Edge of Brotherhood (Love on the Edge Book 6)

by Molly E. Lee

  What? I tilted my head, utterly confused. Daniel held up a finger as if he could see the questions rising up in me.

  He motioned to the man with tatts. “This is Connell Murphey, one of the best deep-sea divers this side of the hemisphere and an expert underwater welder. He also happens to be the son of renowned marine biologist Dr. Theresa Cunningham.” Connell shifted in his seat his eyes falling on the blonde who came in with him, pinning her with a look that screamed he would kill her for this. I wondered how she had got him here—since he clearly didn’t want to be—but before I could voice that question, too, Daniel pointed to the other guy. “This is Wade Roberts, Hollywood’s most sought-after stuntman. He takes his assignments to the extreme, nailing everything from pyrotechnics, to driving, to mid-flight jumps. You name it, this kid can do it.”

  “You forgot to mention the Jackson shoot where I wrestled an alligator.” Wade flashed the girls a cocky grin and I straightened in my seat. Back off, bro. These women are taken. He seemed to sense my look—or perhaps he could feel the collective glares from Easton, Connell, and myself combined—but he waved us off. “But I also had to swing from the rafters in a unitard for the latest ballerina flick. Doubt that skill is relevant here, though.”

  I smiled, easing back in my chair a bit. Maybe he wasn’t an asshole.

  “We think that the four of you together could create one hell of a buzz,” Daniel said, continuing on as if Wade hadn’t spoken.

  I leaned my elbows on the table. “And what exactly are a treasure hunter, a storm chaser, a deep-sea diver, and a stunt man supposed to do on a show?”

  Daniel wagged his finger at me, smirking. “I knew Dash would be the one with all the questions. And I get your point. How does it all come together?” I raised my eyebrows, begging him to get to it. “It’s all about location,” he said finally and motioned to Easton. “Easton here has recently discovered a major find—quite possibly the City of Gold.”

  The blonde girl next to Blake and Rain gasped. “No way!”

  Easton chuckled, and Connell glared at him again.

  “Way,” Daniel said. “Now, you all understand the non-disclosures we had you sign before coming in here.”

  I nodded, wondering what could be so secret that they’d need a gag order.

  “That’s awesome and all,” I said, nodding at Easton, “but what the hell does it have to do with us?”

  Connell snapped his fingers at me before crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m with him.” His voice was gravelly, like he enjoyed drinking rock smoothies for breakfast every morning.

  “Wade and Connell are here not only because of their skill sets but because we put out a call for applications to be featured on this special. Their applications were the ones with the most credentials.” He returned his gaze to where Easton and I sat. “And you two are here because you already work for us. That and Easton has the location. I’ll let him explain how you are all relevant to the expedition.”

  Easton straightened, reaching for a spare piece of paper and pen that sat in the center of the table. After sketching quickly for a few seconds, he showed the drawing to each of us. It was a massive structure that looked like it was in the middle of a lake. “After years of searching for the lost city of Paititi, I’m almost certain I’ve found it.”

  “Wait, you’re not sure? How has your show been on so long?” Wade glanced up at Easton before cracking a grin.

  Easton ignored him. “I wasn’t able to fully explore the structure to gather the proof that it is Paititi—we had a run-in with some drug traffickers and had to escape quickly—but I’m ninety-five percent sure that this is the rumored City of Gold.” He glanced at Rain for a moment before pointing to the large building he’d drawn. “The structure is half submerged in a standing lake that I believe was created from an ancient dam collapsing. I won’t be able to assess the actual timeframe of the occurrence until we get there, but it could be the reason why it’s been lost for so long. The water is slowly lowering because it’s running off into the Amazon, but it is happening at barely an inch a year.”

  “That’s why you need me,” Connell said, the muscles in his crossed arms flexing.

  Easton nodded. “I’m no diver, and there’s no telling how many chambers are underwater. I’d need you to go in and retrieve artifacts for me. Have you ever done anything like that before?”

