Forever Distraction (Distraction #3) (32 page)

Katarina

Two days later

I w
oke before Jason and rushed to check on Bo. He was doing great, but my dreams had changed and now all I saw was him lying in a pool of blood, so finding him was imperative. I knew my bad thoughts wouldn’t disappear until I saw him. He was on the floor in the corner of the room; I made sure his bed was close to mine in case he needed pain meds or water at night. I could be right here for him. He slept a lot and I couldn’t wait for him to be better. We were at the beach house in California and I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to see him in the water. I just knew he would love it.

Jason fixed Bo and I was
confident it was only a matter of time before he was running and playing. I told Jason I owed him for healing my dog, and he tried to tell me it was the special diet and the activity that saved Bo. He said Bo was in the best shape of his life and that was what really kept him alive. Either way, I was grateful. I traced the brown fur over Bo’s eye and petted him on his head and behind his ears. He was all bandaged up, but he managed a Bo-smile, and I leaned down and kissed him for it.

Tommy died that night
, and when the authorities searched his penthouse suite, they found years of videos from him stalking me, even a video of him and another man beating Crew at the Club. They mentioned the closet and my father, but that was as far as I would allow the conversation to go. They gave me all the surveillance videos, but only after my attorney threatened to file a lawsuit. The thought of Jason or Smith seeing the abuse videos had me all nutted-up. It was not how I wanted them to see me. I was timid, weak, and fragile in the closet, but I didn’t feel that way anymore. I felt fearless and brave.

I wonder
ed a lot about how things unfolded in my life. If Jared never attacked me, I would be married to Tommy. What Jared did was a pivotal moment, and it’d caused my whole life to change. I became a different person after that moment. A time in my life that should’ve had haunting effects…didn’t. I would never tell anyone, but I think that was where my story began. So, that was my first chapter; all the middle stuff was just filler. I looked at my dog and smiled, excited about my last chapter.

****

I wasn’t sure why I was still here. I told anyone who would listen that I didn’t care if my father was in the hospital. I didn’t want to see him. I couldn’t give a flying monkey about his request to see me. My attitude surprised me a little. I waited for the empathy for others to kick in, my superhuman ability to view others as victims, but I lost my superpower.

I skip
ped the elevator and took the stairs. I hated the fucking hospital. I didn’t care Dr. Holtin wasn’t here anymore. Although, it was a little ironic he died from a tiny insect sting, an insect that made colors come to life. I bet the bee that stung him died from the ugliness of just touching that monster; no pretty petals would open, nope…just shrivel up and die. Harsh, I know, but I was grumpy. I hated hospitals.

Jason le
ft as I approached the private wing my father was in. He said he wanted to make sure I ate before the charity event, so he left to fetch my food.
Great…just great
. I could be home with Bo, but the two men in my life thought seeing my father like this would bring closure. I saw my brother Luke escaping my father’s room, and he stopped when we made eye contact. I didn’t want to deal with him, but I pasted a smile on and waited patiently for what he had to say.

“He won’t take anything for the pain. He’s going to
die if he doesn’t take anything, if you can’t convince him.” I gave my eldest brother a what-the-heck stare, and he responded, “He’s asked for you.” He paused, smoothing down his white doctor’s coat. It didn’t need smoothing though; it appeared to be pressed with starch, so it would never wrinkle. “He’ll listen, Kat…he loves you.” His words created rage, and I wanted to scream and yell and tell him how much he didn’t freaking love me, but I didn’t.

I glance
d at Owen, silently asking him if I had to do this. He nodded and I pushed past Luke, making my way into the large, flower-filled room, which reminded me of the bee-sting Dr. Holtin died from, and I laughed under my breath. When Owen entered behind me, he closed the door and stood frozen against it, blocking it so I couldn’t escape and no one could enter. I shot him another stare that told him I was pissed he was blocking my only exit, but he just nodded his head toward my father.
Crotchety
o
ld man.

I turn
ed and clutched my purse. I scanned the room, avoiding the hospital bed and machines that were continually beeping, and spotted my mother in the corner. She appeared tired and her dress was messy. I bet that really pissed father off. She was clutched to his side, her hand holding the end of my father’s arm and hand cast. She carefully watched me, and all I could think about was how I had practiced for this moment since I was seven, no emotion on my face, nothing to read. Hers, on the other hand, screamed pain and fear. I reached deep, trying to feel something, but numb was all I felt, numb and my face mirrored it.

