When We Fall

by Kendall Ryan

  “How much do you owe?” McKenna asked, her voice whisper soft.

  “Twenty-five thousand,” Jaxon said, not meeting my eyes.

  “Fuck, no, McKenna. This isn’t on you to fix.” This was not what I envisioned when I told her she could help Luke.

  Luke entered the room and closed the door behind him. “You guys need to lower your voices unless we want to turn this into a family meeting.” He grimaced when he saw Jaxon. “Shit, bro.”

  Christ, the last thing we needed was Tucker getting up. Although if I was being honest, I knew Jaxon’s injuries would look worse tomorrow. His eyes were already nearly swollen shut and his lip was busted apart and huge. By morning the bruises would begin to turn purple. He clutched his ribs and toed off his shoes. McKenna knelt beside his bed to help him.

  “Everyone out. Jaxon needs his sleep.” Luke and I started for the door when McKenna’s hand flew up, stopping us.

  “Wait.” She swallowed and straightened her shoulders. “I have the money. I was going to give it to Luke for college…”

  Luke’s gaze flew to hers and a smile blossomed on his mouth.

  “But…” she continued. “It sounds like at the moment, making sure Jax doesn’t end up dead is more important.”

  Luke’s smile fell and he shot a murderous look at Jaxon. Jax closed his eyes, obviously unable to watch the disappointment looming in Luke’s expression.

  “We don’t have health insurance, so this little adventure at the hospital tonight is going to cost us, too,” Luke added.

  Shit, he was right. As much as I hated the idea of McKenna bailing us out, I realized we had little choice. I might have been okay with her helping Luke out, giving him money toward his education, but I hated the idea of her throwing away her money toward Jaxon’s criminal enterprises. I would pay her back every penny. And I would make sure Luke still got to go to college too. Somehow.

  “We’ll figure this out tomorrow.”

  My tone was final and McKenna nodded. I doubted sleep would come tonight, as wound up as I was, but we headed up the stairs and climbed into bed, deafening silence hanging all around us.

  Chapter Six

  McKenna

  In the morning, the harsh reality of the situation with Jaxon pushed itself into the forefront of my brain. I rolled over and tugged the blankets up higher, snuggling into Knox’s side, trying to pretend for a few minutes more that all this wasn’t happening. A quick peek at Knox told me he’d been awake for hours. He was lying still but staring straight up at the ceiling, looking lost in thought.

  I sat up in bed, looking down at his dark, troubled expression. We needed to do something, not just cave to this gang’s demands. “Knox?”

  He glanced over at me, the crease between his brows softening just slightly when he met my eyes.

  I took his hand, giving it a squeeze and letting him know we were in this together. I was here and I would help in any way I could. “We should call the police. They jumped Jaxon. And we can’t just turn over this much money.” Now that it was morning, I was thinking more rationally about the situation.

  Silence hung heavily in the room around us. “No police, angel,” he said. “These guys will just retaliate if we get the police involved. Last year something similar happened—a guy who owed them payment for gambling debts talked to the police when they got too rough with him, and the next day they put a bullet in his head.” Knox looked back up at the ceiling, his mouth pulling into a tight line. “I won’t put any of us at risk. Money isn’t worth any of our lives. And I’ll pay you back every cent, I promise.”

  I started to wave him off; this wasn’t about money. I didn’t care about Knox paying me back, but the grim expression etched across his face told me now was not the time to argue. I gave an imperceptible nod. “Okay,” I whispered. We’d do things his way. This was his family, and I knew he’d protect them the best way he knew how. All I could do was be there for them.

  I dressed in yesterday’s clothes and kissed Knox good-bye, and after heading home to shower and change, I went to the bank. It turned out getting twenty-five thousand dollars in cash was a lot more difficult than I expected. After meeting with a teller, an assistant manager, and then the bank branch manager, I headed off to work. They would have my money by the end of the day. It would take them several hours to get it all together.

  I sent Knox a text. I didn’t know if something would happen to Jaxon in the meantime, but I figured the men who had threatened him would give him some time to get the cash together.

