Beyond the Edge (the Knight Series Book 3)

by Mari Brown

  “You think he’s going to be okay with Belmont being gone?” I ask

  “No, but he will be happy with the money it puts in his bank account. He will think he has it made. But that boy will blow it all as quick as he gets it.”

  As I listen to my dad and Frank talk I wonder what mental illness Sal has? Why is Frank selling out and abandoning him, basically? Who does that to family? He has to know the only way Sal will ever truly be stopped is if he is dead. He’s basically telling us to kill his nephew without saying the actual words.

  “Let’s order our food then we can get down to business.” My dad speaks as he signals the waiter over to our table. After placing our orders, my dad speaks, “Do you have papers drawn up already or will you need to get with your attorney?”

  “We have a draft started. I brought a copy with me. I assumed you would want to take it to your own lawyer.” Franks pulls a huge folder out of a briefcase sitting beside his chair. He hands it to my dad. I watch as my dad glances at it then places it to the side.

  “I’ll sit down with my attorneys and go over everything and then contact you when we are ready to meet together.”

  “That sounds excellent, Bruce.”

  Our meals are served and conversation is boring as we discuss the various holdings in Belmont that Frank is planning to sell off to us. As I listen to everything I can’t help but think that we are going to have to do some major restructuring and organizing to our business once this happens. In fact, before it happens we need to go ahead and start getting our people in place.

  As dad and I ride back to the mansion we talk about the sit down and I think my dad is impressed I’m already looking at the big picture of business.

  “Send Luke a text…. Have him meet us at the mansion so we can go over this with him. Also find out if Hunter has the list prepared for us so we can match it up with Frank’s list.” He grabs his own cell phone out and begins scrolling. “I don’t think he will screw us at this point but better to check.”

  He then punches the screen and places his phone to his ear.

  “Hey are you home? Good, meet us in my office; we have lots to discuss and call your brother. I love you, too, Kat.”

  “Seriously, did you just call my fiancée?” I ask my dad shaking my head.

  “Yes, I did. She’s my daughter.” he says with a smile “Plus, I wanted to make sure every one of our men knows she has my backing.”

  “You think there might be problems?”

  “Not really, but just in case. I want it clear that I fully support Kat running things by your side. It’s a new day and age… Women don’t just sit at home anymore.”

  I think about his words for a moment, “Dad, are you saying you want to see Kat and I run the empire together?”

  Silence follows my question. My dad appears to be lost in deep thought. I wait patiently for his reply. I fidget with my cell phone in my hand. I glance down waiting for a text from Hunter confirming he has the information ready for us. Luke has already replied he would be at the mansion waiting.

  “Yes, son,I think Kat and you should run things together. No one will be able to touch the Knights with you two in power.”

  Chapter 10

  Kat

  “It’s my favorite sister!” Drew’s teasing voice echoes across the room.

  “I’m your only sister, ass-hat.” I mockingly reply to my brother.

  It’s great seeing my brother walking and his spirit normal. The last couple of months have been hell on him. He’s been shot protecting Cole and then the explosion. How many lives does my brother have? I’m getting tired of worrying about him. I can’t lose him. He’s the only blood family I can count on. Our mother is useless and she never bothered to tell me who my dad was.

  “Any idea what this meeting is about?” Drew asks. He’s been out of the loop while home recuperating. Gracie, his beautiful girlfriend and my wonderful assistant, has been keeping him a virtual prisoner in their home. I can’t say I blame her.

  “Yeah, I’m pretty sure this has to do with the Martins. Bruce and Cole are on their way back from meeting with Frank.”

  “Really? So the old man is serious about selling out?” my brother’s skepticism is clear in his question.

  “It seems so,” I tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear as I glance at my brother. “Bruce sounded pretty serious when he called me.”

  The front door opens and light footsteps are heard echoing through the foyer as Luke appears in the entry to the family room. He smiles big when he spots me.

  “It’s my best friend!” He grins like the cat who ate the canary, “I’ve not seen you in forever.”

