Knight: Over The Edge Part 2

Luke drives the short distance to my dorm and parks his truck near the front entrance. I open my mouth to tell him he can wait for me.

"Don't even think about it Shorty I'm walking you upstairs. Given half a chance you'd ditch me,"

"Shorty? Really?"

Standing toe to toe with Luke, looking up at him. I don't take s.h.i.+t off anyone. That should be made clear to him now.

"Come on s.e.xy! Let's get you upstairs to your room so we can hit the frat house and have fun,"

He begins gently pus.h.i.+ng me toward the front of my building. We enter the tiled lobby of the building and I take in the luxurious deep red couches around the room. This dorm was evidence of money. This is where the wealthy sent their kids to live. Luxury style apartments labeled as dorms. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Bruce and I am grateful as always.

The girls in the lobby immediately began eyeing Luke. I already suspect Luke has perfected the art of a one night stand, I just hope he'd stay away from those in my building. I didn't need bulls.h.i.+t drama. I am still licking my own wounds. I shake my head, nudge Luke and motion for him to follow me. I fight back laughter as he winks at several girls.

Luke follows me out of the elevator on my floor and as we travel down the melon, colored hallway a small part of me really hopes my roommate isn't around, as I don't want to deal with her right now. I try to avoid her as much as possible.

As I unlock the door, Luke asks, "Did a guy break your heart is that why you want to avoid me?"

I turn facing him, "Believe it or not I'm the one who left. I foolishly hoped he'd understand and wait for me,"

Luke stares at me for a second before he speaks "He must be a d.a.m.n fool"

Luke's words are sweet but I am not stupid enough to fall for them. I have a lot to prove over the next few years. I will do it too. I will become a better person, one that anyone would be proud to know. My mom always told me I was nothing, Cole just confirmed it. However, my mom didn't defeat me no matter how hard she tried and I would not let Cole defeat me either.

Climbing back in Luke's truck I hope I am not making a mistake by becoming friends with this group. I don't want to be hurt by letting people in again. Obviously, I have very little experience with normal friends.h.i.+ps. Would I even be able to fit in with them? Did I really want to? Yes, I think I actually did. I wanted to leave Belmont behind. I had physically removed myself from the town, but I had to start building relations.h.i.+ps away from the town as well.

We pull up to the Frat house, several guys are milling around, playing football in the yard, it's a very relaxed atmosphere. As I follow Luke guys stopping what they are doing and stare. My guess is they think I'm Luke's new conquest. Boy will they be surprised. Walking into the entryway, the house is very masculine. Every decoration screams MALE! He leads me through a double archway and I find myself in a small den area. There are comfortable looking overstuffed brown couches in the room. Ali and Liam are sitting on one of the sofas.

"Kat!" Ali squealed out "You came! I was afraid you'd change your mind."

"Nope, I'm here like I promised."

I sit down on the sofa beside her.

"Hey Shorty, want a beer?"

Luke asks as he walks through what appears to be a kitchen.

"Um, no I don't think so, but a bottle of water would be good," he nods his head a little then I turn back to Ali.

Ali begins a monologue. She tells me all about her perfect dream life growing up next door to Luke and Liam. She is very open as she talks. The twins are twenty while she is eighteen. They grew up side by side. Liam and she started dating when she was fourteen. My mind can't even fathom what it means to be with only one guy. Before Cole, I used s.e.x as a way to escape my mom. It was nothing to brag about. I probably slept with more men than should be legal in the few years I played the field. After meeting Cole I no longer needed that escape, he was my escape. I mentally slap myself I should stop thinking about Cole so much. It's time for me to move on, he did.

Did I do the right thing leaving Belmont? I could have gone to school there I didn't have to move cross-country to get my degree. The last text I got from Cole crosses my mind and anger seeps through me. There is no doubt in my mind, I made the right choice coming out to California. There is no need to keep questioning my decision. If only it was that easy to forget. I make myself focus back on Ali, who is still talking a mile a minute and I hope I haven't missed anything important while I zoned out.

I spend the rest of my evening literally just hanging out with them. Ali and Liam have nothing to hide and their lives revolve around each other. They are open books talking about themselves. However, Luke is much like me and only reveals small things, or unimportant things. I find myself wondering what Luke is hiding. He has secrets that I don't even think Liam and Ali know about. The more I'm around Luke the more I find myself fascinated and drawn to him. He is the type of person I understand. I have an idea Luke and I have way more in common than I originally thought.

