Retribution

Chapter 20 - BFG's and Dark Secrets

The next afternoon, Saturday, I was walking back through my front door with one of Jake's arms wrapped around my shoulders.

"You ok?" he asked, pressing a kiss to the side of my head.

I nodded, smiling.

The bond we'd developed over the past few days had intensified, especially after he'd pulled sickies to stay by my side and I'd told him I was trusting him. Things between us had deepened to a whole new level I'd never shared with someone before. The fact we'd known each other for a little over a week had melted away into oblivion; a trivial detail in the midst of the current situation.

Once I'd uttered those words, it was as if I'd shattered an iron wall of hesitancy and instead replaced it with a willingness to accept the unfamiliar ground of a regular relationship.

"One day at a time," he said. "Before you know it, you'll be places you never imagined."

Beating down the whispers of being foolish, I clung onto thoughts of marshmallows and refused to give in to my fears. I knew I could better this anxious, fearful person I'd been turned into. That wasn't my nature—it was what I'd been 'nurtured' into being. It was a crisp, hard shell I was determined to break every last piece of.

As the door closed behind us, I gasped at the sight of the two huge men stood in my hallway. They were dressed in black suits with open neck black shirts beneath. With their hands behind their backs, and their stern faces staring straight ahead, their military background stood out a mile. They both had the build of a carthorse and the height of a skyscraper.

"Jeeze," I said, shrinking into Jake's side. "Where the hell did you find them? In Giant Country?"

The darker haired of the two twitched his lips into a slight smile. The other held a flicker of amusement in his green eyes. I wondered if they knew I was referring to Roald Dahl.

"This is Jonny," Jake said, motioning towards the brown-haired smiler. "And this is Marco," he said, gesturing towards the ash blonde with the amusing sea-green eyes. "They have both now been reassigned in their duties."

"What does that mean?" I said, frowning.

"They have new responsibilities to fulfil—those being to keep you safe twenty-four seven."

"Both of them?" My voice came out like a squeaky mouse.

He nodded. "They will work in either twelve hour shifts one at a time, or split a twenty-four between them, being on duty around the clock. However you want them to work."

"However I want them to work? I can't even figure out what I want to do, let alone tell a pair of BFG's what to do."

Jake chuckled. "Well," he said, glancing down at me. "Take this as a perfect opportunity to hone some skills."

I looked at them both, still not quite believing they would act on my words. This was...odd. "Um...hi," I said, heat flushing my cheeks.

"Ma'am," Jonny replied, nodding his head. Marco followed suit.

"Oh gosh," I said, covering my mouth with one of my hands. "No, please no 'ma'am'. I'm not sixty or dressed in plaid. Just call me Louisa. That will do fine."

"Understood," Jonny replied. His voice was deep and gravelly. I bet a shout from him would make anyone cower. "Please appreciate we don't familiarise on a first name basis. Would Miss Simmons suit you better than Ma'am?"

I was stunned. Not knowing what else to say, I agreed. "Ok, that will be fine for now."

Marco then spoke, his voice a rumbling low sound with a twang of a Russian accent. "Please instruct us as to your preferred working pattern, Miss Simmons. We can then adjust ourselves accordingly and immediately."