  “You were just here last night for dinner, like you are every night. Might as well ask Bruce to let you move in with us.” I reply dryly.

  “Nah! I want to move Julie in with me and away from all you mosey ass people.” He says with mirth.

  “Really?” I eye my friend trying to gage his intent, “Will we be planning another wedding soon?”

  I watch as horror crosses his face. Even Drew begins chuckling. “Um…” he shifts uncomfortably in his chair. “I wasn’t thinking that far ahead…”

  Laughter erupts from me. My friend is so uncomfortable right now and I could keep giving him a hard time but I decide not to. “It’s okay Luke, I’m teasing you. I get you just want to live in sin with her. I’m okay with that. Her father and brothers may not be… as understanding”

  “Um, yea.” his tone has taken on a seriousness, “I may need your help convincing them. Julie and I have actually talked about it.”

  I don’t say anything right away. Julie and him have been talking about living together and I’m just now hearing about it? I’m going to have to talk with my sister…

  “You want me to help y’all convince Bruce and Cole to let Julie move in with you?” I ask with mock disbelief.

  “Well... yea!” He replies looking at me hopefully.

  “I’ll see what I can do when the time is right. For now, I think we have bigger matters at hand right now.”

  “This is going to be fun.. Hey sis, please invite me over when you talk to Bruce and Cole. I want to be here when Luke is squirming in his seat.”

  “Fuck you, dude.” Luke says with not near as much confidence as he normally carries around.

  My laughter is the only sound before we lapse into silence.

  “Kitten!” I hear my man’s voice call out for me.

  “In the family room!” I yell back. Turning to my brother “We probably shouldn’t yell in the house like a bunch of wild children.”

  Drew chuckles. “I don’t know. Is that possible with Cole and you? I’m waiting for a big blow out any day now. You’ve been to lovey dovey.”

  “Hush your mouth, brother dear. Things are good for me. They are good for Cole. They are good for us. I don’t want anything changing that.” I stand up and begin making my way toward the doorway and run smack into a brick wall.

  I look into the eyes of the brick wall and see those beautiful eyes I fell in love with back when I was in high school. “Hey…” I say all breathy.

  “Kitten” Cole replies a little breathless himself

  “Oh get a room, you two!” Drew yells from across the living room.

  Cole and I ignore my brother as we continue to stare into one anthers eyes. I’m not sure what is going on right now. However, an intense sudden urge to attack my man has come over me. My body heaves with each breath. My knees grow weak and my pulse quickens. The tingling between my legs is building rapidly. Cole’s heated eyes tell me he is feeling it too.

  Cole doesn’t say another word as he lifts me up, throws me over his shoulder and marches toward the stairs with me. I want to protest but I can’t find words.

  “Son ,we have a meeting.” Bruce says standing with a knowing grin on his face.

  “Yeah, we’ll be there in a little while.” Cole says taking the stairs. My eyes open and glance at Bruce and I try to give him a small smile b
ut I’m too fucking turned on. Bruce just shakes his head as he moves off to join Luke and Drew.

  Not a word is spoken between Cole and I as he moves us to our bedroom. I just hang over his shoulder enjoying the view of his delectable ass. When he gets in our room he sets me down gently while kicking the door closed behind us and he reaches behind and locks it before he attacks me. His mouth overpowers mine. It’s as if he is trying to consume me.

  Hell, I crave him right now. Whatever my man wants, I'm ready to give him. This is the only time I give up control. Cole is completely in charge of me in the bedroom. I am willing to submit and give him whatever he desires. It wouldn’t happen in any other area of life but it will every time in the bedroom.

  “We have to make this quick…” Cole says huskily by my ear as he kisses along my neck.

  “mmmm…” is the only sound I make.

  “Strip now.” He commands. I don’t hesitate. I remove my clothes as quickly as I can as I move toward our sofa. My clothes litter the floor from our door to the couch. As I stop by the sofa I realize that Cole is naked as well. “Bend over, Kitten.”

