Knight: Over The Edge Part 16

"What are you doin' today?' I ask.

"Ms. Bea's taking my friends and me to the waterpark. Then after the waterpark we'll be camping out in the backyard."

The enthusiasm he has makes me smile.

"You mean... the house will be invaded by a bunch of stinky boys?"

My voice tremors as I pretend to be horrified by the thought of Seth and his friends.

"Yep, there'll be five more coming home with me."

"Lovely! Julie and I are always outnumbered." I chuckle.

Justin and Luke laugh at my words. Cole has not said a word. Something isn't right. He's scowling. He can get over whatever has his panties in a bunch. I want to finish my breakfast and get to the hospital, I don't have time to deal with grumpy Cole.

Trish breezes into the kitchen. My body tenses up there is no way we will make it through an encounter without insults being hurled at one another.

"Oh goodie, the wh.o.r.e is back!"

Every guy at the table stiffens at her words.

If looks could kill she would have died at least three times over this morning based on the looks the guys are giving her. Little Seth's face is scrunched up in anger. It appears as if tears are pooling in his eyes as well. I want to keep my mouth shut for Seth, but I just can't.

"Oh it's the wicked b.i.t.c.h of the east. Still alive? Shocking!"

"Get the f.u.c.k out of my house. You caused enough problems when you were here the first time. Which one of my step sons are you f.u.c.king this time?"

My eyes close. I take deep breaths. I start repeating to myself "I will not kill Trish" There is enough stress on me with Drew in the hospital without adding this stupid c.u.n.t into it.

"Seth go upstairs now." Justin says to the youngest brother.

Cole grips the edge of the table. His knuckles turn white, a sign of just how hard he is squeezing. Luke is sitting there looking at Trish as if she is bat s.h.i.t crazy. The only sound is Seth getting up and running out of the room.

This b.i.t.c.h can't be serious. Does she forget the beat down I gave her years ago?

"Is it Justin this time? Or are you Cole's wh.o.r.e again?"

Red! That's the only thing I see after her last question. Several chairs sc.r.a.pe the floor as I lunge for Trish. I take her to the floor in one move.

Straddling her, she begins thrashing under me. Swing after swing I hit Trish. I hate this b.i.t.c.h. She reminds me of my mother the way she treats Seth. She is the one who all my frustrations are being taken out on.

Arms lift me up, a hard body presses against mine holding me in place. I'm fighting mad and trying to get out of the strong vice grip. I want to kill this b.i.t.c.h. The familiar scent wafts through my nostrils.

"Enough Kitten."

His voice sucks the wind out of my sails. My mind, my body, everything freezes.

Justin has moved to his step mom, he is pulling her off the floor.

"Come on step b.i.t.c.h, let's get you to your room before Kat kills you," he says as he hauls her from the room.

I'm still suspended in midair as Cole holds me. Luke's face clearly shows his amus.e.m.e.nt. It's the first time he's seen the girl from Belmont. The one who fought her whole life. The Cook has begun cleaning up the mess.

There is food and dishes scattered all over the kitchen floor. Syrup is smeared on the floor. She doesn't say a word as she cleans up the mess. In fact I'm pretty sure she is smiling and whistling as she works. Says a lot that even the staff are happy about me beating up Trish.

"Let me go."

Cole's grip on me loosens, my feet are on the floor. I try to pull away, but Cole firmly holds on to me.

"What secrets are you keeping?" his smooth voice washes over me.

"Really? That's what you want to ask me right now?"

"Yes Kitten" his warm breath fans over me as he whispers in my ear.

My eyes cut over to Luke and then back to Cole, who has me now facing him.

"There's no real secret a.s.shole. Luke was giving me a hard time because he saw you come out of my room this morning. Happy now?"

I ask exasperated with Cole.

"Yep" he says before letting me go and stepping away from me.

I stare at him, dumbfounded.

"Where's your dad?"

"In his office" his face shows his curiousness, but he doesn't ask or say anything else.

I stomp out of the kitchen, I take the back hall to Bruce's office. I'm pouting because they stopped me from killing Trish.

I stand at the door and knock. Bruce calls out "Come in"

I turn the handle open the door and see Bruce sitting at his desk. The tears begin pouring. I don't understand why I am crying right now. Except for pure frustration. He looks up from his desk, and I can see the worry cross his face when he takes in my appearance.

"I just beat your wife down again."

I state flatly as I flop into a chair. I wipe the tears that are falling away.

"Did she live?"

"Yes."

I can't believe he just asked me if she lived.

"Pity."

