Not Good For You

Rachel

The next morning, I'm still lying in bed when it's past 10am. I've rang the girls at the shop to let them know I won't be in today. I just can't deal with working at the moment. I know I should because it would be a good distraction, but I just can't be bothered.

I sigh as I hear something being pushed through the letter box. I think I better get up and have some breakfast.
I get out of bed and wrap my thin dressing gown around myself heading downstairs. I catch a glance of myself in the hallway mirror. I look awful.

I pick up the letter from the floor and go into my kitchen. I switch my kettle on before looking at the letter properly. No stamp and handwritten? I wonder who it could be from? I open it up and one single piece of paper is in there. I unfold it and gasp.

* You are dead, bitch. Watch your back *

What the hell? Who would send such a thing? It dawned on me again... no stamp. This person knows where I live. The thought of that terrifies me even more.
This is my home.
My daughters home!
Who could it have been? Marcus? One of Jack's whores?

I place the note down on my kitchen worktop and shakily pour myself a glass of wine, abandoning the kettle altogether. I don't care that it's nearly 11am.

Should I tell Jack about this? He will be furious if he finds out some other way. I shake my head, take a gulp of my wine, and get my phone out of my pocket.

Within minutes he's at my house reading the note. I can see his jaw tensing and his eyes flashing with anger, "Was this Marcus?" He asks me.

I shrug my shoulders, "I have no idea. I thought that at first. It's abit suspicious that it's arrived when he's back in town." I admit.

"He's the dead one." Jack mutters.

"No, leave it alone. Let's just ignore it." I tell him, not wanting him to get hurt.
Even though I knew Jack could probably beat Marcus to a pulp. "I don't want you back in prison." I murmur.

Jack puts the note down and cups my face with his hands, "I would happily do time in prison for you, but I respect your wishes. I will let this go but I'm going to be keeping a close eye out. Can we talk now that I'm here?" He asks me.

I hesitate a little. I haven't been given enough time to think it through yet, but I find myself nodding my head, "Yes, we can." I answer.

Jack takes my hand and leads me to the sofa. I sit down and watch him pace around a little before he sits down next to me.

"First of all, I want to say that I'm sorry you had to hear about my past from Marcus and not myself..." he starts.

I nod, agreeing.

"There is no excuse, but we had only just started to date, and I didn't want to scare you off. I wanted you to get to know the real me first before I went into all that nasty business."

"I understand that, but part of getting to know someone, is talking about the past and our lives, no matter how ugly or upsetting it is."

"I know and I will be more upfront with you from now on." He promises.

"Ok, good. I like you, Jack. A lot. Despite all my worries and fears, I know you are a good person and I do want to get to know you more and keep you in my life." I tell him.

"You don't know how good it is to hear that because I don't want to go anywhere."

"Stay with me tonight." I offer him.

"Of course." He agrees.