Knight: Over The Edge Part 1

Over the Edge.

The Knight Series.

Mari Brown.

This book is dedicated to Mari's Feisty Cats!

For your unwavering support!.

Prologue.

"Shorty, you need to wake up."

Luke's voice is right in my ear. I swat at him, wanting him to go away. I just went to sleep. Why is he waking me up?

"Go away," I mumble and pull the covers over my face, only for him to yank them right back off.

"Seriously, Shorty, you need to get up."

Something in his voice tells me I should listen to him, but exhaustion keeps pulling at me to go back to sleep.

"What time is it?" I ask while trying to stay hidden beneath the covers.

"It's 9 a.m., but that doesn't matter. You need to call Bruce now," he says, his words clipped.

I don't know what's wrong with Luke, but Bruce can wait until I'm more awake. I groan and try to turn away.

"Katarina!"

That sends me sitting upright and in my hurry, the sheet falls to my waist. He never calls me by my full name unless something is wrong or he needs my attention.

"f.u.c.k, what's wrong?"

My naked b.r.e.a.s.t.s are on full display, and when he doesn't stare with his normal heated look, I know that, whatever it is, it's bad.

"Luke, you're scaring me now," I say, and as I wake a little more, I scan his face searching for the reason he is so upset.

"Shorty, you need to call Bruce. He needs to talk to you."

Before he's finished speaking, I have my phone in hand and Bruce's number dialed.

When Bruce answers the phone, I can tell the news isn't good, and my heart rate increases.

"Katarina." Bruce's voice drifts softly over the line. "It's Drew."

Terror strikes my heart, and my body trembles in fear of what Bruce is about to tell me.

"What about Drew?" I clench my teeth to stop their chattering, and try to stay calm until I know exactly what is going on.

"There was an incident this morning at the diner and Drew was shot," Bruce says gently.

I gasp and my hand shakes as it holds the phone to my ear. "Bruce," I cry out. Tears stream down my face.

"Katarina, it's not looking good. They just rushed him back for emergency surgery."

"I'm on my way. I'll be there as soon as I get a flight."

As I hang up the phone, I jump out of bed, and pull on clean clothes. Luke is still standing there at the head of my bed. "I need you to take me to the airport," I say in a quivering voice.

"f.u.c.k that, Shorty. I'm going with you," he says.

My legs fold beneath me and I sag against his hard body. His arms wrap around me and hold me tight against his side. He knows this is one of my biggest fears... losing Drew.

"Let's think positive thoughts, okay?" he says, rubbing my back and soothing me the best he can.

I grab my phone and charger, and walk out to the living room where my purse sits on the coffee table. I check to make sure I have everything in my wallet. There is no need for me to stop and take time to pack a bag. I can get everything when I get to Belmont.

On the drive to the airport, Luke calls his brother, Liam, and asks him to pick up his truck from the lot at the airport. In less than thirty minutes, we walk into the airport. I'm thankful Luke is with me right now. I can't think straight. All I can think about is my brother. I need to get to him right now. Luke takes my hand and heads for the first ticket counter he sees.

"We need to get to the East Coast like yesterday." Luke lays his panty-melting charm on the girl behind the counter. "Money is not an issue. Just make us get there now."

I'm shocked at how in control he is. I don't know if I could do it right now. I'm falling apart. I pace away from the counter a little bit. My chest feels as if it could explode at any moment. The need for a drink overtakes me. It may be too early for a drink but this is a special circ.u.mstance; this is not normal daily routine here.

Luke walks up to me. "Come on, Kat, I got our tickets. Our flight leaves in 45 minutes."

He grabs my hand, pulls me close, and leads us to the check-in area. I'm thankful we don't have to worry with any kind of luggage. It makes the process go so much quicker. As soon as we go through the gate, I head to the bar in the VIP lounge. One of the privileges of my connection to the Knight family is that I always get to travel First Cla.s.s.

"I need a double-shot of whiskey," I bark out to the man behind the bar.

"Shorty, it's going to be okay." Luke stands behind me, wraps his arms around my waist, and rests his chin on top of my head.

Without a word, I down the whiskey, shuddering as the burn hits the back of my throat and weaves its way to my chest before bottoming in my stomach. "One more, please." The bartender never utters a word, but his look is filled with sympathy. "Let's sit, Luke." I grab the drink from the bar and turn in Luke's arms so I can face him.

He doesn't say anything, but leads me over to a loveseat in the corner of the lounge. When I sit, he falls down beside me. I down my drink, feeling the heat soak through my body again and lean into Luke. He holds me tight, knowing I don't need words right now.

I'm beyond scared. I can't lose my brother. He is the only family I have. He is the only reason I am now headed back to Belmont for the first time in five years.

Chapter 1.

Kat.

5 years ago...

