Page 33 of Knuckle's Dispute

Chapter Sixteen

Janessa

TODAY’S MY FIRST dayback in the office since the fire department had to come in and shut me down.The club has been making all the repairs and they’re finally finished.Yesterday Rooster and Knuckles met with the fire chief to ensure everything is now up to code and the way it should be and he gave me the approval to open up the office once more.Without them, I don’t know what I would’ve done.Yeah, I have the money to get the repairs done, and I did pay the club.However, I’ve worked with contractors before and they like to screw women over.So, I chose to go with the club and paid them for all the work they’ve done to help me.My brothers said they would come in and help me, but I know they’re all busy.Not just with work, but with their new relationships as well.I will never be able to repay the club for everything they’re doing to help me.

“Baby, are you takin’ Kaden to the office today?”Knuckles asks, walking up behind me and wrapping his arms around my shoulders while pulling my body back into his.

“I am.Since it’s my office, no one can tell me I can’t have him there with me.With how often he sleeps still, I won’t have to worry about him disturbing any client meetings.I only have a meeting with one potential client today and there’s no one else on the schedule.If someone walks in, then I’ll take a meeting when I’m not nursing or taking care of Kaden,” I answer him, turning in his arms and placing my hands on his chest under his cut.

“I want you to be extra careful, Janessa.We still don’t know who’s been after you.Seth and Eric will be at the office with you today and the guys will stop in when they can.I’ll be at the gym all day long.I want you to call me every hour.I don’t give a fuck what I’m doin’, I’ll answer your call,” he informs me, his voice low as his breath brushes against my neck.

Knuckles presses several kisses against my neck, making goosebumps break out on my skin.I tilt my head slightly to give him better access.Yes, there are still a ton of things we need to talk about and work through.However, for the last week, Knuckles has been with Kaden and I every second of the day he’s not working or doing club business.He even put off going on a run to remain home with me.Our focus has been on Kaden and taking care of him.Of Knuckles learning how to be a dad to our son.I’ve been helping him and making sure he does the best job he can.Even when he’s flipping out over the smallest things.Last night Kaden wouldn’t stop crying and Knuckles believed he did something wrong to hurt him or make him upset.He refused to let our son out of his sight for even a second after that.

“I’ll be careful.I’m not gonna risk Kaden for any reason.No one knows the office is back open with the exception of my client today.I know Roger’s parents are still in town, but I haven’t seen them for a while.It doesn’t mean they won’t be lurking around and waiting to pull some shit, but I hope it doesn’t mean they’re here today.Kaden is more precious than anything else in the world and I refuse to put him in harm’s way,” I promise, needing him to know I’ll do everything in my power to protect our son.

“Hey.That’s not what I was sayin’ at all, Baby.I know you’d never let anythin’ happen to Kaden and you’d give your life to protect him.What I’m sayin’ is I’m worried as hell about the two of you bein’ away from the compound and havin’ hardly any protection with you.I trust Seth and Eric to keep you both safe, but it’s not the same as me bein’ the one to have your back when you need me the most,” Knuckles says, leaning down and pressing his lips to mine in a kiss I don’t hesitate to deepen while wrapping my arms around his neck.

“I need you to know that I’ll do whatever it takes to protect our son, Micah.That’s important to me.I might not know a lot about defending myself, but if someone tries to get to Kaden, I’ll do whatever it takes,” I whisper into his chest after breaking our kiss.

“You’ll start comin’ to the gym.I’ll train you personally and we’ll get you up to speed with self-defense and any other trainin’ you’d want to try.I’m serious about this Janessa.I want this to happen as soon as possible.Today if you’re up for it once you’re done at the office,” he says, the tone of his voice almost lethal with how serious he is.

“If that’s what you want me to do, then it’s what will happen.I want to learn self-defense and be able to protect our family when you can’t be here with us.I’d be up for learning to shoot and everything else you can think of,” I assure Knuckles as we break apart so I can finish getting ready for work.