  Connell smirked, glancing at his girl. “Yeah. Once or twice.”

  “Great.” Easton pointed to me. “The Amazon rainforest is known for torrential downpours, mudslides, random storms, you name it. It’s also why the water levels around the city are constantly influx. I need your instincts, Dash. The way Daniel tells it, you can smell rain miles away, and we’ll need the heads-up because with how volatile the weather is, I don’t want to be trapped in the structure if it’s going to get flooded by a sporadic downpour.”

  I nodded. The idea of having to calculate and predict storms of that tenacity sent adrenaline pumping through my blood.

  “What’s the stuntman supposed to do?” Connell asked before I had the chance to voice it. “No offense.”

  “None taken, Aquaman.” Wade shook his head, pointing to the drawing on the table. “Isn’t it obvious? The studio execs want me to crash a car through the upper portion of the structure so they can sell it to the producers doing the next Indiana Jones movie.”

  A laugh ripped from my throat. Fuck, this guy was a wild card. I couldn’t tell how serious he was about his job with all the jokes.

  “They’re doing another one?” Blake asked, perking up in her chair.

  “No, Storm, they aren’t. Ford is near death.”

  “He is not!” Blake snapped. “He’s a fantastic-looking . . .”

  Wade raised his eyebrows. “Ninety-year-old?”

  Blake shook her head, dismissing Wade’s blasphemy.

  “Actually,” Easton regained control of the meeting, “I’ll need the stuntman—”

  “Wade.” He cut him off, pointing to himself.

  “Right.” Easton smirked. “The stuntman will be my go-to for demolition, if necessary, as well as take lead on any transportation we may end up using.”

  Connell did something between a huff and a laugh, but I couldn’t tell which way he was leaning.

  “Don’t worry, Aquaman,” Wade said. “The list of my skills is too long to state in one sitting.” He winked at Connell before jerking his head toward the girls. “So, are they part of the deal or is this a bros only type of expedition?”

  Daniel glanced at Blake before answering. “Not all of them,” he said, and I flinched. I knew he meant Blake, and perhaps Connell’s girl. After speaking to Easton earlier, I knew there was no way Rain wasn’t coming. “Blake and Sadie don’t have roles in this special. And Rain has to be there because she’s Easton’s primary videographer.”

  I turned toward Blake, assuring her with my eyes that if she wanted me to force the issue, I damn well would. She gave me a small smile and shook her head.

  “Will that be an issue?” Daniel asked and I could hear the cringe in his voice. He knew Blake and I were a package deal, but if Blake wasn’t okay with it, she’d say so.

  “Not from me,” Blake said, and I sighed. “I think this sounds like a phenomenal opportunity. And while I would be thrilled to go on this adventure with you boys, I’m sure it’s body sensitive—only take who is crucial to the mission? And only enough supplies to last those important people?”

  Easton nodded. “Right again, Blake. It’ll just be the five of us going. And supplies will be limited. Actually,” he said, eyeing Daniel and Robert before continuing, “it’ll be extremely dangerous. More so than any expedition I’ve ever been on and most likely anything any of you have ever encountered, either. It’s not just the elements we’ll have to worry about in the Amazon. Wildlife, insects, reptiles, sea creatures, drug traffickers, locals with customs that drastically change depending on which direction you take—any one of these things could kill us.
And that is just the beginning. Once we get on site, there is the stability of the structure to consider, traps the ancients set, as well as other types of protection set up long ago as a precaution.”

  “What, like magic?” Wade asked, scooping up a pen and waving it around like a wand.

  “No,” Easton said, sitting back in his chair. “Like a group of people charged with protecting the City of Gold and its existence—the task being handed down through the ages. A mission so ancient, it’s in their blood to carry on.”

  A chill raked across my skin, and I sucked in a sharp breath. Fuck, this guy was good. No wonder his show had the Friday slot over ours. “You sound like you’ve dealt with people like that before?”

