Dark Layers Volume 2: Dark Layers (14 page)

"Why were you going to kiss that woman?"

"Princess, I have already told you. Battle is not without pain. I knew you would not let me kiss her; I was just testing your feelings for me."

"So viciously?"

"Yes, I told you I am dark in many ways. But games like that can also be fun."

I huff, "for you maybe. The almighty experienced one."

"If I was not experienced and dark, you would not want me. I would be your average Joe."

Hmmm, he does have a good point.

He pats the empty seat again. "Come and sit with me Princess, please. I miss you all the way over there."

I miss you too! I want to say, but I refrain. I get to my feet and lose my shoes and his blazer. As soon as I'm within centimetres of him, I feel the electric current charge through us. It hitches my breath and makes me smile. I sink into his arm as he wraps it around me. He sighs, he's relieved - I think.

"Elijah?"

"Yes Princess?" He breathes into my ear.

"Thank you for answering my questions."

"You are very welcome Anile. I know I have so much baggage and so many problems but I appreciate you trying."

I smile against him. "Elijah."

"Yes?" He laughs a little while he pulls me closer.

"The Trojan Horse that I received at work - do you know who sent it?"

"I do. I smashed it to pieces for you." He says.

I hear him inhale my scent. Holy fuck that feels good - and tingly!

"Why?" I manage to ask.

"Because no one threatens you. I would risk what little humanity I have left and rid the earth of people if everyone tried to harm you. No battle is too large when it comes to 'this'." He grabs my hand and tugs at it when he says 'this'.

Oh my - that is the most sweetest thing he has every said. I cannot stop smiling against him.

"Elijah," I breathe, "that's beautiful."

He brushes my hair back and aims to kiss my cheek but freezes.

"Where did you get that bruise from Anile?" He leans forward, pulling his arm free from behind me.

Oh God! This is not going to go down well.

"I went to my father's today so I could deal with the persistent press that you did not deal with and he slapped me."

Elijah gets to his feet, almost knocking me off of the sofa - I feel his rage, I feel the angry vibe he's letting off.

"He fucking what? I have taken care of the press Anile! The legal papers went out yesterday to stop them writing about you. Why exactly did he hit you?" His face is harsh, harsher than usual.

"Elijah just leave it." I beg.

"Anile, if you do not tell me I will go to Maidstone right now and personally deal with him!" He warns.

"Elijah you cannot just go charging into my father's house!”

He crouches down in front of me with a sympathetic expression. He holds his hands together as though he's praying.

“Anile, Princess, tell me why he hit you?” He begs.

“He went crazy because of the press, and you. He hit me because you have been poking around, asking questions about my mother. He practically threw your fifty thousand pounds at me, telling me to insure you take it back - and he has cut me off completely." I huff, gutted, annoyed, but most of all, because I'm tired of the constant fighting. "I did not want to talk about all this Elijah, I just wanted to try and have some kind of a fresh start at work, and even with you."

He takes my hands in his. He stares at them impassively. I'm not sure if I feel heat or coldness from him. He kisses my hands, elongating his kisses on my knuckles.

"Elijah, are you okay?"

He instantly releases my hands and gets to his feet. He paces my living area - back and forth, back and forth - getting more and more annoyed with himself.

"Who the hell does he think he is? - hitting you! Maybe he should hit someone who can hit back! I will make his little town rain blood!" He chants annoyed, over and over.

"Elijah, calm down." I beg while peering up at him.

"No Anile." He snaps and instantly shuts me up -
jeez he's scary.

His beautiful blue eyes have turned black with rage. His body language speaks a thousand curse words that I wouldn't dare repeat.

"I have to go." He finishes.

"What? Why? Please don't go. I thought we could talk some more."

"Anile, I am so furious at the moment. You have no idea. I cannot stay here - I don't trust myself."

What the hell is that suppose to mean?

He storms out without saying goodbye and I sit *sighing* on my sofa; nothing is ever bloody easy.
Well you got his blood pumping; wrong context but a high five nonetheless.
No, no, no. I did not find out where he has been the last week and we did not get a chance to talk properly about us; in my opinion, I have definitely lost this battle.

I roll my eyes feeling extremely peeved and head into my bathroom to take a glance at my face. I do not need to fully pull my hair back to see the mark my father has given me. God I hate him sometimes - well, all the time actually!

I suddenly hear Sophie emerge and she's not alone.
Great!

"Anile, are you home?"

"Yes." I answer as I walk out to her but I stop dead in my tracks when I register Roman and two other guys standing in my living area.

"Sophie, everyone cannot stay here." I gasp.

"It is only Roman Honey. His place is not ready until tomorrow - these two only came for a few late night drinks."

"No, I'm sorry but you cannot stay Roman. It's inappropriate."

"Anile, stop over thinking things and just let them be." Roman whispers as he walks towards me.

I walk past him, deliberately barging into him. I grab my bag and shoes, then leave. "Sophie, I want everyone gone within two hours!" I snap as I slam my front door.

I
STORM OUT OF
my apartment reeling. It's so damn late - almost eleven - and I'm so tired. Sophie is taking the absolute piss; Derek would never pull a stunt like this. Oh I miss him, I feel like I haven't seen him for so long. As soon as the lift opens on the ground level, I almost run out of it, trying to get away from everything that is stressful. As I push the lobby door open with too much force, I almost fall flat on my face in the middle of the street. The London air hits me like an atomic bomb, and I notice I'm still kind of drunk - thank God! How I ever get through days like this sober is beyond me.

