Page 25 of Knuckle's Dispute

My thoughts drift to the paternity test.We should have the results back from it any day now.I was honestly on the fence about getting a paternity test done in the beginning.In my mind, I have nothing to prove to anyone.Including Knuckles.I know who I am and that there isn’t a doubt in my mind that Kaden is his son.However, Tease was over here with me one day and we got talking about my situation.No, he doesn’t know many details, but he did bring up a good point.If there’s no paternity established for Kaden and Roger or his parents hurt or kill me, Kaden goes into foster care.Knuckles would have to fight to get him and have the paternity test done before they would even consider letting him take our child into his care.That’s not something I want Kaden to go through, so I made the decision to contact Doc and get the test done for that reason alone.

As I feed my son, my phone rings once again.Sighing, I pick it up and see my mom’s name on the screen.Fuck my life!

“Hello, Mother,” I answer, preparing myself for the attitude I’m about to get from her.Nothing ever changes when it comes to my parents.

My mother treats me like shit and says everything she can think of to belittle me at every opportunity.Nothing I do is ever good enough for her and I’ve gotten used to the way she talks to me.My father is loud and demanding, expecting me to follow his every order without hesitation or question.No one is allowed to question what he has to say for any reason or they suffer his wrath.

“Janessa, it’s time for you to stop playing these games and come home.We’re back from our trip and have decided you’ll be here for dinner tonight,” she states, her haughty tone enraging me and I haven’t seen her in person yet.

“I have a lot going on and don’t know if dinner tonight will work for me,” I tell her honestly, knowing how much it will take to get Kaden ready for the trip to my parents’ house.

Plus, I don’t want to expose him to these vile people.My parents won’t ever make good grandparents and Kaden will be better off without them in his life.I know eventually I’ll have to tell them I’ve had a baby, but I know deep in my soul it won’t go over good with them.My parents will have some reason to turn it into me being a slut.Especially when they realize the baby isn’t Roger’s.They certainly worship the ground he walks on and it doesn’t surprise me at all considering how they’ve treated me my entire life.

“I don’t care what you have going on, Janessa.You will be here for dinner with your brothers and that’s final.Make sure you look presentable and don’t be late.Roger’s parents might show up so look extra nice today,” my mother informs me before hanging up the phone as fear fills me with the thought of seeing those assholes who are actively trying to hurt me in their son’s place.

Knowing there’s no way in hell I can get out of this dinner tonight at my parents’ house, I finish feeding Kaden so I can begin getting ready for the day.Part of me wants to let Rooster know what’s going on and where I’m heading, but I don’t want to drag anyone from here into my mess.If he knows I’m leaving Frostford, he’ll send the Prospects and at least one member with me for the dinner from hell.Nothing that’s about to happen tonight is anything I want these people to see or hear.It’s better for everyone if I just go on my own and deal with the fallout from Rooster once this sham of a dinner is over with.I’ll have my brothers there and they’ll protect me from our parents and Roger’s if they show up.At least that’s what I keep telling myself as I quickly shower and get dressed in clothing my parents will approve of.

***

It's taken me almostfour hours to drive to my parents’ house today.The first step was getting away from the compound without having an escort.Honestly, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.When I got to the gate, Kurt was standing guard.I told him I was on my way to Doc’s office to meet Knuckles for the paternity test results.I feel horrible lying to him, but this is my mess and I’ll deal with it on my own.Anyway, getting out of town was kind of tricky as well.It seemed like every road I passed had a biker riding my way and I panicked.I didn’t take a single breath until I was out of Frostford and there were no bikers following me.Then I was paranoid with my son in the car because of those other bikers who have been caught more than once stalking me.

Now, I’m parked in front of my parents’ house with the engine off as I sit in the car, looking around the place I grew up in.The front yard is huge and filled with various plants and flowers we were never allowed to get close to.A large fountain sits in the middle of the driveway you have to circle around to get to the garage.Somewhere I’ve never been allowed to park my car.The house stands massive in the middle.The outside is painted white and it has black shutters.Pillars line the front porch leading to the double doors a butler will open when I knock on them.The place is a mansion and my parents have gone over the top with their decorations and how they showcase the place that’s never been a home to me.It was just the house I grew up in.A place people believed I was lucky to live in, not knowing the truth of what happens behind closed doors.

