Beyond the Edge (the Knight Series Book 3)

by Mari Brown

  We ride the elevator in relative silence as we reach the floor Hunter lives on.

  “Think Cole ever gets tired of your ex-lovers working for him?”

  “What the hell Rocco? Where did that come from?”

  “I don’t know. It just popped in my head…sorry.”

  I shake my head at the big bear of a man. I don’t know what is going on with him but I think he seriously needs a few days off.

  We knock. We wait. Then there is a series of grinding sounds as Hunter unlocks his door.

  “Well look at what the cat dragged in.” his crazy laughter follows his statement.

  “Real funny, asshole.” I tell him while walking in and head straight for his office.

  “Make yourself at home Kat!” Hunter follows me to his office as he picks on me.

  “I was bored.” I plop into a chair. “I want to see what you’ve found so far on the FBI investigation and on Sal.”

  Luke talked to Special Agent Lambert and was told that the FBI were actually following us for our protection. Like we don’t have plenty of our own? The FBI somehow found out that Sal had taken hits on several of us. That may be the reason they started tailing us but I’m sure if they caught us doing anything illegal they’d use it against us.

  This year has been crazy; Drew getting shot, me killing Gary, the explosion. I was waiting for the next bad thing to happen. Sal was behind each of these incidents and he had been quiet for several months now. He probably thinks we will let our guard down but that is not likely to happen.

  “Is there something specific you want to see?” Hunter has a goofy grin on his face. I shrug my shoulders. I’m not sure what I’m looking for right now.

  Hunter points to a screen in front of us. There is streaming video of the ugliest mother fucker I have ever seen. He’s in some sort of warehouse with a crew of even uglier mother fuckers. They all are big, burly and scarred. A nasty looking bunch.

  “Who are they?”

  “This is Sal’s right hand man and his close associates.” He runs around the office grabbing a few things. He throws three huge folders in front of me. “This is the surveillance I’ve done on him so far but I don’t have the time or manpower to do it all.”

  “Hunter, do I need to hire someone to help you?” I ask with sincerity.

  “I have a couple guys I use on the streets. Old friends of yours as a matter of fact. It would be great to afford their help full time.”

  “Old friends of mine?” I am confused.

  “Drake ring any bells?” He asks.

  Holy Shit! That name is a blast from my past. There was incident when I was still in high school and Cole was a complete douche to me. I ran away because I felt like I couldn’t stay at the Knights mansion after I made it clear Cole had pissed me off. I was riding the bus back to my old neighborhood when I met Drake and his friends. Drake was hitting on me and before I met Cole I would have jumped at the chance. Cole had me devastated like no guy ever had. Cole and I always have had a passion.

  “Drake helps you?” an image of the handsome teenager I met flashes through my mind.

  “He works on the docks during the day. At nights though I hire him to do some surveillance. His friends help him on occasion.” Hunter moves to another computer and his fingers fly over the keyboard. “I’d like you to look at them as first options for my help. His printer clicks to a stop and he grabs the stack of pages and hands them to me.

  “What’s this?” The paper is warm to the touch it’s so fresh from the printer. I have a desire to press the warmth against my cheek.

  “That’s their background checks I’ll know you will request”

  “Oh,” I say with a laugh. “You know me well.”

  “I should hope so! I’ve known you since you were fifteen, dear.” He smiles as he goes back to work on his computer.

  “Do you want to still work from here?” my eyes dart around as I look at my old friend. “I will set up an office for y’all down at Knights Inc. as well.

  “I’d prefer to keep working from here. I like not being around people for the most part.” Hunter gives me a sheepish grin. “But the other guys can work from the office.”

  “You have always preferred working in solitude.” Smiling at my friend, “I’m curious, how do you always manage to find the women you hook up with?”

  He laughs, “Its skill, darling, all skill and you damn well know it.”

  Even though I can’t remember details, I remember the sex being good between us. Once Cole and I slept together nothing compared. Cole and I had a connection that made sex between us out of this world.

