Burned Deep (Burned 1)

“Fine.” Though he sighed miserably when it came to my logic. “Perhaps it might be best if you know what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

What I’d been seduced into, was a bit more accurate. But I couldn’t deny my own accountability. I’d been reticent along the way, but I had willingly given this devilishly handsome man my heart.

He posed his own query. “Have you heard of the Illuminati?”

My brows dipped. Strange direction for him to take. “Sure. In a Lara Croft movie.”

He gave that hollow laugh again. “Okay, that’s a start, I guess.”

“Are you about to tell me it’s real?”

“No … and yes.”

“You can’t make this easy for me, can you?”

“It’s not something I can simplify. The origins of these groups began with the Bavarian Illuminati, though it was supposedly dissolved in 1785. There have since been offshoots—descendant factions—that continue to influence the political and financial environment, worldwide.”

I didn’t say a word. Just stared at him, knowing I was about to be blown away by the direction of this conversation. And not surprised there was so much more to him than words could describe.

He said, “When I was at Harvard, Ethan recruited me into a poli-econ secret society. The purpose of this particular Illuminati faction is to track, trend, analyze, and predict political and economic climates, with the goal of influencing leaders to effect positive change. Positive change,” he emphasized in a tight voice.

I was speechless for a few seconds, eventually asking, “How did Ethan get involved with these people?”

“You were actually close to the mark when you suggested his tenure at Harvard was a cover. It was—of sorts. Ethan is a brilliant forecaster of economic trends. He studies world markets, trades, industries, and basically has a sixth sense about fiscal impacts and expectations. His great-great-grandfather formed the poli-econ group. With the exception of myself, all the nine members are descendants of the original secret society. It’s generational—or, rather, it’s supposed to be.”

“They made an exception for you? Because you’re so brilliant?” Graduating from an Ivy League school with the highest honors and summa cum laude spoke volumes. So, too, did his success.

“I showed potential,” he corrected. “I was recruited during my second year at Harvard. The youngest member to ever join.”

“How, exactly, does this society work?”

“We’re the heart of a network of global billionaires and scholars we call upon to influence the political and business realms to guide changing times. It’s very complex. Cloak-and-dagger. No one speaks outside the network of what’s to be done, what has been done. And within the inner sanctum … I took an oath to never reveal my involvement. To anyone.”

“Oh.” I did not miss the significance there. He’d broken his promise to the society—for me. “Dane—”

“Things have gone wrong, Ari.” His expression turned grim. “It’s a majority-rules bloc. Five of the nine members plotted a different course during a fragile economic time. We predicted another downturn, similar to that of ’08. We’ve managed to keep it from happening—that is the premise of the secret society. But the five used the intellectual property of our think tank for personal gain. Substantial personal gain.”

“Criminal corruption.” A chill ran through me. This was growing darker by the moment.

With a nod, he said, “Fortunes have been lost, legacies obliterated—to their benefit. And there’s some other stuff—” A sharp grunt fell from his lips. “I can’t say for sure. I have no concrete evidence, but some political changes of late and a few ‘fortuitous’ deaths make me suspicious as to how far they’ll go to increase their own empires.”

“My God.” My stomach roiled. “Dane. That’s a huge assumption.”

“That’s why it’s currently just speculation on my part. Like I said, I can’t confirm anything. But what I do know—from the resources I’ve provided for the society—gives me a strong enough indication of the direction the five have taken so that I am carefully trying to extract myself before their course becomes more destructive.”

“And part of the extrication is cutting these people out as investors in the Lux.”

“Yes. But it hasn’t gone over well.”

“How did you manage it?”

“I had a legitimate loophole. Thanks to my legal team.”

“Okay, maybe I didn’t need to know all of this.” Christ, the implications were enormous—and dangerous. “Dane, their retaliation is already wreaking havoc—and is dangerous to the people who work for you. They could come after you, or anyone else, with something much stronger if you refuse to bring them back into the Lux fold. They could—”

“Ari, stop.” He caught my chin gently between his thumb and forefinger and stared into my eyes. “Don’t start worrying like that. Don’t worry about anything. We’re taking care of it.”

“How?” I demanded.