Chapter 5 – Bare
Jake's gaze swept over the familiar mile-high walls covered in ornate artwork and stained glass images. The intricate patterns depicting parables ordered in time succession allowed the smallest glow of sunlight to seep in and at various points of fault, pin lights glowed in rays around the space.
The dim light glowing from dozens of candles flickered around the immense room, as he heard his own tapping footsteps echo from his tentative, measured gait.
He smelled the familiar mixture of incense and burning and age, then quickly kneeled and crossed himself at the end of the lengthy aisle as he approached the structure he had visited so many times in his life; it felt almost second nature.
"Bless me, Father, for I have sinned," Jake began, after folding his large frame onto the small kneeler in the comparably tiny confessional. "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," crossing himself instinctively. He continued, "It has been two months since my last confession."
He poured and scrubbed and cleansed his soul.
The kills. The drugs. Bella. Leah. The lies. His coveting. The lust. The sex. His envy.
The wrath.
Jake told it all.
He had to do this.
Because, with each passing day, he felt himself, his real Jake self, slowly slipping away, being faded and blurred with Eli, and well, he wasn't willing to let that happen.
He remembered once when he'd just started as an undercover agent, Leah's worried warning that he needed to stay true to himself, that it would be all to easy to lose himself when he was fully submerged in an entirely different identity for so long. That he had to remember who he was and what his true desires were. Why he was doing all this. Why he chose this path instead of being a straight up and down, uniform-wearing cop. He had a gift for this type of law-enforcement, people typically trusted him, and he genuinely believed that his abilities were best suited outside the station.
But then, he delighted in this case - not only would bringing down the Cullens be a career-defining achievement, but Eli's life was fast and sexy and new.
Jacob Black was a man from the streets with a less than squeaky clean history with the law, yet he'd become a dedicated officer who graduated nearly top of his class. A man who was raised in a deeply religious home, his family didn't have much, but they were close-knit and looked out for each other. His mother still asked him if he was attending mass, if he was obediently partaking in the Holy Sacraments, which of course was a loaded question.
Yes, he was doing all those things, to the best of his ability, but, well, he killed people.
A lot.
Was there a place for a man like him? Would God forgive his transgressions, so many of them mortal sins?
Murder.
It was all a constant, maddening fight he struggled with daily.
Eli was the heavy. He was the muscle.
Jake? Jake was the soul. He was the heart.
He still remembered his first communion and how nervous he was, even at that young age he wanted to be pleasing in the sight of God. Even as an altar boy, smelling the heady scents wafting from the thurible he carried, or later walking among the dozens of flickering candles ringing the altar bell, he did it with steady hands and a strong heart. He believed it all, just as he believed that what he was doing day to day was for the greater good.
That's what kept him; that's what sustained him.
So, how does a man like him, this devout Catholic, family man, and all around upstanding man become Eli?
Well, that was easy. Eli had become everything that Jake hated and loved about himself, about his life.
Eli was sure and confident. He had no rules; there were no barriers. Jake was afraid to admit that it was almost orgasmic shooting a motherfucker who was threatening him or someone he cared about. But Eli? Eli did it for the reasons he did a lot of things - he wouldn't let someone stand in the way of the things he wanted. Never.
He found himself teetering on the very shaky line of morality, but wearily, found the lines between the two men blurring together. It was a lot more defined once.
With that slow realization came the lack of sleep, the guilt, the almost incessant self-reflection, and at times, the loneliness. Jake couldn't imagine one other person on the planet that really understood the internal conflict that burdened him daily. The problem with building so many walls around his heart, his emotions - which was the only way he could really stay alive while this deep in - was that at some point they would all fall down.
...like a pile of weak, flimsy twigs. He was afraid most of that. Of being open and exposed and raw, of being left alone with himself, because himself was someone he hadn't been full-time in so long. So, in spite of himself, he kept building that barrier and did the things he needed to do to keep himself sane - he didn't think about it, not ever. Except for when he entered this tiny space, the quiet four walls that had helped carry his burden.
Above all, he had to keep it together. He had to carry on with life like there was no change, like everything, every plan was being carried on as usual. He had learned how to lie, to deceive...almost to a fault.
Today, and tonight, and tomorrow, his penance for his sins would be the same.
He would pray for each of the souls he had taken from this earth.