“Katarina
.” She straightened and attempted to smooth her hair back. I gave her a curt nod, but my lips were sealed. My eyes shifted to my father and I couldn’t hide my utter shock—jaw-dropping, eyes-bulging shock. He was in a full-body cast, wore a neck brace, and his face was swollen. I heard a slight chuckle coming from the doorway, and I knew it was Smith and it was because of my reaction. I wasn’t sure Smith had ever seen shock on me before. I turned his way and smirked, wanting to playfully tell him to shut up.

My mother responded
in anger, “You should wait outside. This is a family moment.” My eyes traveled to hers and I wondered if she thought she was a part of my family. The look of pure confusion caused her to sit back down in her chair, so now I towered over her. She was not as tough as I thought she was. She was weak and frail, no longer part-monster, but not quite a victim.

“No, Adeline
,” I paused and waited for her eyes to meet mine, “Owen goes where I go. He
is
my family.” I was aware of two things. One: I just called Smith by his real name, and I knew without looking at him he was wearing my favorite smile. Two: I just said no to my mother for the first time. I did a victory,
Woohoo!
in my head. I allowed my eyes to remain locked with my mother’s until she cowered away. When she did, I glanced at my father. His puffy eyes and casted body made me less frightened, and I breathed in and stood tall, feeling powerful.

“Take the pain meds, Bruce. It looks like you need to.” I d
idn’t ask what happened, didn’t even want to know. To me, it looked like my father finally messed with the wrong person. “I’m getting married to Jason. I wanted you to hear it from me. You’re not invited to the wedding. I also don’t want you around our children. So, this is goodbye.” And with that, I finally felt something—I was empowered. It was indescribable, the powerful feeling, to have the last word, to say what I have wanted to say for as long as I could remember. This was the ultimate ‘Fuck you, I’m leaving’. I turned and moved toward the door.

My father
’s weak voice over the beeping of the monitors stopped me in my tracks. “I don’t want to numb the pain.” I twisted my body to make sure I heard him correctly. “I think it will help me understand your hatred of me…if I endure the pain.” He paused, swallowing, and even that looked to be one excruciatingly painful series of muscle contractions. “Katarina, I’ll hurt like you did.” His voice was soft and breathless, but I got it, message received…loud and clear. It didn’t work, his attempt to manipulate me into feeling sorry for him.

“Take the pain meds or don’t
. I couldn’t give a shit either way. This,” I waved my hand at the bright white cast that swallowed his whole body, “doesn’t make us even.” I heard him choke on a breath and I watched as my mother reached up to stroke his dark hair. My phone went off and
‘Locked Out of Heaven’
rang loudly throughout the room, and my father’s beeping machines picked up the pace. He was trying to move his head. His fright was evident as the bed shook, and my mother attempted to calm him. I stepped closer to him, because his eyes were locked with mine. The nurses pushed open the door and five of them piled around him, with a doctor on their heels.

“It…was…you
,” he said through broken gasps of air. They sedated him quickly after that, and I nodded at my mother, giving her a practiced smile as I left the room. It didn’t hit me until I watched my father have an anxiety attack while suffocating in a whole body cast…that was where the men were the night Tommy broke in. I called Jason when I woke and was trolling through the mansion, and my father must have heard the ring of his phone as they beat him—more like
pummeled
him. It was a solid smack-down.

I smiled and shook my head at the thought of the two of them scaring the shit right out of him. Owen and Jason were my hero
es. We didn’t talk as we made our way down the two flights of stairs, but I knew he was proud of me for sticking up for myself. Jason was in the car with bags of what smelled like hot sandwiches. When the door was closed, Jason spoke first. “How’d it go?”

I fished through the bag
, looking for the one with
turkey
written on it. I wanted to tell him, ‘It went’, but I raised my brows and went with, “How’d what go?” He winked, inducing a blush immediately. “Thanks for the sandwich.” I gave him my sweetest grin, the one I knew made him horny.

“She called me Owen.”

We both turned toward Smith. He had been dressing differently lately. He ditched the sunglasses and was wearing jeans and a t-shirt like Jason. It made him appear younger, but hell if I would ever tell him that. “You kind of look like an Owen,” I told him, and he flashed me a goofy smile. “Someone the kids would beat up in school…you know, momma’s boy Owen?”