  Easton’s eyes flashed to Rain’s before he shrugged. “Once or twice.” He glanced at Connell, who before that had seemed rather relaxed, but now that Easton was throwing his words back at him he took up his glare again.

  “We get it,” Wade said. “Death is likely if we take a piss in the wrong place.” He grinned. “Where do I sign?” He held up the pen up that he’d used as a wand moments ago.

  “We’ve drafted up contracts,” Daniel said, eyeing me as he handed out five folders. “We sent them to your respective lawyers whose emails should be waiting for you. And you can sign whenever you’re ready. We want this to happen as soon as possible, but I’m sure you need some time to talk among yourselves.” He walked toward the door then held it open.

  “Don’t take too long, though,” Robert said, getting up from his seat at the head of the table. “Opportunities like this don’t happen often.” He turned and sauntered off, leaving me wondering why he’d even attended the meeting in the first place. He’d barely spoken, simply observed. Maybe that was why. Maybe he wanted to see if we would work well together.

  I glanced around the room, looking at the three guys who I’d have to trust enough to go to a place more dangerous than I’d ever been before. My gut twisted. I didn’t know any of them well enough. If the studio had asked me to do something like this with Paul and John—my two best friends that I’d chased storms with since we could drive—there would be no hesitation. I trusted them with my life. We were like brothers and could anticipate one another’s actions. And while I liked Easton well enough, and could probably like Connell and Wade, too, I didn’t have a clue how we’d all operate together. The rush on this expedition nagged at my gut, but I opened the folder Daniel had tossed my way and instantly gaped at the number of zeros on the promised payment.

  Blake stood up to read over my shoulder, Rain and Sadie doing the same with Easton and Connell. The action almost made me feel sorry for Wade, who was reading his contract alone. I don’t know what I’d do without Blake’s support, and I knew she was the deciding factor on whether or not I would go. I glanced up at her, loving that her eyes were as wide as mine over the zeros. It was twice more than we earned in thirty episodes.

  “Fuck,” Wade said, snorting as he set the folder down. “We’re so going to die.”

  He voiced the thought gnawing at my insides.

  “It’s a little much, yeah?” Easton said.

  “A little?” I asked. “It’s like they’re banking on us not making it back.” Blake gripped my shoulder, and I patted her hand. “I’m kidding. Kind of.”

  “Extremely dangerous expeditions are more entertaining. They grip audiences which means the numbers go up and the money flows in. They think the special will bring in ten times this amount, I assure you.” Easton closed his folder. “Are we in?”

  After a quick check on my phone, scanning the email from the lawyer we’d acquired during the first round of filming our show, I turned around in my seat, needing a moment to talk to Blake. The lawyer said the contract was good, but it didn’t matter if Blake didn’t think so.

  Connell was doing the same thing with Sadie, while Rain was busy signing her contract like making life-or-death decisions was something she did on a daily basis. With a husband like Easton, maybe she did. Though, they both knew what this meeting had been called for—giving them plenty of time to make the decision—but it was new to the rest of us.

  “Dash.” Blake sighed, cupping my face in her hand. “I know what you’re going to say. That you don’t want to leave me. Don’t want to do this without me. But you have to. You can’t pass this up. It’s a ton of money—we could save it for our kid’s college someday . . .”

  My eyes bugged out at her mention of kids, and I instantly glanced at her stomach. She shook her head. “I said someday.” I let out a sigh—not that having babies with Blake hadn’t ever occurred to me, just not this soon. And definitely not while I was currently contemplating traveling to a dangerous location to film a show. “Anyway,” she continued, “beside the money, this is amazing and I know you really want to do it. Think about the research you could do there.” She kissed me quickly and nodded. “You’ve got this.”

  I leaned my forehead against hers, gripping her hips. God, I loved this woman. She never failed to support me or the lifestyle we both thrived in—which was high intensity and just on the edge of dangerous. “You’re sure?”

  “One hundred percent.” She moved her lips to my ear. “Don’t worry about me, my knight. I know you’ll come back to me.”

