Beyond the Edge (the Knight Series Book 3) Read online

  “I love you being an asshole.” She says, mirth is in her tone. “I love that we connect on all levels of life.”

  “Me too, Kitten ...Me too.” I tell her while rubbing my hand up and down her back. I’m happy holding her in my arms like this. I wouldn’t trade her for anything. I know that we can and will get through anything life throws at us now.

  “Cole…” she leans back a little so she can face me. “I’m really trying to accept I deserve the love you give me. The love Bruce gives me. Even if that love comes in the form of expensive weddings.”

  That’s all I can ask of you. It’s a gift we give. We feel you deserve it and I especially wish you saw you the way I see you.”

  “I wish I could too, sometimes.” She sighs. “It’s hard some days not reverting back to the scared girl who had no one but an older brother who loved her.”

  “Drew did a good job with you considering.” I tell her truthfully.

  “Yeah, he did. I have him to thank for me turning out half as good as I did. Your family helped me too these last few years.” She leans up on her tiptoes and places her lips against mine. Warm heat fans across my skin as her lips linger. “I love you Cole…you are my life.”

  I don’t say anything just wrap her in my arms and kiss her as if my life depends on it because she doesn’t realize how much power she really holds over me.

  Chapter 13

  Cole

  Kat and I load the flower arrangement we selected into the car and we head home. The drive is quiet as we are both lost in our own thoughts. I’m not sure what is on Kat’s mind but I’m thinking about business. Today at the warehouse I realized I was out of touch with the lower ranks of the organization. It’s impossible to know everyone as we grow in numbers. I need to take a more hands on approach.

  In my mind I start thinking of the different divisions within the company. I need to select a head for each division. I need a head who I can trust. One that can run everything and report to me once a week. These positions will have to be filled immediately. I have a feeling a lot of the guys that worked with my dad will retire out with him. The old guard is changing.

  “Kitten”

  “Yeah?” she turns to face me as I pull into the driveway.

  “I’ve got to fill some positions immediately. Once I think through it I want to run it by you.”

  “Umm…Okay.” the expression on her face is obviously questioning if I have gone crazy.

  “My dad’s crew is likely going to retire with him, I’m sure one or two will stay on but not many. We will be restructuring the family with our inner circle. I want to make sure we have the best people in place everywhere.”

  “Yea, I’ll be happy to help you talk through the people. I guess this is something we need to do before we bring in too many new people.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  As we walk up to the house, my thoughts are on incorporating the business. It will mean a whole building full of employees. The majority of those employees will never know anything other than the legit side of the business. Our circle will stay small.

  “Where do you want these flowers?” I ask Kat as we enter the foyer.

  “Put them in the family room. That way Julie can see them.” She replies as she heads down the hall to my dad’s office. I briefly wonder what she is up to but I have to get rid of this girly bullshit.

  Walking into the family room I find Seth and Julie sitting in there watching a movie.

  “Hey, guys.” I say as I place the flowers down on a table.

  “Oh my gawd are those the flowers she picked?” Julie exclaims.

  “Hey sis, I’m good thanks for asking.” I say with a laugh. Seth is looking at Julie like she sprouted horns.

  “Sorry, I’m just excited she’s getting into the wedding planning.” Julie says while hugging me quickly before moving to check out the flowers. “Beautiful! these are perfect for y’all!”

  “Yea they are great flowers.” I plop down on the couch next to Seth. I’m in need of some downtime. My brain has been going nonstop all day. I don’t even care what’s on TV I’m only half paying attention to it. I seriously just want to lean my head back and rest and relax until it’s time for dinner. My eyes are closed and I’m enjoying the silence when Seth’s voice has my eyes popping back open.

  “Cole, I need you to talk to Dad!” the urgency in his voice has me sitting up.

  “What’s going on?” I ask cautiously.

  “My birthday party is coming up…” he trails off.

  “Um yea and…?” I’m not sure what this has to do with me, It’s not like I know anything about throwing parties.

  “I’m going to be ten. I don’t want a little kid party. I want to have both boys and girls at my party this time.” His seriousness makes me want to laugh but now is not the time or place to do it.

  “So what kind of party do you want to have?” I ask carefully.

  “Music, dancing and food,” he tells me.

  I eye my little brother. He is growing up but it seems a little too quick. Not that I have a problem with the type of party he wants but I am no expert. “Let me talk to Kat and see what she says.”

  “Dad is planning a paintball party.” His little face frowns as he speaks.

  “What’s wrong with Paintball?” I ask him. “Even Kat and I would love to play paintball with you and your friends.”

  “Really? Kat? I didn’t think the girls would like it.”

  “Might be surprised little bro but like I said I’ll talk to Kat after dinner and then I’ll let you know what we decide. But no promises man.” I reach out and ruffle his head he ducks away from me but not before I mess his hair up. His little hand comes up and straightens his hair as he runs out of the room.

  “What was that about?” Julie asks as she looks up from the magazine she has been engrossed in.

  “Nothing, go back to your girly shit.” I tell her laughing as she is looking through a bridal magazine. Those things have been everywhere lately. Home and work is littered with them. Julie is on a campaign to get everyone in on wedding fever.

