Page 1 of Knuckle's Dispute

Prologue

Janessa

WALKING THROUGH THEfront door of my house after going out to get something to eat, I immediately know something is wrong.There’s a feeling deep in my gut that I’m not alone in this house and my senses are on high alert.Slowly, I drop my bag on the table I have sitting just inside the doorway of my new home and slip off my heels.I silently make my way through the house, searching everywhere for anything I can use as a weapon.I’ve literally just moved into my new house and everything is still packed in boxes stacked all over the house.They’re about the only thing I can use as a weapon if someone truly is in my house.I can push them over or something in any attempt I have to get away.

Getting to the living room, I take a deep breath and brace myself for whatever I’m about to find.I slowly move my body so I’m against the wall and poke my head around the corner to find Barb and David.They’re Roger, my ex-boyfriend’s, parents and have randomly been showing up wherever I am to belittle me and treat me like a piece of shit because I put their precious baby boy in jail for attempting to rape me, beating the hell out of me after we graduated from college, and everything else he’s done to me since we started dating.I’m the one who should be sitting in jail according to Barb and she’ll never change her mind about this.However, this is a new low for the two of them.Breaking into my new home is something I would expect from their son, not them.

“Where the hell is this bitch?”Barb bitches, her nasally voice grating on my nerves as she stands from her seat on my couch and starts pacing the living room.“I don’t know who the hell she thinks she is to make us wait like this on her pathetic ass.”

“Barb, you need to calm down.I don’t even know what the hell we’re doing here,” David says, his monotone voice sounding bored as normal as he sits in the corner of the couch and stares straight ahead of him.

David is the weakest man I’ve ever met in my life.Roger and Barb give the orders and he blindly follows their every directive.He truly has no spine and I will never respect a man like him because of the fact that he will never stick up for himself and lets his son and wife mentally and emotionally abuse him.David doesn’t move as I take one more deep breath, pull out my phone and hit record before sliding it back in my pocket, and make it known that I’m home.

“What are you doing in my home?”I question while walking into the doorway of the living room and coming to a stop as far from Barb and David as I can.

“It’s about fucking time you showed your face,” Barb whines, coming to a stop and turning to face me with a sneer on her face.“Where the hell have you been?Out fucking everyone you come across like the cheap whore you are?”

“That would be something your son does, not me.How the hell did you find me?”I ask, my voice wavering slightly with the anger coursing through my veins as my hands clench into fists.

“You think you’ll ever be able to hide from us?That we won’t always know every single move you make?We’re rich, powerful, and have so many connections you’ll never be free from us until the day you’re buried six feet deep,” Barb shouts, her voice echoing off my still empty walls and causing my head to start hurting like it always does when I’m around Barb for any length of time.

“You didn’t answer my question.How did you find me?And what the hell do you think you’re doing in my home?”I repeat, my voice low and controlled as I step closer to Barb.

“Bitch, this isn’t your show.We’re here only to ensure you go back home, drop the charges against Roger, and make sure to apologize to him properly,” Barb states as if everything she says is law and I’ll just obey her.“Money talks and all I did was call a locksmith to come open the door after telling them my poor daughter-in-law forgot to give us a new key to her home.They were very sympathetic.”

“That’s not gonna happen.Your son is exactly where he deserves to be—sitting in jail waiting to be sentenced and sent to prison.I willneverdrop the charges against him or apologize for him beating me so bad I needed to spend time in the hospital before finding me again and trying to rape me while beating me once again.Roger is a piece of shit and I will dance and party every single day he spends in jail or prison.Now, if you don’t want the cops called on you, I suggest you leave my home immediately and don’t ever disturb me again,” I state, my voice hard and cold as I stare at Barb while she opens her mouth and no words come out for the first time.

“You have no power here, Janessa.We have money, friends in all the right places, and you will do what I say.Now let’s go,” Barb grinds out, rushing toward me and grabbing my arm in a tight hold with her nails digging into my skin.