Shockingly, I spot Elijah talking to his driver at the curb. I'm surprised he hasn't left yet.

"Elijah." I call as I walk towards him.

"Anile, what are you doing? Where are you going?" He asks worried.

"Sophie decided to bring some unwelcomed friends back, so I'm going to have a coffee and give her some time to get rid of everyone. Are you okay? Have you calmed down?"

He looks mad, really mad. He tries to walk past me. I grab his arm to stop him, knowing how this story ends.

"Elijah, what are you doing?"

"I am going to get rid of them!" He barks annoyed.

"Please just leave it. They will be gone soon. Go home and cool down."

"Cool down!" He almost shouts.

"Yes, why are you so angry?"

"Anile, I am fuming because of your father - how would you prefer me to react to someone striking you? And then, within minutes of me leaving, your so called friend, Sophie, brings back 'unwanted guests' - if you do not want them in your apartment, I can remove them, no problem."

His soul is vacant - what the hell have I done to him?

"You do not need to remove anyone, Sophie will take care of the situation. And forget my father; what he did, it's not as bad as you think."

His eyes open wider than usual. His face is full of stress lines - Jesus, he's more stressed than I am!

"He should know better; whether he is your father or not, he has no right to touch you!" He rubs his head in annoyed. "Get in the car." He says with gritted teeth.

"What - why? Where are we going?"

"My place."

His place! Holy shit!

"I'm not sure if going to your place is such a good idea Elijah." I implore nervous. I knot my hands together.

"Why? You will clearly be safer with me! I am assuming by 'unwelcomed friends' you mean Roman?"

I lower my head in defeat. Thankfully, he senses that I feel uncomfortable with his pressing anger and changes direction.

"Please get in the car Princess," he begs, "I will get us some food and we can... watch a movie or something." He finishes in a calmer voice.

"You want to watch a movie?" I smile angelic.

"We can do whatever you want; just get in the car, please."

I start to speak but he silences me with his hand at my mouth - not touching me though – and he ushers me into the back of the car.

I steal a quick glance up at his powerful eyes. His eyes tell me that he's trying to bring his temper under control. We get seated in the back of the car and just as I am about to speak - to hopefully take my mind off of tonight - his phone rings interrupting me.

"Yes." He snaps. "Just find out who owns it - I do not care, no expense spared - it is a good business opportunity, as well as other reasons - I want to know by tomorrow - Just get it done." He slams his phone down, almost dropping it on the floor of the car.

"This is not your night, is it?"

"Everything will be fine Princess, now you are here, with me." He breathes. He sounds unbelievably stressed. He takes my hand and kisses every one of my knuckles.

"Anile, I need to send a few e-mails and once we reach my house, we can talk some more, okay?"

"Yes, okay." I smile - I don't dare tell him 'no', the war would probably end with my death!

WE ARRIVE AT
his house just outside of London and
wow
is all I can say. I think it's a barn conversion but I'm no expert. The front door is light oak panelling, framed by double height magnificent windows. The roof is an off red - almost pink - stretching further than my eyes can see. The bricks are new and clean, a nice pink colour with hints of white chalk. The bricks are separated by huge oak beams that form the buildings frame. It's just stunning. There are neon white lights situated around the front of the house, illuminating the house all the way to the heavens. The grounds are clean cut; pure green lawns with perfectly cut green bushes forming a pathway to his front door. The triple garage matches the house but it's smaller - the door is an off red, huge and bold. The stony driveway matches the bricks, pink and white. The entire house is gated with black wrought iron stretching the entire grounds - that must have set him back a few pounds!

"How long have you lived here?" I ask astonished. I assumed he would live somewhere like the house of hell.

"Since I was twenty, why?"

"It just doesn't seem like... you." I joke.

"You should never presume to know someone Princess, especially by appearances."

He can say that again!

I'm dying to know if this is his marital home - I just cannot quit myself.

"Do you live here with your, eh, wife, Elijah?" I ask small. I instantly realize this could get awkward!

"No, the only woman that has ever graced my home is my mother - and now you."

I smile in the darkness of the car, happy that we have this between us.

"Where does your wife live?"

"My ex-wife," he elongates 'ex', "has her own place."

"Your ex-wife!" I almost scream. This is news to me!

He laughs, "calm down Anile. I will tell you all about it. I think it is high time we talked properly and we will tonight. Now come." He opens the door and I scoot over to him.

The stone driveway scratches against my heels and he notices. In one swift motion, he sweeps me off my feet and carries me in his arms. I lean into him, sniffing his intoxicating spicy scent.
Hmmm,
I need this.

As he kneels down a little - trying to unlock his front door with me in his arms - I fear he will drop me. I clutch at his neck a little too hard.

“Careful Princess, I will not drop you.” He promises but still, he does not subside my worry.

We enter his gorgeous home and he gently places me on my feet.

"Thanks." I say while rapidly turning puce.

Wow, the hall is just breathtaking. The double height walls are covered in artwork - expensive oil based artwork with ornate golden frames; they are dotted all over the walls, not in order as I expected. The powerful light oak staircase makes a statement; the stair carpet is soft beige and has golden bars wedging the carpet down. The floor is light oak also. It's very calming in here, surprisingly so.

Elijah stares down at me. After a few seconds he tucks a lose strand of hair behind my ear.