  Me: I’m coming over tonight with the money.

  Knox: I don’t like this.

  Me: Me neither. But we have to do it.

  He didn’t respond and unease churned inside me all day long. I hated thinking that he’d try to take matters into his own hands today, try to persuade the guys who’d done this to Jaxon. I couldn’t have something happening to Knox, too. Brian was barely healed and now Jaxon was lying in bed, broken and beaten up. We just had to bite the bullet and pay the gang off. This had to work.

  Thankful I still had my rental car, when I left work I drove straight to the bank again. The bank manager looked at me as if I were crazy when he handed me the backpack full of stacked bills. He asked again and again if I was okay. I think he thought I was being bribed or threatened into withdrawing this money. Well, I was, sort of. Someone I cared about would be badly hurt if I didn’t fix this.

  As I headed back to Knox’s, Brian called to let me know he would be back in the morning, but I could barely concentrate on what he was saying.

  When I arrived at Knox’s place, he looked ready to murder someone. He was pacing the floor in the living room and his brows were drawn together, his eyes hard and fierce. I’d never seen him so worked up.

  I held up the backpack. “I brought it.”

  He nodded and crossed the room toward me, then immediately gathered me up in his arms and pressed a firm kiss to my forehead.

  I hated to admit it, but he was scaring me. My knees trembled and my stomach felt queasy. I had no way of knowing if this was all going to turn out okay and I couldn’t lose another person I loved. I couldn’t. The desperate need to never let him go, to stay by his side tonight, clawed at me. “I’m coming with you.”

  He shook his head. “Not happening.”

  “Knox—”

  His mouth closed over mine and the rough edge to his kiss killed my protest. He was a desperate man, doing what needed to be done to protect his family. But it was obvious there’d be no negotiating this. I realized he had no choice taking my help with the money, but it was obvious that was where my involvement ended. I didn’t want to argue and push him when it seemed like he was already at the edge of his control. I knew what happened when he lost control; I wouldn’t push him there willingly. If staying behind at the house was the way I could protect him and preserve his sense of calm, I would do it.

  “I want to keep you safe. Stay here with Luke and Tucker.”

  I released a heavy exhale and nodded. “Okay.”

  “Lock the doors and don’t answer if someone comes knocking.”

  I nodded again, my stomach cramping with nerves. Jeez.

  “If anything happens to us, call the police.”

  Oh God. I couldn’t handle something happening to Knox. Tears filled my eyes.

  “Hey, shhh, it’s okay,” he whispered, brushing his knuckles along my cheek. “We’ll be all right. Stay strong.”

  He was right; I needed to pull myself together. I didn’t want to alert Tucker that anything was wrong. I blinked the tears away and fixed a neutral expression on my face. I just had to have faith.

  Jaxon looked even worse today. I had no idea what story they gave Tucker, but Jaxon looked every bit like he’d been jumped and brutally beaten. His eyes were swollen and puffy, heavy blackish-purple circles lining each one, and he was limping slightly, holding a hand to his side. His ribs were either bruised or broken, and part of me didn’t even want to ask.

&nb
sp; I wanted to rush to him and take him in my arms, but I merely met his eyes with a sympathetic stare and he gave me a tight nod. Even though this was pretty much the world’s crappiest situation, it brought me closer into this family, and I had to say I loved that.

  Watching Knox converse in hushed tones with Jaxon and Luke, I was struck with a pang of shock. Before I met Knox, I was so naive. I never knew even half of the things that went on in this world. I had been living in my own bubble of misery, volunteering and just existing. Still, I wouldn’t trade this for anything. Even though times were tough, I had a family again. A big, messy family, complete with love, heartache, and worry. My emotions were right at the surface today and everything felt so raw and new. I was out of practice with this whole family thing, and felt vulnerable and exposed.

