Page 31 of Hard Knox

“We’ll find the right time to tell her, together,” he assured me, his voice steady, providing the strength I needed to face the day.

At the funeral, there were whispers and somber looks. And the real shock, the appearance of Mark’s other family—the wife and children I had only recently learned about—cast a shadow over the proceedings. It was dreamlike, confronting the reality of Mark’s double life in such a public, poignant setting. Their presence was an ugly reminder of the lies that had permeated our life together, now laid bare for all to see. And without Knox and my investigation, it would’ve only been a bigger shock.

The service was a blur, with speeches that painted a picture of a man few truly knew. As his other wife stood to speak, the murmurs grew louder, the community’s shock evident in everyone’s faces. I felt eyes on me, their gazes heavy with suspicion and curiosity.

“Imagine my shock to find out Mark had a secret wife. She must have known! Maybe she even had a part in it!” Her words echoed in the hushed room, turning heads and drawing gasps. His other wife, pointed, tearful and angry, openly accused me of having a hand in Mark’s demise. The accusation struck like a physical blow.

I stood frozen, the room spinning slightly, until I felt Knox’s hand on my shoulder. He leaned in, his presence a solid reassurance. “Don’t listen to them, Eliza. We know the truth,” he whispered, just loud enough for me to hear over the murmur of the crowd.

With Knox’s support, I managed to stay composed. We left the service almost immediately, his arm around my shoulders as we walked past the murmuring crowds, his support the only thing keeping me upright.

Chapter 16

Eliza

As we drove back in silence, I leaned against the car window, watching the landscapes blur by. The actuality of Mark’s death, the complexity of his hidden lives, and the public accusation had left me reeling. But amidst the chaos, one thing was crystal clear. Knox had become my steadfast protector, the person I could rely on without hesitation. His loyalty, which he so freely extended to his club, was now a shield around me and Emma, and for that, I was profoundly grateful.

“I have to call Birdie,” I said, wanting to talk to Emma. I told Emma, “Grandma will be picking you up and mommy will see you soon.” Thankfully, my little girl was blissfully unaware of everything going on and having a blast getting to spend more time than ever with Grandma and Birdie.

“We need to be careful,” Knox finally broke the silence. “It’s good Emma ain’t with us. Whoever is behind this might not be done yet. They’ve shown they’ll go to any lengths.”

My fear turned into a determination. “Let’s go over everything again. We must be missing something.”

Back at his apartment, we spread out the documents and printouts of the digital evidence we’d collected. With fresh eyes, we traced through the financial trails and questionable transactions, marking connections and potential leads. Hours passed as night fell.

Suddenly, our focused silence was shattered by the sound of breaking glass. Instinctively, we ducked as the window beside us exploded, showering the room with shards. Knox was on his feet in an instant, pulling me down to the floor.

“Stay down!” he hissed, peering cautiously toward the broken window.

Heart hammering, I crawled closer to him, away from the sightline of the window. “What was that? A warning shot?”

“Or a missed shot,” Knox replied grimly, pulling his phone from his pocket. “I’m calling this in.”

As he reported the incident to his brothers, not the cops, I couldn’t help but feel the walls closing in around us. The danger Mark’s secrets had posed was no longer just a shadow. It was real and immediate.

Knox ended the call and looked at me, his expression set in hard lines. “We can’t stay here. Ain’t safe anymore. We’re moving to a secure location I know, just outside of town. Get your bag, quickly.”

Minutes later, we were on his motorcycle, his apartment fading into the background as we drove into the night. Knox’s jaw was clenched, his eyes scanning the road and mirrors for any sign of pursuit. The ride was long and curvy, each turn and shadow making me jump.

“We’ll be safe here,” Knox assured me as we arrived at a nondescript cabin hidden by dense trees, far from the prying eyes of the city. “It’s off the grid, and only a few trusted people know about it.”

Inside, the cabin was sparsely furnished but fortified, the windows barred. Knox showed me around, pointing out security measures and escape routes. The truth of our circumstance settled heavily on my shoulders. We were hiding, not just from the law or community judgment, but from someone who wanted to silence us permanently.

As we settled into the unexpected refuge, Knox kept close, his presence both comforting and a constant reminder of the danger we faced. Despite everything, we reviewed our findings, trying to piece together who could benefit the most from Mark’s silence—and now, potentially ours.

Late into the night, as fatigue blurred the lines of the documents before us, we moved to the bedroom. The sound of Knox moving about, checking the locks and windows, was oddly comforting before he joined me.

“We’ll get through this, Eliza,” Knox’s voice was soft but firm, filled with a promise. “We’re close to figuring this out, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Knox materialized over me, his eyes darting over my body, and I was certain, we could forget about all of this mess tonight, if only for a little while. We could lose ourselves in one another. And that’s just what we did.

Our time started with passionate kisses as always, awakening all my butterflies.

“I want you completely naked, Eliza,” Knox suddenly demanded. “I want to look at you, all of you.” He reached for my hand and pulled me to my feet.

He sat on the edge of the bed while I stripped for him.

“Turn around,” he ordered, and I obeyed. “Get down on all fours… spread your legs… turn over… touch yourself…” Knox had me putting on an erotic show for him before he joined me on the hard wooden floor.

---