  I do as he instructs and bend over the end of the couch. My hands flatten on the arm of the couch. His hand slides between my legs and rubs across my very wet pussy.

  “Already ready for me Kitten?” He mumbles. His hand draws back and I can sense him stroking his cock and then his cock is rubbing the crack of my ass down and slipping right into my waiting pussy.

  We groan with relief as he sinks deep inside of me. Neither of us move as we enjoy the sensation of him filling me. He pulls out slowly. My mind screams “move faster” yet no words leave my mouth. I feel like I am on overload while he teases my body.

  “Cole, please…” I beg.

  “What’s my Kitten want?” he ask while pausing with just the tip of his cock still inside me.

  “Fuck me, pleeeease!”

  He doesn’t say a word as he drives into me, sending me off balance. I have to right myself and grip the arm of the sofa. I’m holding on for dear life as he ***aggressively takes me hard and fast. I spread my legs a bit to allow him more room. He continues moving in and out of me. I find myself matching his pace. I begin working just as hard as him. His hand snakes around and begins rubbing slow steady circles on my clit.

  Our bodies move as one, over and over as we make love because while it’s aggressive there is nothing but love flowing between us. I’m thankful and blessed to be marrying Cole. He’s my perfect half. He’s my soul mate. Everything we have been through together as a couple has made us stronger and the people we are today; the couple who won’t let anything stand in their way.

  “Kitten, I love the feel of your pussy wrapped around my cock.”

  I moan at his words. I can’t make a logical thought come out of my mouth right now. I’m so lost in the way I feel. My body is on pleasure overdrive.I want to tell him I love him but the words won’t leave me.

  “It’s so hot and tight. It’s like a little slice of heaven.” he whispers by my ear as his hand continues to rub my clit, heightening the pleasure. I’m so close to the cusp of my orgasm. I need it more than anything now.

  “Cole…” I managed to say his name but nothing else.

  “I know what you need, Kitten…and I’m giving it to you now.” The pressure of his fingers on my clit grows as he drives into me hard and deep and then he whispers one more time, “Come for me, Kitten!”

  And a moment later it happens. My eyes are shut tight and all I see is little white glitter in the blackness as my orgasm rocks my body. I feel it from my toes to my head. My knees completely give out but thankfully Cole has wrapped an arm around my waist and supports my weight. He thrusts a few more times before he stills. His cock throbs as he unloads inside me.

  He slowly pulls out of me, “Don’t move, Kitten. I need to get something to clean us up.”

  Thank heaven for Kegels as I tighten my muscles to keep his warm seed from exiting my body. I hear him moving around in the kitchenette then ***padding back toward me. He reaches between my legs with a towel and I let my man clean me the best he can with the dry towel he has found.

  I right myself and turn to face him. “That was awesome. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Kitten.” Cole leans over and kisses me quickly on the lips “We better get downstairs or I’ll be taking you again only taking my time and savoring every moment.

  My body clenches in anticipation at his words. “Cole that is so wrong to tease me like that.” I laugh as I gather my clothes up off the floor. I quickly toss them back on before running into the bathroom to clean up a little better and run a brush through my hair. It’s not as if everyone downstairs doesn’t know what we just did but I don’t have to look like it when I goback down to join them.

  “Beautiful, as always!” Cole says to me as I exit the bathroom. I smile at him as my cheeks warm a little. I’m sure I’m blushing. “I love when you blush for me.”

  I giggle. I hate that Cole can turn me into a silly school girl with her first crush. It’s only ever been him that makes me this way. No other guy made me feel this much all the time, even as comfortable as Luke and I were with each other as lovers. We had good sex but it never left me with the ‘on top of the world’ feeling. Cole makes everything seem new each time. I don’t care how many times he kisses me it always feels like the first time.

  “Ready?” I ask Cole before I’m begging him to take me again on the bed right beside us.

  “Yeah..” he chuckles, “I know that look. You’re turned on.”

