Knight: Over The Edge Part 4

"You take care of my daughter, who means more to me than any business, then we can discuss you doing more for me."

I overhear Bruce say one night as I pa.s.s Charles' study. The door is cracked as I walk by and I sneak a peek inside. I'm surprised to see Luke sitting inside with his father and Bruce. I listen to bits and pieces of the conversation. It doesn't take long to figure out why Luke is in the room.

"I've some money invested in the Cage, but I want to do a little more." Bruce's voice carries out to the hallway "What are you interested in exactly sir?"

"Find me a fighter to support, a good one," there is a brief pause "someone who might not make it without my financial backing,"

For a tough crime boss, Bruce has a big heart. I often wonder what makes him have the soft spot he does for us wayward kids. There is a reason, I am just not sure what it is.

"My friend Miguel could use a full time sponsor. I can set up a meeting."

"Set it up something where I can see his skills then talk with him afterward."

I smile as I start down the hall, Miguel deserves the chance Bruce could give him. Luke apparently is not the lone rebel in his family. It's obvious Charles and Luke walk in those shades of gray, where Laurie and Liam appear to be more about black and white. I wonder if they are as nave to what goes on around them as they seem.

"Katarina," Bruce calls out to me. d.a.m.n! He saw me through the open door. "I'm more confident knowing that Charles and Luke have your back along with Rocco."

I smile at Bruce I can't help finding his over protectiveness adorable.

"I'll be fine. I always am."

"You're a survivor. Even more than my own son."

Is he referring to Cole? Dare I ask? We haven't spoke of him since the beginning of the week.

"What's going on Bruce?" I ask hesitantly not sure, I am ready for his answer.

"He's just exploring things in a rather reckless manner."

Bruce tries to make light of whatever is going on back home.

"Such as?"

Why did that pop out of my mouth?

"He's been spending a lot of time in one of the private s.e.x clubs I own."

"Like a BDSM s.e.x club? A swingers club?"

Why do I keep asking these questions?

"BDSM.

"Oh wow! It fits his personality."

It's the only comment I make before walking to my bedroom for a nap.

At the end of the week Luke drives Bruce back to the airport. I say a tearful goodbye at the airport before Luke heads toward campus. It's time for me to get back to the land of the living.

Entering the lobby of my dorm, I'm not surprised to hear Ali's voice call out my name excitedly. She has texted or called me every day since I went into the hospital. I wasn't ready to talk about my miscarriage with anyone, and had sworn those who knew about it to secrecy. There would come a time I would talk about it. When that time came Cole would be one of the first I talked to. Julie was another one I would confide in before I talked to my new friends about it.

"You're back!" she cries enthusiastically. Guilt swirls around me as I hug my friend. We head off to the elevator so that we can go up to my room. Luke has my suitcase and backpack as we climb in the elevator.

"Dude, does Kat have you p.u.s.s.y whipped?" Liam teases Luke.

"f.u.c.k off, a.s.shole," Luke says to his twin. I chuckle.

"Leave your brother alone, if it wasn't for him I'd be dead," I am still smiling from ear to ear, "but I did train him well this week. Even your parents thanked me."

Ali bursts out laughing.

Luke scowls at us. "I'd need to be getting the p.u.s.s.y to be whipped by it," he mutters.

That just makes us all laugh harder, and even Luke's mouth twitches as he fights laughter. We are laughing as we walk into my suite. My dorm mate is sitting at the little kitchen table.

"Oh you're back, I thought you died," Terry says with a sneer.

"f.u.c.k off, b.i.t.c.h" I toss out at her. She will not ruin my happiness. Luke follows me into my bedroom so we can set my stuff down.

"That girl's a b.i.t.c.h," Luke says to me.

"Maybe you should f.u.c.k her and she'd loosen up."

I say with a laugh. I turn to see why he is quiet. Luke is standing there rubbing his chin, he is actually thinking about it.

"Don't you dare Luke, I have to live with her all semester."

I shove him playfully.

"Fine! But you're no fun."

He whines while we head back to the living room where Liam and Ali are waiting for us. We're still laughing with each other over what was said in my room when we step out. Terry is still sitting at the table. Her eyes bore holes in us as we enter the room.

"You disappear for a week and come back with a manwh.o.r.e for a boyfriend," she quips.

I stop and give her a hateful glare "He's not my boyfriend, he's a friend you should try getting one sometime" I toss over my shoulder as I join Ali.

The four of us begin making plans for dinner.

"Well, if we hang out here I'm sure we'll be putting up with Terry the b.i.t.c.h the whole time."

I scan the faces of my friends as I talk.

"My dorm isn't as big," Ali tells me. "And we don't want to hang out at the Frat house they're having a party tonight," she keeps her eyes trained on me.

I shrug my shoulders "Fine with me I was just warning you she's going to be here, and she's going to be a b.i.t.c.h."

Chinese food is ordered, and we sit around the living room together talking quietly. Luke has disappeared and scan the room to discover he has Terry cornered in the kitchen. He is pressed close to her and her cheeks are a bright pink. I chuckle under my breath earning me a quizzical look from Ali.

"What are you laughing at?" Ali asks. I motion my head toward Luke and Terry. Ali's mouth drops and Liam smirks.

"I think Luke's working his panty melting charm on my dorm mate."