The first few months of school pa.s.s quickly. I stayed so busy with my new friends, cla.s.ses and the sorority. Ali and I went through rush week to become pledges to Phi Beta Theta, or PBT. This house was not the only one interested in us, but it was the one Ali's mother was a part of in college so it was the only one she would even look at it. I found that PBT kept me from wallowing in depression as I quickly lost myself in all the craziness that was Greek life.

Despite my busy schedule, I never went a night without talking to someone in the Knight family, or my brother Drew. I missed Drew very much, but he promised to come out and see me as soon as he could.

My daily conversations with Julie often left me worried about her. She was in New York going to school; however, school seemed like the least of her worries. The parties she described to me sounded like an older crowd. She was using her name to get into places she had no business being. My only comfort was knowing Bruce had sent a guard to school with her as well. She was still struggling with the after math of her kidnapping but I was worried how she was handling it. There were some days I felt like I should hop on a plane, fly across country, and kick her a.s.s.

Thinking about Julie, my mind wanders to Rocco. He's constantly by my side. No matter if it was the food commons, or cla.s.s. If I hung out with Luke, he was always nearby. Did the man ever sleep? Did he get laid? He took his job as my guard seriously, even at risk of his own personal life.

Justin had been furious with me for leaving the way I did. He called me a few days after I left he yelled at me for sneaking off without saying goodbye. He jumped my s.h.i.+t for leaving Julie a note but not him. Once he got it out of his system, he calmed down and told me he understood why I left the way I did. Justin agrees that Cole would have never let me go. Justin was the only one who actually talked about Cole with me during those first months. He told me that Cole had changed. That he hadn't just gone back to being a player with women, but that he was cold and domineering with them. A small part of me felt guilty for my part in that.

I talked to Bruce and Seth every night as well. Seth broke my heart those first few weeks, but Ms. Bea was helping him adapt to me being gone. The bond Seth and I had still amazes me, even after all this time. I missed that little boy. He was the one person whose love for me was as pure as mine was for him.

Luke and I became close in those early days. It started with him trying to get me to sleep with him, but it wasn't long before we were close friends. Just as I suspected he had his own connections to the underworld. He was a regular on the underground MMA circuit. He fought less and less as he got more involved with college, but he still helped train and do other stuff for fighters. It was during a discussion about his underground fighting one night that I told him about my connection to the Knight family. The name was one he recognized immediately explaining that the Knights were sponsors of the Cage where he fought.

Cole rarely crossed my mind as I became more involved in life on the west coast. I took it one day at a time, but it still hurt when I thought of him. I was constantly convincing myself I was better off without him but I missed him.

I glance at Luke lying on my bed, I can't help but admire his fighter's physique. It was not that unusual for Luke to be lying around in my room with me. There was no denying that Luke was f.u.c.king hot, but I still wasn't quite ready to move on with someone, but if I was, Luke would be a top runner for the position.

The last couple of parties we attended at the Frat I found myself helping Luke pick up girls. It was another method of distracting myself from how alone I felt. I was still processing all that I had loved and lost in the last year. My goal was to be happy with myself, find out who I was before I started any type of relations.h.i.+p, whether a random hook up, or finding a new boyfriend.

Luke kept looking at his phone, then typing, and finally he looks up and gives me a smile. "Want to go out tonight?" he asks me, a grin taking up his whole face.

I'm curious what is going on that he's grinning so big.

"Where?" I ask cautiously.

"One of the fighters is having a small get together at his place, and he told me to come and bring a friend," he says still grinning big.

"Does this friend have a name?"

'Yes his name is Miguel. Come on get ready shorty."

I gaze at him a little bit longer. I see this smile and sparkle in his eyes, and something about it makes me get up out of the desk chair. I start for my closet so I can change clothes. It doesn't take me long to change, touch up make up, and run a brush through my hair. There is little reason to dress to impress these days; however, I still made sure I was presentable in public.

