Sed de sangre {manxman}

22

Chapter Twenty Two - Too Sweet Of A Treat

Jax's POV:

An hour later I had freshened up and was wandering back into the kitchen to find Valeria had changed also and was waiting for me with a bright smile on her face. Either she really is a happy person or she's faking and wants to stab me.

I think I'm about to find out which one is true.

"Hi J! So I was thinking we could cook up a storm and have everyone in the clubhouse join for dinner, how does that sound? You can cook three courses and so can I," I nodded liking the sound of a group dinner.

I really liked the guys that were part of Valentino's mafia, they were all big softies when you got to know them and I know they loved everything I baked or cooked.

"So what do you think you'll cook?" I thought about it, the ideas coming to me straight away.

"I think I'm going to start with albondingas, then move onto honey glazed wings with a special fried rice, for dessert churros with dulce de leche, a lighter dessert to finish," Valeria rubbed her tummy in anticipation.

"Sounds yummy, I think I'm going to go for empanadas, paella and creama catalana," all Spanish and all good choices, dang.

We both got started on our starters, small talk flowing in between. "So, how did you and Valentino meet if you don't mind me asking?".

"We grew up together, our fathers were best friends, ran the mafia together. They were known as the Se de sangre brothers. Anyway, Valentino and I were childhood sweethearts, always have been always will be, even though his eye does seem to wander but I know that's all going to come to an end as we're getting married soon," my heart tightened at the thought.

I continue on making my Spanish meatballs as if her words didn't affect me. "That's sweet, I wish you guys all the best," I really did, Valeria seemed sweet and I just hoped that Valentino would treat her better than he treated me. Not that we were really together were we?

"Are you seeing anyone Jax?" Does that mean she doesn't know about me and Valentino? Or is this a test?

"Not at the moment, I'm not really looking for anything anyway," I muttered throwing the meatballs in to simmer.

"Why's that Jax?" I looked up to see Valentino smirking as he leaned against the wall of the kitchen.

I knew what he was trying to do and I didn't have time for meaningless games of jealousy. "Because, I was kidnapped and raped by my psychotic ex," I whispered feeling the tears starting to brim. "Excuse me for a moment," I whispered whilst wiping my hands on my apron and running out of the kitchen.

Running to the toilet in the reception of the clubhouse, I locked the door behind me and let the tears free. What was Valentino hoping to gain from these mind games he's playing. It's like he gets a kick out of seeing me hurt.

I need to start crying over everything. But crying over such torture is normal, what's wrong with me?

I continued to sit there trying to clear my mind and calm the tears before heading back into the kitchen where I could hear hushed shouting taking place between Valeria and Valentino.

"Jax I'm s-,". "I want to cook in silence if that's alright, I don't think the small talk thing is going to work out," without waiting for a response I whipped back around to my counter and continued on to my main course.

Almost three hours later I was done cooking and had set up the dining table. I really threw myself into the cooking to distract myself from what just happened and it paid off because everything looked amazing, I don't think I'd made better looking churros and the dulce de leche had never come out so smooth before!

"Everything looks amazing Jax!" Valeria complimented, I muttered an awkward thanks and made my way into the dining room to join everyone for dinner.

"Jax, you know your wings are my favourite things in this world!" Juan cried with happiness, I couldn't help but laugh at the look of pure excitement on his face.

"I made them extra special today, just for you Juan because you're my favourite," the others overheard and soon they were arguing about who was really my favourite, I ended up telling them all I loved them equally even though Alejandro always had the biggest space in my heart.

I noticed right away that Valentino's men didn't really talk much to Valeria, I find quite strange that in fact it seemed as if they didn't really like her. Or her food much for that matter.

I dished myself a bit of everything she cooked to see what was going on. The empanadas for starter, well the filling was nice but the pastry part, was a let down. The paella was nice in my opinion but something was missing! As for the dessert, it was rather bland.

However I wasn't going to say that to her face, I gave Valeria praise over her cooking and she returned it. My eyes flickered over to Valentino for a split second to see his eyes such almost as if in ecstasy, my eyes wandered down to his hand where he had one of my wings held between his thumb and index fingers, a bite missing.

A small smile found its way on to my face, at least he liked my cooking.

"Jax, I'll pay you to make these wings everyday, just for me, what do you say pollito?" I couldn't help but laugh at the nickname the guys have given me 'small chicken' I've come to love it.

"What do I get in return?" I asked stroking my imaginary beard.

"I'll give you the world!" One cried.

"I'll give you a big ole' sloppy kiss," no thanks.

"I'll give you some of this Spanish sau-," I cut that one off quickly.

"All of your offers suck, come back to me when you have something worth my time," I joke. After dinner the guys offer to help me with the plates which just needed up with us cracking more jokes.

They picked on me a lot but out of love, it was never nasty or malicious. Mostly just about my height because they were all way over 6 foot and about three times my size.

I caught Valeria staring at me almost as if she was trying to figure me out. "Is everything alright?" I asked her not liking the way her eyes watched my every move.

"Just wandering what you did to make the guys love you, I've tried to interact with them but they don't seem to like me much," I shrugged my shoulders.

"They only love me for my food and baked goods, ain't that right boys?" They all screamed a chorus of 'hell yeahs' making us all break into a fit of chuckles again.

Later on the evening some of us gathered in the cinema room to watch Brooklyn Nine Nine and Narcos, the whole way through they told me of stories back in Spain that seemed similar to Pablo's and his guys.

"Hey guys can I ask you something?" They all nodded waiting for me to ask my question.

"Is there a reason why you guys don't seem to like Valeria?" They all looked amongst each other uneasily.

Shoot, maybe I shouldn't have asked. They all looked awkwardly at each other.

"Sorry if it's a sensitive subject I didn't me',"

"She's getting in the way of what we want, she's changing everything, this isn't how things are meant to end!" what does that mean?