His smile dropped
, but then a smirk filled his face. “I’m not a momma’s boy.”

I laughed at
his weak defense of himself. “Thanks, by the way.” I shifted my eyes between the two of them. “I know we’re not going to talk about this, but know…I know what you did.” I took a bite of my turkey sandwich, loving the soft wheat bread, and glanced back at the men. I had to laugh; they both looked guilty as hell. “I am appreciative he’s still alive…thank you,” I said, and then, because I felt like I was queen bee of the world and went on a limb, I added, “Oh, and I am not happy with you,
Owen
.”

He raised his eyebrows and I laughed again
, because he was nervous of little old me. “Why?” His voice was screechy before he coughed it out.

“
Beeeecause…I asked you not to commit homicide.” I smiled as his eyes darted to Jason and then back to me, confirming what I merely guessed. “Did you know?” I flashed a half-smile toward Jason, knowing this was our game. “Saying bee in front of words makes it sound better, like bee-careful, bee-safe, bee-
sting
.” Jason’s face lit up and he scooped me into his arms, causing the hugest giggle to tear from my lips.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about
,” Owen mumbled, but the smile he wore told me he was rather proud of the decisions he made.

Jason

I picked my family up at the airport and got them settled into the beach house. Owen had me pick up his family as well. I would have never guessed Owen was married to a knockout blonde with two of the most beautiful teenaged daughters I’d ever seen. The large limo was filled with giggles and teenage slang. My family fell in love with Owen’s wife, Bridgette. She seemed down-to-earth, natural, and nothing I would have expected a wife of an intimidating man like Owen to be—powerful in authority and dominance. To say I was floored was an understatement; she reminded me of Katarina; only she averted my gaze and wouldn’t allow me to assist her with her luggage. It wasn’t because she was nervous. She seemed extremely independent and nothing fragile or submissive like. Owen met us at the beach house and his eyes lit when he saw his family. They ran to him, and again, it was not what I was expecting. I think I even heard Owen giggle. I would have to enquire about that later. Right now, he was my new hero.

My family ran around the house
, picking rooms and chatting with the help. Katarina even invited my grandparents. The house was filling quickly. Dad talked about the vet practice, telling me he needed me by his side again, and I was happy he held no grudges over my past actions. My sister Jessie threw herself in my arms. Katarina called her and told her about us getting married. She didn’t think someone as important as Jessie should wait to hear. Jessie cried she was so happy, which made me cry a little, but I made Katarina promise not to tell her. When we go home, things were going to be different, and Jessie was at the top of that list.

“Where’s Katie?” Her arms tightened around me when she asked.

“She’s with Brian. They are going over everything for the charity event.” Katarina was nervous about the speech. She rewrote it at least a dozen times. She never read it to me, but I knew from her emotions this was going to be an important talk that provided closure and forgiveness. I think she had a hard time when her grandfather died because she never got to hold his hand and tell him how much she cherished him. I think tonight she’ll forgive herself.

Waiting for everyone to leave at the same time was like
herding cats. Owen’s daughters were left to entertain my nephews and niece as two bodyguards watched them. Katarina insisted a nurse sat with Bo at all times. The ladies were all glammed up, which was also because of Katarina. She insisted they got the royal treatment, and they did. Their dresses glittered, their hair and makeup were perfect, and even the men had tuxes waiting for them. Mine was dark blue, my shirt and tie bright white, and the hairdresser styled my hair in waves on the top of my head. It felt weird being pampered, like I needed to go start a fight in a dark alley to remind myself I was a man’s man and not another
mans’
man. I also got a manicure and a pedicure, and it was quite relaxing. I did it for Katarina, or that was what I told myself.

We arrived at the ballroom and I was suddenly st
ruck with nerves. I wasn’t sure if I was channeling Katarina, or if the fact this enormous place and all the famous and rich people were here for my princess made me anxious, but something spread unease throughout my body. We walked in through the priority line, bypassing all of the other guests. Owen talked loudly into the phone. His nerves were shot too; I could hear it. “Make it happen,” was all I heard before he cursed and glanced at me. I gave him a half-smile and nodded in understanding.

