Bleeding Edge: Elliot Security (Elliot Security Series Book 2)

  Evie Mitchell

  Bleeding Edge

  Book 2 | Elliot Security Series

  First published by Thunder Thighs Publishing 2021

  Copyright © 2021 by Evie Mitchell

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  This book was previously released as Rough Code by Kim Congram.

  First edition

  Editing by Hot Tree Publishing

  Cover art by Sly Fox Cover Designs

  This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy

  Find out more at reedsy.com

  Contents

  Dedication

  Also by Evie Mitchell

  Connect with Evie Mitchell

  Bleeding Edge

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-One

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Epilogue

  Also by Evie Mitchell

  Connect with Evie

  Dedication

  To every woman who has faced her fear and said,

  “Not today, Satan.”

  And to my favourite husband, thanks for creating a life with me that is more beautiful than any I could write.

  You know which scenes are for you.

  Also by Evie Mitchell

  Capricorn Cove Series

  Thunder Thighs

  Double the D

  Muffin Top

  The Mrs. Clause

  New Year Knew You

  The Shake-Up

  Double Breasted

  As You Wish

  Beach Party

  You Sleigh Me

  Resolution Revolution

  Meat Load

  Trunk Junk

  Archer Sibling Series

  Just Joshing

  Thor’s Shipbuilding Series

  Clean Sweep

  The X-List

  Reality Check

  The Christmas Contract

  Nameless Souls MC Series

  Runner

  Wrath

  Elliot Security Series

  Rough Edge

  Bleeding Edge

  Knife Edge

  Other books

  Reign Anthology

  Connect with Evie Mitchell

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  Greedy Readers Book Club

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  Bookbub

  Goodreads

  Newsletter

  Bleeding Edge

  Emmie

  On run since my teens, my whole life is built around a quick exit. But when a violent attack leaves me vulnerable, I’m forced to rely on the only man that makes me wish I could stay - Lucien Falco.

  To keep him safe, I can’t let him get close, but the man is determined to break down all my barriers .

  Lucien

  Raised in a loving close-knit family, my roots run deep, and I’ve always known what I’ve been looking for in a partner, but no woman has ever come close.

  Until Emmie.

  The talented, beautiful hacker is a puzzle I ache to solve. With her life in danger, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect the woman I love.

  Even if that means losing her in the process.

  If you love a story that involves a protective Aussie alpha and a kickass heroine mixed with romantic suspense - then this is the book for you!

  Trigger warning: This is a darker book than my other series and contains some violence and references to abuse. A happily ever after is still guaranteed, but this is a gritty series so proceeded with caution.

  Chapter One

  Emmie

  Present Day

  They say no good story starts with a salad but mine did. So, here goes.

  It started with a salad. It wasn’t even a good one like with feta or pear or chicken. No, limp soggy leaves sat sadly in a bowl surrounded by three evil looking prawns, their buggy eyes stared out at me. I hated prawns with the fiery vengeance of a thousand suns. This was one salad I did not want to make friends with.

  I hadn’t planned or even wanted to go out. Addie, the executive assistant at the security firm where I worked, had pestered me until I’d acquiesced. Addie had style with a capital cool. A total glam babe – I’d never seen her in anything less than full pin-up vintage. Despite my protests, she’d convinced me to attend Thursday night trivia.

  We were at a small bar just down the street from my office. I’d had a burger for lunch and convinced myself I should make an attempt to be healthy and order something light for dinner.

  Immediate regret.

  I reached for the menu, looking back over the description. Yep. No mention of prawns. My nose wrinkled in disgust as I stared at my salad, gingerly poking a crustacean with the tines of my fork.

  “Just saying, that looks horrible,” Addie commented, taking a giant bite out of her deliciously decadent burger. She moaned, rolling her eyes in exaggerated joy.

  I grunted, holding up a limp leaf for closer inspection. “Maybe if I–”

  “Swap it.” The deep voice interrupted.

  I glanced at my boss, Luc, my cheeks warming as I realised all eyes at our table were now on me.

  “Umm.” I abruptly stood, the chair scraping awkwardly as I struggled to ignore the chuckles and gentle teasing from my colleagues. I picked up the plate, muttering, “Be right back.” />
  I worked for a private security company. Elliot Securities was fast becoming one of the biggest names in the business. They did everything from private security for the rich and famous through to investigations and software checks. If it involved security, Elliot Securities was involved.