"Bruce!" I exclaim.

He chuckles. "What can I do for you Katarina?"

"I wanted to tell you about Trish plus Cole's already driving me bananas this morning."

"If you were both guys I'd have y'all duke it out." He is somewhat serious "What's going on with you two this morning?"

"He was jealous over Luke and me joking about secrets. I don't know what his deal is."

I turn my hands over one another as I fidget in the chair.

"I'm headed to the hospital, then go shopping for clothes while I'm out."

"Rocco's waiting to take you wherever you need to go."

He shifts some papers around on his desk.

"Katarina, stay with Rocco at all times, it's dangerous with Sal on the loose."

"I won't go off and do anything stupid, at least not on purpose. I'll make sure I let Rocco do his job of protecting me."

"Anything you need, let me know. I'll be by the hospital later to check on Drew."

"Thank you Bruce" I say, turning back to face him from the doorway.

"For what dear?"

"Loving me" I say in a rush as I slam the office door closed behind me.

I can't believe I said that. It's not that it isn't true. The words have just never been spoken before.

Entering the family room, the guys are all sitting around. Rocco and Luke are talking to Pete while Cole and Justin are standing by a window in a private conversation. The only one missing is Julie and I a.s.sume she is still in bed asleep.

"Rocco."

He looks up at me acknowledging he has heard me.

"I'm ready to go to the hospital." Turning to face Luke "You going with?"

"No, Justin's taking me to meet Hunter, to see if I can be of a.s.sistance to him while I'm here."

I smile warmly, "You and Hunter are going to love each other. Tell him I say Hi."

I move toward the front door with Rocco following close behind.

I ignore Cole completely still pouting that he was jealous over Luke and I this morning.

Thirty minutes later Rocco and I are walking down the hallway to the ICU waiting room, it's almost time for the first visitation of the day. I'm ready to see Drew. My anxiety is high; it's the fear of losing the only blood relative I have. I let the volunteer at the information desk know that I am there. She tells me to have a seat and they will come get me when I can go back to see Drew. I sit next to Rocco and wait to be called back.

"Luke said you told Julie. You going to tell Cole finally?"

His gruff voice breaks the silence.

"Yea, I told Julie. Yes I plan to tell Cole, I'm just waiting for the right time."

"Don't wait too much longer, you waited long enough girl, he should've been told a long time ago."

"I'm aware that everyone thinks I should've told Cole back when it happened. I didn't because at the time I didn't think it was something that would matter to him. I was wrong, and I'll fix it soon."

My name is finally called to go in to see Drew. Rocco goes in ahead of me. Signaling I wait behind him.

"It's safe for you to go in. I'll be right outside the door if you need me."

Rocco takes up a formidable stance beside the door to Drew's room. It makes me question whether we should have a guard on Drew at all times in case Sal tries something in the hospital. I make a mental note to talk to Bruce about that later today.

I stare at my brother. He is laying peacefully in the bed, machines beeping all around him. It breaks my heart to see him like this. A nurse walks into the room.

"Good morning. I'm Anna. His vitals are great this morning. He's breathing on his own with only a little boost of oxygen."

"That's good. What about waking up? What can I expect?"

"That's harder to predict. He's still medicated and the doctors will be weaning him off the medication over the next twenty-four hours. He could wake up in a couple hours, or a couple days." She pauses. "There is no clear indicator of when a patient will wake up after a trauma like your brother has been through."

"Thank you... for everything."

"It's no problem sweetie. If you need anything at all, I'll be outside at the desk. Your brother is my only patient. Someone's paying for him to have personal care."

Bruce! Only he would be able to arrange something like that, and afford something like that. Drew was wealthy from working for the Knights, but his funds are not unlimited like Bruce's always seemed to be.

I move the chair as close to his bedside as I can. I gently stroke my brother's face as I sit down in the chair. Once I'm seated, I take his hand in mine. Silence fills the room. His skin is pale from the blood loss, but there is nothing that screams I was shot three times on his face.

"Drew." I tentatively say "I need my big brother to wake up. Please, I need you."

The only answer I receive is the machines beeping in the background.

"I flew all the way to Belmont for you, so don't be a jerk and sleep my whole visit," I chuckle softly at my own words.

A shadow falls over me, any other time I would have been alarmed. Knowing Rocco is outside guarding the door means this person is a friend. I look over my shoulder and Cole is standing there.

"Hey."

"Kitten, how is he?"

I fill Cole in on the things Anna told me.

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see how he was doing. I needed to be with you, didn't want you here alone."