  An hour later I’m gathering up the files Hunter has given me this morning. I had spent time looking over each file. I wanted time to look over everything more, though. I’m headed to lunch with Cole. I’ll get back to you about the help you need as soon as I read through everything.”

  “Appreciate it, Kitty Kat.” Hunter gives me his sexy smirk.

  “Once upon a time that made me knees weak.” I say with a laugh.

  “Cole is one lucky man to have you.” he says with a genuine smile.

  “I’m a fucking lucky woman.” I respond. I am truly blessed to have Cole by my side.

  Rocco stands as Hunter and I enter the living room. He has been sitting, waiting for me to finish with Hunter. If I didn’t know how well we were paying Rocco to sit around I’d feel bad.

  “I’m ready to head to the office.” I tell Rocco. We walk out to the car but my thoughts are on Drake and his friends. When I first met them their appeal was not being connected to the Knights or Martins. They wanted to stay out of the crime family drama. I wonder what changed for them? I glance at my bag briefly thinking the answers are in their files.

  Twenty minutes later I’m rushing through the halls of Knights Inc. “Where is Cole? And is he alone?”

  “His office and yes.” Gracie relies as I breeze past her barging into my man’s office.

  “We need to talk”

  “Hey Kitten, nice to see you too.” Cole teases as he steps around his desk and plants a kiss on my cheek. “What has you all fired up?”

  “Hunter!” One word as if that gives him any real answer.

  “What about Hunter?”

  “He needs helps and I have the perfect people.” I place the dossiers on Coles desk where he can look a t them.

  “Why do these guys look familiar?”

  “We met them a long time ago.” I answer dismissively not wanting to get into that history right now.

  “Anyway, Hunter has more work then he can handle on his own. He trusts these guys to help him. They're his friends.” I step up close to my man’s back pressing my front against him. “I know them and trust them. They helped me once, a long time ago.”

  “Holy shit, these are the punks who helped hide you from me?!”

  “Yeah, but now we need them to do more for us.” I say confidently.

  “Tell me more.”

  I explain how Hunter is so busy gathering intel that he’s not having time to go through it once he has it. I show him the thick folders I will be going through the next few days while I sit at home.

  “So see he needs help.” I end.

  “I can see that.” He scratches his chin thoughtfully. “Why don’t you set up a meeting with all of them tonight?”

  “Really?” I ask, pleased that Cole is not fighting bringing in relative unknowns to do sensitive work.

  “If you and Hunter both trust these guys then I should give them a chance. Set it up we’ll meet at Tony’s tonight at seven.”

  “I’ll get it all arranged.” I say while giving him a resounding kiss on the cheek.

  “No way…” He says pulling me close to his body “I get more than a peck!”

  “Oh yeah? What do you want?” I flirt with my man. I know what he wants but I like to play hard to get with him sometimes.

  “I want you naked on my desk.” He says in a husky whisper.

  I’m pretty
sure I almost orgasmed from his words alone. I smile at him before I take a step back and I begin tugging my shirt over my head.

  “Better go lock the doors.” I almost laugh out loud at how quickly he sprints to lock the doors to his office. My clothes are off by the time he turns around. I’m sitting on his desk, my legs spread wide for him. “Is this what you wanted?”

  “Mmm such a good Kitten.” he mumbles as he fumbles with the buttons on his shirt. I motion him toward me. I begin helping to undo the buttons slowly. The whole time he is kissing on my neck. It’s making it harder for me to concentrate on what I’m doing. Once his shirt is completely unbuttoned I open it wide and push it down off his shoulders. He wears a white A line t-shirt underneath and my hands trace along his muscles and tats as I slide the shirt off of him. I toss it carelessly onto the floor.

  My hands then fall down to his pants where I begin undoing his belt and then the closure on the front of his dark suit pants. “Gawd I love you in a suit.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “mmmhmmm…” I say as my hands push his pants to the ground where they pool at his feet. I’m pleased that he is commando under the pants. His cock is already semi erect as my hand grasps a hold of it. Stroking in long soft movements.

