Page 3 of Edge (Killers Inc. #2)

Sweat rolled down Mickey’s back. He tried like hell to stay focused on his breathing and nothing else.

Climbing that building had made him realize he had neglected his pull-ups for too long.

While he had pulled off the climb, it hadn’t been as easy as it used to be.

The way Edge scaled the wall had shown him his shortcomings.

Granted, Edge was tall and lanky. He had less weight to carry up a vertical surface, but Edge had been sleeveless the day he had abducted Mickey and Mickey had seen how cut and thick those arms were.

Muscle wasn’t light. Mickey needed to work harder.

“Do you think if I stopped dancing, I’d get fat?”

Mickey dropped from the bar to focus on Kylo at the question. He sat nearby on the floor with his snacks and coloring books. “No. You have too lean of a build.”

Kylo nodded, but he didn’t look up. “Do you think Beau would still love me if I got fat?”

Kylo didn’t sound quite right. These questions weren’t like him. “I think Beau would love you even if he had to wheel you around in a wheelbarrow. Why?”

Kylo shrugged. “I don’t know. Other than a couple of hours yesterday, I haven’t seen him a lot lately. He’s always gone when I wake up and I’m asleep before he comes to bed. I was just sitting here thinking that I feel fat, so maybe I’m fat.” He shrugged again. “Nothing feels right.”

His arms were beet red. Something was definitely wrong. “Look at me, sweetie.”

Kylo’s chin lifted. His face was swollen and red. All the alarms bells rang. He knew that look. “Can you breathe okay?”

Kylo visibly tried to swallow. “I don’t know.” He made a sound like sucking air through a straw and Mickey flew into action. In a flash, he had Kylo over his shoulder at a full run down the hall with his phone to his ear.

“What’s wrong?” Beau knew Mickey wouldn’t call his emergency phone from upstairs unless it truly was an emergency.

“My room. Now. Kylo isn’t breathing.” He knew he was vague and maybe dramatic, but he needed Beau to get their family physician there.

Mickey was about to hit Kylo with an EpiPen.

He would still need medical care afterward… if it worked. God, it had to work.

He dumped a visibly panicked Kylo on his bed and ran for the bathroom. Mickey easily found one of his spare EpiPens and was back in a flash. Without an ounce of hesitation, he stabbed Kylo in the thigh.

Almost immediately, even though it felt like it took forever, he heard Kylo take a breath. It was still labored, but then he took another.

Beau burst into the room with Henry hot on his heels. He was on the bed before Mickey could say a word. “Holy shit. What happened?”

Mickey was out of breath from the sheer terror. “I don’t know. He had an allergic reaction, but I don’t know why. One second, he was coloring, and the next, he was all red in the face and fighting for air.”

“Austen is on the way,” Henry said, holding the phone to his ear.

Mickey nodded. He couldn’t look at anyone but Kylo. If the swelling didn’t subside, he might need another shot. Mickey wasn’t above that if it kept Kylo breathing.

“Did something sting him? Did he eat something new? I don’t understand.” Beau sounded every bit as panicked as Mickey felt.

Mickey just babbled, trying to make his brain work.

“I don’t know. He asked if I thought you’d still love him if he got fat.

Then he said something about never seeing you anymore, then he wasn’t breathing.

I don’t know.” Mickey had always been good under pressure.

This was different. It was Kylo. Maybe it was his job to watch Kylo, but they spent nearly every waking moment together.

He was Mickey’s best friend. He was amazing and Mickey couldn’t handle anything happening to him.

Henry grabbed him from behind and squeezed, shoring him up.

Mickey leaned into him and tried to clear his head.

He swiped his hand over his eyes. “Um. Let me think. He wanted milk and cookies, but we were out of milk. Chef Fabrice said there was soy milk, but it was Clay’s since he’s allergic to milk.

Clay was in the kitchen, and he said it was okay if Kylo wanted it.

Kylo said he’d never tried soy milk, but he wasn’t opposed.

So, I guess that’s new, but it’s soy milk.

That’s what people drink when they’re allergic to milk. ”

“Soybeans are a very common allergy. In fact, it’s one of the big eight that can cause severe reactions.”

Mickey sagged in relief as Austen strolled into the room, sounding calm and spouting facts.

