Chapter Three
Knuckles
S EEING JANESSA SCARED to death and fainting from whatever the hell was done to her broke something deep inside me.
I hate seeing women in pain or hurt for any reason.
However, seeing Janessa unconscious and having to be carried out of a store was worse than anything I’ve ever felt in my entire life.
While I didn’t want to go in the medical room with Rooster and everyone else, he practically dragged me inside.
I know what he’s doing because he believes Janessa’s lies about the baby she’s carrying being mine.
No, I still don’t believe her but it doesn’t mean I want her to get hurt or have something happen to her child because something happened to her.
So, I followed behind Rooster and Marie into the room until she kicked me out.
Who the fuck does she think she is? No one ever kicks me out of a room and doesn’t suffer the consequences of their actions.
Now, I’m standing in the hallway just outside the room she’s in waiting to hear what’s going on with her.
I can’t hear what’s going on inside, but I have a feeling I’m not going to like what’s said.
Janessa is a strong woman and I know she can hold her own.
I was in the courtroom the day she got Omen and Homicide out of the charges they were arrested for.
She’s a beast and doesn’t take anyone’s shit.
For her to be scared to the point of calling Rooster for help when she’s refused all protection offers in the past means her situation is bad and that’s putting me on edge.
Another feeling I’ve rarely experienced in the past.
“Church!” Homicide yells out, exiting the room Janessa’s in. “I don’t know what you’re playin’ at, Knuckles, but you better get your head out of your ass. Now!”
“The fuck are you talkin’ about?” I question him, not sure what crawled up his ass to put him in this foul mood.
“You have no clue what that woman has been through today and the past she’s lived through.
Rooster is the only one who truly knows every detail of her past and I’ve only overheard bits and pieces of it.
Omen is the only other person who knows what she’s been through from the little amount of details we’ve overheard for one reason or another,” Homicide states, leaving me standing in the hallway on my own as he goes to round up everyone else for church.
Shaking my head, I make my way to church where Kurt is already waiting for us to hand over any weapons and our phones before we enter the room for our meeting.
I give him my phone while keeping my brass knuckles in my pocket.
I don’t ever hand them over to anyone for any reason.
Rooster knows this and he’s never once said a word to me about keeping them on me.
I rarely carry a gun and my knives are stashed in my room until I have a job to do.
I take my seat at the table just before Rooster and Omen walk in to take their seats.
I’m right next to our President and don’t bother looking at him as he takes his seat and taps his fingers against the wood of the table.
That’s one of the few signs that he’s agitated about Janessa’s situation and doesn’t want to wait for everyone to fill the room so he can get down to business.
Omen doesn’t say a word as he leans back in his seat and crosses his arms over his chest. I can feel the rage flowing through him and know whatever we’re about to hear in this room isn’t something any of us are going to like.
After several minutes of waiting, Homicide finally walks into our meeting room with everyone else.
Including the two Prospects we have left.
We really need to get some new guys in here.
I wait for Seth to join them, but he doesn’t show up as Eric closes the door behind him and leans against the wall next to Kurt.
“Church is in session,” Rooster calls out, his voice hard and cold as he slams the gavel against the table before setting it down next to him.
“This is about Janessa and what happened to her today. For now, her office is closed. I’m gonna call the fire chief to find out exactly what’s goin’ on with that situation and what we can do to help her out.
Everyone will lend a hand so she can get back in there as soon as possible.
However, that’s not what we’re meetin’ about today.
“After leavin’ the office as she was forced to, Janessa was followed by two bikers.
She went into a store to get away from them and that’s when she called me.
When we showed up, I couldn’t get a good look at the cuts they were wearin’, but they ran away like little bitches when we pulled up.
By the time we got in the store for Janessa, she was layin’ on the floor unconscious.
Doc has assured us she’s okay, but she has to be on bedrest for the rest of her pregnancy.
“The reason we’re meetin’ here today is because I’m not about to let anyone fuck with this woman for the simple fact that they were hired to take her out.
Janessa doesn’t have a good past and I’m not about to share all the details with all of you.
She’s given me permission to give a few, but that’s it.
Janessa was in an abusive relationship. He not only verbally and emotionally abused her, but he beat her so bad multiple times she ended up in the hospital.
The stupid fuck also attempted to rape her and has stalked her whenever she’s tried to leave him.
“Currently, he’s sitting in jail waitin’ for his sentencin’.
He’ll be servin’ time in prison. The fucker’s parents aren’t happy about their precious baby bein’ behind bars and have found Janessa here in our town.
They broke into her home and threatened her.
She knows they’re still here even if they’re layin’ low for the time bein’.
This is who she believes is behind the bikers followin’ her today.
We need to get to the bottom of this situation immediately.
Janessa doesn’t need the stress to put her into premature labor.
Brick, I’ll give you the information you need to look into the ex’s parents.
Don’t give it out to anyone. I don’t give a fuck who tries to get whatever you find. You come to me and me alone.
“Movin’ forward, we’ll have Prospects on Janessa at all times.
Seth is with her now. Knuckles, it’s up to you to make a schedule with the three guys we have.
We need to find more Prospects to add to our club.
I want everyone on this schedule. It doesn’t matter if you’re a member, officer, or whatever movin’ forward.
Janessa is one of us and she deserves to be treated with respect and have the full protection of the club.
Brick get with me as soon as you figure out anythin’ on the ex’s parents.
I’ll meet you in your room shortly to give you the names.
Everyone be there for Janessa when you can and get the ol’ ladies to help her out.
Meetin’ adjourned,” Rooster says, slamming the gavel on the table once again as he remains in his seat while the rest of us leave the room.
After grabbing my phone from Kurt, I remain with him and Eric as everyone else gathers their belongings and leaves us alone. Neither man moves away from me as they wait for my instructions.
“I’m guessin’ Seth is gonna be with Janessa for the rest of the day.
Eric, I want you there with her and Seth.
Kurt, you’ll stay here at the clubhouse with your phone on you at all times.
Be ready to head out for Janessa at any second.
Anythin’ she wants, you fuckin’ get it for her.
I don’t give a fuck if that means you have to go out in the middle of the night for somethin’ she’s cravin’.
That goes for any of you who isn’t on protection duty,” I tell the guys as they wait for me to finish my orders.
“Anythin’ else you want us to do while we’re at Janessa’s?” Eric asks me as he waits to find out if there are any special directions not known by anyone else.
“Anythin’ happens to her, you give me a call.
I want to know every single detail about her no matter how insignificant you think it is,” I state before turning and walking away from them.
“Oh, and don’t let anyone close to her. You’re there to protect her and ensure she doesn’t get out of bed.
This doesn’t mean you have to be up in her space.
Cook, clean, do whatever she asks and keep your fuckin’ eyes open. ”
I head into the common room and take a seat at the bar next to Tease. For the first time in his life, he’s not drinking and has a bottle of water in front of him as he looks at me.
“Headin’ to Janessa’s house tonight?” he asks me as I sit down and Karmen hands me a drink without hesitation.
“No, I’m not. She’ll have Eric and Seth there with her.
I’m not her bitch and that baby isn’t mine.
I don’t give a fuck what anyone believes, Tease.
Yeah, I was with Janessa and the condom did break the night we were together.
However, that doesn’t mean she’s carryin’ my kid.
I don’t know anythin’ about her sexual history and she could’ve been pregnant before we were together.
Or she left bein’ with me and found someone else to be with,” I tell my best friend as I turn to face him.