Page 22 of Knuckle's Dispute

“Thank you, Seth.Kaden and the car seat combined is a little too much for me.I’ll have to build up my strength if I’m gonna be carrying him around like this all the time,” I tell him, laughter at myself filling my voice.

“Why would you need to carry him on your own when we’ll be here to help you?”Seth questions me, his brow furrowing as he stops and looks at me.

“I won’t always be here, Seth.At this point, I’m not sure what my future plans are,” I answer him evasively because no one needs to know my plans if I end up moving.

“You’ll always have the club at your back, Janessa,” Marie states emphatically as she steps up next to me and places her hand on my shoulder.

“No, I won’t, Marie.I’m honestly not sure how much longer I’ll be in Frostford,” I tell them, looking around to make sure no one else is around.“Please don’t say anything, but I might be moving closer to my brothers.They know my entire situation and have the ability to protect me.”

“And you think the Dirty Slayers can’t protect you?”Seth asks, disbelief filling his voice as he stares at me.

“That’s not what I’m saying at all.What I’m saying is no one else needs to be dragged into my situation.My brothers already know what I’ve been going through and dealing with.No one here does.At least not all of it,” I say, stepping toward the door of the clubhouse once again.

The quicker we get this meal eaten, the sooner I can get back to the cabin and be alone once more.

Marie and Seth follow me inside.I step closer to the wall so they can pass me.I’ve never been in the clubhouse this way before so I’m not sure where I’m going and I don’t want to enter a room I have no business being in.It doesn’t take us long to enter the common room where I see the room filled with all the members, ol’ ladies, the Slayer Slits, and the kids are at their own table right in the middle of the room.

“There’s a seat right between Tease and Knuckles, Janessa.I thought Melissa was gonna save you one next to her, but I guess that’s not the case,” Marie says, a twinkle in her eyes telling me all I need to know about this situation.

Tease and Knuckles are at the table next to Marie and Rooster.I take my seat and watch Seth set Kaden down between Marie and Rooster.Without hesitation, the President of the club removes my son from the car seat and holds him against his chest.I smile at the sight before me for a second before Seth delivers a plate of food to me and takes the last seat at the table.Tease and Knuckles share a look between the two of them over my head as Seth doesn’t look at anyone but me.He’s not reading the other two men at the table right now.

“Are you sure you’re in the right frame of mind to make the decisions you are?”Seth questions me, his voice low as if the other occupants of our table won’t be able to hear him.

“I am.And I’m still weighing my options and trying to figure out the best move to make.For now, there’s nothing holding me here and I have to make the best decision for my family,” I answer him again without looking at the two men on either side of me.

“What the fuck are you talkin’ about?”Knuckles questions me, a hard edge to his voice.

“None of your concern, Knuckles.You’ve made your position on things extremely clear and I’d ask that you refrain from tryin’ to find out any personal information about me,” I say, my voice wavering with emotion as I look at him with tears in my eyes that I try to hold back.

Knuckles doesn’t deserve to see my tears.He has no need to know the amount of pain he’s caused me and why I am the way I am.Our son is gonna grow up without a dad because this man is selfish and doesn’t want to believe me for his own reasons.

“We need to talk, Janessa.There’s a lot that needs to be said between the two of us,” he whispers, leaning close to me so his breath brushes across my ear and neck.

“We have nothing to say to one another,” I state, picking up my fork and digging into my food while glaring at Seth.

Knuckles tries to talk to me more, but I ignore him.I know a man like him won’t allow me to do this for long, but right now he’s giving me an out.Maybe it’s because we’re in a clubhouse full of men and women.Whatever his reason is, I’m going to take it as I quickly start eating my dinner so I can get the hell out of here without having whatever conversation Knuckles believes we need to have.The less time I’m around him, the better things will be for everyone around here.

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