darkness?”

“Yeah . . .” A nervous feeling settled in my gut.

“You know my dad works for the Gang Task Force. Well, I’ve seen him looking at some file so I peeked. Eli Dragen is one of the names on the top of the list, along with his brother, Lorcan. They are both high-ranking members in the club. Seriously dangerous shit, Em.”

I had heard the rumors about the RODs ever since I had moved to Olympia. They were an infamous biker gang who lived on the outskirts of town. They were known to hang out out at Mike’s Bar, which was well known for its underbelly clientele, seediness, and criminal activity. It was a place that law-abiding citizens didn’t venture into, and it was left for the biker gangs and outlaws who called it home. 

Since nobody claimed to have met them, it was difficult to know if any of the rumors were true. The only thing I might be willing to believe is that Eli had been in jail. Not just arrested, but that he had served some jail time. From my encounter with him in the police station, being chained to the chair, and from the familiarity between the cop and him, this seemed within the realm of possibility.

It didn’t surprise me Eli was part of RODs. It terrified me though, especially when I thought of the creepy night I could have sworn I saw him outside my bedroom. 

“I didn’t take you for the kind of girl who goes out with real bad boy types. The rumors you hear about him and his brother. Dragen is definitely a name my father knows well.” Ryan looked over at me with his eyebrow cocked. “That’s a boy who your mother warned you to stay away from and your father would be buying a bazooka for, not a shotgun.” 

I gulped.

“So now having the experience of seeing this Mr. Dragen in person, which is still causing me to orgasm”—Ryan took a deep breath—“I’m even more curious about how our little Emmy here is involved with the bad boy from the other side of the tracks. With a guy that bad and hot, what is the reason she is keeping it a secret from us?”

“I’m not involved with him.”

“I don’t buy it. Do you buy that porta potty potpourri, Ken?”

“Nope.” Kennedy shook her head.

“Come on guys, can we at least wait ‘til we’re home with food in our bellies before you berate me even more?” 

“Fine, but you are not getting out of it.” Ryan pulled into town. “I’m already placing bets on how long it will take you to get foliage burn or tree slivers on your back!” 

“Ryan!” I looked at him, exasperated.

“What? You are going to be out in the woods with him for hours every day. I’m just saying you should make use of what nature provides you.” He shrugged, an impish smile playing on his face. “And don’t tell me you haven’t thought about how hot that guy would be in the sack?”

I looked out the side window.

“Thought so.”

We went quiet for a minute before Kennedy’s soft voice spoke up from the back, “He’s not my type, but there’s really a presence about him, huh? Something you can’t explain—a raw, sexual essence. A guy whose boxers you want to stay permanently on your floor.” 

Ryan and I turned slowly to look at each other our mouths gaped open, eyes wide as saucers. Then I looked back at Kennedy. Ryan twisted the rearview mirror to get a better look at her. 

“What?” Kennedy replied innocently, which sent us into a fit of giggles.

I smiled mischievously. “I don’t think he wears any.”

Their heads whipped towards me.

“What?” I replied, in the same manner as Kennedy had. We burst out laughing again, until tears poured down our faces.

***

An hour later we were sprawled over my living room floor, Chinese takeout containers between us as some brainless movie no one was watching played in the background, when Ryan broached the subject again.

“Holy crap, you are like a dog with a bone,” I commented to Ryan.

“Or just one with a boner.”

“AHHHH, Ryan.” We groaned and laughed hysterically. It felt so good to smile and laugh like this. 

“You’re making a bigger deal of this than it is.”

“I doubt it. I saw the way he looked at you.”

“Yeah, it’s called animosity.”

“Right.” Ryan winked at Kennedy, conspiratorially. “Or, as I like to call it, sexual tension.”

I finally gave in and told them parts of what had happened. I started with the police station, but I left out when I thought I saw him outside my bedroom window, my nightmares, and how his touch sent fire through my skin. 

I also didn’t tell them about what I had heard between Eli and Sam. There was something about it that bothered me. It wasn’t just because, even if Sam wanted more, they were obviously “friends with benefits.” That did cause my stomach to turn, especially how nonchalantly he talked about it, but there was something else that troubled me. I didn’t know who this other girl was, but the way they had talked about her seemed strange to me:
“I’m surprised at you, Eli. I know you've done the gantlet of women, but I could not imagine you going there. I mean, you do know what she is, right? I thought that was one line even you wouldn’t cross. She’s one of them Eli. Do you get that? You, most of all, can’t forget what that means?”

What did she mean by that? I decided to push it away. I had to make myself not care. I wasn’t going to get caught up in their drama. Hopefully, I wasn’t going to be at Silverwood much longer. Principal Mitchell promised he’d reevaluate the situation at the end of the month. If I was lucky, Eli and all this crap, excluding Josh, would all be a distant memory.