Luke drives us across town to a small-gated townhouse complex. The place is not for the super-rich, but you aren't hurting for money if you live here that much is obvious. Luke pulls us up to a red brick townhome on the corner of the first block and parks. Only a couple of other cars are in front of the house. I walk up to the door with him and wait as he knocks. It isn't long before a tall, thin inked up woman answers the door. My first impression of this woman is that she has been around the block a few times in many ways. She has the groupie air about her. I imagine she is familiar with many of the fighters in an intimate way. Her eyes hungrily devour Luke as we stand there. I have this urge to throw myself in front of Luke and maybe make the sign of the cross to ward off the evil s.k.a.n.k. Her eyes cut to me, a snarl forms on her face. The snarl does not help her old washed up looks. I smirk at her. I'm feeling a little catty tonight for some reason. She has no idea who I am, or who I am connected too, and I find immense satisfaction in that.

"Luke," she purrs in what is supposed to be a seductive voice, but it sounds strange and foreign. "I see you brought a friend. Come in." she stands back to allow us access.

Luke's hand moves to the small of my back as he pushes me inside ahead of him. He takes my hand and begins walking me toward the back of the house. I don't have time to take in anything other than the red walls of the hall we are walking down, and the various pictures that look like they are all some kind of pics from fights. We enter into a kitchen that is all gray marble countertops and cabinets, it's plain and boring, but it fits for some reason I'm not sure yet. Two guys and one other girl are in the kitchen. The girl is sitting on a bar stool, and I can't see her face yet, but the back of her gives me the impression of a well-trained fighter. I can only see her thick mane of brown hair from this view; the two guys leaning against the counter are gorgeous, each in their own way. The muscle definition is obvious, even under their clothes. One is dark headed, with a crew cut, and has the deepest brown eyes that compliment his dark olive skin tone; he is a hot Hispanic guy. The other guy is a ginger, and pale skinned, but no less hot. Why is there a room full of hot guys right now when I am still having trouble going back to my random hook up days?

"Kat, meet Miguel," Luke says to me as I step forward "Miguel and I've known each other since high school,"

"Kat."

Miguel says as he brings my hand up to his lips kissing it ever so softly. Nothing like a suave Latino laying on the charm.

Then the other guy standing next to him kind of nudges him with his shoulder and takes my hand from Miguel and says "My name is Parker and I'm here to make all your dreams a reality." I can't help the laughter that bubbles out of me.

"I like both of you!" I say stepping back from them noticing the ugly chick who opened the door is still giving me the evil eye. "I think I'm good though, on my dream fulfillment," I say to Parker with a wink.

'Hot and feisty! Where did you find this one Luke?' Miguel asks smoothly to Luke. Luke lets out a small chuckle.

"We go to school together, but Kat here is from the east coast and has better connections, then any of us probably do."

Luke explains with a small grin. I give him a look letting him know I am not happy with what he is saying. He shrugs his shoulders.

"Your Dad's name means something out here."

This time it's my turn to be a little surprised.

"We aren't supposed to talk about that,"

I notice the chick at the bar has now turned to face me. Now that she has turned, I can tell she has the beautiful olive complexion that can only come from her Hispanic heritage. Lucky b.i.t.c.h! A smattering of ink covers her body. She looks at me carefully and I can tell she is looking for something, but this b.i.t.c.h doesn't worry me. She looks tough, but so am I. I stand my ground and don't break my gaze from hers.

Her face softens a little, and she says to me, "My name is Marisol, and I am this douche bag's little sister." she gestures toward Miguel. My eyes dart back and forth between the two, and I can see the family resemblance.

"Kat." I say to her granting her a slight smile, there is a deep recognition of one of my own as we face each other.

"I want to know who her father is."

Miguel interrupts. I glimpse around the group in the kitchen and something tells me it's okay to tell them about the Knights.

"Bruce Knight."

I state simply and softly. Silence descends on the room. Everyone's eyes focus on me. Their mouths hang slightly open. If I was a less confidant person, I might be nervous.

"What the f.u.c.k?" Miguel questions Luke, "How the f.u.c.k did you pull off hooking up with a Knight?"

"He hasn't hooked up with a Knight, a.s.shole."

It's not that I would be embarra.s.sed to be connected to Luke that way, but it always comes back to Cole. They don't have to know my brother works for the Knights, or that I use to be Cole's girlfriend.

The party turns out to be a small gathering of fighters male and female, and a few of them bring a plus one, but the total in the house never goes over twenty by my guess. For the first time since I left Belmont, I'm around people I'm comfortable with. I can be myself; I don't have to hide my rough edges as I do when at the sorority house. Although, no matter how hard I try the edge is always there.