He was at Kylo’s side and working in no time.

Henry squeezed his shoulders. “Go take a walk. You need a minute.”

Mickey nodded. It felt like his brain rattled in his head. He had never been more scared, and he worked for a fucking crime lord. Mickey headed downstairs on autopilot. He needed to go to the store and get milk. That was what he should have done this morning. If he had, Kylo would be okay.

Rain appeared in his path. “Is he okay?”

Mickey didn’t have the strength to calm anyone else. Austen’s husband was one of Kylo’s oldest friends. Mickey motioned toward the stairs. “Second floor on the left. Second to the last door at the end of the hall.”

Rain ran for the stairs.

Mickey made his way to the garage. That was where he found Edge waiting. Their gazes met and didn’t budge.

Edge made a helpless gesture. “I drove Rain and Austen.”

That made sense. Rain was part of his team. They all lived together. Rain was probably too close to the situation to drive. He didn’t know why Austen couldn’t. Mickey gave a jerky nod. His throat wouldn’t work.

“He’ll be okay. Austen says he keeps you stocked with EpiPens, and you’d know what to do. I take it you have some sort of severe allergy?”

Mickey’s hands rose and fell. He couldn’t hold a conversation right now. “Peanuts.”

Edge nodded. “You should probably steer clear of Field, then. I’m pretty sure ninety-nine percent of his diet consists of peanut butter.”

“I need to get Kylo some milk.”

Edge motioned toward the Dodge Challenger he leaned against. “I’ll take you. You don’t look like you need to be driving.”

He was so calm. In control. Just like he had been on that rooftop, Edge was a born caretaker and leader. He made it hard to panic.

Mickey headed for the car when Edge opened the passenger door for him. Before he could climb inside, Edge was in his space. His mouth covered Mickey’s and air finally filled his lungs fully since Kylo stopped breathing.

Edge pulled away. “Now you can get in, sexy.”

Mickey didn’t respond. He simply climbed into the car and accepted his fate. Edge was in control. Mickey was just along for the ride.

If Edge understood anything, it was the look of a man who had almost lost someone in their charge.

Duty was all Edge had. Keeping his brothers safe was everything.

Without them, he was nothing. Edge had failed before and wouldn’t again.

Mickey hadn’t failed, but the attack had been unexpected and he was still in shock.

He didn’t even realize he was shirtless until Edge pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store and pointed it out.

“What kind of milk does he need? I’ll get it. I’m pretty sure no shoes, no shirt, no service is still a thing.”

Mickey glanced down at himself. “Oh. Damn. Sorry. I was in the middle of my workout.”

Edge had zero complaints. He had known the body beneath the guy’s clothes would be amazing. Edge hadn’t been wrong.

Mickey shifted positions as if to dig out his wallet. “Well, fuck. I guess the milk will have to wait.”

He looked so adorably defeated at the realization he didn’t have his wallet. Likely he would have noticed before leaving—since he didn’t seem to have any keys either—if Edge hadn’t talked him into getting into his car.

“You’re good. I’ve got it.”

Mickey’s shoulders sank lower. “Thanks. I’ll pay you back when we get home. Um.” He scrubbed his hand across his eyes. “Kylo drinks whole milk.”

With a wink, Edge climbed from the car and made his way inside. It took less than five minutes to grab a gallon and be right back outside with Mickey. Still, Edge resented the time lost. Thankfully, Mickey seemed to have recovered a bit as Edge passed the milk his way.

“How much do I owe you?”

Edge shrugged. “It’s on me. You can buy me a drink sometime.”

“All right.”

His easy agreement bolstered Edge’s hopes. After their kiss, Edge had immediately begun questioning every moment and second-guessing everything. There was no reason for Mickey to see him again. It was a kiss. Kisses meant nothing to most people. Edge should forget it. He couldn’t.

Unfortunately, the silence that followed wasn’t as comfortable as he liked. He found himself needing to fill it. “So…” He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he drove. “What kind of workout do you do?”

“Actually, I decided to work on my upper body strength today. After scaling that building, I realized how much I’ve been neglecting pull-ups.”

Edge couldn’t help but smile. “You didn’t look like you struggled.”