  His moans fill the room as he leans his head back enjoying the sensations traveling though his cock and body.

  “Kitten, I need you now.”

  “Take me!”

  With one deft move he pulls me to the edge of the desk where my ass is half hanging off and his other hand takes over stroking his cock as he pushes it deep into my folds. We both groan with pleasure as our bodies connect.

  “Never can get enough of you…” he mumbles next to my ear.

  “Guess it’s good I can’t get enough of you either.” I reply between pants. We aren’t taking our time but we don’t rush either. As our bodies rock together and send us both plummeting beyond the edge.

  Chapter 21

  Kat

  I head home grinning from ear to ear. Cole and I had out of this world sex and a great lunch. I called Tony’s and made a reservation. After finding out Rachel was working I requested she be assigned to our party. I text Hunter the information and tell him I will see him this evening.

  I head straight to my room and toss my bag on the couch. I gather a few things I need plus grab a Dr Pepper before taking a seat on the couch. I fire up the laptop and open the first folder. Flipping it open I am greeted with an 8x10 photo of the ugliest man ever; Brent Carson, Sal’s right hand man.

  He grew up in a small town not far from Belmont and spent a lot of time in juvie. His mom was a junkie and it lists his father as unknown. I begin looking though the documents and my mind is blown. This guy is a product of the streets. He grew up on them. He’s tough and has a reputation for being ruthless. It doesn’t surprise me Sal ended up with someone like this.

  Hunter has been able to determine that Brent is setting up a base in a warehouse down at the docks. It’s on the opposite end of the docks from our buildings. I have a feeling that this guy is going to be a pain in the ass.

  I send a text to Rocco asking him to come upstairs. I shoot off another one to Cole to tell him we need to talk already and I’m only half way through folder number one. It’s going to take some time to really go through everything Hunter has here. It’s why I asked Rocco to join me.

  “What’s up?” He asks as I open the door for him. I motion him toward where I’m working. I need help. “I have a shit ton of paperwork to look through. This is the guy Hunter has been tracking; who he thinks is closest to Sal. Right now he seems to be forming a group and commanding it but his money and weapons are coming from somewhere. My guess? It's Sal.” I say as I sit back down and flip through some papers before handing one to Rocco.

  “Holy shit. This guy is good.” Rocco says under his breath.

  “No doubt we are really going to have to step up our game to get him.” I had faith in the Knights their loyalty was stronger than any street fighter’s cred.

  “Can I?” Rocco asks while grabbing the stack of papers I already read through.

  “Help yourself.” I say while going back to the stack in the folder. “I need help going through and sorting this all out. I need as much on this guy as we can get and as fast as we can get it.”

  “Agreed. We need to know what we are up against.” Rocco shakes his hand “Man, Sal really knows how to pick out the crazies doesn’t he?”

  “Seems that way.” I say before we both lapse into silence. Rocco grabs another notebook and pen from the desk in the sitting room. He begins making his own notes. Maybe with both of us going through this stuff we can have a pretty good idea of who Sal has working for him.

  Time flies by and before I know it Cole is walking into our room. I look up from where I’m now working on the couch. Reading through story after story of how this guy has been accused of raping women but no charges have ever been filed because no one will speak up against him. I instantly wanted to increase security around the women in our family. He leans over and kisses my cheek, “Put that down and go get ready for our dinner.”

  “Rocco, go take the rest of the night off. Pete can accompany us to the dinner.”

  “Are you sure man?” He asks my boyfriend. I can tell it’s hard from him to take a night off.

  “Yes, you’ve helped Kat enough. You earned some downtime tonight.”

  “Yeah, go find your maid.” I say referencing walking in on him in the laundry room. Cole eyes me but doesn’t say anything until Rocco leaves the room

  “His maid?” I fill Cole in on me walking into the laundry room earlier today. That makes him laugh hard. “Oh I bet that was priceless. Have you seen her since?”

