Done

CHAPTER 14

Today had been a great day. I had spent the day with Annabelle and Grace and had come to the conclusion to put what had happened with Luke out of my mind and focus on getting to know Jake. Grace wasn't 100% sold but Annabelle was beside herself with glee that I was giving it a go. I hadn't heard from Jake since agreeing to go over earlier that day but I decided to go over and surprise him. I'd been home and changed into a pair of skinny jeans, knee high boots and a black sheer top. Mixed with my ice blonde hair it was quite a look I was sporting. 

On the way over I had stopped and picked up some food that I could cook for us. I liked to think I was a good cook. Although I'd been lacking in the eating department over the last few days, making a meal for us seemed like a romantic thing to do. It seemed like a normal new couple thing so thats what I was doing. I knew where he lived, I'd been there enough so I had made my way there hoping he would be in. 

When I arrived outside his flat I quietly knocked on the door but as I did the door opened slightly. I should have realised this wasn't normal but obviously me being me. I didn't. He'd invited me over so I knocked again to announce myself and walked in. 

Big mistake. 

In the living room stood Jake and another man. Neither has realised I had come in. The bags I had in my hands crashed to the floor alerting Jake that I was there. He didn't move to greet me, instead his eyes locked on mine as I stood frozen. Jake had a man pinned against his living room wall. The man was rough looking with cropped hair and tattoos all over his forearms. It looked effortless for Jake to have him pinned and I had no idea what I had walked into but I knew it wasn't something I should be seeing. My body froze. The face of the man he had pinned to the wall had started to turn blue and it was clear that Jake had no intention of letting him go. Jake continued to hold my gaze as the man started spluttering and clawing at Jake's arm. Finally, after what felt like an eternity he let me the man go. The guy crumpled to the floor landing in a heap and gasping for breath. Jake finally looked away from me and his eyes focused on the man. His face was terrifying, pure anger. In this moment I saw the other side to Jake. The side that he had thankfully kept hidden from me. 

He dragged him up again by the collar of his shirt and slammed him back into the wall. The breathe that the man had managed to get back left his body again in a woosh. He got right in his face when he spoke "I see you again, you will fucking disappear. Be thankful she turned up tonight otherwise you'd already be in the ground.  Get the fuck out of my flat, consider yourself done Deeke. You're out." With that Jake's eyes came back to me but all I could focus on was the man who Jake had just threatened to kill. 

The man, who I now knew to be called Deke dashed towards the door clutching at his throat. The fear in his eyes was tangible. I still didn't move when he barged past me knocking me slightly to the side. I couldn't. When we heard the door slam Jake slowly walked over to me and picked the bags up that I had dropped on the floor and went over to the kitchen. 

"Want to talk about it?" he calmly asked. Like what I had just walked in on was completely normal. I stood there a minute longer. "Not really. I just wasn't expecting to see that." I told him honestly as I turned to face him. What could I say? I knew this was his life. "I didn't know what time you were coming over Tilly. If I had known you were on your way you wouldn't have seen that." He started taking the food out of the bags, his voice was sincere and I knew he meant it. I walked over to the kitchen and sat down on the bar stool. I watched as he continued to put the food on the counter. "You cooking for us Tilly?" I could hear the amusement in his voice. 

"I was. I'm not really feeling hungry any more but feel free to use what I brought or I can still make you something." He walked over to where I was sat and put his hands on my thighs and pushed them slightly apart so he could stand between them. "Till, I really am sorry you saw that. He was a loose end that needed to be sorted before he fucked up and caused me a world of problems. Sweetheart, believe me when I tell you that what you just saw is rare for me. I rarely have to get involved."  He leaned in and kissed me. When he pulled back he said "I'm cooking, you're eating. Don't give me any lip. I haven't seen you since Sunday and I can tell you've not been eating properly. Which is a conversation for a later date as to why that is but now I'm cooking." He gave my thigh a gentle squeeze before he moved back into the kitchen and started to cook. Jake's cooking skills were impressive. I had assumed he ate shit takeaways and wouldn't know what a pan was if it hit him in the face. There was a lot that shocked me about Jake. We sat in a comfortable silence as he expertly made our fennel and lemon risotto. I couldn't take my eyes off him. He exuded confidence and masculinity. His movements were powerful yet well considered. When our meal was finally ready he dished up and we moved to the table.