Defying Asher (Knight Security 1) Read online

  He gave a low groan of protest as he eased his cock from inside her, careful to take the full condom with him, before rolling over to sit on the side of the bed and snatch the cell up from the side table. “Speak.” His voice was harsh.

  “I’m not even going to ask what you were doing when I called.” As predicted, it was Gabriel.

  “Good,” Ash came back with hard dismissal.

  There was a heartbeat of silence before Gabriel answered him briskly. “Claudia Reynolds’s assistant was attacked while they were visiting Jack Forsythe at the hospital. Someone stabbed Arnold when he went to the bathroom.”

  Shit. “Is he dead?”

  “Asher?” Lissa sat up in alarm.

  He shot her a silencing frown. “Gabriel?”

  “He has a stab wound to the shoulder. Thankfully, the blade didn’t hit any vital organs, and he’s being bandaged and strapped up even as we speak.”

  “Where the hell were his bodyguards?”

  “Caleb and Jacob were assigned to Miss Reynolds and Mr. Arnold today,” Gabriel answered Ash evenly. “Caleb stayed with Miss Reynolds while Jacob accompanied Arnold to the bathroom. Jacob received a blow to the head before the attacker went for Arnold. Jacob has a head wound, and it needed a couple of stitches, but nothing serious.”

  “Is it my father?” Lissa pressed urgently.

  Ash wanted to know all the facts before he answered any of her questions. How the hell had someone managed a surprise attack that had taken out one of Knight Security’s highly trained operatives?

  “Luckily, hospitals have tight security nowadays,” Gabriel continued. “Cameras at all entrances and exits, and in the corridors. The police have confiscated the surveillance footage for now. But hopefully I’ll get access, and between the two of us, we’ll find our attacker on there somewhere.”

  “You’re at the hospital?” The situation must be bad for Gabriel to have left his office.

  “This is one almighty clusterfuck, Ash,” Gabriel rasped. “The police are all over this second attack on a close associate of Claudia Reynolds in as many days. As this happened in a public hospital, I doubt it will be long before the press finds out either. And then the shit will really hit the fan. I’m bringing in Jonas and several other operatives so we can tighten personal security even more.”

  “Asher, what—” Lissa’s scowl darkened as Ash held up a hand to silence her. “Tell me what’s going on—now—or I swear I’m going to hit you again, and it won’t be a playful tap like last time.”

  Ash put his hand over the mouthpiece. “Get some clothes on. We’ll be leaving here in a few minutes.”

  “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me who’s been injured.” She eyed him mutinously, but her face was deathly pale, evidence of the stress she was feeling.

  “Arnold has been stabbed, but he’s still alive. Jacob, an employee of Knight Security, has stitches and probably a bad headache after being knocking out,” he informed her tensely. “Now do as I ask and get some fucking clothes on!” Ash glared at her before turning his attention back to his phone call.

  At least, he tried to concentrate on what Gabriel was saying.

  Not so easy to do as Lissa got up off the bed to cross the bedroom and grab some clothes from the drawers in her dresser before flouncing over to the bathroom across the hallway.

  All while wearing only those sexy suspenders and stockings.

  Was it wrong of Lissa to feel relieved it had been Malcolm Arnold who was injured rather than her father or mother?

  Of course it was wrong. But she couldn’t help the way she felt. It was something of a miracle that neither Malcolm nor the Knight Security employee had been seriously injured. She might not like her mother’s personal assistant, or his relationship with Claudia, but neither did she wish him any harm.

  Asher had been dressed and waiting for Lissa in the sitting room when she returned from showering and dressing in tight low-rider jeans and a yellow sweater. Asher had immediately told her to change the sweater for a color that made her less of a target. The closed expression on his face was enough for Lissa not to risk arguing on the subject before returning to her bedroom and exchanging the yellow sweater for a black one.

  Her father had always told her to choose her fights carefully, and the color of her sweater certainly wasn’t important enough to be one of them.