  Luke and I watched them prepare to leave, exchanging equally worried expressions between us. Luke, seeming to realize he was now the oldest brother in charge, came to stand beside me and placed a comforting arm around my shoulders, giving me a squeeze. “It’ll be okay, McKenna. Knox will handle this.” His voice sounded calm and certain, but he had no way of knowing the outcome, any more than I did.

  I just nodded. I trusted Knox; I just didn’t trust this shady neighborhood street gang. Once they’d gotten this money from us, would they really leave us alone?

  Shrugging on the backpack, Knox crossed the room and kissed me full on the mouth. He rarely did that in front of his brothers, but I met his kiss with my own fierce edge, letting my tongue briefly rub against his. His hands cupping my face trembled ever so slightly. “I love you,” he whispered.

  I nodded. “Love you, too.” My eyes screamed at him to stay safe and come home to me in one piece.

  He nodded in silent acknowledgement of my request. “We’ll be fine.”

  My stomach dropped to my toes and for the first time, I could relate to Knox’s fears and hesitations when it came to love. If I didn’t love them all so much, this process wouldn’t be nearly as scary. I gripped Luke tighter and said a silent prayer that Knox knew what he was doing.

  Several hours later and everyone was in bed, but I was way too amped up to sleep. I paced Knox’s bedroom, my heart heavy with worry. Where were they? What was taking so long?

  I checked my phone for the hundredth time and fell back onto his bed. I curled into the pillow that held Knox’s unique scent, inhaling deeply. Warm leather and male musk, a delicious combination.

  A short time later, I awoke to the sound of someone climbing the stairs.

  Knox was back.

  I sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my tired eyes. Oh, thank God. He was okay.

  Knox stood in the doorway, smiling at me like everything was right with the world, and the tense knot that had taken up residence in my stomach uncurled in an instant. His brilliant smile melted my heart and the hardened shield I’d erected in his absence.

  He tossed the backpack onto the bed and it landed with a dull thud. It was still full. I lifted it to my lap and unzipped it. The cash was still stacked inside.

  “What happened…how did you?”

  Dread sank low in the pit of my stomach. They hadn’t succeeded tonight. Which meant the gang was probably coming for us. My mind was already running through scenarios of us five holed up in my apartment. I needed to buy groceries, milk, get more towels…

  “McKenna.” Knox’s warm hands cupped my cheeks. “Look at me.”

  My gaze drifted back to him and I took a deep breath. Just breathe.

  “You didn’t think I was just going to watch them walk away with Luke’s college fund, did you?”

  That was exactly what I’d assumed. That was the plan, wasn’t it? I wouldn’t have offered the money if I hadn’t thought it was the only way. “I don’t understand.”

  I listened with bated breath while Knox filled me in on how he’d contacted his lawyer and provided the tip that this exchange was going down tonight. His lawyer agreed to inform the police; that way the call could never be traced back to Knox. Several members of the gang were wanted on various charges, and once the cops had the time and meeting place of tonight’s exchange, they showed up and apprehended the bad guys. Knox and Jaxon took off running—well, hobbling in Jaxon’s case—and hid out until the police had made their arrests and taken the gang members away to keep up the ruse Jaxon and Knox weren’t responsible for involving the police. Once the scene was clear, the money was returned to Knox.

  I shook my head in disbelief. I couldn’t believe he’d put himself in danger, orchestrating that entire thing without me knowing. I felt sick thinking about what could have gone wrong. It was probably better that he hadn’t told me about his alternative plan; my head would have been spinning with what ifs. Saving this money was not worth the risk.

  “Knox, you guys could have…” Been killed. I couldn’t even bring myself to speak the words. Hot tears leaked from the corners of my eyes. Why would he take such a risk? I couldn’t lose him.

  He took my hands and held them. “That is your money to do what you want with. Your parents worked hard to earn that, saved for years to make sure you would be okay. Even if I don’t love the idea of you giving it to Luke, I get it. It’s who you are. It’s one of the reasons I love you. That money is yours to do what you want with. There was no way I was just handing it over.”

  “But how did you know this would all work out? That you could trust this lawyer and the police to—”

  “Shhh. It’s over now.” He kissed me softly on the mouth.