  A computer geek, my job involved uncovering weaknesses in a company’s cyber security, including information about people who may be doing the wrong thing.

  The second-best part of my job, besides doing cool sometimes questionably legal activities, was working with some of the best minds in the industry. The Nucleus, as we referred to ourselves, were a bunch of guys who, like me, were good with computers. We knew how to work technology to our advantage. We even had badges. And a theme song.

  Which brought me back to Luc – my direct boss. We’d first been introduced during my interview for the Nucleus. By that stage, I’d been at Elliot Securities for two years but working in tech support. My skills had been woefully underutilised until I’d assisted my boss in building a customised firewall and backup solution. The interview offer had come as a surprise. I’d attended it completely unprepared for the sheer beauty of Luc.

  “You can come in now.” The elderly receptionist had ushered me into the meeting room. I’d stepped through, thanking her, and promptly stumbled, fumbling my resume and note pad papers scattered across the floor.

  I dropped to the floor, face flaming as I scrambled for my papers. His tall body moved with perfect grace as he stood, rounding the table to help . I could tell he worked out because, while lean, he was solidly built. He stood a few inches taller than my five feet eleven but moved with power and deliberation, all of him in perfect balance.

  He’d crouched, reaching out to assist. He’d kept his thick chestnut hair cut but not cropped. He had stubble, the dark scruff framed the edge of his face and mouth, drawing attention to his lips.

  His eyes were blue. Not green or grey-blue but piercing clear blue. Long, impossibly perfect dark lashes framed his amazing eyes. Strong eyebrows and nose, a smile on his lips - no dimples. My flush deepened.

  “Hi.” He’d held out a few sheets of paper which I quickly accepted and shoved into my folder, hair falling over my face. Still crouched on the floor, he’d offered a hand. “I’m Lucien Falco. Luc.”

  “Emmie Franklin.” We shook, remaining crouched.

  “Should I leave?” I’d whispered, my eyes finally meeting his.

  “Do you want to leave?” He’d whispered back, a small smile tugging his lips.

  “No. I want the job.”

  “Then” – he’d straightened to stand, reaching his hand down to help me up – “let’s do the interview.”

  I’d talked through my experience and been invited back to complete online testing. The tests were straight forward, checking to see if my skills matched my words. At the end of the day, the job was mine.

  Elliot Securities used the Nucleus by assigning each member to a case leader. The case leader then utilised your skills for anything they had on the books. Could be a security assessment, physical security advice, inside threat assessment, or information security testing. These days something as basic as physical security still had a technical element – stalkers often started their obsessions online. I’d pinpointed a few threats through a simple internet search.

  I’d been assigned to Lucien Falco. I’d now worked for Elliot Securities for three and a bit years, the last eighteen months directly under Lucien. We were a great team, our case-closure rate was excellent, and we got along well.

  The only downside? I wasn’t sticking around for much longer. And I had no idea how to tell him.

  Heading to the kitchen, I weaved in and out of the crowded line waiting at the bar. As I shifted around a group of girls, hands clutched at my back dragging me down. I lost the grip on the plate, sending it spiralling. My plate shattered as our bodies hit the floor with a loud thud. The bar briefly quietened as heads turned to me and the woman who’d desperately clasped me to her.

  “Oh my God! I’m so sorry! These damn heels. There’s a wet patch, I just couldn’t stop–”

  I disentangled myself from the woman gushing apologies at me.

  “No worries.” I waved off offers of assistance from the crowd, then offered her a smile and a hand, helping her stand.

  “What the fuck, Mel!”

  My limp salad dripped from the jean leg of the angry voice’s owner. Over six foot, built like a line-backer, his neck and cheeks were a mottled purple-red as he glared at the tiny woman beside me. She cowered, arms curling around her middle as her shoulders hunched, her eyes on his feet. I could smell the alcohol on his breath as he weaved unsteadily.

  “I’m so sorry, I didn’t–”

  The man swept his hand back, moving to strike her. Years of training kicked in. As he swung to backhand her face, I stepped forward, deflecting the blow with my forearm, following it up with a hard jab to his collarbone, knocking him back. I shifted in front of the woman, hands raised. He came back, taking a wild swing, roaring as he tried to punch me.

