Chapter Eleven #2
I vaguely hear Rooster and Tease yelling in the background.
They’re cheering us on as a few more guys enter the room only fighters are allowed inside.
No one else ever walks in here and they don’t have a choice in the matter.
Every single fighter gets a code and it’s theirs alone.
This way we can figure out who enters and if anything is going on that shouldn’t be when we’re busy as hell and can’t pay extremely close attention to the room.
There are also cameras in place so we know no one gets in here who doesn’t belong.
Shaking my head, I put my focus back on Homicide after he lands a hard as hell hit to the side of my eye.
Instantly pain fills my head and I can feel the trickle of blood sliding down the side of my face.
Not an uncommon occurrence when the two of us are in the ring.
I start taking this shit more seriously and land more than a few hits to his head and body.
Melissa is gonna kill me with how hard I’m working him over.
She hates when her husband comes home covered in bruises and cuts.
Since everyone in the club is pissed as hell at me with the Janessa situation, it’s only going to make things worse for me.
I better get used to sleeping with one eye open and getting takeout for my meals.
None of the ol’ ladies will give me a damn thing now that I’ve hurt Janessa and gotten in the ring with Homicide to unleash everything I’ve got going on in my head.
Rooster lets the fight go on for several more minutes before calling it and taking care of Homicide while Tease tends to me on the opposite side of the room.
I sit on the bench just outside the ring with Tease sitting in front of me as he rips the tape from my hands and tosses it on the floor next to us.
“What the fuck has gotten into you today, Micah?” he finally asks me, his voice low and gentle as he usually is when I’m lost in my head.
“Had the paternity test done today. Doc called me when I got here and said that Janessa called him for the test and already went to see him. All he needed was my sample to send in the test so we can have the results in a few days. Tease, I’m not sure which way I truly want this to go,” I answer him honestly while keeping my eyes lowered to the ground at our feet.
“Fuck. Never thought she’d be the first one to push for it,” he admits, his voice a whisper as he pulls out the medical kit and starts cleaning up my wounds.
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about?” I question my best friend, looking up at him with anger filling my eyes.
“Look, we’ve all been there for Janessa when you’ve been avoidin’ her. We’ve all spent time with her and gotten to know more about her than who she is as a lawyer,” Tease informs me, a smirk on his face as he watches every reaction I give him.
“And what the fuck does that mean? She’s talked to you about me?”
“Not exactly. Yes, we’ve had conversations when I’ve spent time with her.
I talked to her about the paternity test just like I did with you.
Casually mentioned it with everythin’ she has goin’ on right now.
It wasn’t an in-depth conversation between the two of us or anythin’ like that.
Janessa is a smart woman and I know she’d take it seriously unlike you.
You won’t because you’re scared of the results.
You’re not sure if you want to be a dad or not.
And that’s okay. Janessa knows she wants this baby and will do everythin’ in her power to protect the child.
Even if that means gettin’ the paternity test done for legal reasons,” Tease says, working diligently on cleaning my wounds and bandaging the ones that need it.
“And what the fuck do you plan on doin’ when the test proves the baby is yours?
” Rooster asks, walking up to us with Homicide.
“Are you finally gonna stop fuckin’ with that poor girl and be the man we all know you can?
Or are you gonna push her even farther away and deny the child his or her father? ”
“Why is this a club problem? This is my private, personal life, Rooster. I respect the fuck outta you and owe this club my life. More than I’ll ever be able to pay back.
However, there are some aspects of my life that are off limits to absolutely everyone until I come and talk to you.
That person will always be Tease first and foremost,” I state, my voice hard as I look up at my President.
“It’s a club problem because Janessa is the club’s lawyer. I’m done with your bullshit, Knuckles. Either step up and be the man we know you can be or back all the fuckin’ way off and let someone else be there for her,” Rooster demands of me before he steps closer.
“I’m tellin’ ya right now, Micah. If you don’t step the fuck up and be there for Janessa and your child, then I will.
I like her and love gettin’ to know her in the time we’ve spent together so far.
I’ve got no problem steppin’ up and bein’ the dad you’re choosin’ not to be.
I’ll make Janessa my ol’ lady and raise the child as my own,” Tease informs me, his voice full of determination as he looks at me with steady eyes.
“The fuck you just say to me?” I growl, leaning closer to my best friend and seriously thinking about beating the shit out of him for the first time since I met him.
“You heard me, Knuckles. Janessa would make the best ol’ lady and I’d be honored to have her as mine.
If you can’t man up, then step the fuck aside and let someone like me.
I’ll treat her good and be the man she needs in her life.
One who won’t make her second-guess how her man feels about her.
You could have the fuckin’ world in the palm of your hands and you choose to fuck around and not believe a loyal, trustworthy woman who would give you everythin’ you’ve ever fuckin’ wanted in life.
Someone to erase the bullshit you were told repeatedly as a child by shitty foster parents.
People who didn’t know what the fuck they were talkin’ about,” Tease states, his voice now colder than before as he looks me fully in the eyes so I believe him.
“Don’t fuckin’ go anywhere near her!” I yell out, my voice low and deadly as I get off the bench and head for the locker room.
Until we get the results of the paternity test, I won’t make any moves toward Janessa.
For now, I’ll keep a closer eye on her and ensure she’s safer than ever before.
Once we have the results, I’ll go to her and have the conversation we need to have in order to move forward with our lives.
A large part of me hopes the baby is mine so I can be with Janessa.
But at this point, I really don’t care who the baby’s father is.
Janessa is mine and she’ll know it sooner rather than later if I have any say in the matter.