  “No, but I’m sure she’s still waiting to be fired.” I say joining in on his laughter. Little does the maid know she’s good as far as I’m concerned. As long as Seth doesn’t walk in on it or she isn’t fucking my man I don’t care who she does and where she does them.

  Cole and I head downstairs around half after six to meet up with Pete.

  “Look at you two.” Luke comments from where he is crossing the foyer. “Is it date night?”

  “Nah, we have a business dinner to attend.” I reply to my friend.

  “Oh well, guess that means public sex is out for you two. Can’t find an even bolder place to fuck huh?”

  Coles' laughter echoes in the foyer. I shake my head at both men.

  “I don’t have any clue what you are talking about?” My eyes bat innocently.

  “What about fucking in your brother’s hospital room?” He retorts.

  I pink a bit at the memory of the day Luke is referencing; it was the first day I returned to Belmont. It wasn’t planned. Hhell, I was feeling more hate than love for Cole when I laid eyes on him in the hospital that day. It was because of him, or so I thought, my brother was shot. However, I soon realized I was as much to blame for Sal’s increased anger at the Knight family.

  “Whatever.” I say trying to dismiss Luke.

  “We should find a new place that’s even more risqué.” My head whips around to look at Cole. Has he lost his mind? He’s insane. My head whips back to Luke as he begins laughing. I am paused on the bottom step looking like an idiot with her mouth hanging open.

  “Whatever!” I step down onto the black marble floor. My heels click softly as I move across the room.

  “Oh Kitten, you know you can’t tell me no.” Cole has an arm slung over Luke’s shoulder as both lazily lean on one another, sharing laughter at my expense.

  “Don’t count on it, big boy!” I call over my shoulder as I enter the family room. The rest of the Knight family is waiting to be called for dinner. Justin and Seth are playing a video game while Julie is studying some fashion magazine.

  “Hey, Cole and I are going out for a business dinner. Don’t wait up for us.” I throw out to the room with a chuckle.

  “I won’t be home before you anyway.” Justin answers while n
ever glancing away from the screen.

  “You’re an idiot.” Julie says to her twin as she peeks over the top of the pages she is reading. “I hope this is a good meeting?”

  “It is.” I smile warmly at her. She is worried about her family. “We looking to hire Hunter some much needed help.”

  “Really?” Justin asks as he turns away from the television. “What brought that on?”

  I swivel around to face Justin. “I went to see him this morning and he is overwhelmed”

  “How many are you hiring?”

  “Right now we are looking at three guys, one does tech like Hunter while the other two will actually do legwork.”

  Cole and I hope this works out for everyone tonight. Drake, Sam and Chase will be invaluable to our family and especially Hunter. I hope there won’t be any reservations from them on pledging loyalty to the Knights. Back in the day I used them for information myself.

  “Ready Cole?” Pete voice carries into the room.

  “I just need to get Kat.” Cole replies to him.

  I make my way to join them. “It’s good, I’m here.”

  The three of us walk out to the SUV and Cole holds the door open as he takes my hand helping me get situated in the back seat. I’m surprised when he walks around the back of the car and climbs in beside me. He usually rides up front with Pete.

  “What’s up with this?” I motion toward him clicking his seat belt.

  “I want to sit with my woman tonight. She looks so beautiful. I don’t want to miss gazing upon her as much as I can.”

  What the hell? He’s laying the charm on thick. It dawns on me. I told him I would say no to him. He’s trying to make sure I don’t.

  “Nice try…” I say without any emotion.

  “What are you talking about, Kitten?”

  “The innocent act won’t work neither will your charm. You’ll hear 'NO' from my lips the next time you ask for sex.”

  “What if I don’t ask?” his voice takes on a dark tone. “What if I just take my fiancée’ hard and fast like I know she likes it”

  Fuck! My pussy throbs in anticipation at his words. The moisture between my legs is evident as I shift uncomfortably in my seat. He’s so unfair talking to me that way. I’m going to have to work real hard to keep up my walls with him tonight.