“Suck it up and get this shitshow over with,” I say, giving myself a pep talk that’s much-needed as I spot all three of my brother’s cars.A genuine smile lights up my face knowing they’re already here and waiting for me.

Pulling out my phone, I send a quick message to Aaron.I know he’ll come out and get me so I don’t have to walk in alone.

Me: I’m here in the car.Can you please come get me?I don’t want to enter the viper’s pit on my own tonight for obvious reasons.

I lay my phone in my lap before taking one more deep breath and steeling myself for the knowledge that the shit is about to hit the fan.I don’t believe for a second my parents are going to be happy about the baby at all.They won’t give a fuck about being grandparents to Kaden for any reason.Especially since Roger isn’t his father.

Aaron: On my way.Heads up that the stupid fucks are here and the three of us have already had to bite our tongues several times in front of them.They’re in rare form tonight.

Just great.This means my parents are feeding into the bullshit Roger’s parents are spewing and vice versa.I swear the four of them feed off of one another consistently and make every single situation worse than it truly needs to be.Once they all discover I’ve had a child, things are going to go nuclear.There isn’t a doubt in my mind.

Getting out of my car, I open the back door to grab the diaper bag from the floor where I placed it earlier.By the time I stand back up, Aaron is rushing to my side with a large smile on his face.He doesn’t stop until he’s got me wrapped up in a huge hug.

“I’m sorry they forced you to show up for this shit.Roger’s parents are talking all sorts of shit about him still being behind bars and you not dropping the charges against him.That’s going to be the focal point of tonight’s shitshow, Nessa.The three of us are already fed up with all four of them and ready to beat the fuck out of Roger’s dad.He’s whining like a bitch over his precious son being in jail and what a vicious bitch you are for letting him rot there,” Aaron informs me, his voice full of venom as he glares over his shoulder at the house.

“I’m not gonna drop the charges like I told the three of you before.Roger is exactly where he belongs and honestly, I have a feeling walking in with Kaden will turn all attention toward me for that and no other reason.Once it’s out that this baby isn’t Roger’s son, his parents will lose their shit and ours will follow their lead.I’m about to be prosecuted in here.You know that right?”I ask my baby brother as he releases me from his hold and reaches in to grab Kaden’s car seat.

Once he’s out of the car, the two of us make our way up the steps of the house and pause outside the door.As expected, the butler Oliver opens the door for us and greets me with a large smile.He’s always been one of my favorite people in this world and has protected me when he could.

“Miss Janessa, it’s so good to see you.You’ve been gone for far too long.And what is this you have with you?”Oliver questions me, his voice a whisper as he looks around for my parents to show up from the shadows.

“Oliver, this is my son Kaden.He’s the most precious person in the world to me.I’m sorry, but you’ve no longer got the top spot,” I tell him, giving him a quick hug before stepping back and smiling down at my son sleeping in his car seat.

“This is the one person I’ll ever give up my spot for.You know Aaron’s been trying to take it for as long as I can remember.I won’t ever give it up for him, but Kaden can gladly have it with my blessing,” Oliver says with a smile on his face as he leans down to get a closer look at my son.

Aaron huffs in indignation at the same argument we’ve had our entire lives.This is our thing between my baby brother, Oliver, and me.Nothing ever changes and Aaron and I both feel as if Oliver is more of a father to us than our own dad.Oliver is the man I will always look up to and care about more than the man who gave me life.My father is nothing more than a piece of shit who only cares about money and his reputation.

“Let’s get this shit over with,” I say, knowing we have to make an appearance sooner rather than later.

“You don’t have to go in there, Nessa.I can walk you and the baby back out to your car right now and you can leave.I’ll go back to Frostford with you if you want,” Aaron practically begs me, his voice low so he’s not overheard by anyone else.

“No.The sooner I face this shit, the quicker I can leave and put all this shit behind me.I’m not going to keep Kaden a secret from anyone.He deserves more than that.My only concern is protecting him and keeping him away from everyone out to get me,” I say, knowing deep in my heart this is the only solution to the situation I find myself in.

“Okay,” Aaron sighs, lifting Kaden up higher in his arms and heading toward the formal sitting room.

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