The place was breathtaking inside
—not a man’s description word for a ballroom, but it was. Antique lighting lit the walls, some reflecting off the painted ceiling. It was stimulation overload. The tables were large ovals and placed throughout, decorated with white lilies and red roses. Katarina told me it was to symbolize love and peace. Two very different flowers, but just like everything Katarina did, they somehow worked and looked elegant together.

Gazing around the large room
, people gathered in small groups dressed in tuxes and fashionable dresses, and laughter and chatter could be heard all around. I had the small-fish-in-a-large-pond feeling. I recognized Katarina’s brother, Luke, and lifted my hand in a wave. He completely shunned me, and I fucking laughed loud enough for him to hear. My sister turned in her tight, dark green dress and told me not to embarrass her with her mom-eyes, and I flashed her a devilish grin. She pointed a finger, mouthing for me to knock it off.

We were shown right away to our seats
; each seat had a nameplate secured to the table. Our table was front and center, no distractions; the stage was directly in front of us. An older gentleman approached the microphone, telling everyone to take their seats. He wore a thick cross over his tux and I guessed he was Father Nickels; Katarina had told me all about him and how big a part he played in the charity.

I stood next to our table as everyone took their seats around me. I relaxed a bit when my eyes landed on my princess. She had her arm through
Brian’s as they walked out onto the stage like the royal family would, and she waved and I recognized she was giggling.

Brian wore a tux identical to mine
, and Katarina’s dress was floor-length and a dark velvety blue that slit up the right side, allowing her long leg to show through. The top of her dress held tight against her chest and stomach. Her shoulders were left bare, displaying the lines of her neck and collarbone perfectly. She wore white gloves to cover her broken finger. Her hair was pulled up into a sexy bun with strands cascading around her shoulders.
Fucking beautiful,
but my favorite part, the part that had my cock standing at attention, was her necklace. The ring I gave her dangled from the bottom of the thin gold chain. She was proud to wear it, and that was what made me want her so desperately I could hardly stand it.

Owen yelled
, breaking my hypnotic state. “Take a seat,
Slugger
.” I smirked at him, and he tossed a coin at me.
Chump.

Katarina approached the podium. I sat on the edge
of my seat, ready to spring in an instant. I still couldn’t believe she was mine, and in two weeks, she would have my last name. My legs bounced as the familiar anxiety coursed through me.

****

Katarina

“Thank you for coming tonight to honor my grandfather. I put together a slideshow of pictures to go with my speech. I chose not to talk at his funeral. I thought he would want me to mourn in silence, like he did over my grandmother. I feel differently now; he would want you to know how important what he did was, and how he affected so many lives.”

I looked behind me as my grandfather and grandmother
’s picture appeared. I had practiced this at least a dozen times and I knew I would be less nervous with everyone focused on pictures instead of me. The lights dimmed and now only a small light shined on me; the rest was over my shoulder at the start of the slideshow of pictures of my grandfather, our charity work, and me.

“I
really only knew my grandfather for six years. Before, I only saw him on holidays and dance recitals. He didn’t talk to me, so I didn’t talk to him. When I was fifteen years old, my life changed. I found myself at his doorstep, and I am not sure how I even got there. He let me in and set up a room next to his. He never once asked me why I was there and he never pressured me to talk, so I didn’t. He made me go with him everywhere. He said, ‘Servicing humanity is the way to a pure heart.’ You can tell at the beginning of the photos with the two of us,” I gestured to the movie, “his heart was purer then mine.”

T
here was laughter as a photo appeared of me pouting with my arms crossed over my chest. “My grandfather talked to me in quotes. I think during our six years together he said maybe fifty words, because according to him, ‘Words are a dime a dozen.’ Instead, he would try to bond with me over a very quiet breakfast where nobody talked, and he would watch me over his paper. He also tried bonding through word games like Scrabble.” I motioned again to the photos over my head. “Mine were a little less nice than his.” There was laughter as everyone read my less flattering, vulgar words. “I was only attempting to make him laugh. His smile was the most important thing to me.”