Three weeks in California and the only person I have met is my roommate Terry. She is a complete and utter b.i.t.c.h. I am thankful that Bruce insisted on having Rocco come out to California with me as my personal bodyguard. At least I have him to talk to right now. My name and face went on the grid the moment I became Cole Knight's girl. Taking on Sal Martin when he kidnapped Julie and Seth Knight didn't do me any favors. I walked away from Cole but my connection with the Knights is still strong. Bruce Knight was serious when he told me months ago I would always be family. He didn't care if I am with Cole or not. He is the first adult ever in my life who made me feel loved and not because he desired something from me. He treated me like a daughter.

Rocco sits on the black sofa in the living room of the suite I share with Terry. Bruce made sure I am in one of the best dorms at UCLA. The suite is nice. It would be better without Terry. We share the common areas of the kitchen, dining and living rooms. We each have our own master sized bedroom and bathroom though. At least I could shut myself in my room and away from her. Not that she spent much time in the room anyway. She is a Bel Air baby and always has some event she is attending. I don't care to be her friend I just didn't want to kill her before the first day of cla.s.ses.

I'm relieved to see Rocco waiting for me. We have been spending a lot of time together since arriving in California. He is the only person beside my roommate I know. I'm thankful for him. He hasn't judged me for walking out on Cole the way I did. He's been very supportive of me. Rocco understands I had no choice. Cole wasn't going to let me go and I had to get out of Belmont even if only for college. Bruce somehow arranged for Rocco to live in a private dorm room right next to me. The range and power of Bruce Knight never ceases to astound me.

Rocco is waiting to take me to late registration and orientation for new students. I'm behind because I couldn't very well fly out here over the summer without arousing Cole's suspicions. It was stressful for me the last couple of months in Belmont. My heart seizes as I think about my time with Cole. The pain of losing Cole hits me just as it always does and I force myself to hold back the tears that want to fall.

My high school years were spent making sure I did everything I could to get the h.e.l.l out of Belmont. My brother Drew sacrificed a lot to help make sure I could get away from our abusive mother. By my senior year I had everything in place. I had a full four year scholars.h.i.+p to UCLA. I would need a part time job to help with some living expenses but I had done it.

I didn't count on meeting and falling in love with Cole those last six months I was in Belmont. Cole Knight bulldozed his way into my life saving me from the h.e.l.l I lived in at home. Not only did I find the man I loved but I gained a family, his family, the Knights. I never dreamed family could exist for me this way. The only regret I have is Cole and I being unable to find a way to compromise on my going to college. Now I'm in California nursing a broken heart, missing Cole and the rest of the Knight family.

I force myself to smile at Rocco.

"Ready?"

He asks in his gruff way. Rocco is a little rough around the edges. At first sight of Rocco most people tremble, He stands at about six foot and is 300lbs of solid ma.s.s. His olive complexion is a giveaway to his Italian heritage. He has dark almond eyes with matching dark brown hair. His face is hard and unsmiling. I have seen many times were people cross the street to keep from having to walk near him. It makes me laugh on the inside because to me Rocco is a big teddy bear. He can snap a person's neck with his bare hands, he would shoot first and ask questions later, but that doesn't change the fact that he is my friend and family.

"Yep, let's go."

Rocco walks me out to the SUV that Bruce generously provides for us while I am on the West Coast. Bruce went above and beyond providing for me. Rocco drives us across campus to the main administration building. The lawn is covered in tables and tents. Students are milling around some standing in groups talking to each other. Some already in line to begin the final registration process.

My excitement builds as we park and I wait for Rocco to come around and open my door for me. We approach the first spot that is conveniently marked with a "new students start here sign." I enter the line and Rocco falls back to give me some s.p.a.ce. He is there if I need him, but he is also trying his best to not smother me.

The lawn is a jumble mess of freshman students both excited and nervous. Despite being in a safer environment than I grew up in, old habits are hard to break. I scan the crowd, especially those closest to me, making sure there is no danger. I'm not alone as I watch Rocco make the same perusal of the crowd. The abuse I suffered from my mother and her many boyfriends has left a mark on me. It's hard for me to trust others. If I am honest with myself Drew and Bruce are the only two I trusted one hundred percent. Everyone else only earned a little trust from me but I am always prepared for the letdown.

Even Cole let me down. I bear some of the responsibility. However, I foolishly hoped that he would change his mind when he saw how much UCLA meant to me. The fact that I received a "f.u.c.k you" text three days after I headed to Cali told me that would never happen. I vowed never again to trust a man with my heart.

My body is jostled, I catch my balance as I am knocked off guard by a young girl my age. Rocco is on alert but I send him a silent signal that all is okay. The line is crowded, it's not a surprise that someone would b.u.mp into me.

"I'm so sorry!"