“Good, Baby.I’m gonna head to the gym.I’ve got a class to get started and I want to train before you come in.Make sure you bring in Kaden so he’s with us,” he says before leaving me in the bedroom to finish what I have to do.Today is going to be a very long and exhausting day.I can already tell.

***

Walking into my office, I take in the new, thick carpeting in a dark grey color and the white walls.The smell of fresh paint fills the office and I know I have to open the windows since I have Kaden here with me.My desk is in view of the front door with the door of my office open.I can’t have an open floor plan because of the confidentiality of meetings with my clients.My best friend, Victoria, will be here soon.She’s going to be my secretary and paralegal while she finishes getting her degree before taking the bar exam.Victoria’s been on vacation with her family and hasn’t been around.It’s why she doesn’t know anything that’s happening in my world now.And why I didn’t move in with her after the fire at my house.I refused to bother my sister from another mister while she was enjoying her trip before starting school once again.

“Where do you want the playpen set up?”Seth asks me, walking in the office behind me.

“Can you put it in my office, please?”I return, walking over to open the window behind Victoria’s desk.

“Of course.Eric is bringin’ in the diaper bag and everythin’ else,” he informs me as he walks to get the playpen set up.

After opening the window, I adjust the baby holder wrapped around my body so Kaden is more comfortable against my chest.Making my way over to the coffee area, I start a fresh pot in my new setup.The club didn’t spare any expenses when it came to this area of the office.I’ve got one of those fancy coffee makers where you use a pod now for individual cups or you can make a full pot.Right now, I need the coffee.Even if it is decaf.Since I’m nursing, I refuse to have caffeine.I’ve been monitoring my diet closely and making sure everything I eat or drink won’t mess with Kaden.

“We’ll be outside if you need us, Miss Janessa,” Eric says after dropping off the diaper bag in my office.

“Sounds good.My client should be here in about ten minutes.After that I’ll just be working on making sure everything is set for his case and then I’ll be putting the rest of my files back in order.They’re all in boxes in the second office right now,” I inform them so they know what my plans for the day are.“We’ll order out for lunch.One of you can pick it up and I’ll pay since you’re here with me for the day.”

“You don’t have to do that, Janessa.We can get lunch,” Seth says, a frown on his face as he looks at me.

“Not happening.I know you’re only saying that because of Knuckles and how he’d react.Don’t worry about it.I’ll take care of him after work today,” I assure them, a knowing smile on my face as I look at the two Prospects.

Shaking their heads, Eric and Seth leave the office and make their way back outside to spend the day.I head in my office and carefully lay Kaden down in the playpen before covering him up with a light blanket and opening up the window for some fresh air to get in here.The last thing I need is for Kaden to be overwhelmed with the fumes of the paint.Once the window’s open, I sit at my desk and open the file I started on my newest client.It’s a young guy who is being charged with resisting arrest, drunkenly disorder, and a few other charges.He’s in real trouble and I’m not sure what to think of this case.I’ve literally only talked to him for a minute on the phone.He seems like a cocky jerk and these charges really don’t surprise me.I honestly don’t know if I’ll truly accept this case just because of his attitude.

“Where’s the bitch who’s gonna get me free of all these fucked-up charges?”I hear a loud, male voice coming from beyond my office door.

My head snaps up and anger fills me as I wait for the asshole to show his face.Somehow he managed to find the blind spot in my office and I don’t know where he is.Unless he’s at the coffee station.Sighing, I get out of my chair and stand in the doorway, watching him pour a cup of coffee from the pot I just made.

“Can I help you?”I ask him, my voice cold and hard as I glare at him.

“You’re the bitch that’s gonna get these charges dropped?”he questions again as he turns to stare at me with hate-filled eyes.

I’ve never seen this person before in my life and to see this look I’m so familiar with aimed at me by a stranger makes my nerves flare to life.It’s a look I’ve seen countless times from Roger and his parents over the years.Memories flood me and I immediately know I won’t be working with this client.

“No, I don’t think I am.Please leave my office,” I say, remaining in the doorway so he can’t get in my office and closer to Kaden.

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