Chapter 40 Jake #2
Kratos coughs before clearing his throat and laughing aloud.
It’s a deep sound, but rich and not at all like the evil villain laugh I always pictured him to have.
Still, it catches me off guard. It’s strange to think of him as anything other than terrifying, even stranger still with Jade not around.
“That’s different. Don’t act like you assholes aren’t just as bad as I am,” Rick snaps at me before looking at Kratos as well.
“Oh, trust me, we’re all very aware of who’s in charge around here, but Jake still makes a fair point,” Kratos says, still laughing before he reaches over to slap me on the back.
I’m not small, not really. I’m around the same height as Spencer and have a little more build than he does, making me taller than Zander. But compared to these two, I feel small, especially when his friendly pat on the back almost has me wearing my coffee.
How the fuck Jade handles all of us, I’ll never understand.
Rick opens his mouth, and I’m certain he’s going to bite back at me.
But before he can, the sound of a door opening down the hall has us all turning.
I’m not sure how, but I know it’s Jade even before she comes around the corner.
Zander and Spencer aren’t far behind, both looking like she had to drag them from the bed.
It wouldn’t be surprising. I know from experience neither is a treat to wake.
Jade’s sleep-tousled hair lets me know she actually got some last night. That’s good. I know she needs it, but I feared with each day closer to the party, she might be unable to find rest. I’m sure the two zombies behind her had something to do with that.
It’s strange to think about. Even stranger still is the fact that it’s not.
The thought of her with the others doesn’t unsettle me the way it once did.
When I first realized I had feelings for her, I was jealous.
I knew she was more than satisfied with the rest of them.
Why would she ever need or want me? I was just your average asshole guy, not to mention what my father did to her.
Yet I still stuck around, unable to leave. Feelings aside, she made me feel seen and important, and working for her with Vengeance was still one of the best things I've ever done in life. I could deal with my jealousy, but I couldn’t walk away.
Now, looking at them, all I feel is relief, knowing they were there for her, that she could find rest even if not with me. This isn’t about me versus them. This is about how we can help her, together.
Jade rubs her eyes, still looking half asleep as she walks out into the room.
The floor-to-ceiling windows allow the first few rays of the rising sun to stream through, brightening the room far more than the lights ever could.
The second her eyes adjust, she looks around at the three of us on the couch with an adorable smile that we have no choice but to return.
“Morning,” she says with a yawn as she stretches. My eyes find the hem of her borrowed shirt as it lifts higher up her thighs with her movement.
Shit, I don’t think she’s wearing anything under that shirt.
I should look away. Getting hard is the last thing I need right now. It’s too early, and there are far too many people around. Not to mention, I’ve been trying not to push Jade. I know she said I’m nothing like my father, but I don’t want to push her and have her change her mind.
Fuck, why am I still looking?
The universe takes pity on me, and Jade drops her arms before she looks around the rest of the room.
The second she sees the sunrise, her whole face lights up, and she all but skips over to the window to get a better look.
Zander and Spencer trudge over to the couch and collapse, causing Rick to scoff at them.
“Aww, you two look tired.” Rick teases them while pouring them each a mug of coffee.
“Bro, I’m so beat. I can’t tell you the last time I saw the sunrise after sleeping.
Usually, it’s only when I’ve stayed up all night.
” Zander whines, balancing his mug on his knee and letting his head fall back.
If he wasn’t still holding his coffee upright, I’d think he fell back to sleep with how still he is.
“You hear that, Firefly? Zan can’t handle you.”
Zander’s head pops up, his eyes wide and all traces of exhaustion gone. “That’s not what I said!” He shouts in protest, turning his gaze to Rick in annoyance.
“No worries,” Rick says, waving him off. “You can come to my room tonight, Jade. I’ll help you sleep better than him anyway, and I won’t whine about it in the morning.”
Jade giggles from her spot at the window but doesn’t turn away from the view. Rick’s lips turn up just slightly, and with him, that’s about as good as it gets. It’s not that he doesn’t have emotions. I know he does. I’ve seen them. They're just rare, or at least they used to be.