I say this time laughing outright.

"We really should stop him," Ali says, "Nothing good can come of this."

A knock at the door prevents us from doing anything. I hop up and open the door to see a very hot delivery guy. He is around my age and is covered in vibrant ink and s.h.i.+ny piercings. It's a shame I'm out of commission because this guy has me wanting to flirt and turn on the charm. He would be the most delightful distraction. A throat clears, I'm almost embarra.s.sed, I have been standing there looking at the guy with l.u.s.t clear on my face. Luke is standing behind me smirking.

"How much do we owe you?" he asks the guy.

"Its $65.32" the guy says nervously. Luke stands making it look like we are together. He's giving the poor guy a hard time on purpose. I resist the urge to pull my arm back and elbow Luke not caring where it lands on his body.

"Luke stop trying to scare the hottie."

I smile at the s.e.xy beast at the door. I am rewarded with a flirtatious smile.

"Fine!" Luke says with mock resignation.

"Hottie?" Terrie's voices pipes in. "My roommate is into freaks."

"Excuse me?" I ask her.

"You heard me, and I shouldn't be surprised you're a freak yourself."

"Why must you always be a b.i.t.c.h?"

"Seriously? You're the one calling a freak hot."

I watch the boy's face redden with anger and embarra.s.sment.

"Why's he a freak?" I yell.

"Look at him."

"What because he isn't a Ken doll? Ink and body modifications make him no less human. I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't more than his appearance lets you see."

"I doubt it," Terry replies in the haughty tone I have come to hate.

I lunge toward her, "You self-centered, judgmental... b.i.t.c.h..."

"Shorty, that's enough" Luke pulls me behind him.

Liam is now standing beside his brother. Luke is pulling money out to pay the delivery boy while Liam takes the food. I note each of the twins is wearing an identical smirk though.

"I'll calm down when you let me take care of that hateful b.i.t.c.h."

Luke holds onto me, fearful I may actually attack Terry. I shrug myself free.

"Don't worry, I won't kill her this time."

I say while looking at her, wanting to pound her into the ground. I'm on an emotional roller coaster these days. I look back at the door.

I move toward the door again "Don't listen to the uptight b.i.t.c.h. You are H.O.T. Hot!" I tell him as I lean in and kiss him on the cheek before turning away. I saunter back into the living area and plop down next to Ali.

"Well, that was entertaining," she tells me laughing and turning to face me. "What was that about?" she questions.

"h.e.l.l if I know, she just p.i.s.sed me off. She is so judgmental."

Terry is still standing by the table shooting daggers at me. I don't give a f.u.c.k. "That guy didn't deserve her hatred based on his appearance alone." I say with a huff.

Liam and Luke are in the kitchen setting the food out on the counter. Ali grabs me by the hand pulling me up behind her. "Come on, let's go get food before the boys eat it all."

I follow willingly, after a week of watching Luke eat at his parents I don't trust there to be food left around him. If Liam eats like his twin, we better get our food quick.

Terry turns on her heels and speed walks out of the room, slamming her bedroom door behind her. Good riddance b.i.t.c.h!

"I don't know if I'm going to last all year with her." I say to the group as we fill our plates with food. Think Charles and Laurie would let me stay with them, and I can just commute to and from school?" chuckles escape my friends. "I'm not joking, I may kill her before the end of the week much less year."

"You can come stay at the Frat house with me," Luke wiggles his eyebrows.

I start laughing as I face him "Oh yes baby," I purr slinking up against him running my hand up and down his arm "I want to sleep with you every night."

Ali giggles behind me as I see Luke nervously swallow. Using his s.e.xual attraction for me against him was playing dirty. I start to walk off, but he jerks me back against him.

"You can at least help me hide what you did," he whispers in my ear as he holds me against the slight bulge in his pants. I can't help myself as I start giggling. "You're evil Katarina Roberts," he tells me.

I laugh harder at him. It feels good to be carefree and enjoying life right now. One thing I learned this past week was no matter what you do to better your life, you can only live the life you are given.

That is how I am going to make it through by remembering that no matter what, I can deal with it. I choose how I react to my circ.u.mstances. I didn't let my mom defeat me. I am not going to let Cole defeat me. I may struggle with the circ.u.mstances, but it would not turn me into some sh.e.l.l of the person I am supposed to be.

Chapter 5.

I was an expert at hiding my true feelings. A lifetime of practice made it easy. Luke was never far from my side those first few weeks. I went to cla.s.ses; I attended sorority functions and hung out with my friends pretending everything is normal. On the inside, I am an emotional mess. I had lost Cole and our child in a short period. Nothing prepared me for the loss, and pain, a miscarriage would bring.

Luke held me in his arms at night as I sobbed myself to sleep. I never questioned how he knew I needed him there. He never explained his being there. I would wake up sometimes and he would still be holding me and my face was buried in his chest, my hand clutching his s.h.i.+rt between my fingers like it was a lifeline. In some ways, it was the only thing keeping me from crumbling.

There were some nights I wished that Luke's arms were Cole's wrapped around me. My heart was still having a hard time letting go of Cole. My therapist kept telling me it was a natural reaction to losing our baby; turning my want and aching to Cole, who was still living. Time was healing me, and each day I thought less and less of Cole Knight.