Rumblin' Knights Boxed Set

by Bella Jewel

  “If he dies …” I whisper, hanging my head.

  Lucy reaches for my hand and squeezes it. “We’re going to do what we can to make sure that doesn’t happen. I swear it.”

  I believe her.

  But she doesn’t know Brody.

  Nobody does. Not like I do.

  If I’m being honest with myself, there is nothing in this world that will stop him.

  Not even me.

  That hurts the most.

  10

  THEN – MELANIE

  I laugh hysterically as I trip over the sand, landing on my hands and knees. Aria and I are racing through the thick, luscious sand, and it’s proving to be hilarious. Of course it doesn’t help that we’re drunk and obviously invincible.

  “Run harder, Aria!” Blade calls. “I’ve got fifty on you!”

  “Trip her, Mel,” Lee cheers. “Come on. Play dirty.”

  I get up on my feet again, still laughing hysterically, and start running toward the finish line where Brody is waiting, a huge grin on his face. I grin at him and start trudging through the sand. It’s really freaking hard to run through sand. I don’t know how those people on the television slide so gracefully over top of it. They must be lying. There’s just no way.

  Aria squeals beside me as she starts hopping, taking big lunges, to try and get closer to the finish line. Mid lunge, I put my foot out and when she comes down, I trip her. With a squeal, she hits the sand. “Cheater!” she calls.

  “There were no rules to say we couldn’t do what we had to.” I giggle as I run the last part over the finish line.

  I make it and Brody grabs me, pulling me into his arms and kissing me, “Fuckin’ winner, baby.”

  “I’m always a winner for you.”

  Laughing, we all head back to the house, to finish our night off with dinner and some games. Being here with everyone, it feels nice. Really damned nice. Brody has made love to me every night for the last three nights, and it has been incredible. We’re bonding again, coming closer, things are feeling like they might just go back to normal.

  Finally.

  Mick has been fairly good the last few days, only drinking at the house. In the morning when he wakes, he has been going for a run. I’ve not seen him do that, but it seems to be helping him. He seems easier to talk to, less wound up. Maybe slowly, really really slowly, he’s getting it together. That would be the best thing for everyone.

  Mostly for him.

  I want that for him.

  I really do.

  We grab a plate of cut up deli meats, cheese and crackers, a few board games, and sit down on the massive table on the deck looking out over the ocean. This is definitely the break everyone needed.

  “Board games make me violent, I’m not going to lie,” Aria says, grinning. “Prepare for the worst, ya’ll.”

  “You’ll be fine.” I laugh. “It’s just a little bit of fun, remember that.”

  She rolls her eyes, and Blade grins, kissing the side of her cheek. Damn sweet, if I do say so myself.

  “Whoever wins this game should be able to make one rule for everyone, for the rest of the trip,” Lee says, laughing. “What do you all think?”

  I shrug my shoulder. “I’m cool with that.”

  “Game on.” Brody chuckles.

  “Sounds good to me.” Aria nods.

  “Okay, let’s do it.”

  Three more drinks, a lot of cursing, and a shit load of laughter later, and I’m up to get the next round of drinks. I stand and walk into the kitchen just as Mick is coming through the back door. I stare at him, and then offer a friendly smile. “Hey, Mick, how was your night?”

  He shrugs. “Was okay. Yours?”

  “It has been really good. Thanks. Did you want to join in the board games?”

  He shakes his head. “No, I’m good. I’ll make some food and go to bed.”

  He goes to walk off, but my stupid mouth gets the better of me, and I say, “Oh, hey, Mick?”

  He stops and glances at me, waiting for me to ask whatever it is I need to ask.

  “Aria and Blade have a few friends that are hiring, so I’ve asked them to put in a good word for you. I know it must be hard, trying to find a job, but I thought it might help if we took some of the burden away from you. It’ll help you get back on your feet.”

  It’s clear the moment I’ve finished speaking that I’ve done something wrong.

  I made a very bad choice mentioning this to Mick.

  His face crumples into a scowl and he growls, “If I wanted a fuckin’ job, Melanie, I’d go and find one. Not sure when I asked for your help, but I don’t fuckin’ want it.”