  I tightened my hold on her hips. She was right. I was worried about going off on a mission like this without her as my right hand, but if she believed I could do it, then what did I have to worry about?

  Turning my attention back to the table, I saw Connell and Sadie wrapping up a conversation that looked much like Blake’s and mine had been. Wade signed his contract with a flourish and flicked his pen on top of it when he was done.

  “Do the ladies approve?” he joked as his eyes darted back and forth between Connell and me.

  I nodded, but Wade looked like he was holding his breath as he gaped at Connell.

  Connell stared up at Sadie, shaking his head and smiling. “I wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t put in my application.” Connell glanced at Easton as he rubbed Sadie’s back. “She’s your biggest fan.” Sadie’s cheeks flamed red as she smacked him on the chest. He picked up his pen and signed the contract.

  Wade clapped his hands together. “Thank you, ladies! I really needed a new gig!”

  Blake and Sadie chuckled, and I got busy signing my contract.

  “We’re all in, then?” Easton asked as if he needed verbal confirmation.

  We each nodded. Easton held out his fist toward me and I quickly bumped it. He did the same with Connell and Wade.

  “Damn, I feel like part of the Avengers,” Wade said. “No, scratch that. We need a name. Something to give the network when our show takes off.” He turned his eyes up in thought. After a few moments he snapped his fingers, pointing at Easton. “You already said it, bro!”

  “What? I didn’t—”

  “Extremely Dangerous . . .” Wade cut him off. “And Gripping Entertainment. You said it earlier. E.D.G.E. Sounds like something we’ll stamp on the lunchboxes after this thing goes through the roof.” He stopped suddenly, eyeing Easton, his face gravely serious. “I’m not wearing a fucking hat, though.”

  “YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE this place you found is the City of Gold?” Wade asked from his seat across the aisle from mine.

  I leaned over the tiny armrest. “Little late to be doubting me now, yeah?”

  Wade laughed. I swear the dude found humor in everything. But I’d been watching him and there was something beneath the bullshit. Anger. Pain. Not sure, but I prayed if shit hit the fan on site, he’d be someone I could count on. I hoped they all would.

  Rain held my left hand, our fingers intertwined since we’d boarded the commercial flight in LAX. I wasn’t the best flyer, but I would never admit it to anyone other than her. The eleven-plus hour flight was already a couple hours in, and I found myself wishing the studio would’ve opted for a private jet verses commercial. On the other hand, I was glad they hadn’t taken from my budget to cart our over-eager asses in luxu
ry style.

  We’d need every penny and would probably have to call for more. I wasn’t lying when I’d told these guys this was the most dangerous and elaborate expedition I’d ever been on. The damn find had already caused a huge fight between me and Rain last night, but thankfully she hadn’t held it against me this morning.

  I’d tried to talk her out of coming. Begged her to let me bring Knot—my friend who’d been with me since the show started—or someone else who could point a camera. She’d been doing another shoot in Africa when I discovered the site in Peru, and I honestly wished she was with her lions again.

  That’s not true, I always want her with me.

  Just, when it was safe. And where we’re headed wasn’t safe. We’d be lucky to reach the site without garnering unwanted attention. My nerves were shot thinking about which one of us would be subjected to the jungle’s numerous dangers first. As long as it wasn’t Rain, I could handle it.

  I glanced forward and across, where Connell and Dash sat together, talking about living in the same town growing up, and then back to Wade who was smirking at a flight attendant—the third one to check on him in the last hour—while I continued to wait on a drink.

  Each of the guys were tough and could carry his own, I was sure. The studio wouldn’t have picked them if they weren’t, despite Rain’s argument that they could’ve solely based their choices off the profile pictures that came with the applications. I couldn’t attest to that but the woman was rarely wrong.

  I unlatched our fingers and rubbed my palms over my face.

  “Hey,” Rain whispered, smoothing her hands over my back as I rested my elbows on my knees. “Are you with me?”