Page 7 of Knuckles

“Not in the least. Get your ass in here to Pain so he can check you over, then me and you are havin’ a come to Jesus meetin’.”

“Knuckles. Cool it.” I’d only met Pain once since coming to Nashville to be closer to my brother. Now that I had him back, I didn’t want to let Gunnar out of my sight. I couldn’t stay in the big industrial complex they called a compound. I needed freedom to move around without the scrutiny of the men in the club. Despite his name, Pain was one of the most naturally empathetic people I’d ever met. He wasn’t a doctor, but he had a natural gift for helping people.

“Not until I find out what the fuck’s goin’ on.” Knuckles crossed his massive arms over an equally muscled and impressive chest. Honestly, how did the man get so big? He was well over six feet tall and he had to weigh at least three hundred pounds. All of it solid-as-fuck muscle.

“You saw what was goin’ on, Knuckles.” Pain didn’t raise his voice or look at the big man. Instead, he handed me an ice pack and set about looking in my eyes and shit. “Now, if you can’t be civil get the fuck outside until I’m done.”

“Or you could not come back at all.” I tried to give him a bright smile but couldn’t quite manage.

“You take a good look at her, Pain. Really see her injuries. All of them.” Knuckles looked straight at me.

“Trust me,” Pain answered in a tight voice, glancing up at me. “I see them.”

“How long, Hannah?” Knuckles simply to God wasn’t going to let this go.

“How long what? Is your dick? From what I hear, not very.”

Pain snorted before attempting to cover it with a cough. “Hold this ice pack to your face, honey. It’ll help with the swelling. I’ve got a little something for pain too.”

“I don’t need anything other than maybe some acetaminophen and ibuprofen. The ice pack’ll help.”

“Cut the crap, you two.” Knuckles snapped his fingers to bring our attention back to him. “This isn’t the first time he’s hit you. Why didn’t you come to your brother?”

“You Goddamned well know why.” My voice was barely above a whisper. “And if you tell Gunnar, I will kill you, Knuckles. Slowly and painfully.”

We faced off and I knew he could see how angry I was, even with one side of my face swelling pretty badly now. He could see my fury.

His gaze narrowed and he tilted his head to the side, like he was studying an insect. It was the first time since I’d started my… work, where I thought someone saw straight through me. “Yeah,” he said slowly. “I believe you fuckin’ would.” His voice was a rough growl, his gaze penetrating, digging for the secrets I’d buried from everyone.

Pain looked from one of us to the other and stood slowly, inserting himself between me and Knuckles. “Maybe you need to take a step back here.”

Knuckles shrugged. “No need. I see her now.”

“I seriously doubt that.” Yeah, I was good and pissed now that I’d had time to shake off the beating. I was bruised and battered, but I was pretty sure there wasn’t anything seriously hurt. I suppose Pain would be the final judge, though.

“Oh, baby girl, I see way the fuck more than you want me to see.” I had to force myself not to swallow nervously at his words. Because I was pretty sure he was close to figuring me out. Maybe not all the way, but he suspected there was more going on than I wanted anyone to know. Any show of nerves on my part would be like blood in the water and Knuckles was a great white shark.Theapex predator in my world.

“Probably,” I conceded. “But don’t pretend to know me or what I do. You just met me.”

“Yeah. But I know your twin pretty Goddamned well. I see the same core of strength in you.” He snorted at me. “You ain’t no wiltin’ flower, pinin’ away for the brother she condemned to prison.”

“Never said I was.” I was gonna fuckin’ kill this son of a bitch. Gunnar would just have to live with it.

“No, but you have everyone else believin’ it.”

“All right, Knuckles.” Pain pointed to the door. “Out. Now.”

“Not on your life, Pain. I’m sittin’ right here where I can keep an eye on this little hellion. She’s not leavin’ this house unless I’m with her.”

“You can try to keep me prisoner here, but I promise you, it won’t work out well for you.”

“Oh, baby girl. That’s exactly what I’m countin’ on.” That evil, predator smile was my last straw.

Without so much as a sound, I launched myself around Pain to drive my shoulder into Knuckles’s solar plexus. He grunted but barely moved backward against the force of my body hitting him. I was short and slight, but I had a leanly muscled body, so I was strong. I was light on my feet, even after the hits I’d taken earlier. Even though Knuckles seemed to barely notice the hit he’d taken, I’d put myself in the dominant position, getting the upper hand.

When he would have wrapped his arms around my waist, I dropped, sliding under his legs. Coming to my feet, I kicked out and punted him behind the knee. That got a startled yell from him.

“Hannah!” He roared my name as he spun around only to meet my foot with the side of his neck. I was aiming for his jaw, but he was just that little bit too tall, and I was just that little bit too short. He caught my ankle and lifted me up in the air with one big, meaty hand. I let out a girly squeal I was sure I’d be embarrassed about later. My free leg flailed as I tried to get my bearings and fight my way free. “Calm the fuck down, little hellion!”

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