  “Oh, no, it’s not like that. I didn’t mean to make you feel silly. I just wanted to make things easier for you, that’s all …”

  “I didn’t ask for you to make things easier!” he roars, and I flinch, stepping backward as he takes a step toward me and leans in close. “Keep your nose out of my business, do you fuckin’ hear me?”

  “Hey!”

  Brody grabs Mick’s shoulder and hauls him away from me, stepping in front of my body and growling, “What the fuck, man?”

  “Tell your little girlfriend to mind her own fuckin’ business and stop tryin’ to help me. I don’t want a god damned job, and I don’t want handouts.”

  Brody turns and looks to me. “What’s goin’ on?”

  “I just said we were looking for a job for him,” I squeak. Everyone is in the room now, and I feel stupid, so incredibly stupid. I had no idea he’d take it like this. “I was only trying to help.”

  “Well don’t fuckin’ help,” Mick barks from behind Brody. “Keep your nose out of my business.”

  “Okay, that’s enough,” Blade says. “Calm down.”

  He grabs Micks shoulder to pull him away, and Mick flips a switch. He swings around and lashes out at Blade, missing him by mere millimeters. Blade ducks to the left and then bounces back, growling, “Calm the fuck down.”

  “Don’t fuckin’ touch me,” Mick roars, backing up, fists clenched. Then he looks to Brody. “Tell your fuckin’ bitch to stay the hell out of my business.”

  “That’s enough, Mick,” Brody growls. “I’ll help you, but I won’t have you disrespecting my girl. Calm down.”

  “So you’re on her fuckin’ side now? Of course you are.”

  “You’ve been drinking, go upstairs to bed, we’ll talk about this in the morning.”

  Mick glares at me, and mutters, “Don’t interfere in my life again.”

  “Go to hell,” I mutter, so damned embarrassed and angry.

  I didn’t know Mick would over react like that, but I also didn’t mean any harm. All I was trying to do was help him out. Offer him a path, something to guide him in the right direction. I didn’t say anything mean, or cruel, or even insulting.

  “What did you say to me?” Mick snarls.

  “Go the fuck upstairs, Mick, before we have problems,” Brody snaps.

  “You better watch yourself,” Mick mutters, looking me dead in the eyes.

  Brody snaps, grabbing him by the shoulders and slamming him against the wall. “What the fuck did you just say to her?”

  “Let me go, Brody,” Mick’s voice is calm now, too calm.

  It’s terrifying.

  “You threaten her again, and you’re out on your ass, I swear to fuckin’ god. I will only tolerate so much.”

  “You want me out?” Mick growls in Brody’s face. “I’m out. Thanks for nothing’. Let me the fuck go.”

  Brody lets him go, and Mick gives him a look full of anger and betrayal, and then he says, “We’ve been friends a long time, Brody. That bitch has only been in your life for a quarter of that time. You’re taking the wrong side. So much for friendship.”

  Then, with that, Mick disappears up the stairs.

  The whole room is silent.

  Mostly me.

  Because honestly, what is there to say?

  ~*~*~*~

  “What were you think
ing?” Brody seethes as we’re alone later that night in our room.

  “I wasn’t trying to cause any harm, Brody. I was just telling him that we could help him find a job. I didn’t insult him in any way, I was just trying to help.”

  “But you did insult him!” Brody growls, spinning to face me. “You did because he knows he’s fucked up, he knows he can’t get a job on his own right now, he knows he’s pathetic, and you just reminded him of that.”

  I let my shoulders slump, because I never meant to do that. I never meant any harm. “That wasn’t my intention. You know it wasn’t. I’ll apologize to him. I didn’t mean it that way.”

  Brody exhales and walks over, grabbing my face in his hands. “I’ll fight for you, Melanie, I’ll always fuckin’ fight for you. But this, you need to leave this to me, yeah? You can’t help Mick, hell, I don’t even know if I can help Mick.”