Marisol and I spend most of the night hanging out together. We take shots until we are both wasted. Somehow, in my drunken state I tell Marisol about my relations.h.i.+p with Cole. She is the first person besides Luke who knows my true history with Cole.

"That's why I don't do relations.h.i.+ps. I just f.u.c.k and duck," Marisol says with a laugh at one point.

"I use to be that way until Cole." I sigh, "He ruined me."

Chapter 3.

A terrible pain shoots through my stomach unlike anything I have ever experienced. My body is drenched in sweat as I jerk awake. What time is it? I am not even sure what is wrong with me, but something is wrong. Moisture pools between my legs. I manage to turn on the light beside my bed with one hand as I reach down between my legs with the other. When I bring my hand, back up I am horrified to discover blood covering my hand. The urge to throw up hits and I fight it as I fumble around for my phone. I find myself dialing a number that is now becoming more familiar each day.

"I need you," that's all I can say, and the voice on the other end tells me he is on his way.

I manage to get up out of bed and walk if you can call it that in my bathroom, flipping on the light. Blood is saturating my clothing. I'm alone and scared. There is a part of me that knows what is happening but I can't believe it either. How was I not aware of what was happening to my own body? However, another crus.h.i.+ng cramp grips me causing me to double over from the pain. This time the reason I'm b.l.o.o.d.y and throwing away clothes is not me beating someone's a.s.s. I clean up the best I can, and put on fresh clothes, my mind reeling with the knowledge that I haven't had a period since I arrived in California. How did I not notice that? I guess my mind was too focused on other things. The pain of losing Cole, then keeping busy with school stuff. There is no denying the evidence right now, I'm pregnant with Cole's baby! That's the last thing I remember before pa.s.sing out on the bathroom floor.

I wake disoriented. Rocco sits across from me in what appears to be a hospital room his head leans against the wall. He looks tired and stressed. I hear Luke's voice, but can't see him. He's talking quietly to someone on what I a.s.sume is the phone. My eyes blink several times to adjust to the brightness in the room even though there is only one low light on. I s.h.i.+ft, and my body is a.s.saulted with pain. It all hits me at once, what was happening before in my dorm room.

"Don't move."

I hear Luke's voice instruct me. I want to yell at him, or move, but I honestly just don't have the energy in that moment.

"What happened?" I croak out.

"You pa.s.sed out from loss of blood. After I got your call I sent Rocco a text, and he was able to get to you before I showed up. He was walking out with you in his arms when I pulled up."

Luke pauses and I can tell there is something big going on. Luke and Rocco eye one another with concern.

"I miscarried didn't I?" I ask quietly.

"Kat." Luke speaks softly.

"Answer me, d.a.m.n it!"

My heart clenches in pain, knowing that he is going to verbally tell me what I already know.

"I'm sorry," Luke finally says.

My breathing slows and becomes shallow, and panic crawls through my body. Even though I suspected what was happening back in my room, hearing it aloud right now, right here, rips me in two on the inside. The pain of losing Cole is nothing compared to the pain crus.h.i.+ng me now. Losing his baby... our baby...my baby, was a whole new level of pain.

"How far along was I?" I ask, tears pool as I try to hold myself together.

"The doctor said you were ten weeks," Luke replies while moving to sit near my bedside. "Bruce knows that you are here, and he plans to fly out first thing in the morning."

"Which one of you a.s.sholes called Bruce?" my eyes dart back and forth between Luke and Rocco. "f.u.c.k, why did you guys call Bruce?"

"Bruce f.u.c.king loves you like a daughter!" Rocco s.h.i.+fts uncomfortably in his chair.

"This stays between us. No one else ever needs to know about this."

"Bruce already said he was keeping quiet until he talked to you" Rocco throws his head back closing his eyes. His sign for he's done talking.

"It was his son's f.u.c.king baby," Luke yells. "Cole has a right to know he had a child and he lost it," Luke harshly states.

I motion to Rocco and signal him to leave the room quietly. He gets my meaning and stands up.

"Need something from the cafeteria man?"

Luke shakes his head as Rocco walks out of my room. I follow Luke's movements.

"Luke?" I ask after a few moments pa.s.s. "What's the deal? Why are you so upset?"