Page 18 of Knuckle's Dispute

“I get it, Nessa.However, I don’t believe you have horrendous taste in men.I think you’re too kind hearted and give way more chances than anyone deserves.Men like Roger thrive on breaking down good, loving people like you because they get a sense of power from hurting you past the point of normal levels of pain.Pain you endured for far too long,” my brother says, holding me in a tight hug as he lets me cry once again.

***

“Idon’t wanna leaveyou here,” Aaron tells me, giving me one final hug and a kiss on the top of my head.“If I could stay here indefinitely, I would.”

“I know, Baby Brother.I’ll be okay here on my own.I’ve got Seth to hang out with and Kaden will take up all of my time and energy.I’ll just miss you like crazy.Maybe I’ll move back home and be closer to you guys.I know you said no in the hospital, but this is a valid option.If we plan it out and do things the right way, no one will be able to tell I’ve left Frostford.Especially after I remain in the walls of the compound for a while.I can do this safely and I know Seth and Rooster will help me,” I say as Joseph and Daniel move closer to us, all of them shaking their heads at me.

“Not happening, Janessa,” Daniel states, his voice cold and hard which is something I rarely hear from him when it’s directed at me.“You’re gonna remain here in Frostford and if anyone moves, it will be the three of us.Let us put some things in place and tie up any loose ends we might have back home before we can give you a concrete idea of when we’ll be able to come back to you.Have you given any thought to telling Mom and Dad about the baby or anything going on with Roger and his parents?”

“No.I don’t want them to know a single thing about my life.They made the decision to cut me out of their lives and I’m good with it.I’ve never been their favorite person.That’s always been Nicole and we all know it.At some point, I might tell them about Kaden, but it will be my choice when it happens,” I answer him honestly with a sad smile on my face.

When I was younger, all I truly wanted was to have loving parents who were there for all of us kids and didn’t favor one over the other.My brothers were always social and outgoing when we were growing up.Our parents were at every single one of their games and treated them with love and respect.I was the studious one who always had their nose buried in a book and got the best grades.Grades my parents never once told me they were proud of me for.Nicole barely had grades to pass each grade.All she did was party and get into trouble.Still, I was the one our parents always treated as the black sheep of the family.Nothing I ever do will be good enough for them and I’ve learned to be okay with that over the years.Though it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt to know my parents don’t like me at all.

“Okay.We’ll keep this to ourselves for now.Call us if you need anything at all.And we’ll let you know when we land,” Joseph says, pulling me in for one last hug.

Each of my brothers gives me a hug before climbing into the SUV Eric’s driving them to the airport in.Their rental car was returned the day I got out of the hospital so they didn’t have to pay for it while they were in town.We’ve been using one of the club’s SUVs.

With Kaden in my arms, I watch as the SUV disappears around the side of the clubhouse.Tears slide down my face and my knees threaten to give out as Seth wraps his arm around my shoulders and holds me close to his body.

“I’ve got you, Janessa,” he whispers in my ear as he holds me close to his body and doesn’t force me back into the cabin.

I’m not sure how much time passes as I watch where the SUV was before it took my brothers away from me.After what feels like forever, I look up to find Knuckles standing not far away with daggers in his eyes as he watches Seth hold me in his arms.Shaking my head, I look up at the Prospect and he knows I’m ready to go back inside without me having to say a word.I don’t look back at Knuckles as I try to focus on taking care of Kaden so I can continue breaking down all alone in the safety of my cabin.Seth will be the only one who sees my tears because he’s rarely left my side since all of this started and I don’t see him disappearing any time soon unless he has to go on a run or something.

Chapter Nine

Knuckles

SITTING IN THE commonroom, I wait for Eric, Kurt, and Seth to show up.I’m checking in with them today about Janessa and how she’s been doing.She’s been at the clubhouse for two weeks now and I know she just had a check-up for the baby.I’m not sure if that’s normal or if it’s because something is wrong with him or her.Yeah, I still don’t know if she had a son or daughter.It’s getting harder and harder every single day to stay away from the woman consuming my thoughts.Every glimpse of her makes my heart beat faster and I know it’s just a matter of time before I give in and go to her.I just have to figure out how the hell I’m going to get her to talk to me again.I’ve tried to think of every single way to get on her good side, but no ideas are coming to me.Other than calling her brothers and talking to them about everything.

Looking at my phone once again, I see the Prospects have less than two minutes until they should be here.Setting it back down on the bar in front of me, I look up to find Seth and Eric walking toward me.Kurt is just getting back to work after being attacked when Janessa’s house was set on fire.I’m not gonna bitch if he’s a few minutes late because he really hasn’t been near Janessa in the last two weeks.

“Knuckles, is there somethin’ wrong?”Seth asks, stepping up in front of me and waiting for me to respond to him.

“Where’s Kurt?”I ask the two in front of me, my patience growing thin.

“He’s at the doctor.Doc couldn’t get him in here for a check-up so Omen took him to the hospital to make sure everythin’ is good with him,” Seth informs me, always knowing what’s going on with everyone around him.

---