His Mission (HIS SERIES Book 1) by SAKINA HUSSAIN (ebook reader library TXT) 📕

the gang but when you go missing for hours on end, I need to have some sort of reassurance that I won't get a phone call saying you've been shot. . . " I drift off, feeling uneasy. He turns towards me, his words blunt.

"You don't need to worry about me, I can handle myself."

"That's not the point, I'm scared of the whole gang job you have Jake. I don't know whether you're going to come home alive and safe every time you leave. It scares me, a lot."

"Muffin, I'm sorry. I can't leave, it's not possible."

"Why isn't it possible? Do you enjoy what you do?"

"I don't enjoy it," Jake says quietly, his voice coming out like a low rumble.

"So leave."

He turns his head towards me, sadness filling his eyes. I glance back at the vulnerability and fear that takes over his features. It's one of the very few times I've seen Jake scared. The sight of his fear makes my heart ache for him.

"I can't, I took an oath."

He stands off the bed and lifts his shirt over his head, muscles in his arms flexing as he does so. His smooth toned body greets me and I suck in a breath, my eyes roaming his body. He points at a section on his skin, ignoring my burning stare. A tattoo is inked across his chest.

"Do you see this?" He asks me quietly and I nod, having studied it plenty of times before.

“It translates to brother in Spanish. I got this when I joined the gang years ago. Every gang member has to get it, Amil brands us all. Once we have it, we're brothers. You don't leave your brothers."

"What happens if you do leave?"

Jake breaks eye contact with me, looking at the floor instead as he pulls his shirt back on. He takes a few moments to answer but when he finally does, it sends chills running through my body.

"You die."

*****

"This looks amazing." I breathe out, taking a seat next to Ivory at the table. Myra beams at me.

"Thanks honey, it's nothing really." She waves off her effort and I glance at the table, my mouth watering at the feast in front of us. There are two different types of grilled meat, noodles and rice, battered prawns, pastry parcels and a rainbow salad laid out in front of us. Ivory grabs a plate, putting one down in front of me.

"Mum is like the most amazing cook, she'll fatten you up in no time." Ivory giggles and I grin back at her. I'm so glad to finally be reunited with Ivory, she's like a sister to me. She cried when I got back from the hospital and filled me in on all the gossip going on in college. I've planned to see Trish tomorrow but I'm yet to see Tobias. Apparently he'd gone AWOL ever since he knew I'd be back today.

Jake waltz in, running a hand through his damp hair. I can tell he'd just showered and my eyes roam over his appearance, a small smile on my lips. He subtly raises an eyebrow at me, smirking before turning towards Myra.

"Food smells amazing Aunty M, thank you."

He kisses her cheek before taking a seat next to me. My heart warms at his sweet relationship with his family . . . something I wouldn't have expected from him at all.

"So honey, how are you feeling? We've all been so worried." Aunty Myra says, pouring me a glass of red wine. I motion for her to stop as the glass was starting to become way too full. I'm a lightweight and a sip of wine would probably have me crawling on the floors. . .

"I feel so much better now I'm here, a little pain but the doctor gave me painkillers. Plus Jake has been taking care of me very well." I tell her, taking Jake's hand in mine. I give his hand a little squeeze before turning back towards Myra. She was smiling warmly in Jake's direction and I could tell how much love she has for him.

"He is a very loving boy," Myra replies and Jake cleared his throat beside me —

"I am sat right here and don't call me loving, it's embarrassing." He grimaces, shoving a prawn whole into his mouth.

"Jake, please don't eat like an animal," she replies, shaking her head at Jake's caveman habits. He shrugs, grabbing another prawn —

"I'm hungry and I'm a man, sue me."

"He's wrong about the man part." Ivory whispers on my other side sniggering and I bite back a laugh.

"Hey! I heard that, you're shit at whispering." Jake says, narrowing his eyes at Ivory.

"Jake, no swearing at the table please." Myra says, loading food onto her own plate. I sit there patiently until everyone plates up their own foods before adding some chicken and rice to my own.

"Is that all you're having?" Jake asks me, eyebrows raised at my plate. I nod —

"I'm not that hungry."

"Emily, you need to eat more than that. Remember what the doctor said?"

"How can I forget? He repeated it like three times," I responded, taking a sip of my wine. I immediately scrunch my face up at the disgusting taste of vinegar in my mouth. It hits me straight away and I swallow it quickly, choking a little from the effort. Myra chuckles at my reaction —

"First time drinking wine honey?" She asks and I nods, pushing the wine glass away from me.

"I think I'll stick to water."

Ivory leans over and takes my glass, pouring the wine into her own.

"More for me!" She says cheerfully and I chuckle at her alcoholic ways. The kitchen door opens and I pause, fork hanging in mid air. Tobias mutters a greeting to his mum before sitting opposite me. I feel Jake physically still beside me and I