Page 22 of Knox

Then, turning back to face my brothers, I ask. “Shall we go?”

Roman’s eyes roll as he gives me a what the fuck look. “Knox, maybe you should listen to what he has to say.”

“Another day, maybe. We’ve got a drive ahead of us.”

We’d driven a couple of hundred miles to get here. Roman and I have doubled up in Drake’s car, and Saint and Noah have brought Royal and Memphis. I wish it had been the other way around because I’m going to get Drake’s opinions and ideas on how a long-dead man turns up with a new name and is now a champion MMA fighter.

Maybe I should listen to him, because the thought of the whole new identity shit should mean he keeps a quiet life, keeping clear of any danger of publicity for fear of being recognised. That cannot be said for Maddox’s life.

A shout comes from the near empty lobby. “Ellis! Where do I start to look?”

I freeze at the use of my birth name. I’d officially become Knox at the same time as the adoption. Not reacting any more than standing taller, I take Roman’s hand, then push the bar across the door to open it and stride out.

The car park is huge, and we’d parked at the rear corner, probably the furthest away point. “Slow down, Knox,” Roman berates me, tugging on my hand. “My legs aren’t as long as yours.”

I chuckle and grab his waist and throw him over my shoulder fireman style.

“Hey, put me down.” His fists pummel my arse, so I slap his hard and keep on walking.

Laughter rings out behind us, knowing that they’ve all done this to their boys. Although Drake and Finn are pretty much even in height and breadth. Drake on first sight doesn’t look like he’s a submissive, but I’ve seen him give himself to Finn, and he’s a perfect sub.

We reach the car, and I upright my lover, letting him slide down the length of my body until his feet meet the ground again. His eyes are sparkling with humour and joy. “You’re such a beast.” He tries to sound serious, but the smile that spreads around his words has my heart beating faster.

Ignoring his fake protests, I lean down to capture his lips and kiss him. A hard, delicious kiss that, as my tongue slips inside the wet heat of his mouth, he moans. I press my hips against him, and he groans. I love his reactions; his submission is completely and irrevocably given.

Drake and Finn reach the car and us, making me break the kiss. As always, Roman sighs softly and chases my lips for one more. I’m not going to deny him or me that pleasure and press our mouths together again. Our relationship is getting serious, and my main thought is why did I leave it so long? I know we’re on the same page. Which means the last thing I want is any interference from my past. I don’t think about it anymore: I don’t think of my life before Dad and Pops.

It’s not something I’ve shared with my brothers, although they know some of it. I had enough tantrums when I was new in the family. I absolutely don’t want Roman to know; he doesn’t need that shitshow in his head, not when we’re building something so good. I can’t imagine Maddox will want to talk about Dean’s life.

We get settled in the back seat of Drake’s large, fast BMW. There’s enough of a gap between the front seats and us that talking quietly can stay private. Not that I have much to say. I don’t think I can fully process this new plot twist in my life. All the laughing and joking we shared on the way has gone.

It’s half an hour later when Drake breaks the silence. “I did some more digging after Maddox came into our lives. I went back through all the information that was public knowledge when he died. Then I switched to the details of his life in the run up to his death; it’s not pretty. He’d fallen into one of the most dangerous gangs. It started with him just running drugs, but later he was initiated into the gang as a full member. To do that, he had the shit kicked out of him and the gang’s tattoo inked on his chest.”

“That’s enough reason to fake your own death,” Roman says. “It can’t be easy to create a new identity. I know it’s been done. The kids that killed the little boy and the girlfriend of the man who killed the two girls.”

Drake answers. “They’re different to this. They were all ex-prisoners. Yes, it was to give them some anonymity in an attempt to keep them safe. Maddox wasn’t a prisoner, and they faked his death. It had to be believed by the two rival gangs. He would be safer with a new identity because they wouldn’t look for him. Which leads me to the reason why. The only answer is he became a grass. He was approached by someone, which can be narrowed down to the police drug squad or the secret service. Has he changed much, Knox, visibly, I mean?”

“Um…” I’m still a few sentences back and Drake saying he was a grass, a snitch, and how much he’d seen, heard, or done to want to do that. Was it his only way out? “Um, yeah, a little bit. A broken nose, but I think that’s par for the course in his profession, but it’s been over ten years, bro. I’m not the kid I was when he last saw me. I’m a completely different person.”

“That’s not unheard of. Contact lens can do that, but there is a surgical way to alter them permanently. The others are plastic surgery. Do you want me to tell you what else I found out, or do you want to forget about him? I don’t think he’s going away. He knows where Saint is, the trail from there isn’t too difficult to follow.”

“No more tonight. I think I’ll put him on the back burner. He may leave me alone.”

“I think it would be a shame if you never get to know each other. To share what you’ve done since you separated. You both have successful careers and life experiences. Wouldn’t you like to know about them?” Roman says as he leans against me. I slip my arm around his shoulder and let him sleep.

He’s right, and I’ve got a lot of thinking to do.

The gym is busy when I come in for my yoga class. Noah is leaning against the wall, watching the weight area. It’s no surprise to see Saint lifting a ridiculously heavy pair of hand weights. Noah’s love for his Dom radiates from him, then as if Noah said his name, Saint looks up at his submissive, his boyfriend, and gives him a wink and smiles broadly when Noah blushes all the way up to his hairline.

Before I can greet him, hands snake around my waist and warm lips press onto my neck. “Hello, gorgeous, how was your day?” He teeth graze over my ear lobe, and instinctively, I lean back into him, and I know I’ve got the same lovestruck face as Noah. I love him. I want to tell him, but this isn’t the ideal place to make a declaration of love.

“Can I see you tonight?” I ask, hopefully. I know he’s got a couple booked for some training tonight, but it’s my day off tomorrow, so I don’t have to rush off home.

He studies me intently, then a wicked smile spreads wantonly over his face. “How are your teaching skills? You could help me out this evening, if you like.”

I think my smile must match his because he leans in close and whispers so only I can hear. “You’re such a fucking slut.”

I hold back a full body tremble to whisper back. “Only for you, Sir.”