“I can always be better. Just because I don’t go on jobs with Beau anymore doesn’t mean I should let anything slip. Anyone who sees Beau with Kylo knows Kylo is his weakness. If anything, I’m probably more in danger now that it’s my job to stick to him. Not that I’m complaining.”

Of course he wasn’t. Edge got the feeling Mickey never complained. “Well, you said you grew up homeless, so I doubt you feel like you’re allowed to be unhappy now.”

“Oof. You said you grew up abused. Do you want to drag that out too?”

Edge couldn’t stop smiling. Even the heavy topic didn’t dim his mood. “I mean, if you want. Honestly, I’d be shocked if you didn’t already know all about me. Between being friends with Kylo and Beau having us all investigated—I’m sure—you probably know more about me than I do.”

“Be shocked, then. Kylo doesn’t talk about any of you beyond your present friendship. If Beau had you investigated, and he likely did, he didn’t share any of that info with me. I’m just a foot soldier.”

Edge tossed Mickey a look of disbelief. “I highly doubt that. Beau wouldn’t trust just anyone with Kylo. You’re a lot higher in those ranks than you think. I’d go as far to say you’re right under Henry, if not equal to him.”

Mickey laughed. “Don’t let that fool you into thinking I know a damn thing going on in Beau’s business. He’s always been the type to move in complete silence. That’s what makes him so fucking terrifying. Well, one thing.”

Edge nodded. “I can imagine. People like him don’t live as long as he has without being genius levels ahead of everyone.”

“I have a feeling that you’re also describing yourself.”

A snort burst from Edge before he could stop it. “I don’t know about all that.”

“How long have you kept your bunch alive, hidden, and out of prison?”

“Yeah. I’m not doing that alone. It’s a team effort.

Everyone plays their role. We all stay safe.

Why do you think Austen moved in with us rather than Rain moving in with him?

If we don’t stick together, everything we’ve built will fall to pieces.

I recognize that sounds dramatic, but that’s just how it is.

We’ll be hunted until the end of our days.

If we split, they’ll pick us off one by one.

Only together are we a force they won’t dare cross. ”

“Who is we?”

Edge had forgotten he spoke to someone who didn’t know him. He was so accustomed to being surrounded by only his brothers that he hadn’t watched his words. Not that it mattered. “The Russian government.”

Mickey didn’t react right away. When he did, he did so in the funniest way possible, in Edge’s opinion. “Yeah. That’s a lot of people.”

A bark of laughter escaped Edge. He genuinely liked Mickey. Unfortunately, their time was over too soon. The moment they pulled into the garage, Henry damn near ripped the passenger door off his car. “I tried calling. Where in the hell have you been?”

Mickey leapt from the car like his ass was on fire. “I got Kylo’s milk. I forgot my phone. Is everything okay? Is Kylo all right?”

Henry ran his fingers through his hair. It was the most shaken Edge had ever seen the guy, including Edge bringing Mickey home from Mexico. “Yeah. Sorry. I didn’t think about you not having your phone.” His gaze slid down Mickey’s body. “It looks like you forgot a few things.”

“Not the milk.” He waved the jug.

Henry automatically lit, becoming someone new.

“I see that.” His eyes sparkled with laughter.

“When Kylo’s up and moving, and Beau lets him leave the bed again, I’m sure Kylo will be grateful.

” His gaze slid down Mickey’s body again.

“Where is all your stuff? You’re not even armed. You know better than that.”

Edge whipped a gun from a holster at his waist. “He was good. I had his back.”

Henry’s gaze moved from the weapon to Edge. He dipped his chin. “Thanks for that.”

Mickey made another awkward motion with the milk. “I should put this away and grab my shit from the gym.” He focused on Edge. “Thank you.”

Edge dipped his chin. He desperately wanted to find a way to stay in Mickey’s company, but Rain appeared, stealing his chance.

“Hey. Can you take me home so I can pick up my car and pack a bag for Austen and me? We need to stay the night in case Kylo needs us. Well, Austen. I’m pretty useless in this scenario. ”

He recognized Rain tried to lighten the mood, but all Edge felt was longing.

For years, he had avoided all attachments.

Now here was this guy and everything stood in their way, especially Edge’s inability to simply reach for what he wanted.

But Edge would be back, and he would keep trying.

He hadn’t been this invested in a long time.

The time had come for him to try to move on from things that would never be.