Jake Knight

Play list for this Chapter: Illicit Affairs by Taylor Swift

I'm going to be in a lot of shit because of you, asshole.

"Really?" He said and my head shot to him. He looked at me with an amused expression.

"What?" I asked him, narrowing my eyes and he laughed. He laughed. And it wasn't a normal one. It was deep. Melodic. One you couldn't forget. One you could listen to all day. One that could make you addicted. I looked at him carefully, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. It was that infectious.

"No one, and I mean no one, has called me an asshole, to my face." He laughed again and I gasped, covering a hand over my mouth.

"Did I really say that out loud?" I whispered and he heard me, his laughter ringing in my ears.

"Yes, you did. You know... my men would've killed you if you said this in front of them." He smirked and looked at me, before stopping in front of the cafe. "Ma non lascerò che ti tocchino." (But I won't let them touch you.) He whispered, and opened his door. "Come along now."

I opened the door on my side and stepped out, eyeing the cafe.

"Why'd you bring me here?" I asked him and he turned around to look at me.

"I'd like you to meet someone... important to me." He told me and went inside. I thought for a moment before following him inside.

Why would he want to show me to someone important? My thoughts were interrupted when a hand stretched out in front of me, and I looked up. A man with light brown hair and grey eyes stood in front of me, Nicholas to his side.

"You must be Dove. It's nice to finally meet you sober." He said and I furrowed my eyebrows before it dawned on me.

"You were at the club that day." I narrowed my eyes at him. "I remember now." I glanced at Nicholas before taking the hand of the man in front of me and shaking it firmly. "Nice to meet you...?" I looked at him expectantly.

"Ah, yes.. Jake. Jake Knight. Nicholas' best friend and right hand man." He said and let go of my hand. I raised my eyebrow questioningly at him and then at Nicholas.

"You have friends? Wow." I spoke, heading towards the counter where Mark stood, eyeing the men behind me suspiciously. I heard a chuckle behind me but didn't look back, smiling to myself, and bending down to get a good look at all the pastries.

"Lei mi piace." (I like her.) I heard Jake say to Nicholas who grunted in response.

I finally turned around. "You gentlemen planning to stare at my ass all day or will you order something?" I raised one of my eyebrows and heard a chuckle from Jake, who came forward and inspected the pastries like they were his prey.

"I'll have the coffee pastry Mark." I looked at Nicholas and Jake. "And two black coffees for these two." I pointed to the men beside me, fishing money out of my wallet. Nicholas came forward and took out his black bank card, but I put a hand on his, stopping him.

"You can show off later. Let me pay." I told him and he slowly retracted his hand, as if my touch burned him. Because his sure did. Paying for everything, we carried our order to a far booth in a corner and sat down. They both sat across me.

"So Jake... how do you know Nicholas?" I took a bite of the pastry, savoring it.

"We grew up together." He said, pointing to Nicholas and I nodded.

"What was he like when he was younger? Did he have a big ego like he does now? Did he do what he wanted to? Was he impulsive?" I asked him all these questions in one breath and Jake laughed. But it was nowhere near the melodic laugh Nicholas had.

"Yeah, just like that." He said laughing but Nicholas sat with a straight face, looking at me intently.

"Good to know." I whispered, matching the intensity of Nicholas' gaze and staring right back at him. He traced a thumb across his jaw, sipping his coffee, his gaze still on mine. I took another bite of my pastry, keeping the spoon in my mouth for much longer than needed, pulling it out slowly so no cream would be left on it.

Nicholas' lazy gaze followed my actions and his eyes darkened a shade, before flicking back to mine, he ran his tongue across his teeth and I licked my bottom lip when I felt some cream had been left there.

"Jeez..." Jake suddenly spoke and I glanced at him, remembering there was another person sitting here.

Oh, he was here too.

I felt the blood rush to my cheeks and I looked out the window and the people passing by.

"So Dove.. I heard you sang somewhere." Jake spoke and I looked at him, smiling.

"Yeah.. I have a gig today in fact.." I looked at my phone. It was just 4 P.M. "I have to be there at 7 P.M." Jake nodded.

"That's good.. And you're still studying, yes?"

"Yeah. My major's English Lit and I'm doing Psychology as an extra subject." I told him.

"That's nice. You into books?" He raised his eyebrows at me and I smiled at him.

"Is that even a question? I study English Lit. Of course I'm into books." I trailed off, taking another bite of my pastry and looking out the window when my blood froze over. Nicholas must've noticed because he tensed when he glanced at what I was looking at.

I looked away from Derek's gaze. He was looking at me, leaning on his car with a smirk on his face. I felt my blood boil just looking at him. He had the audacity to stalk me now. I got up suddenly, and stormed out of the cafe, Nicholas hot on my heels. I walked over to Derek who smiled wickedly.

"Couldn't ignore the love of your life now could you? I knew you'd come back to me baby." He grinned but all I felt was disgust. His hand reached out for me but I slapped him on his face. Hard.

"I can't believe you have the audacity to stalk me after fucking someone else." I let out a breath of amusement, but I wasn't amused at all. I just pitied him. He looked at me, anger visible in his eyes and raised his hand to slap me but another hand caught his before his made contact with my face.

I turned around and saw Nicholas behind me, anger rolling off of him, his eyes could be colder than the arctic and I could see the fear in Derek's eyes as his lip quivered.

Why were they so scared of him?

He pushed Derek onto the car, twisting his hand behind his back so that his back faced us. He was pressed against the car door and Nicholas leaned in to say something into his ear. I presumed it wasn't anything good the way Derek paled and fell to his knees in front of us.

"Get up." Nicholas growled and Derek did what he said. "Don't fucking show your face ever again." As soon as he said this, Derek opened his car door and scrambled inside, before driving off. I looked at the retreating car and felt an arm come from behind me and pull me to his chest. My back touched his chest and I leaned in to the warmth, forgetting everything and just melting in his presence.

"You okay?" He asked me and I nodded, closing my eyes and letting out a breath of relief." Come on. Let's get you home." He said and took my hand, leading me to his car. Jake was already standing there, coffee in hand.

"Stiamo andando a casa sua. Vieni?" (We're going to her house. You coming?) Nicholas asked him and Jake nodded.

"Si. Ti seguirò in macchina." (Yes. I'll follow behind in my car.) Jake told him and went towards another black car and got in.

"Is he coming with?" I asked Nicholas as we sat in the car.

"Yes." He said and we drove off. He parked his car and Jake did too. We all got out at the same time, and I led the way, fumbling for my keys on the way, I opened the door.

"Come on in." I gestured and they both went inside, taking off their coats.

"Dove, you home?" I heard Cole's voice call out from upstairs as he came running down but froze mid way when he saw the two men behind me.

Shit. I completely forgot I live with two other people.