Page 40 of Mutual Obsession (Rivals of Blackthorn #2)

T he next couple of days pass by almost too normally. Either me or Jake stays with Indie at all times.

Even though there’s no increased risk to her life that we’re aware of, it’s like there’s an unspoken agreement between us that she doesn’t leave our sight. Now we know about the danger, we feel responsible for her safety.

I’m not sure how it happened, but I’ve spent every night in Indie’s bed. The second night, I started in my own room, but was awoken again by the sound of her screaming. I rushed into her room and held her while she sobbed, breaking my heart in the process.

If seeing how terrified the nightmares make her isn’t bad enough, in an attempt to be more open and honest, she’s started telling me about them too, which is even fucking worse.

The thought of that arsehole putting his hands on Dee makes my blood boil, and I spend far longer than is healthy plotting all the ways I can make him scream in agony, before I steal his last breath.

So the next night, rather than wait for her to wake up in a state, I found myself creeping into her room. She didn’t say anything as she shuffled over, making room for me beside her.

I breathed a sigh of relief the next morning when she woke up after an undisturbed night’s sleep with less dark circles under her gorgeous emerald eyes. It helps that she always gives me the sweetest kiss as she wishes me good morning, pulling away quickly to prevent us from moving too quickly.

It’s a good thing she has the willpower to pull away, as mine is slipping quickly with each kiss.

Indie’s pulling me in the same way she did all those years ago, winning me over with her shy smile and her twinkling emerald eyes.

Not to mention her fucking sexy curves pressed against me in an almost painful way.

With each day that passes, and every night we spend in each other’s arms, I can feel the cracks in my heart healing. She’s plastering over the hurt, making me whole again, but this time she’s willing to share my heart with Jake…if he’s ready for that.

Tonight, Indie is working at the club, and since Marcus and Chloe are having a date night, I have the evening off. So, despite it being Jake’s turn to watch over Indie, I find myself heading over to Caged.

It only takes me a few minutes to spot Jake sitting on his own in a booth by the window. His gaze is fixed on Indie, watching her every move, and I smile at how protective he is over her.

I grab a Diet Coke from the bar and head over to the booth, sliding in next to Jake. Even though he repeatedly tells me he’s not bothered if I drink, I don’t feel comfortable getting anything alcoholic when I’m with him, particularly as I’m his sober companion.

Although alcohol has never been Jacob’s main vice, it’s a slippery slope. For him, the environment around him, and the situations he finds himself in, can be a trigger.

Having a drink may not lead to him wanting more, but it could trigger him wanting something harder, so it’s best to avoid it all. Jacob has been doing well recently, particularly given all the stressful situations we’ve found ourselves in, and I don’t want to derail him.

As soon as I sit beside him, I can tell he’s on edge. He leans around me, not taking his eyes off Indie even to greet me. My nerves prickle, and my bodyguard instinct kicks in, slipping me into hyper-awareness mode.

“What’s going on?” I ask, trying to follow his line of sight.

There’s a group of young guys in a booth on the opposite wall, and they all look to have had quite a bit to drink. Indie is their server, and it’s clear they keep trying to get her attention, pulling her from her other tables.

“Can we throw those twats out, please? They’re being way too flirty with Indie,” Jake says through gritted teeth, glaring at the men, even though they can’t see him.

I roll my eyes at how fucking dramatic he is. “If they were a problem, security would have thrown them out already. Indie knows the signal if she wants them gone.”

My security staff are very well trained, and I only hire the best. In addition to them watching at all times, the servers all know the emergency signals.

They can let us know if a customer is getting too rowdy and needs a warning, they can signal if someone needs to be cut off, and there’s an emergency gesture that lets us know if we need to intervene straight away, kicking the customer out without debate.

Indie knows these signals, just like everyone else, and she’s not afraid to use them. The fact she hasn’t yet is reassuring, though Jake doesn’t see it that way.

“We should just kick the fuckers out anyway,” he grumbles, scowling at me when he doesn’t get his own way.

I can’t help but smirk at him. “Are you jealous?”

He narrows his eyes at me. “Of course, I’m fucking jealous. She’s ours. Nobody else's. Nobody gets to look at her, flirt with her, or touch her except us.”