  “He worries me, Brody. I can’t lie about that …”

  “I know,” he murmurs, rubbing his thumb over my cheek. “I’ll find somewhere else for him to stay, but I will continue to help him. You have to understand that he needs someone and I’m all he’s got, but I respect that he can’t stay with us any longer, either.”

  “But where will he go?” I ask.

  “I have a few friends with rooms that wouldn’t mind him staying; I’ll have to look into that. He should be fine.”

  “What if he gets drunk and abuses them? Not many people will enjoy that, Brody.”

  “He only gets mouthy when he’s confronted—I have a few people that will leave him be. That’s all he needs is to be left alone. I’ll figure something out. Don’t worry.”

  He leans forward and kisses my head, holding for a few moments before pulling back. I glance up at him, tipping my head back, and murmur, “I’m sorry, I really am. I didn’t mean any harm.”

  Brody strokes my cheek. “Don’t worry about it. Keep the job offer open. I’ll talk to him. You’re right, he does need to work. Something has to give, or he’ll go so far down the hole I won’t be able to pull him back up.”

  “You know it’s not your job to save him, right?” I whisper, holding his eyes.

  “No, but he’s my best friend. It is my job to stand by him, to try and guide him in the right direction. He has no one else.”

  I nod.

  I respect that, even if it scares me.

  I respect it because Brody is an incredible man who would do anything, for anyone.

  I love that about him.

  “C’mon,” he murmurs, stepping away from me and pulling off his shirt. “Let’s go to bed so I can fuck you all night long, take my mind off it.”

  I flush and smile. “Sounds good to me.”

  We get ready and crawl into bed, and I roll over, pressing my lips against his, loving the way his hand runs up and down my bare back, pushing warmth through my skin, so deep it feels like it touches the very center of me.

  Brody is my world.

  He’d do anything for others.

  I’d do anything for him.

  “You know,” I say, after kissing him for a few seconds, “I’d do anything for you.”

  He looks into my eyes and murmurs, “Same baby.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, really.”

  “I’m sorry I’ve made things so much harder for you.”

  He shakes his head and cups my jaw in his hand. “Don’t be. You’re right. Mick is too close. I don’t want anything to happen to us. You gotta know that even though I’m doin’ everything in the world for him, it seems you’re the only thing that I’d die for. The only fuckin’ thing in this world, Melanie. I love you. I love you more than you’ll ever know.”

  God.

  How, I mean how did I get so lucky?

  I don’t know, but I do know that I’m going to hang onto it with both hands for as long as I possibly can.

  Because, well, life is uncertain.

  My love for Brody, though, it’s as certain as the sun.

  No doubt about it.

  11

  NOW – MELANIE

  “Honey, you’ve got a visitor.”

  I stare over at the door where Lucy has just walked in. I had a long night. A hard night. But she was incredible support. She listened, and we talked, and she helped me with everything. I adore her for that. She would make an incredible friend.

  “I do?” I say, standing from my spot on the bed and walking over, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “Who?”

  I round the corner and see Ripley standing at the end of the hallway. The moment I see him, my bottom lip starts shaking. He takes three strides, and he hits me, wrapping his arms around me, holding me close. He hangs onto me so tight I can hardly breathe, but I don’t care, oh, no, I don’t care.

  I need him.

  “I’m sorry, Mel,” he murmurs into my hair, still holding me. “I’m sorry for what I said.”

  I pull back, swiping at my tears, so happy that he came all this way just for me. “It’s okay,” I whisper. “I’m just so glad you’re here.”

  He looks down at me, narrowing his eyes. “Have you slept? Have you had enough to eat in the last few weeks? You don’t look good. We’re going out to lunch today, you and I, then you’re going to sleep.”

  I open my mouth to argue, but he narrows his eyes, basically to let me know not to bother. I know by now not to bother, too. He’ll win, no matter what.

  “I see you met Lucy, then?”