Kratos pushes off the couch with a new mug in hand, walking it over to Jade and offering it to her.
She turns away from the window long enough to press a kiss to his lips before she takes the coffee and turns back to the view.
Kratos wraps an arm around her waist, pulling her to his chest, where she rests her head as he mumbles a good morning to her, kissing the top of her head.
To anyone else, this would be a typical family setting, minus the fact that there are six of us and one of her. Nobody would look at this exchange and think we’re criminals, gang members, or mafia royalty. It works for us, though.
Trent joins us not long after, looking far more put together, used to early mornings and late nights with his shifts on the force.
We all sit enjoying the coffee, and the kitchen staff eventually brings out more, along with a tray of breakfast pastries.
They smell delicious, and it doesn’t take long for that to steal Jade’s attention.
She’s got a serious sweet tooth.
I watch as she turns around with a smile, eyeing the sugary morning pastries, only to realize I’ve been watching her for a while now.
Something about her joy in such simple things is intoxicating.
Not that she isn’t already amazing to look at, but the joy she has in things we take for granted, like the sun rising over a beautiful view, really stuns me.
She has so much power, with both Vengeance and now the Bratva, and instead of letting it go to her head, she uses it to help those who can’t help themselves.
Money and power are often said to be the root of all evil in the world.
They make people crazy, but not Jade. It’s as if she doesn’t function within the usual scope of the world.
She’s a breath of fresh air, and it was one of the first things that drew me to her.
The way she didn’t even bat an eye at calling people out, my sister included, no matter their status.
She wasn’t out collecting guys because they could help her climb the social ladder.
She was looking for loyalty and trust, something so many people overlook.
Before she reaches the couch, I see her eyes dart to the pool that sits just a few feet away. Her brow pinches slightly, and she backtracks, going the long way around before plopping down on Trent’s lap.
“Oof, good morning to you, too, Sweetness,” Trent says, hooking his finger under her chin and turning her head to give her a kiss.
It’s simple and sweet, but still makes me wish she had sat with me.
Judging by the looks on the rest of the guys' faces, I don’t think I’m the only one with that line of thought right now, either.
“Mornin’, Officer,” Jade says in a sultry tone and a playful smile on her face. It shouldn’t be as attractive as it is, but then again, I’m not sure Jade knows how to be unattractive.
Trent groans before he drops his hand from her chin and tickles her sides. Jade might be pretty damn good at fighting, but we’ve come to find out she’s pretty damn ticklish, something the guys have been using against her mercilessly since they discovered it.
“I give!” she shrieks as she dissolves into a fit of laughter, trying to wiggle free of his grip.
I grab one of the little server plates and put two cornetto ripienos on it. There are a few different fillings from the looks of it, but I grab one Nutella and one custard, two things I know Jade loves.
Once Trent finally stops attacking her, I hold the plate out in offering. Her eyes sparkle as she looks down at the pastries before she takes the plate from me with a smile.
I let her get a few bites before I ask my question. I wasn’t positive yesterday when we sat down to talk, but now I am.
“Can you swim, Jade?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light and curious.
It doesn’t work. The second I’ve asked, I wish I could snatch the words back up. Her smile melts away as she goes stiff, sitting straight up. The pastry’s forgotten as she sets it back on the plate, no longer enjoying it, no matter how sweet it might be.
Idiot.
I’m a fucking idiot.
Her eyes dart to the pool entrance again before she gives me her attention, and I know the answer, even without her saying it aloud.
“Way to pay attention, Jake,” she tells me with a small, forced smile.
“Yeah, good job, asshole,” Zander growls under his breath, smacking me upside the head, hard, and I don’t even bother trying to defend myself.
“Hey!” Jade yells in outrage.
“No, it’s fine. I deserved that,” I tell her, but she ignores me. Instead, she stands, walking past me and stopping in front of Zander. Her face is set in a scowl, and if she wasn’t trying to defend me because I was stupid, it might be funny to watch him cower.
Until she turns her annoyance to me, less funny now.
“It’s not fine,” she tells me before turning back to Zander. “You keep your hands to yourself. He’s allowed to ask questions, even if they make me uncomfortable. All of you are.”