The girl's bubbly personality immediately gets on my nerves. She is way too perky for me. I ignore her hoping she gets that I am not interested in idle chit chat with her.

"Hi! I'm Ali"

My eyes rolls at her words. She doesn't take my silence as a hint that I don't want to make friends. She stares at me expectantly.

"Kat."

I mumble despite that I still don't want to talk to her. Ali either doesn't pick up my cues or she just doesn't care. Her pet.i.te body bounces up and down like one of those cheap bouncy b.a.l.l.s.

"Where you from?"

My natural instinct is to be a b.i.t.c.h to her and tell her to f.u.c.k off; however, something stops me. I realize I have a chance for a fresh start. I can be less of a b.i.t.c.h. I don't have to make enemies of everyone I meet.

"Back East."

My answer is simple, without detail. I avoid making eye contact. I may have decided against telling her off, but I don't have to encourage her either.

"That's cool, I have lived in California all my life. I'm so boring I've been dating the same guy since high school." She tells me her personality oozing Ms. Sally suns.h.i.+ne. "So, what's your major? Do you know yet?"

I remain silent. I stare at her in disbelief. I see the shrewdness in her eyes she knows I'm trying to brush her off, but she isn't backing away. My respect for this girl just went up a notch. She may be the complete opposite of what I am but she has s.p.u.n.k. I briefly wonder if she would be so eager to be my friend if she knew about my ties to the Knight family. My ties to the Knights won't be able to be hidden from anyone for too long. Rocco will be the first give away that I'm different.

My eyes scan her beautiful strawberry blonde hair, and she has the brightest green eyes. I fight the urge to smile looking at her because she is cute and in that Cali girl way. I lift my head finally and meet her gaze head on.

"I'm a business and marketing major."

Ali and I have moved past the first couple of tables. So far all I have is a stack of papers telling me about all the academic and social groups available on campus. I have yet to register for the first cla.s.s.

"That's so cool, I'm an interior design major."

Her eyes dart around the crowd. I get the impression she is looking for someone. It isn't long before I get the answer to my unasked question. Her face lights up as the stereotypical guy next door type walks up to her and wraps her in a hug. I want to puke. The perfect little couple. There is no way I can handle this cuteness.

Seeing a happy couple makes my heart long for Cole. Not that we were ever a cutesy couple like the one standing before me. Great, now I have two people wanting to s.h.i.+t out rainbows in front of me.

Rocco who has been walking a few steps behind me instantly goes on alert when he sees, who I a.s.sume is, Ali's boyfriend walk up. He relaxes only a little when he realizes the same thing that I do. This guy is not a threat, he is too into Ali, and has barely even looked my way. Rocco explained to me one night that he felt like he failed Bruce when Julie and Seth were kidnapped. I a.s.sured him there wasn't anything he could have done different we were outnumbered that day. He swore to me that night he would never let his guard down around me. Bruce trusted him to protect me and he would not let him down this time.

"Kat, this is my boyfriend Liam."

Ali introduces me to her boyfriend, yea she isn't going to stop trying to be my friend. I sigh softly.

"Nice to meet you Kat."

A deep yet soft voice says making my head come up and I take in all 6'1" of Liam. His body is in perfect condition, my guess is he works out to stay in this shape. I wonder if he plays any sports as I scan his body. He may be the "All American boy next door" with his blonde hair and green eyes but looking at him with arms wrapped around Ali, it crosses my mind, he is hot. Completely not my type, but doesn't stop me from appreciating the guy.

"You too".

I'm still warring with myself. I don't know whether to keep talking to Ali and encouraging her or just telling her to back off. I don't even pretend to not be listening as Ali turns her attention to Liam.

"Did you finish things at the frat house early?"

"Yea, it didn't take as long as I thought it would."

I keep waiting to see a halo appear above Liam's head the way she stares into his eyes. It's easy to see he adores her just as much, maybe angel wings will sprout out her back and then I can stop believing I am looking at the perfectly perfect couple.

I begin taking small steps backward, away from the happy couple, when I b.u.mp into something hard. A deep husky voice whispers in my ear.

"They make you want to puke don't they?"

I should be alarmed that a strange guy is whispering in my ear, but instead I have chills break out. I s.h.i.+ver internally at the way the smooth voice makes my body hum. Something I did not expect when I'm still not over Cole. I look over my shoulder into Liam's clone. My body turns sharply as I do a double take. Yep, no doubt this is Liam's identical twin looking like walking s.e.x. His s.e.xy, mussed blonde hair with those same green eyes don't scream boy next door, unless it's the bad boy. His baggy jeans and v neck T-s.h.i.+rt that stretches tightly across his muscular chest have me wanting to lick my lips. This guy has swagger and suddenly I feel as if I have found a friend.