Below the Surface

The most dangerous fight of Jace Bennett's career will not happen inside the ring.Jace is ranked fifth in the professional MMA division, close enough to a title shot that every decision matters.Then a journalist discovers footage from an underground warehouse fight only six people were supposed to know about.Cara Whitfield calls the footage significant context.Jace knows what that means.Someone else is preparing to tell his story.Maya Hayes understands how easily selected evidence can create a convincing lie. She conducted the psychological assessment that restored Jace's professional career, and the timeline of their relationship is clean, documented and professionally defensible.But truth does not always make the most compelling headline.As questions spread from the journalist to the governing body, Maya's assessment may become the weapon used to stop Jace before he reaches the title fight. The gym, his father's legacy and everything they have built together are pulled into public view.Jace has spent his life learning how to remain himself when there are no excuses and nowhere to hide.Maya has spent hers building accurate pictures from difficult evidence.To survive this, they must give the world something stronger than denial.The complete truth.While Jace prepares for the title eliminator, Maya fights to protect the integrity of her work without protecting him from choices that belong to him. Every interview, hearing and brutal round brings them closer to the future they have chosen and to the final fight that will change both of their lives.Some stories are visible from the outside.The truth is always deeper.Below the Surface is Book Three in Knockout, a high-heat continuing-couple MMA romance series. Jace and Maya's story begins in The Evaluation, continues in Unguarded and concludes in Clear to Fight.

The most dangerous fight of Jace Bennett's career will not happen inside the ring.Jace is ranked fifth in the professional MMA division, close enough to a title shot that every decision matters.Then a journalist discovers footage from an underground warehouse fight only six people were supposed to know about.Cara Whitfield calls the footage significant context.Jace knows what that means.Someone else is preparing to tell his story.Maya Hayes understands how easily selected evidence can create a convincing lie. She conducted the psychological assessment that restored Jace's professional career, and the timeline of their relationship is clean, documented and professionally defensible.But truth does not always make the most compelling headline.As questions spread from the journalist to the governing body, Maya's assessment may become the weapon used to stop Jace before he reaches the title fight. The gym, his father's legacy and everything they have built together are pulled into public view.Jace has spent his life learning how to remain himself when there are no excuses and nowhere to hide.Maya has spent hers building accurate pictures from difficult evidence.To survive this, they must give the world something stronger than denial.The complete truth.While Jace prepares for the title eliminator, Maya fights to protect the integrity of her work without protecting him from choices that belong to him. Every interview, hearing and brutal round brings them closer to the future they have chosen and to the final fight that will change both of their lives.Some stories are visible from the outside.The truth is always deeper.Below the Surface is Book Three in Knockout, a high-heat continuing-couple MMA romance series. Jace and Maya's story begins in The Evaluation, continues in Unguarded and concludes in Clear to Fight.