  “Where are we going?” she prompted as she once again sat in the back of the SUV, Asher beside Zander in the front of the vehicle as the other man drove. But he wasn’t going in the direction of the hospital as she had thought he would.

  “My sister and brother-in-law have a secluded place in the country where you’ll be safe—”

  “I’m not leaving London.” Lissa sat forward so that she could lean between the two front seats. “I’m not leaving,” she repeated firmly as Asher shot her a narrow-eyed glare.

  “What did I tell you earlier? You’ll go where I damn well tell you to go—”

  “Zander.” She turned to the other man. “Drive us to the hospital, would you? I would like to visit my father.”

  “You aren’t going anywhere near the hospital right now.” Asher’s hands were clenched on his thighs. “The attacker could still be around, just waiting for the opportunity to pick off another member of Claudia’s family with a well-aimed shot.”

  Lissa wanted to say she hardly qualified as being important enough to Claudia to merit being attacked. But again, it wasn’t a subject she felt strongly enough to argue over. “Why do you think this latest attack was so personal?” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Shooting Harvey and my father from a distance is one thing, but this person would have to have been very close to knock one man out and stab another one.”

  As Gabriel had commented yesterday, Ash had never underestimated Lissa’s intelligence. On the contrary, it was one of the things he liked about her. As well as her sassy nature. Her beauty. Her independence. Hell, he even liked her temper when it led to the sort of lovemaking they had shared a year ago and again this afternoon.

  Neither of which was a subject he could afford to be distracted by right now.

  Because he had also been wondering the same thing about this latest attack. He was sure it would have occurred to Gabriel too; nothing escaped his oldest brother’s notice. “Gabriel may know more once we get to the hospital.” He gave a nod as Zander gave him a questioning glance. No matter how much Ash might wish to, he really couldn’t make Lissa do anything she didn’t want to do. But if she gave him even one triumphant glance, he was going to—

  “Thank you.”

  How the fuck did Lissa do that? How could she deflate his anger and tension by saying two little words?

  She placed one of her hands on his shoulder and squeezed lightly before removing it again as she leaned back against the seat and turned to look out the window.

  Ash had no idea what was waiting for them at the hospital. But whatever it was, whatever happened, he was going to keep Lissa safe until the police caught this bastard and put him behind bars where he belonged.

  Lissa’s steps faltered slightly as she and Asher reached her father’s hospital room and she saw the giant of a man standing guard outside the room with Ethan. This man made even Zander look small in comparison. Half a dozen inches over six feet in height, and powerfully muscular, he wore a black leather duster that reached down to his ankles. His hair was jet-black, skin copper toned. An indication of a Native American heritage? A heritage belied by eyes of steely blue.

  “My brother-in-law, Jonas Grayfeather,” Asher introduced dryly as he saw her surprise.

  “Miss Forsythe.” The man’s deep voice had a faint American accent.

  That and the name Grayfeather indicated Lissa was probably right about the Native American heritage. Jonas was certainly impressive enough to be one of those proud warriors.

  “Mr. Grayfeather.” She nodded.

  “Call him Jonas. His bark is much worse than his bite,” Asher assured her as he took a
firm hold of Lissa’s elbow.

  “That isn’t what Lily says,” the other man drawled.

  Asher winced. “I really didn’t need to hear that.”

  Jonas grinned, transforming his face from harsh to handsome in the two seconds it took for those sculptured features to relax. “Tormenting my brothers-in-law is one of the minor perks of being married to Lily.”

  Lissa decided there and then that she liked Jonas Grayfeather. At the same time, she felt curious about his wife, the sister of the four Knight brothers.

  A curiosity that would probably never be answered, as Lissa was never likely to meet her.

  “Very funny,” Asher answered the other man. “How is it in there?” He nodded in the direction of the closed door to Jack’s hospital room.

  “Not good.” Ethan was the one to answer him.

  Asher winced. “Has Gabriel been allowed to look at the surveillance discs yet?”