  He grins, nodding and smiling at Lucy. He’s such a good looking man. He’s almost he perfect cross between Blade and Brody. Blade has this sandy colored hair, with blue almost greyish colored eyes. He’s big, he’s built, and he’s gorgeous. Brody is the opposite, with short dark hair, big brown eyes, and a stockier build than any of his brothers. Ripley is a nice mix, with brown hair that’s long, hanging around his shoulders and eyes that are a mix of brown and blue, possibly a hazel color. I’m not sure, but they’re gorgeous. He’s not as solid as his two brothers, but has most certainly grown into a well-muscled, well-formed man.

  “We chatted for a while before she went to wake you up. She filled me in on everything.”

  “That’s good.”

  “I like your friend, if I didn’t already have my very own bestie, I’d probably steal him.” Lucy smiles, skipping past me and into the kitchen. “Coffee?”

  Lee grins, watching her go, then he looks back to me. “She’s a good one.”

  “She really is.”

  We all make our way into the kitchen just as a knock sounds at the door. I look over to Lucy, who shrugs, obviously having no idea who it is, and walks over, opening it. When she returns, she’s followed by Lincoln and his partner who is also Lucy’s sister, Shania, as well as Finn, Erin, Damon, and another really pretty lady I’ve not met, who I’m guessing is Damon’s girlfriend.

  The moment I see Lincoln, I frown and look away, still furious.

  “Ripley.” Finn grins, walking over and embracing Lee in a big hug. “How the fuck are you, man?”

  “Finn Knight,” Lee chuckles, stepping back, “Been a long time, brother.”

  “It sure has. Glad you’re here. These are my brothers, Lincoln and Damon.”

  Lee shakes both their hands. “Nice to meet both of you, heard a lot about you.”

  “This is Ripley, Brody’s brother.”

  “The better looking one.” Lee winks as he makes his way around the room, introducing himself to everyone.

  He has that charm about him, he always has. He can captivate a room by presence alone. He’s a good human. People who meet him know he’s a good human, and they love that about him.

  “Sorry to come in so early,” Lincolns says to Lucy, “but we gotta talk to Melanie, even if she currently wants to rip my eyes out of their sockets.”

  He’s right about that.

  I do.

  I’m also not an asshole so I’ll listen to him, even if I don’t want to. I know what he’s going to say, and I’m not okay with it. I’ve sp
ent so long fighting for Brody, I don’t want to just throw him into the lion’s den without giving it one last shot. No.

  “Take a seat,” Lucy says, “I’ll get coffee.”

  We all sit down, and Lincoln gets straight into it. “I know you’re angry at me, you don’t want to hear what I have to say, but you need to listen. All I ask is that you listen to everything I have to say and you can decide after what you want to do. Is that fair?”

  I nod, even though my jaw is so tight it aches.

  “Brody is going to find a way into that fight, you know that, deep down you know that. Jerome likes him, he’s interested in his skills, he thinks he’s got enough talent to make it one hell of a fight, a huge money maker. He’s gunning for Brody, he’s watched him fight and he likes what he sees. He hasn’t seen that kind of potential since Sniper, and he wants to put them against each other. Brody wins, he wins big time. He loses, well, you know what happens.”

  I take a shaky breath in and keep listening, because I said I would.

  “Not entirely sure what your plan is for Brody, but I can’t see it being enough to stop him, correct me if I’m wrong. You tell him you’re here, I still don’t think it’ll make a difference. He left you for this. He wanted this more than he wanted anything. I’m sorry if that hurts, but it’s the truth. That means he is extremely unlikely to stop just because you’ve located him.”

  That hurts, but deep down, I do know he’s right about that. If I’m being honest, I don’t know what my plan is, but throwing Brody to the wolves isn’t how I thought it would go. I’m still not okay with it.

  “Now hear me out,” Lincoln goes on. “Us having Brody’s back is going to give him a fighting chance. If he goes it alone, there is a solid possibility he will die. If we are right there behind him, training him, preparing him, he has a chance of making it out alive. You can either accept that, or you can’t, but it’s the truth. We tell him we’ll help him get in the fight, if he comes home. That gives you the chance to see him, to have your shot at changing his mind, all the while we’re getting solid training in if you don’t manage to change his mind, then we might actually get him out alive. You might not like this plan, Melanie, but it’s the only one that gives him a chance.”