  “Fuck you, Cole.” She says before turning back to her magazine. I make my way toward my dad’s office in search of my Kitten. I need to find her and talk to her about Seth. I think Paintball sounds like a better party for a ten-year-old but what do I know. Maybe she can figure out how to make it fun for the girls, too. Does Seth have his first crush? Is that why he’s so worried about girls coming? His first crush was Kat but maybe this is the first for one his own age. Laughter escapes me at my own thinking and it echoes through the foyer.

  “Have you lost it?” Kat’s voice startles me. She is walking toward me from my dad’s office.

  “No..’ laughing still “You’ll understand when I’m done talking with you.” I tell her smiling.

  “Um… okay… what’s going on?” Kat asks clearly confused.

  “Seth wants me to talk to dad about his birthday party.”

  “Isn’t your dad planning paintball?” she asks. Damn. Even Kat knew about his birthday party. What else have I missed?

  “Babe, you aren’t missing out on things. You’ve been preoccupied with business matters. Plus, your dad just mentioned it a couple nights ago.” She puts her hand on my forearm.“I promise you aren’t losing your touch”

  “How the fuck? Can you read minds?” I ask her baffled.

  “I know you. I’ve seen the look on your face several times today.” She laughs softly. “You’re just caught in a fucking explosion and barely healed from it. It’s understandable that you don’t know everything going on.”

  “Whatever. I want to know shit that’s going on.” I say with a huff. I’m pouting like my little brother now.

  “Oh, poor baby!” Kat tries to placate me. I want to brush her off but I know she’s right. Deep down it’s not that I lost my touch but I was recovering from the blast. I’m just back on my feet. Drew is still struggling after his rough few months. It’s why we have been givi
ng him easy work to d;letting him build back up.

  “Kitten…We need to talk about Seth’s birthday.”

  “What does he want?”

  She takes a seat on the stairs. I sit beside her. She listens as I recall the earlier conversation with Seth.

  “It’s easy, we can keep paintball and make it girl friendly too.” She says confidently.

  “How you going to do that?” I ask.

  “I’ll figure it out …but damn it I am looking forward to shooting people even if it is with paint, especially Justin!” she says laughing evilly.

  “You’re not right, Kitten.” My body shakes with laughter.

  “But you love me so what’s that say about you?” She sasses back.

  I’m remain silent. She has a valid point. I’m crazy for her. I’m crazy without her. At times she actually makes me feel guilty for all the women I “played” with at Knight’s Castle in her absence. I wasn’t cruel to women but I wasn’t much nice. I used each of them for my sick and twisted purpose and disposed of them like trash.

  My thoughts move to Justin. He’s been spending a lot of time at Knight’s Castle. He spends every night there, coming home in the wee hours of the morning. I’m so afraid he’s going to get himself in trouble. He doesn’t have the self-control I did at his age. I wonder how long it will be before we get a call he’s in trouble.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “What makes you ask that?”

  “Cole your expression changed instantly. You went from smiles to stress lines.”

  “Kitten,.” I sling an arm around her shoulders. “Somethings are not worth repeating but let’s just say I regret some things I did while you were gone and I’m worried Justin is repeating my mistakes.”

  “You are talking about the club?” She looks down as she speaks. Her eyes cut back to me, there is nothing but love shining through.

  “Yea… I did things I am not proud of. I can’t undo it but I am so thankful we’re back together where we belong.” I lift her hand to my lips placing a soft kiss on the top of it. “I just don’t want to get a call that we have to clean up a mess.”

  “Justin isn’t stupid… well he acts stupid but he is smart. He’ll be fine.” She assures me.

  I hope she is right. I’m not sure we can handle scandal on top of all the other shit going on.

  My goal right now is make it to the wedding without any more explosions, drive bys or anything else that would bring drama to our family. The last two months have been crazy, more than enough for a lifetime. Except we are Knights and there will always be enemies. I just want them to let Kat and I get married in peace. Is that too much to ask?

  So it’s not realistic but a man can have dreams too. Women don’t corner the market on it. Men just don’t talk about it the way women do. It’s part of the guy code.

  “You’ll handle Seth’s birthday?” I pepper her with kisses along her jawline. “I told him I would have an answer after dinner.” Her giggles echo in my ears.

  “Yes, Cole. I’ll handle Seth’s party. It won’t be a problem.”

  I’m reassured by her words that she will handle Seth. Whatever she comes up with will make him happy. I give her a coy smirk. “Think we have time for a quickie?”

  Her laughter echoes around the foyer, “Ummm, no!”

  What are you two up to now? My dad’s voice causes Kat to move away from me but I grab her pulling her into me even tighter.

  “Hey Dad.” Kat giggles as she buries her face in my shoulder.

  “Maybe I don’t want to know.” He says eyeing me with a grin on his face.

  “Trying to talk Kat into a quickie.” I answer my Dad. I’m sure that my smile is from ear to ear.

  “Son!”

  “Cole!”

  I laugh as they yell at me together. “What y’all both tell me all the time; it’s better to tell the truth than a lie.”

