Page 46 of Knuckle's Dispute

Chapter Twenty-Three

Knuckles

BEEPING.LOUD FUCKINGbeeping pulls me from my sleep and I blindly reach out to try to find the alarm clock so I can shut it the fuck off and go back to bed.I feel as if I haven’t slept in weeks.I’m not getting as much sleep as I’m used to since I’ve been staying with Janessa and Kaden, but I wouldn’t give up those moments with my family for anything in the world.Those are brief moments I share only with my woman and son that no one can ever take or intrude on.I’m able to bond with Kaden when I feed him or hold him against my bare chest and get him back to sleep.Janessa is able to sleep more since she’s done so much on her own since learning she was carrying our child.Thoughts of Janessa pull me from the dreamland I’ve been in and realize the beeping I’m hearing isn’t from an alarm clock.I’m in the hospital after being shot, crashing my bike, and being held captive.

I try to open my eyes only to find them almost glued shut.Remembering my time before Omen and Grudge rescued me, I know they were swollen almost completely shut and I can’t imagine it’s gotten any better since being removed from that hell hole.Time has been something I can’t seem to grasp ever since I was taken down and I don’t know what the fuck day of the week it is or how long I’ve actually been gone.Hell, at this point, I don’t know how long I’ve been in the hospital.Everything is a damn blur and I hate that shit.

“J-J-Janessa,” I stammer, my voice broken and graveled as I try to clear my throat.

“I’m here, Baby.Don’t talk,” Janessa’s sweet voice sounds next to me as I begin to feel more of my body and realize she’s holding my hand.“Let me get a nurse to tell them you’re awake.”

“D-D-Don’t g-g-go,” I manage to get out before a coughing fit takes over.

My entire body is full of pain and I can’t help the whimper that escapes.A strong hand lands on my shoulder to keep me down instead of curling up and I know it’s Tease.My cousin is here with me and he’ll do everything in his power to make sure I don’t put myself in more pain than what I’m currently in.

“Stay down, Micah.You’re still healin’.There are stitches in your torso and the last thing you need to do is open your wounds.Stay the fuck down or I’ll make sure you can’t get up again,” he says, trying to be funny even though I can hear the pain in his voice.

My cousin will have taken this hard and I wouldn’t be surprised if I hear he was locked down when he learned what happened to me.Tease loves hard and only lets certain people in his life.He doesn’t trust easy and when he does let you in, it’s something special.My cousin is one of the best men I’ve ever met in my life and I’d give my life to protect him.Knowing I couldn’t protect him from this breaks something deep inside me.

Working again to open my eyes, they finally open and it takes a few minutes for me to be able to see clearly.Or at least as clear as I can with the swelling.Janessa is a beautiful mess next to me.Tears slide down her face that’s free of make-up and her hair is up in a messy bun with stray pieces randomly hanging out around her face.Her eyes are red and swollen letting me know she’s been crying for a while now.I’m surrounded by sexy women on a daily basis and I’ve never seen one as sexy as my Little Fighter looks right this moment.She’s real, true to herself, and doesn’t give a fuck about what anyone thinks of her.No one will ever compare to the woman at my side for as long as I live.

Tease holds a cup of water in front of me and I take a small sip to coat my throat before releasing the straw.

“Thank you,” I murmur, my voice somewhat better than before.“What happened?”

“You’ve been out cold for the last three days.Your body has been through hell and the surgery on top of it didn’t help.You’ve had a blood transfusion and will be here for another week now that you’re awake,” Tease informs me as he pulls a chair closer and sits down.

He’s been pacing the room nonstop.I don’t have to be awake to know that’s what he’s been doing.My cousin can’t handle not being able to solve a situation and taking control.Right now, there’s nothing he can do.I have to heal on my own and he’s going to be losing his mind trying to figure out how he can fix this situation.Only time will heal me.

“What else was said?”I ask, looking around the room as surprise fills me.

Mallory is standing behind Janessa with tears falling down her face as she wrings her hands in front of her body.Rooster is leaning against the wall with Marie in front of him as she holds Kaden in her arms.Homicide and Omen stand on either side of them as if they’re guarding them.

“What are you all doin’ here?”I ask, trying to adjust myself on this horrendous hospital bed.

“We’re here for you, you big dumbass,” Mallory says, her voice lacking the venom anyone else would get.“Tease called me and I’ve been here for the last three days waiting on your stubborn ass to wake up.I’ve never met a man worse than you, Micah.”

“You’re lucky you’re my sister, Mal,” I say, trying to smile as she moves closer and wraps me in a loose hug.

“Micah, I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing.You’re nothing more than a big marshmallow who cares more than the world will ever see,” she returns, making everyone in the room laugh because that’s not who they see when I’m not incapacitated.

“Keep dreamin’, Mal.Are my nephews and niece here?”

“No.They’re home with my husband.Now that you’re awake, I’ll call him to come so they can see you.We’ve all been so worried about you, Micah.Don’t ever do that shit again!”she says, stepping back as fresh tears slide down her face and I know she’s hurting and remembering times from our past when I was beaten bloody by one foster parent or another.

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