  “The police aren’t sharing.”

  Asher arched dark brows. “Let me guess, they’re even less impressed by our presence now?”

  Jonas nodded. “You’d win that bet.”

  “Are you ready for this?” Asher prompted Lissa.

  She nodded but didn’t speak. She might be the one who had insisted they come to the hospital, but that didn’t mean she was looking forward to the next few minutes.

  She took in the occupants of her father’s room in a single, sweeping glance.

  For once in her well-ordered life, Claudia looked less than her pristine and elegant self as she hovered beside the wheelchair where a white-faced Malcolm Arnold sat, one of his arms in a sling, his eyes closed in a face etched with pain. Claudia’s hair was tousled, there were dark circles visible beneath her eyes, and her lips were bare of the red lipstick she favored.

  Maybe she genuinely cared for Malcolm after all?

  Jack was also sitting out of bed today, but he was almost as white in the face as Malcolm. This second attack had obviously been a strain on him.

  Lissa quickly crossed the room to sit on the arm of her father’s chair and take one of his hands in hers as she nodded a greeting at a stern-faced Gabriel.

  There was one other man in the room, who Gabriel now tersely introduced as Police Inspector Rourke. A middle-aged man who watched them all with narrow-eyed assessment as he stood over by the window.

  No one said a word for several awkwardly long seconds after that introduction.

  “As I was saying.” The police inspector was finally the one to break that silence. “I need you to come down to the station and make a statement, Mr. Arnold.”

  “And I have told you, it can wait until tomorrow,” Claudia answered him waspishly. “I intend taking Malcolm back to my apartment now so that he can rest.”

  “I—”

  “I do not intend to argue with you on the subject.” Claudia eyed the policeman haughtily. “Malcolm was attacked and stabbed. He has lost a lot of blood.”

  “The doctor seems to think he’s well enough to be discharged—”

  “My point exactly.” Claudia tossed back her platinum blonde hair. “I have already instructed my car be brought round to the side entrance of the hospital.” The subject was obviously settled as far as she was concerned.

  Which didn’t surprise Lissa in the slightest. This was the way Claudia had always been and probably always would be. What she said was going to happen, happened.

  The police inspector looked less than impressed by her arrogance. “It’s vital that we have as much information as possible as quickly as possible.”

  “Then I suggest you stop harassing Mr. Arnold and set about gathering that information.” Claudia nodded with cool dismissal. “If I could ask for your assistance with the wheelchair, Mr. Knight?”

  Despite the seriousness of the situation, Lissa had to hold back a smile as Asher and Gabriel looked at each other, no doubt wondering which Mr. Knight her mother was referring to. Knowing Claudia, it didn’t matter which, as long as one of them jumped to do her bidding.

  Bitter much, Lissa derided herself. No, it wasn’t bitterness, it was more a part of the acceptance that Lissa, and everyone else, came second to whatever Claudia wanted.

  At the moment, her mother had decided she and Malcolm were leaving the hospital.

  “I’ll go.” Asher was finally the brother to answer impatiently as he took charge of Malcolm’s wheelchair. “You will stay put until I get back,” he ordered Lissa.

  Claudia raised blonde brows. “Do you allow him to talk to you in that manner?”

  Lissa had bristled in resentment at Asher’s high-handedness but that tension left her as she now smiled sweetly at Claudia. “Oh, I allow him to do so much more than talk, Mother,” she assured her pointedly.

  Claudia’s brows rose even higher. “The two of us will discuss this further tomorrow.”

  It was an order, not a request, and one that Lissa had no intention of obeying. “I suggest you take care of your own…affairs”—she gave Malcolm a pointed glance—“and leave me to take care of mine.”

  “But—”

  “Butt out, Claudia.” Jack was the one to interrupt impatiently. “Lissa is a big girl now and can choose her own friends,” he added when Claudia gave him a surprised glance.