I stopped to gather my breath
, and then continued, “After years of being top in my class, the smartest girl in the room, I resorted to four-letter words to make my grandfather smile, but he didn’t. Well, he didn’t over that, but when he saw me interact with the locals on a project, he lit up. I was always within arm’s reach of my grandfather, and I began to depend on him without noticing. He did this thing with me where he would kiss the palm of my hand and say, ‘God hears you.’ One day when he did this, I told him I wasn’t talking to God, and he looked at me with that smile of his and said, ‘Yes, you are.’ He put his hand over my heart and said, ‘He hears you in here, and when you feel up to it, you can use your words.’”

I paused as I felt those words come over me, tears pooling in my eyes. “I don’t know if I ever understood that until now
. These boys and girls he helped through his charities…he helped them without words; he felt the need in his heart.” I paused again. “If you give to this charity, know that kids who cannot speak for themselves but have God in their hearts will benefit.” I had a steady stream of tears going now. I had forgotten my speech and was blank, and then I just started speaking. “The last time I saw him was at my graduation, and he told me, ‘There are two most important days in your life: the day you are born, and the day you find out
why
.’”

I smiled as
tears began to flow freely down my face, because I understood the saying, and for the first time, I knew why I was here. “I had braced myself for a founding father quote, and he quoted Mark Twain.” I closed my eyes, feeling warmed by telling the small story. “He died the night I graduated. The doctors told me he had a large tumor in his head and he should have died a year ago.”

I gasp
ed for oxygen, feeling like I was suffocating. My eyes dropped to my shaky hand that was black with mascara. “I never cried about it until recently and now I can’t stop crying.” I hiccupped and had a hard time controlling my sobs. I took one final breath. “I will make sure my grandfather’s legacy continues.” I paused, a nervous laugh leaving my lips, and I quickly tried to mask it, pasting on my practiced smile and failing miserably. “Your money, combined with mine, can do great things. It’s my
why
. Thank you for coming.”

My brother came to the podium behind me and caught me as I began to fall. Women’s
shrieks could be heard all around me, and then applause as Bri swooped in to save the day. He carried me away from the stage and found a chair behind the curtain, and I sobbed sounds I didn’t know I could make as he held me close. The ballroom was quiet, and I heard the next speaker approach the podium.

Jason was by my side in a heartbeat after that
. Brian didn’t argue as Jason scooped me up in his arms and moved away. We went outside to the balcony that overlooked the gardens, and he sat me down to look into my eyes. He had a water bottle and some tissues. He put his head against mine and sighed, and then he hugged me, my face pressing hard against his chest and it felt wonderful.

“You want to leave?” he whispered
, not letting up on the pressure he held me with.

“Not yet, I want to say hello to my guests and then we can go home.” He pulled back from me
far enough to look into my soggy eyes. He looked delicious in his navy tux with the white bowtie.
I think I like bows too.
“How do I look?” It was a loaded question, because I knew I was a mess.

He
flashed me a grin that gave me butterflies. “Like a princess.”

A gradual smile lifted my face
. I took the tissue from his hand and wiped my face, concentrating under my eyes. “Don’t leave me tonight, okay?”

He smiled so big I could see all
of his white teeth. “Not a chance.”

“I have something for you
,” I told him as I reached between my breasts and pulled a small jewelry bag out. “Magic.” I winked, grinning wide and slipping the tiny bag in his giant hand. He squeezed my fingers as I reluctantly stepped back from him. I was unsure about the gift, and my nerves were frayed from the speech. Giving us a little space helped me feel like I had control, even though his response to my gift meant everything to me.

H
e locked eyes with me, attempting to read my face before lifting the gift to his ear and shaking it.
Funny man
. He stretched the string at the top of the small jewelry bag and flipped it over in his hand. A note and a masculine, gold wedding ring fell into his palm.

He eyed me cautiously again before he read the note
aloud, “To my forever distraction.” He glanced up at me, and my lips moved with the words he spoke as he finished the note. “Thank you for choosing me.” He gradually folded the note after he read it and slowly tucked it into his jacket pocket. His hands were shaky, eyes avoided mine, and his silence was unnerving.

What in the hell
is he thinking?
“I’m not really a note writer,” I defended with a one-shoulder shrug. He lunged forward before I could continue and took my mouth in a deep, passionate kiss. He tasted like mint and Jason, and I loved everything about it. He aggressively devoured me, and I felt as if I was his lifeline and he was clinging onto my mouth with every ounce of strength he had. His arms tightened around my body and his hands fisted my dress over my ass.