He would pray for salvation and forgiveness.
He would carry on, and he would let the guilt seep from his mind, despite his need for sleep and his desire to call his family and to have alone time.
So, when Emmett called with the meeting they had been planning for weeks, he agreed to midday drinks because, well, he actually did like the guy and he needed to get out of the house.
What he didn't like so much though, was where he'd suggested they meet up.
Eclipse.
Great, like he needed this shit right after he'd been praying and confessing his sins to his priest.
A fucking all-nude strip club. At 3 in the afternoon.
Nice.
...and Bella was visiting her parents in Jacksonville all day, so after staring at hot naked women for three hours, he couldn't even do anything about it.
Even better.
Eclipse was the kind of place doctors and judges in central Miami came to blow off steam. The drinks were strong; the girls were perfect, and it was close enough to most federal buildings to stop by after a day of work, but out of the way enough that no one would ever catch you heading in there.
Unless they were going in themselves.
Two floors, and almost as large as Twilight, Eclipse had a steady stream of patrons, so having a good crowd on a day like today, a Tuesday afternoon, wasn't a new occurrence. Jake had been to places over the years, especially in his native Chicago, where bench-warmer dancers played the daytime, weekday shift while the better dancers got their pick of weekend nights.
Not here. Every girl was a starter. All day, everyday was the championship game and the rich and powerful men (and some women) of southern Florida were their eager and appreciative the fans. Jake was sure millions of dollars filtered through this place on a weekly basis, and he knew the Cullen's wanted in.
Emmett was a huge misogynistic Neanderthal, but stupid, he was not. He chose Eclipse now, this day, for a reason.
Jake waved off a petite Cuban dancer with waist-length black hair and perfect breasts to slide into a lounge area to the rear of the club that had been specially roped off for them. Emmett had other plans though, gesturing to a girl he'd been eyeballing since they hit the club. The sun-streaked blond grinned and sauntered over to the table in her electric blue mesh g-string and 7-inch Lucite platforms and began gyrating in front of him to the fast-paced beat booming through the club's sound system.
"You know E," Emmett said lighting up his cigar, as the young woman turned and sat her shapely ass on his crotch, "the only place I ever feel really comfortable at is at a titty bar?"
"Is that right?" Jake smirked taking his cranberry and orange juice from the waitress to his right, noticing an intricate butterfly tattoo on the blond's left hip.
"Hell yes. The only thing these chicks want from me is my money. But that's clear though. They dance a little, bend over a little, then I pay them. Badabing," he brushed his massive hands together, then continued. "At least you know where you stand, you know?"
Jake chuckled taking a long sip from his glass, "Nice, Emmett… poetic even."
"I'm serious, man. Everywhere else in my life, someone always wants something, but they try the shakedown-the old bait and switch. I don't trust anyone, no one but you and my brothers. Not really."
Jake sat thoughtfully for a moment, "Not even Rose?"
"Especially not that greedy bitch. If I got wacked, she'd pat my pockets first, then call the paramedics."
A laugh bubbled up inside Jake that he couldn't suppress; it was infectious, and a second later, Emmett had all but doubled over, laughing beside him.
The song ended with the dancer looking at Emmett expectantly; he smiled at her, then reached into his wallet, folding a new hundred dollar bill length-wise. Her eyes lit up as she placed her hands on his shoulders and whispered something Jake was sure was pretty lewd to get a grin out of Emmett. He nodded, then slid the cash into her matching blue garter on her thigh.
Jake had to wave off several more dancers politely. He realized who he was sitting with, not to mention he was pretty well-dressed and by all accounts handsome, so he tried not to get too annoyed. But, after the third girl, a brunette who reminded him so much of Bella, only much more curvaceous, came and asked for a dance, he had to say yes. If not for the fact that Emmett was starting to look at him funny, his dick was getting hard. There were too many girls, too much naked ass not to indulge, just this once.
And so she began, and Jake watched her with hungry, lustful eyes.
He watched her bright red thong disappear between her ass the magical way it did with women, then re-appear, dipping dangerously low in the front. Her dark hair falling in curls around her golden brown shoulders, though, the best part of her were her eyes. The most peculiar hazel Jake had ever seen. She smiled at him and nodded as her hips moved and grinded against him, and he knew this was a bad idea...fuck.