  Go, Lissa and Jack, Ash acknowledged with admiration. Claudia Reynolds was far too used to running roughshod over anyone and everyone she met.

  “After all, she is our daughter.” Jack raised a challenging brow. “Thirty years ago, he would have been exactly your type too.” He cast a scathing glance over the less than muscular Malcolm Arnold.

  Ash hadn’t imagined the Ice Queen could blush. But that was exactly what Claudia now did. She also appeared slightly flustered.

  So maybe she hadn’t always been the Ice Queen? Perhaps Jack Forsythe had once known a different Claudia than the high-powered businesswoman she was now.

  Lissa looked less than comfortable with the turn the conversation had taken.

  Because, despite her earlier bravado, both her parents now knew the two of them were involved?

  Were they involved?

  Claudia turned that glacial-blue gaze on him. “You will accompany me all the way to my car, Mr. Knight.”

  “Ethan and Jonas are outside waiting to accompany you.”

  “I requested you, Mr. Knight.” She indicated he should follow her as she turned and left the room, head held high.

  It didn’t sound like much of a request to Ash…

  Chapter 12

  “Well, that went well,” Lissa announced once her mother and Asher, pushing the wheelchair, had left the room.

  “I imagine Claudia is interrogating your young man right now,” Jack drawled.

  “He isn’t mine,” she protested. At thirty-six, Asher was hardly a young man either. In fact, he was several years older than her mother’s current lover. Besides which, Asher wasn’t a man to be intimidated by any woman. Including her mother.

  “My brother is more than capable of taking care of himself.” Gabriel obviously thought so too.

  Claudia might just have met her match in the Knight brothers. Although the idea that Claudia actually gave a damn who Lissa was involved with was laughable.

  Besides, she and Asher weren’t involved. They had sex together occasionally. Very occasionally. Which at best made them friends with benefits. Except Asher wasn’t Lissa’s friend either…

  Then what the hell was he?

  Lissa had no idea what she meant to Asher, and now wasn’t the time for her to explore her own feelings for him. Maybe once this was all over…

  She turned to the police inspector. “Are you any further forward in knowing who is responsible for these attacks?”

  “I’m not at liberty to discuss an ongoing investigation,” he answered unhelpfully.

  Lissa wanted to demand then why the hell aren’t you out there investigating, but that would make her sound far too much like her arrogant mother. An accusation that had already been leveled a
t her recently. Instead she merely nodded.

  “Well, you have nothing more you want to tell us, and we’ve told you all that we know—which wasn’t much—so don’t let us keep you.” Jack wasn’t as polite.

  “The sooner you view those surveillance discs, the more hope we have of catching the bastard.” Gabriel either. “If you would hand over a copy to me, we could have two sets of eyes on them. We might spot something unusual one of your men wouldn’t pick up on.”

  The police inspector bristled. “I believe I have already stated we do not require the assistance of Knight Security with this investigation.”

  “That’s the official answer. Now give me your personal one.”

  “They are one and the same.”

  “Like hell they are.” Gabriel’s mouth tightened. “One of my men was injured in this latest attack. That now makes it my investigation too.”

  Lissa had to stifle a smile, half expecting the two men to start beating their chests at any moment to decide which one was the alpha. In her mind, there was no doubt who that was; Gabriel won hands down. Anyone with an ounce of self-preservation would know that from looking at him, over six feet of arrogant, muscular male, along with the glitter in his green eyes that promised retribution to anyone who injured one of his men.

  “As you’re well aware, we do not encourage the general public to intervene in police matters.” The inspector obviously felt compelled to make one last-ditch effort to claim the title.

  “Again, that’s the official view. And Knight Security is hardly the general public, Declan.” Gabriel got in the other man’s face. “As such, I suggest you carry out your investigation your way and I’ll do the same with mine. The difference being I’ll share anything I find with you.”

  Declan. Gabriel knew the other man well enough to call him by his first name? Possibly from having other cases overlapping in the way this one was.