Page 40 of Knuckle's Dispute

Chapter Twenty

Janessa

WALKING INTO THE courthouse, I already know it’s going to be a long day.I’ve got a case with a woman named Rose.She’s been arrested for DUI and is a royal bitch.Because she has no money, she’s spent the last week in jail until they could get her in front of the judge.I’ve met with her twice and this is the last case I want to be dealing with.She’s an alcoholic who doesn’t give a fuck if she hurts an innocent person while she’s behind the wheel.I have never met anyone in my life who has such a high disregard for the world around them.My thoughts turn to Knuckles and the night he shared his past with me.One of his foster mothers was named Rose.Part of me wonders if this is the woman who tried to set the man I love on fire.I never put it together until this morning when I couldn’t sleep once again.Sleep hasn’t come easy for me over the last three days since Knuckles was taken after being shot.

With a deep breath, I make my way to court and walk up to my table.Rose is already there and she’s ranting about something to the officer standing behind her.Rolling my eyes, I know this bitch is gonna try my patience and I truly do not want to defend her at all.I want her to rot in prison for as long as possible where no one else can be hurt by her vile actions.However, I will do my job and hope the judge sees through the lies and manipulative words she chooses to use here in court today while I put in the minimum work.

Setting my briefcase on the table in front of my seat, Rose turns her attention toward me with a sneer on her face.

“Well, if it isn’t the little bitch who really doesn’t know how to do her job.You better fucking get me off of these charges today or you’ll suffer more than you already are,” she threatens, her voice low and cold as a shiver runs through my body.

Reaching in my pocket, I press the record button on the voice recorder I carry with me when I’m at work in case a thought about a case I’m working on comes to mind.Most of my thoughts are of Kaden and Knuckles so I’ve learned to do this so I don’t forget something that could potentially help my clients.

“How would you know if I’m suffering?”I question Rose while taking my seat and doing nothing to hide the confusion filling me.

“You’re missing someone close to you, aren’t you.A man who now goes by the name of Knuckles.That little fucking asshole.He’s nothing more than a piece of shit who doesn’t deserve to breathe or live his life.I should’ve killed him when I had the chance years ago.That fucker will get what’s coming to him.I’ve made sure of it this time.The people who have him are torturing him every single day and will ensure he suffers until I choose to have it all ended.It must really suck to know you’re going to raise that bastard of his all on your own,” Rose states, her voice ice cold as she glares in my direction and I almost fall from the chair I’m sitting in.

This woman just admitted to having a hand in the disappearance of Knuckles.My heart races and I can’t take a breath as it feels like my entire body is shutting down.Tears form in my eyes and I can’t stop them from spilling over and rolling down my face in the middle of the damn courtroom.

“You vile piece of shit.You’re gonna go to prison for this,” I promise her with a smile on my face because this is what I need to not only put her behind bars for what she’s done to Knuckles but for Brick to possibly try to find out where he’s being kept.“I don’t believe you though.The club has been searching for him since he was taken and there’s no sign of him.They’ve already brought his bike back and have started working on repairing it.Knuckles will be home before you know it.”

Rose starts laughing her ass off.It’s the most deranged sound I’ve ever heard in my life as I move my chair farther away from her.At the same time, a hand lands on my shoulder and I look back to see Aaron and Tease standing at my back.Rose is so lost in her own delusion she doesn’t even see them as her laughter abruptly cuts off.

“He’s right here in town.They’re holding him in an abandoned house on the outskirts of the city where no one will ever think to look for him.There aren’t too many houses still standing empty after someone started buying them all up for some reason,” Rose states, giving us the one clue we need to bring Knuckles home.

“Thank you, Rose.I’m afraid I won’t be able to represent you in court today.In fact, I have a feeling the judge is going to love hearing what you’ve just told me,” I inform the bitch in front of me as her mouth opens and closes several times while I pull out the voice recorder and press stop.

“You fucking bitch!How dare you record me!You’re gonna pay for this and no one will ever find Knuckles before he’s killed!I will win this time and everything Knuckles owns will be mine.You won’t see a penny of his money!”Rose screams loud enough everyone in the courtroom stops what they’re doing to watch the chaotic scene playing out in front of them.

“That’s enough!”the officer behind Rose bellows, stepping up to her and looking over at me.“What did she say to you?”

Pressing the button on the voice recorder, I let Rose’s words play against her as the officer listens intently.Once the recording is done, I watch as the officer places Rose in handcuffs and reads her her rights.Aaron starts laughing behind me and I want to join in but thoughts of Knuckles consume me and I just want to break down and cry.Knowing he’s in the hands of people who are torturing him and making him hurt breaks my heart because no one deserves that shit.Especially not the man I love.

“I’m going to head to the judge’s chambers and talk about Rose and what just took place.You guys want lunch when I’m done here?”I ask, looking between my brother and Tease as a few stray tears continue to roll down my face.

“That sounds good, Sis,” Aaron responds, reaching up and wiping my tears away as Tease wraps an arm around my shoulders.

“You do what you gotta do.I’m gonna let Rooster know what just happened so Brick can do his thing on the computer.The sooner we get Knuckles home, the better we’ll all be.I’m still on lockdown and can only go with you when you leave the compound.This is bullshit!”Tease states, giving me a squeeze and releasing me so I can go talk to the judge.

I’m already so over today and I have a feeling it’s only going to get worse before it gets better.

***

Sitting in a smalldiner, I’m next to my brother while Tease sits across from us, his phone on the table in front of us in case someone from the club calls with news about Knuckles.Rooster is pissed as fuck and I know the club will do everything in their power to get him back while making sure the assholes responsible for kidnapping him pay for what they’ve done to him.I’d love to be there to ensure Knuckles is brought safely back home, but I know the guys won’t allow that to happen.

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