“Let.Go.Of.Me,” I grind out, snatching my arm from her grasp and pushing her away from me.

“How dare you!”Barb shrieks as David gets off the couch and moves toward us.

“Don’t put your filthy hands on my wife,” he says, his voice showing no emotion as he glares at me.

Instead of launching into another verbal attack, Barb throws herself at me and starts slapping me in the face and chest.I’m so shocked I can’t properly defend myself from her assault.The only thing I can do is protect myself to the best of my ability.I know how to fight, but I refuse to put my hands on the bitch in front of me because she won’t hesitate to have me arrested for assault after spinning some delusional tale about how she’s a poor victim while I’m a heartless criminal.So, I take the hits and hair pulling until Barb wears herself out.It truly doesn’t take long for her to stop the assault on me and step back with a smirk on her face.

“How the mighty have fallen.Where are your brothers now, Janessa?There’s no one here to save you,” Barb says, an evil smirk on her face as I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone.

Holding it up so Barb can see the screen, I watch as the realization fills her that I’ve recorded everything she’s said and done to me today.The color drains from her face and she starts to tremble where she stands.David steps closer to her and wraps an arm around her shoulders to prevent her from falling on the floor in shock and anger.

“Now, this is what’s gonna happen.You’re gonna get the fuck out of my home and never show your faces here again.Roger will not be getting out of jail and if you show up near me once more, I will press charges against you for everything you’ve ever done to me.I’ve got more evidence against you than you think.The law is my profession and I have done everything to ensure one day you and David pay just like Roger is.Plus, here you don’t have any friends.No one knows you here and they won’t step in to help you,” I state, not stopping the recording of my phone as I wait for Barb to realize she’s lost this round.

“This isn’t over!”she finally yells, her voice grating on my nerves even more since I’m already frazzled and know her words aren’t some idle threat.

Barb and David push past me and make their way out of my house.I follow behind them and slam the door in their faces when Barb turns to throw one last jab in my direction, locking it so they can’t barge their way back in.I turn and lean against the door and slide to the floor, closing my eyes and resting my head against the solid wood.My heart is racing and I can’t seem to catch my breath.This isn’t the first time I’ve been left feeling this way after encountering Bard, David, or Roger.They’re assholes who have always relied on their power and ability to intimidate everyone in front of them.

Fuck them!They won’t win this time.

***

After giving myselftime to calm down from Barb’s attack on me and cleaning up the scratches she left behind on my arms, face, and neck, I get dressed in a pair of jeans, one of my favorite tank tops, and a pair of wedge sandals.Grabbing my purse, I head out of my house and walk down the street.There’s a bar not far from my home and I don’t see any point in driving when I plan on getting wasted to leave my car behind.It’s just easier to walk there now and save me from going back to the bar tomorrow.Plus, I need to stretch my legs and finish clearing my head after the bullshit of dealing with Barb and her insane demands to drop the charges against Roger.

The streets are filled with people coming and going from one location to the next.Groups of friends are laughing and talking as they ignore everyone around them and get lost in their own lives.Parents are walking with their children as they enjoy the last rays of a warm day before the cold starts to settle in over the next few weeks.I smile as I pass strangers on the street in this new town I’ve chosen to move to.

Getting to the bar, I don’t hesitate to walk through the door and take a seat at the bar a few stools down from one of the members of the Dirty Slayers MC.I know some of them from a case I took involving two of their members.Omen and Homicide got into trouble a few months ago and I was the one who discovered the charges against them were fake and had the cops involved arrested.Rooster and Marie have met up with me a few times since then and I’ve been retained as the club’s lawyer for the foreseeable future.The President of the MC has offered me their protection and I have never once thought of taking them up on the offer, but I might have to change my mind about that now that Barb knows where I live.If Roger does happen to get released, he won’t hesitate to show up here and start his bullshit all over again.

“What can I get ya?”the bartender asks as she stands in front of me with a smile on her face.

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