Page 11 of Knuckle's Dispute

Chapter Five

Knuckles

SITTING IN THE commonroom of the clubhouse, I’m with Rooster and Omen at one of the tables as they drink and I down a bottle of water.I’ve literally been back from the gym for five minutes and knew I wouldn’t get past Rooster and Omen without stopping to check in after being at work all day long.I’ve been working almost non-stop since the day Janessa was followed.It’s the only way to keep myself away from her and to not go to her house.Well, not more than I already have.I ride by every single time I leave the clubhouse or gym and have parked down the street more than I’ll ever admit to anyone.Tease and other members have been there with the Prospects and I know there’s no reason for me to be there with them.Still, I can’t stop myself from checking on her and making sure she has everything she needs and no one gets close to her.I’ve even gone out and gotten her the shit she’s craving after threatening Seth and Eric with bodily harm if they ever told her or anyone else about me doing this for her.So far they’ve kept my secret.

“What’s goin’ on, Knuckles?You haven’t been around here too much lately,” Rooster asks me, a smirk on his face as he lifts his beer bottle to his lips and takes a deep drink.

“Just workin’ and trainin’.I’m not scheduled to go on a run anytime soon so I’ve been puttin’ in my hours there.Shit goin’ on I don’t know about here?”I return, my voice tight with the thought that something might be happening around the clubhouse and I don’t know about it.

“Nothin’ has changed here.Same ‘ol shit just a different day,” Rooster replies as he sets his drink down in front of him.

“Why ya trainin’ so much?Heard Homicide has gotten in the ring with you more than a few times over the last few weeks.You only train with him when you’ve got somethin’ to work out in your head.Also know Tease has been trainin’ with ya when he’s not with Janessa or workin’,” Omen says, calling me out for my shit because everyone knows how I am when I train this hard.

“Since there’s not much goin’ on here, I thought I’d get in the extra hours at the gym.It’s about time we have another fight night and I want on the card this time.Not sure who I’ll fight, but I want in on one.Has Brick found out anythin’ about whoever you have him lookin’ into?”I ask, taking the attention off myself and on to something else before these two dig much deeper.

“You’ll all find out when the time is right.For now, no one will know Janessa’s personal business.Not unless she tells you herself.And I don’t see that happenin’ anytime soon.Especially you, Knuckles.You’ve hurt that girl and don’t have the first fuckin’ clue what you’re doin’.Right now, you should be at her side, helpin’ her through the pregnancy and you’re lettin’ your fuckin’ past and pride get in the way of doin’ the right thing,” Rooster says as I watch him pull his phone out of his pocket and look at the screen for a second before answering.“This is Rooster.”

For several minutes, Omen and I watch Rooster listen to whatever is being told to him.His face turns several shades of red before he stands so fast from the chair it crashes to the floor beneath him.

“I’ll be right there.She won’t be alone,” he states, his voice frantic in ways I haven’t heard before.

“What’s goin’ on, Dad?”Omen asks, getting out of his seat much slower than Rooster as I watch our President type out a message to someone and then pocket his phone once again.

“Janessa was just taken to the hospital by ambulance.Tease took Kurt there and Seth is currently bein’ loaded in an ambulance to go there.Someone took out our guys and set Janessa’s house on fire,” Rooster rushes out his words before leaving us in the common room.

In seconds, guys are rushing through the room and heading for the front door of the clubhouse.Omen and I follow behind them and rush to our bikes with everyone else.Starting my engine, I don’t bother with my helmet or anything else as we pull out and race through the streets toward the hospital.No one is in formation or following any road rules.Rooster is so far in front of us all I can hardly see him at this point.

My thoughts are focused on Janessa and what’s been done to her.

Is she sick?Hurt?Did the fire burn her?What about the baby?I question myself, not sure if I have any right to the answers because of how I’ve acted toward her.Janessa doesn’t seem to be the type of woman to simply forgive and forget.I have a feeling she’ll hold a grudge and not let me back in now that I’ve hurt her the way I did with a few words.And then my actions toward her after her telling me I’m the father of her baby.

We all pull into the parking lot of the hospital and quickly park our bikes wherever we can find spots.Rooster races into the hospital just as an SUV pulls in and I know Marie has arrived to be here for Janessa.Our queen has a soft spot for the lawyer and will do everything in her power to ensure Janessa gets the treatment she deserves and that nothing else happens to her.Marie goes to bat for those she brings into her circle and doesn’t let them go once she has them in her life.Janessa is one of those people and that’s all the woman truly needs.

Marie parks the SUV right up at the doors and jumps out without shutting the engine off.One of us will move it for her.I don’t stop or worry about the SUV as I rush through the doors of the hospital to find out what’s going on.My heart is racing and I’m having a hard time catching my breath as I almost run into the back of Rooster where he holds Marie in front of the desk.

“I’m sorry, Sir.We can only give out information on patients to family members.Miss Burns’ family is on the way and we’ll be able to give information to them,” the nurse is telling Rooster and Marie as I watch Marie’s shoulders shake as she cries for her friend.

“Can you tell us if the baby is okay?She’s very pregnant,” Marie asks, her voice choked with emotion.

“We can’t divulge that information at this time.You’ll have to wait for Miss Burns to tell you herself or ask her family members when they arrive,” the nurse responds once again, not changing her response.“For now, take a seat and wait for someone to come out to talk to you about the members of your club.”

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