Page 50 of Knox

Roman and Ollie let go of our hands to sit with the other subs. I sit down, but Maddox is pacing, whatever it is he wants to talk about to Drake must be important, but he speaks to Finn instead. I hate not knowing what’s happening. Normally, I would join in to find out what they’re talking about, and as I move to them, Finn nods and says something to Drake, calling him away from the other subs.

Maddox says something to Drake and he scowls. Looking at his watch, he nods, saying something. Okay, I’ve had enough. “What’s going on? Maddox, what’s happened?”

“Can I tell you when we’re home? Tonight has been too good,” Maddox asks, then he looks at Drake.

“Leave it with me,” Drake says.

When Finn asks Drake to come over, it suddenly feels like a stupid thing to say. What adult says they had a weird feeling and expect to be taken seriously.

“What’s up?” Drake asks, looking at me, then Finn.

“Maddox needs to talk to you, professionally.”

“What happened?” Drake immediately turns all business, not a molecule of sub on show.

“It’s dumb, but when I was at the gym this afternoon, it felt like I was being watched. It troubled me enough to want to check the security videos. Then, when I was leaving the car park, a man I didn’t recognise stood casually out the front doors. He was definitely looking at me. When I checked my mirror, he was gone. It’s rattled me, and I don’t know why. I think I should report it, not to the cops; they’d laugh me out of station. Should I call Pilkington?”

Knox joins us and tugs me to him, his hands around my middle, his thumbs hooking my belt loops. It’s obvious he doesn’t like not being included in the conversation. I promise to tell him went we get home; which by the look on his face, is now. I have ruined the perfect evening.

The journey home is a quiet one, I imagine, caused by my issue. Knox is driving with Roman next to him, holding hands and resting them on Roman’s thigh. “Have I done something wrong,” Roman asks; there’s a quiver in voice. “Because for me that was an exceptional experience, one I’ll never forget.”

“No, babe. It’s my fault; I wanted to ask Drake something.” I have, after getting permission from Drake, explained my life to Ollie. He was shocked, scared for me, but thankful for me trusting him enough to share.

“About what happened at the club this afternoon?”

Knox takes his eyes off the road for a second to look at Roman. “You need to explain what the hell went on today.”

“Hey, don’t snap at him; this is on me.” I’m not having Knox blame Roman for being there. “Can we just get home, please.”

“Yeah, home. That’s another thing, Maddox. When are you two planning to properly move in. You’re with us every night, yet you haven’t done it.” Christ, Knox is determined to ruin our night.

“Um, maybe when you ask me to. Stop being a dickhead. You’re ruining this evening. Roman looks close to tears; we put him through some serious shit, and you seem to have forgotten about that. Sort yourself out or I’ll be taking Roe to my place.”

Knox is silent except for a few deep breaths, then turns into our road, to the house. I unclip my seatbelt, and with Ollie, get out, heading for Roe’s door and open it for him. I pull him into an embrace and kiss the top of his head.

“He doesn’t mean to behave like this; he hates being out of control, of not knowing everything. He’s been like this for as long as I’ve known him.” Roe says, his words a little muffled by the leather jacket I’m wearing.

I hear Knox’s door shut and the bleep of it locking from his key fob. His footsteps come quickly towards us, and I feel his body touch my arms as he hugs Roman, with his chest pressed to Roe’s back. “I’m sorry. Let’s get inside.”

Instead of going straight up to bed the way we usually do after a night at Bound, Knox leads us into the living room, and a feeling of déjà vu washes over me. Taking me back to turning them down.

“Who wants a drink?” I ask, not exactly procrastinating. I could use one. They both nod, and I go collect the Jack and glasses. I’m pleased to see Roman on Knox’s knee when I go back in; it’s even better to see them kissing passionately. “Now, that’s a sight I can watch for hours. But we’ve got some talking to get done. Then we can kiss again for as long as we want.”

I pour the drinks and hand them out. “It’s probably nothing, but it’s worth checking out. I got a weird feeling I was being watched, not just glanced at or someone trying to figure out if I am that fighter. I didn’t want to look around and planned to ask you to look at the surveillance video to see if I could see if there was anyone was acting odd or if I recognised anyone.”

I sip at the whiskey before starting again. “Then Roe needed us, and it went by.”

“Maddox felt it again we were leaving. I said I’d look, but he didn’t want me to,” Roman adds.

“Then, I don’t know if you saw, Roe, but a man came out and was watching me drive away.”

“I don’t think I noticed anyone.”

“Did you recognise him?” Knox asks, then moves Roe so he can stand up. “I’ll get my laptop, and I can log in to the cameras.”

When he comes back in, we move to the sofa so we can all see. Knox in the middle, Ollie on my other side. It doesn’t take long to bring up. “Bloody hell, that’s great quality,” I mutter.

“With Drake, would you expect anything else?”