  “Oh, now you listen…” Kat replies.

  “What can I say?”

  “You can stop being a pervert.” Kat arms cross her chest as her right foot taps on the tile floor.

  “Son, really you do need to learn to hold your tongue. Here at home it’s okay but what if you slip and say something like that in public?” My dad is pensive as he talks. “I don’t want anyone to think you don’t respect Kat”

  “Fuck that! I respect Kat one hundred percent.” I exclaim.

  “I know that and she knows that but outsiders might not if they hear you talking about her so carelessly”

  “I understand, dad. I will try to refrain myself from speaking publicly about how hard Kat makes me”

  “OH MY GAWD, COLE!” Kat yells at me as she jumps up off the steps. She moves down to stand by my dad. “You are impossible”

  She marches off to the dining room. My dad and I both watch her stomp off.

  “Son!”

  “Oh I know Dad! I was just fucking with both of you. I promise I won’t be careless in public” I’m all business and serious as I talk. They don’t know it but there is something deep inside me that protects me from talking about Kat badly in public. I’ve learned my lesson after the crap we went through when we were together the first time. I don’t ever want anyone to doubt my feelings for Kat. I love and respect that woman. I dare anyone to challenge that.

  Chapter 14

  Kat

  Time is flying. My life is on a fast track. I’m getting married to Cole in three months. Our wedding is planned; food, flowers, music and all the other little details. My dress and the bridesmaid dresses, all ordered. While everything has moved fast I still feel as if it’s forever before I finally walk down the aisle.

  The last three months have also meant major changes for the Knight Empire. Last week, the final paperwork was signed and Frank Martin was long gone to Florida. The Martin’s no longer had any business interest in Belmont. The Knights now had all the power.

  Not only have we built up the office personnel, but we have built an army of loyal men ready to fight for the Knights. We aren’t sure what loyalty we will get from the guys who use to be under Frank. I hope most work out and do not turn out to be a mistake keeping on. Once Sal really figures out what his uncle has done we are prepared for him to attack. It should bring him out of hiding finally.

  “Kat?” Gracie’s voice comes through the speaker phone sitting on my desk.

  I press the button “Yes?”

  “There’s a guy here to see you. Said to tell you he’s come to steal you from Cole.” I hear a soft sigh. “Refuses to give his name and super charming”

  Surely it’s not who I think it is. I sprint from my desk rushing to the reception area and sure enough there stands Miguel Rivera. Thrilled to see the MMA fighter I managed out in Cali, I attack him with a hug.

  “Miguel, what the fuck are you doing here?” I exclaim, happy to see him for the first time in almost six months.

  “I had a few weeks off.” He says with a huge grin. “I missed you and wanted to make sure Cole was treating you right.”

  “Whatever.” I smile while playfully punching his arm. “How is the new manager working for you?”

  “He’s great just not as pretty to look at.” Laughter bubbles out of me. This man has pulled the whole flirty Latin lover thing with me since the first night I ever met him.

  “Gracie…this is Miguel.” I realize she has been watching us intently.

  “I can’t wait for Cole to get into the office.” she remarks dryly, “It’s been too quiet lately. This should bring some excitement to the office.”

  “Whatever, girl!” I scoff.

  “I am texting Drew now.” Gracie spins around in her chair like a kid. She’s already got her phone in her hand typing a message.

  “Why would you call my brother?” Miguel’s laughter booms through the office. I motion for him to take a seat on the couch.

  We have been in our new building for a little over a month now. Cole and I both fell in love with the location downtown. Knight�
�s Incorporated was now housed within a beautiful bone brick building. Julie, Gracie and I went nuts as soon as we signed on the dotted line. Furniture and decorations, all in red and black, ordered and placed on each floor. They’re the unofficial colors of the Knight Empire.

  The first floor was a beautiful black marbled foyer with a security desk requiring every visitor to check in before they can come upstairs. It’s part of our increased security measures. There was a little restaurant for employees that took up the majority of the first floor. The second floor houses the construction division of Knights. The third floor is where the various head of our other divisions have offices along with the various accountants. The fourth floor iswhere the family have offices. Cole, Drew, Justin, Luke and I each havea private office. Cole and I havea connecting bathroom which will make a work rendezvous easier.

  Since Bruce announced his retirement I finally feel like I belong. I wasn’t just being handed something, I was actually earning it. It wasn’t because I was fucking Cole. I finally had a family and home. Cole and I were in a good place and our wedding just a few months away.

  “You do recall I’m getting married soon?” I ask Miguel with a laugh as I sit down on the chair opposite him.

  “Oh, I know! I got the damn invitation…”

  “Your sister is one of my bridesmaids and you’re my friend so, duh!”

  “I’m giving you a hard time. I made sure my manager reserved my room and gave me plenty of time to visit for the wedding.”

  I have grown over the last few years. I’ve learned to let others in. I care about others more than myself now.

  “Oh my gawd, when I told Cole that Marisol is one of my bridesmaids.,,” Laughter erupts from both of us. Cole and Marisol met in a bar in Mobile Alabama. Cole tried to hit on Marisol, having no clue she knew me. It didn’t work well in his favor.