He groaned to himself as the song wrapped; she wasn't moving, instead leaning and arching her back against his chest, and sliding his hands to her full breasts.
"You want a...private dance, baby?" she whispered over her shoulder into his ear, and his dick got even harder."I promise its so much better than this."
NO! NO! NO! This is bad, bad business.
He chucked smoothly about to gently decline her offer, just as he caught sight of a familiar woman across the club approach. He turned to Emmett who was already rising to his feet, being led by one of the only fully clothed women in the room.
With barely a "Maybe next time, sweetheart," Jake walked to the rear of the club following Emmett and the two statuesque beauties in the tight black dresses leading them through a heavy maroon velvet curtain, through the immaculate kitchen, down a familiar lengthy hallway, and down a small staircase to a steel door.
"Em...so good to see you," said the redhead seated importantly behind a large mahogany L-shaped desk, looking every bit the CEO she was. Her shoulder blade length curly hair had been flat ironed and blown within an inch of its life, her perfect size-two body squeezed into a sinful grey knee-length pencil skirt and gold satin blouse.
"Ness, you're looking beautiful as ever," Emmett said with a cordial smile, kissing her cheek and handing her off to Jake.
"...and you've brought your Eli, I see. Eli Wolfe. So good to see you as well," she said suggestively. "I'm so glad you've come to play today."
Jake coughed, "You as well Ness. I see you're doing well."
"Well I try, you know. I'm doing alright, what with keeping all these girls in line." She said shrugging, just as the two women stood obediently behind her, and she took a seat in her chair. "Can I offer you gentlemen a drink?"
"Yes, please. I'll have bourbon, if you have it," Emmett said looking toward one of the women already walking to a cabinet and pouring the dark liquid into a glass.
Ness nodded, then turned to Jake.
"Water, please," he said with a sheepish smile. Ness raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. She didn't find many men who'd turn up her premium personal selection, how interesting.
As she surveyed the obviously fuckable body covered by that Italian suit, she knew she'd have him in her bed soon enough. Eli just looked like he had an enormous dick, like the type who'd be into kinky shit. Like he'd throw her against the wall and fuck her senseless in every orifice, lick her until she came, pull her hair and call her every vulgar name possible. She briefly wondered if he'd be into two girls...wait, who was she kidding? Every man's into that. She hoped he wasn't a cuddler though; she really hated that shit.
Vanessa Dwyer had made quite a name for herself in Miami. Drugs, guns, girls- she did it all. She'd had her own little empire in her own right, but after her husband, Eric, died three years back, she'd taken over an entirely new piece of the city's underworld marketplace. She was as ruthless as she was beautiful, and she'd had her eye on Jake for some time now. He'd never taken her up on her suggestion six months ago - that they get together - but she didn't get where she was today buy walking away from a challenge. Really, the best part of the hunt was the chase.
Jake thought Ness was hot as hell, and as much as he'd love a roll in the hay with one of the most powerful and sexy women he'd ever met, he just didn't need those kinds of problems. Not right now. The last thing he wanted was to mess up with yet another woman in his life - Bella was enough for him.
"Well, gentlemen, what can I do for you today, " she sighed, grasping the slim water glass before her and taking a long sip, " or did you just come for my company?"
"Well, Vanessa..."
"Ness, please, Eli. We're old friends now," she said with a smile that could have melted the paint off the walls.
"Excuse me, Ness. Well, we hear you may have a need for a new arms shipment..."
"Ah, of course...the Cullen boys are getting into the fire field. I see," she said coolly, leaning forward and lacing her fingers together. "Well, that is something I'd be willing to discuss. What are we talking here?"
"Mostly semi-automatic, the shipment is pretty large, upwards of 200 pieces. Berettas, Glocks, .32s..." Emmett said taking a sip of his drink.
She nodded, placing a manicured nail to her lips and patting gently. "Alright. We'd like to have a look. If everything is on the up and up, we can talk about price, but with those numbers, I think you'll be happy with what I'll offer."
Well, that was quick. Jake had always thought the Cullen's move into firearms dealing would have taken more work, but with friends like this, he was relieved to realize things may go a bit smoother than he'd originally thought.
"Lauren," Ness said softly, not breaking her gaze with Jake, "please set up some time with these gentlemen for our further discussion."