The possessive tone of his voice sends a shiver down my spine, making my blood heat. Hearing him call Indie ours has my cock hardening, straining against my jeans.

“I had no idea you were so possessive,” I tell him.

He leans towards me, closing the gap between us, and doesn’t stop until I can feel his breath fluttering against my cheek. There’s a heated look in his chocolate eyes, making them appear almost black. “I feel the same way whenever someone flirts with you.”

A shiver ripples over my skin and my breath hitches. My heart is pounding so loud, it’s almost in time with the bass of the music playing loudly over the club’s speakers. My dick is now painfully hard, throbbing with a desperate urge to be touched.

Just as I’m about to respond, all hell breaks loose. The frat boy sitting on the end, closest to the dancefloor, puts his hand on Indie’s arse, and in the quickest reaction I’ve seen, she slaps him around the face.

Both Jacob and I fly out of our seats, rushing across the club in a desperate attempt to reach Indie before things get worse. I see my security team rushing over from the opposite direction, having witnessed the altercation too.

I’m the first to reach them, and as soon as I have Indie within my grasp, I wrap my arms around her and pull her away. I push her behind me, protecting her with my body.

I expect to turn around and find Jake doing the same. Instead, he’s launching himself at the preppy idiot who dared to touch what doesn’t belong to him.

Jake lands his first punch with a striking blow, and blood pours from the guy’s nose as he screams, but Jake isn’t finished. He gets at least another four hits in before security reaches us, while the guy’s friends just stand there frozen, watching their friend get the shit kicked out of him.

I keep Indie tucked away behind me as I move backwards, taking her further away from any danger. I then reach over and grab Jake, just as he’s preparing to throw another punch, wrapping my hand around his wrist to hold him back.

He turns to glare at me as my security staff reaches us. As soon as they see it’s me taking care of Jake, they turn their attention back to the other men, one of whom is a bloody mess.

“Get them all the fuck out of here,” I shout to my team, who nod in acknowledgment. “And make sure they know they’re never welcome back.”

I hear the other guys, who are with their friend, trying to argue with security, saying it’s unfair that they should be punished for his behaviour.

We’re one of the best clubs in Blackthorn, so of course they don’t want a lifetime ban, but I really don’t give a shit. They should pick their company better.

As I pull him backwards, Jake continues to struggle, trying to get away from me. He’s so fired up still, I know it won’t take much for him to lose it again. I have to get him away from this shitshow, and fast.

I drag him down the staff only corridor, heading straight for my office, motioning for Indie to follow behind us. She shuffles reluctantly, her head drooped as she stares at the ground the whole time, looking like a child who’s been told to go to the headteacher’s office to get told off.

I can feel the rage practically vibrating off Jake as I push him into my office, closing the door once Indie has followed us in. I push him into one of the chairs, glaring at him when he attempts to argue with me.

Turning to Indie, I place a hand on her cheek, rubbing my thumb over her soft skin, as I tilt her chin until she meets my gaze. She’s trembling slightly, biting on her bottom lip, but I’m relieved to see she’s not crying.

“Are you okay, Gorgeous Girl? Did you get hurt?” I ask, running my fingers over her arms, dragging my gaze over every inch of her body as I assess for injuries.

She shakes her head, letting go of her bottom lip as she says, “No, I’m just a little shook up.”

I turn and glare at Jake, before looking back at her. “I’m guessing that arsehole jumping in and throwing punches didn’t help?” I say accusingly.

Jake looks like he’s about to argue, but the death glare I throw his way makes it clear he needs to remain silent, and thankfully, he listens. Indie gives him a small, reassuring smile that seems to calm his rage just a little.

When she speaks, although it’s about Jake, she aims it at me, no doubt making it easier for her to vocalise what’s on her mind.

“I’m glad Jake tried to help me, but then I became more worried about him, thinking he was going to get hurt. There was a lot of chaos and violence, and that was quite scary for me. It triggered my anxiety a little.”

Jake’s face falls at Indie’s confession, and he looks sheepish. I give him a pointed glare, which only makes him appear more ashamed.

“I’m sorry I made the situation worse for you, Indie. That was never my intention. I just wanted to protect you.” Jake’s voice cracks at the end, the weight of his emotions hitting him, and I watch as his anger bleeds out of him, leaving behind a deflated man.