  My whirling thoughts and racing heart felt anything but comforted. “Are you sure it’s not going to come back to you? They could find out you set this up. How do you know this lawyer, anyway?” Questions tumbled from my lips as my brain fought to catch up.

  His gaze slid away from mine. “It’s been a long night. We’ll talk about that later.” Opening his arms, he urged me closer. “Come here.”

  I sensed there was something he wasn’t telling me, and a flicker of curiosity bloomed inside me, but I let it go and curled against his side, savoring the feel of his firm body against mine. Knowing how close I could have come to losing him tonight quieted me and I clung to him, desperate for skin-to-skin contact.

  Chapter Seven

  Knox

  I tugged McKenna closer, pushing my hand under the T-shirt she wore to bed, unable to resist running my hand along the soft curve of her ass. Tonight had been stressful—leading Jaxon into a situation like that and involving the police, which totally went against my gut and had put me on edge. But there was no way I was letting McKenna take the hit for Jaxon’s mistake. That money belonged to her. I wasn’t about to let it fall into the hands of a street gang. She deserved to be in control of her parent’s inheritance, and even if she wanted to use it to fund Luke’s education¸ it was hers to do with what she wanted.

  “What are you doing?” She giggled as my hand squeezed her ass cheek.

  “Just exploring,” I growled near her ear. I hoped she wasn’t too tired, because I needed to feel her around me. Tonight more than ever.

  “How can you be thinking about sex right now?” she teased, wiggling her ass farther away from me. “You could have been killed tonight.”

  “But I wasn’t.” I tugged her close again. No way was I letting her escape that easy. “And now I want to celebrate by getting my cock wet in your sweet honey.” It was crude, but I wasn’t in the mood to sugarcoat my mood with pretty words. I hitched her bare leg up over my hip so she could feel that I was already semi-hard for her.

  “You and your insatiable boners.” She rolled her eyes for dramatic effect. Her playful mood was exactly what I needed to relax. And studying me in the dim light, McKenna seemed to understand that. “The things I do for my sex-addicted boyfriend.” She sighed.

  Boyfriend. I liked that word coming from her lips. “I’m addicted to your tight, hot pussy. And I’m not going to apologize for that.”

  “So, what are you going to do about it?” she challenged, a li
vely spark in her eyes.

  I pulled her over the top of me so she was straddling my lap. I loved the weight of her against me, the sight of her sitting on top of me. Tugging her panties to the side, I touched my fingertips to her pussy lips, finding them glistening with her moisture, and my cock swelled even more. “I want to feel your heat squeezing my cock.”

  McKenna let out a helpless whimper.

  I continued rubbing her, spreading her apart so I could stroke her clit in a little circular pattern that made her hips rock slightly against mine, and nestled my cock nice and tight between her ass cheeks.

  “Careful, angel. I’m tempted to bury myself inside you, and if that happens I don’t know if I can hold back tonight.”

  She breathed my name, her head dropping back as she pushed her hips closer, greedy for more friction against her pleasure spot. A firm grip and a twist of the fabric and I tore the panties from her body, tossing them aside. “Oops,” I deadpanned.

  She watched me with wide eyes, her pulse frantically thrumming at the base of her throat. She liked this side of me. Good girl.

  Lifting her weight with one hand, I pushed my cotton boxers down my thighs with the other, freeing my cock to rest between us. Rocking her hips against me, her wet pussy slid along my shaft, coating me in her juices. A growl rose from my throat. I cursed under my breath, my hands clutching into fists at my sides. Restraint was not my strong point, and she was making me crazy with desire. I was about three seconds away from pounding into her, brutally taking everything she was offering.

  “You better stop me now, angel, unless you want me to fuck you bare.” I knew her birth control hadn’t kicked in yet, but shit, in that moment, I was willing to risk it. I needed her. Just her, with no barrier between us. She made me want things I never thought I’d want. She made me crazy with the desire to not only fuck her, but to consume her from the inside out.