As the meeting ended, a little less than an hour later, Emmett made his leave, while Ness called Jake to stay behind for a moment. Emmett grinned and made his way out of the office, as Ness walked around her desk, waving her two body guard-assistants out of the room behind him.
She swayed over to him with her confidence and power just as apparent as her bronze hair, placing her delicate palm on his chest.
"You know Eli, I usually never mix business..." she stepped even closer to Jake, enough that he could smell her deliciously expensive perfume and feel her soft body against his, "...and pleasure..." she trailed that hand down and gripped his cock through his pants. Just as she suspected...fucking huge.
"...but I'm willing to make an exception for you. That offer still stands." In one swoop, she reached for a cream-colored business card, lightly rubbed it over her now hardened nipple, then her neck, finally placing it in his breast pocket. "You pick the place and time. I'll... handle everything else," she whispered darting her tongue across his earlobe. Jake didn't move a muscle, trying with everything in him not to let Eli rip her panties off, lift her onto her desk and wrench her thighs apart.
"Well, uh, Ness...that sounds extremely tempting," Jake said, not able to stop himself from placing a palm on her soft hip. "I'll definitely take that into consideration." He felt the weight of his erection pressing against his pants, and tried not to think of the insanely sexy woman all but throwing herself at him in this moment, so he could walk straight.
Ness was pleased with herself. Yep. She'd have him soon, very soon... and he'd come to her. They all did.
"You do that," she purred, placing a kiss along his jaw and stepping backwards, an action his dick cried out against. Jake stepped back as well, attempting to get both his erection and breathing under control. Emmett was waiting for him, and once he saw Jake's pained expression as they on the main floor, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Did a number on you, didn't she?" Emmett chuckled, slapping Jake on the back.
"Holy fuck..." he whispered as they exited and parted ways in the parking lot. He needed to burn off some fucking steam or he was sure the dick was gonna fall the fuck off.
Once at his condo, he stripped off his clothes, changing into warm-ups and a tank, then checking his messages.
Bella. Embry. Seth.
After quickly returning the calls, he took off around his neighborhood, queuing up the loudest head-banging song in his MP3 player. The weather was decent for once, so the threat of a heat stoke wasn't looming so heavily.
Two hours, 5 miles, 200 sit-ups, and a round on the speed bags later, he still had a bit of an issue that wasn't going away.
So, as he stood in his shower, lathering his body, running shampoo through his hair, attempting to stretch out his now-tight muscles with the water set to near-scalding, his thoughts drifting to Bella.
Of so many of their times together. Her soft thighs parted just for him, her lips groaning and sighing his name. That mouth sucking and licking the head of his cock. Her sweet pussy lips sliding over his length...
His fingers wrapped themselves around his hardness and he stroked...stroked...then, without warning, those same thoughts went to Ness. Her ass in that tight skirt, her confidence, those nipples pressed so proudly against the thin fabric of her shirt...FUCK!
His orgasm gripped him as he pumped his hand, slick from the water and soap, again...again...
He couldn't move, not for the first few minutes, so, he let the water beat against him, resting his forehead against the wall. After he gained his bearings, he dressed and began preparing dinner; tonight seemed like a steak kinda night.
Jake was happy to be alone for once actually. He'd gotten some work done with Emmett, checked in with the team, spoken with his best friend and still had a few more hours to kill. Mindless television and net-surfing seemed like the ticket, so, after his meal, and a couple of beers, he settled on his bed, remote to his left, laptop in tow.
He hadn't even realized he drifted off until he heard movement in his apartment. Jake's ears perked and he strained to listen, to discern what the sound was, attempting to shrug it off as the house settling or perhaps late-night sounds from the condos around his. He sat up, and willed his eyes to focus on the shadowy figure now entering his bedroom, but he couldn't see anything. So instead, instincts soaring along with his heartbeat, he reached for the Glock he kept stashed under his pillow.
Not tonight motherfucker.
.
A/N - Awww shit. Jake/Eli might have to kill a motherfucker. Who could it be?
Also - for all my Catholic faith readers out there: I am not Catholic, so anything that has been mentioned thus far is what I've gleaned from research. If anything seems out of whack, I apologize in advance.
Thank you to my beta HopefulWager and all the WC chickies I write with. You make this whole fic thing soooo much more fun.
Wanna play? Find me on Twitter: ArtBeatsandLife