  I ducked his arm, stepping forward to knee him in the balls. Taking his other arm, I used the momentum of his body to twist his arm up and around, pegging it behind him as he crashed to the floor, his free hand moving to cup his balls.

  Dimly aware of yelling and screams, I tried to calm my racing heart while the man squirmed under me. I dug a knee in his back, pushing harder on his arm to keep him subdued.

  “I got him.” Luc pulled the guy’s free arm back, pinning the arm while taking over from me. “You can let go, Emmie.”

  I dropped my hands, stepping back, eyes immediately searching for the best exit.

  “Okay, guys, that’s enough. Everyone back to your seat.” Security entered the fray, assessing the situation with a glance. His eyes hit me before skittering off to the sobbing woman on my left.

  “You need me to call the cops? You wanna make a report?”

  I hesitated, glancing at the woman. She nodded, mascara running.

  “He’s my boyfriend. Was. Is. I don’t… he hits… I can’t…” She broke down, crying harder.

  The gathered crowd slowly dissipated as the bar attempted to start the next round of trivia, distracting them from our small group.

  Addie pushed her way through to pull the sobbing woman into a tight hug. “Don’t you worry, honey. You’re safe now.”

  An hour later, the grumbling in my stomach had intensified, but the police had taken my statement.

  “You okay?”

  I nodded.

  “So.” Addie shook her long wavy auburn hair as one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows raised in my direction. “Where have you been hiding your kung fu fighting moves, little miss karate?”

  A chuckle came from behind me.

  I turned, a blush warming my face. Luc had been joined by the owner of Elliot Securities, Paxton Elliot. Both laughed quietly.

  “Hey.” I gave them a nod. “Thanks for helping.”

  Luc grinned. “I would say any time, but you seemed to have it under control.”

  I chuckled nervously. “Still, thanks.”

  “Plan now?”

  I rubbed a hand over my face. “I’m grabbing a burger and heading home.”

  They stayed with me, waiting for my food. As I tucked the paper bag filled with deliciousness into my backpack, Luc offered me a ride.

  “Nah, I’m good. My car’s just out front.” The last hour had allowed me to brush off my latest bad memory; my hands were steady now the adrenaline had worn off.

  Luc shrugged. “I’ll follow you home, then.”

  “I’m okay. You don’t have to.”

  “Humour me.”

  I ducked my head, fighting another blush. “Okay.”

  Luc trailed me to my car. I waited while he got on his Ducati.

  My apartment was in the city but not exactly in the most vibrant place to live. A set of four buildings, each only two storeys high, I lived on the second floor of the
third building. All the buildings were red brick, cracked concrete, and in various states of disrepair. The general sense of abandonment and the fact they attracted people of questionable habits lent them their nickname – the drug flats.

  I peeled off at my driveway, waving a hand out the window in thanks. I expected Luc to keep going, instead he turned in to my complex, following.

  I pulled into my allocated space in the open park, expecting Luc to circle, then leave. Instead, he parked beside my car. He didn’t say anything as I led him up the stairs to my apartment. The hallway sensor light stayed off as we headed to my door. I made a mental note to drag another fluorescent bulb from my supply. Maintenance never did anything.

  I hit the locks on my door, there were three, and opened it up. I paused, uncertain. I’d never invited anyone here. I’d always claimed it was much too small, which wasn’t exactly a lie.

  “Want to come in for a coffee or something?”

  Luc glanced down the hall, frowning, his gaze sharp. Down the corridor, my neighbours’ door had opened, their TV blasting into the hall.

  “Yeah.” A muscle in his jaw ticked as he watched their door slowly close.

  My small one-bedroom unit had a tiny bathroom, minus the bath. The shower felt more like a standing coffin, but the bathroom had a small mirror, a basin, and a toilet. I’d painted the unit, trying to create my own little oasis. Plants overflowed pots in every corner and on every bookshelf. On my kitchen windowsill sat two small rows of assorted teacups full of fresh herbs ready for cooking. My eye-bleed of a couch was a horrific explosion of florals from the early nineties. Used but comfortable, I’d picked it up at the Salvation Army store for a bargain.

  The most expensive thing in my apartment was my TV. There was no other word for it except massive. Huge. A monstrosity. It had taken the delivery guys forty minutes to work out how to navigate it up the narrow staircase and through my door.

  Luc looked around as I moved to the kitchen.

  “I’ve got instant, is that okay?”