  “Shut up, Cole!” I say with nervous laughter.

  “Aww, my Kitten is embarrassed.” He says with a laugh.

  “Your Kitten is going to kick you if you say another word. Our family is waiting for us downstairs to talk about important business.” My hands move to my hips as I tap my foot “And we just left them hanging so we could come fuck each other. Who does that?”

  “We do, Kitten!” He says with a huge grin. “Did you ever tell your brother we fucked in his hospital room while he was in the coma?”

  I swat at Cole’s shoulder playfully. “No, asshole. I didn’t tell my brother how perverse we really are but Luke and your sister know.”

  “My sister knows? Great.” He shakes his head “She will use it against me when she wants something.”

  “Probably.” I laugh. We are walking side by side down the stairs. I stop mid-way down the stairs when I see Bruce, Luke, Justin and Drew all standing there staring at us as we descend. Cole keeps walking while I look at each other men’s faces. Luke and Justin have matching mischievous grins. Bruce looks pleased like he just won the lottery. My brother…well my poor brother is looking disgusted yet his eyes betray he’s happy for me.

  “Well, let’s move to my office.” Bruce says as I take the stairs down meeting his eyes dead on.

  Chapter 11

  Kat

  Opening the door to Bruce’s office I head straight for the love seat in the room. I’m claiming my spot for this little conference. I don’t wait for anyone as I tuck my feet under me and draw a pillow across my stomach. I settle in for what I’m sure will be a lengthy talk.

  “Everyone sit.” Bruce commands. Cole sits beside me. Drew and Justin take up opposite ends of the couch. Bruce sits in his recliner while Luke takes a chair next to him. Bruce hands Luke the papers before turning to Justin. “Did you get the records from Hunter?”

  “Yes, father! I already gave them to Luke.” Justin says in his smart ass way.

  Bruce gives Justin a hard stare until Justin finally looks down at his lap properly subdued by his father.

  “As y’all know, Cole and I met with Frank Martin today.” Bruce begins. He takes time to recap most of what happened at their luncheon.

  “This sounds like a lot of work.” I state. “As in major restructuring of the whole business.”

  “We have to do major restructuring of our whole outfit.” Bruce walks over to the bar. “Sal isn’t go
ing to be thrilled when he finds out Frank is selling out.” He pours a drink before moving back to his seat. “Cole is going to be head of the biggest Knight empire yet. Those of you in this room are going to be his backbone and support more than any other family member.”

  Bruce’s words reassure me that I won’t be some charity organizing tennis playing wife. I’m still not sure what my role will be but as long as it’s not trophy wife I’m good with it. I glimpse around the room as the guys silently acknowledge with head nods they are in agreement with Bruce.

  “Which brings me to my next item on the agenda.” Bruce pauses his eyes scan each face in the room before settling on me. I resist the urge to squirm under his penetrating gaze. A slow smile breaks out on his face. “Cole and I talked about this on the way home. He’s agreed it would be beneficial to have help in running the empire.”

  I feel my body heat up. There is only one reason this would happen. Cole! His eyes are on me. They never leave me as the others in the room look around wondering who Bruce and Cole have decided on. Cole’s face holds no emotion; he gives nothing away. This is why Cole is ready to step into the head of the family role.

  “I explained to Cole who I wanted running **this family by his side and he is in agreement.” The room is silent as we wait. “His future wife will be equal to him in the partnership of marriage and business.”

  No one speaks as all eyes turn to me. The silence is the room is almost deafening. Then Luke ruins it. “Kat is so bad ass!”

  “Really? Luke, I mean seriously?” I question my friend as the weight of the world is deposited on my shoulders. Justin and Drew are way more qualified than I am. Will the family accept a woman boss? Not that I had a problem earning the respect of the position. I would totally own it. “Why me Bruce?”

  All eyes turn to the real power in the room at my question. No one in this room seems upset by his announcement but it appears they are as eager as I am to learn the reason behind it.