Chapter Fifteen
Knuckles
G ETTING EVERYTHING OFF of my chest with Janessa yesterday was something I didn’t know I needed to do.
For the first time someone other than Tease knows my horrendous past. Janessa might not know every single detail, but she knows what I’ve been through and why I don’t blindly trust people.
Tease is honestly the only person I trust completely and without any hesitation.
Not just because he’s my cousin but because he’s been there for me when I’ve been at my absolute lowest. We’ve spent countless hours going through my past and me reliving everything I’ve ever been through.
Especially the time I spent with Rose. She was the worst foster parent I ever had.
Well, besides the one who tried to rape all the girls who came through their door.
However, everyone only wanted us there for the money and nothing more than that.
We were all a paycheck and no one ever truly cared about us for any reason.
Tonight, I have a fight and while I’d love to have Janessa here with me, she has a lot going on and after earlier today, there’s no way in hell I’m about to bring her out in front of this crowd.
Janessa called me earlier from the store in tears and I heard the fear in her trembling voice.
She not only had a note left on her car, but she also was surrounded by a bunch of bikers.
Thankfully she was able to get in the car with Kaden after loading the groceries she bought.
Janessa locked the doors of the car and kept Kaden in her arms while the bikers tried to smash her windows in to get to her.
Tease and the rest of the guys beat the fuck out of the group surrounding my woman, but it was still enough to scare the shit out of her and make her not want to leave the house again. I honestly can’t blame her.
Instead of being at the fight, Tease is staying at the compound today with Janessa and my son.
He’s watching over them and making sure Janessa doesn’t leave the compound and no one gets in.
Rooster put everything on lockdown and the gates are to remain closed at all times.
He also called Janessa’s brothers and they’ll be here soon.
They’re pissed as fuck about the situation and want to get to the bottom of it just as badly as we do.
Between all of us, I’m sure it won’t be long at all before we have the answers we need and get rid of the stupid fuckers coming for my woman.
Especially when it comes to putting Roger’s parents behind bars.
No, I still don’t know the details of this situation, but I’ll get them.
Brick is about to spill everything he knows whether Rooster approves it or not.
“Knuckles, what the fuck is goin’ on?” Homicide asks, walking in to the locker room where I’m sitting on a bench with my hands half taped as I think of the hell Janessa went through a few hours ago.
“Just thinkin’ about the shit with Janessa when she went to get groceries earlier.
Not only was a note left on her car, but she was surrounded by a group of bikers.
The same ones who cornered her in the boutique that day.
Only there were more than two of them this time.
Tease said there were seven guys. The worst part is she wasn’t alone.
Our son was with her and she had him in her arms while the assholes tried to break into the car to get her.
I wasn’t able to get to her before the fight, but Tease says she’s in horrible shape right now.
She can’t sleep, is refusin’ to eat, and just holds Kaden in her arms. Janessa won’t put him down for any reason and Tease can’t get her out of the bedroom at the cabin,” I answer Homicide honestly as he takes a seat next to me and grabs the tape to finish wrapping my hands.
“I heard about that shit. I’m not sure if this is from her situation with her ex or if it has to do with somethin’ else.
Rooster has all of us lookin’ into things and tryin’ to find out where these bikers are located.
So far, they’re hidin’ better than anyone I’ve ever seen before.
It’s like they’re nothin’ more than shadows who just show up when they want to and then disappear into nothin’ when they’re done creatin’ chaos,” Homicide says, finishing my hands and setting the tape down on the bench between the two of us.
“Everyone better be out searchin’ for them when they’re not here or at work. I want those bastards found immediately!” I yell, jumping off the bench and pacing the locker room as thoughts of this shit fill my head.
“You need to focus, Knuckles. You’re facin’ Grudge and he’s been trainin’ like crazy.
Apparently you’re not the only one who has shit to work through tonight.
I’m gonna be in your corner since Tease isn’t here.
Omen will be with Grudge,” Homicide informs me as I warm-up and get ready to go out to the cage.
“You’re usually with Grudge when he fights. Why are you with me tonight?” I question him, not stopping warming up so I’m ready.
“Just switchin’ shit up. Grudge needs someone who isn’t gonna just do what he wants and will be there for him.
You need someone who will make you pull your shit in when you get too fuckin’ lost in your head.
It’s gonna happen and we all know it. Now let’s get the fuck out there so you can get right in the head for Janessa.
She’s gonna need you tonight,” Homicide says, slapping me on the shoulder and turning me to face the door.
Homicide and I walk out to the cage surrounded by the crowd.
The music is almost drowned out by the cheering crowd.
Grudge is already in the cage as he warms up and listens to last-minute direction from Omen.
He might be listening to Omen, but Grudge’s full attention is on me and no one else.
Homicide was right—Grudge needs to work through some shit of his own.
Getting in the cage, I keep my attention solely on the man I’m facing. Grudge and I stare at one another as Brick gets in the ring and stands between the two of us.
“You both know the rules. I want a clean fight here tonight. No hits below the belt and when you’re told to break it up, go to your corner and wait for me to start the fight again,” Brick states, his voice neutral as he looks between the two of us.
This is nothing I’ve never heard before and the words almost go over my head as I look at Grudge while trying to push all the thoughts from my head.
Grudge appears to be in the same boat as I am while he glares at me.
I’m not the one he’s truly seeing in this situation and I wonder what’s going on with him.
“You ready?” Brick finally asks, looking between us. I nod my head in response while Grudge does the same. “Fight!”
Grudge and I circle one another for a few minutes.
We’re sizing one another up and trying to find an opening.
I’m buying my time and waiting for my opponent to fuck up.
Grudge is a good fighter, but he’s gonna slip up eventually and that’s when I’ll strike.
It doesn’t take long for me to find the opening I need.
Grudge goes to turn to his left and he takes his attention from me for just a second.
Lashing out, I hit Grudge directly in his jaw.
His head snaps to the side and he stumbles on his feet.
I don’t hesitate to stay on him and unleash all the pain, rage, and fear filling me.
Yes, I’m scared to death about being a dad.
I’ve never had a good role model growing up.
It wasn’t until I met Rooster that I saw what a dad was supposed to be.
Now, I have no idea if I’m going to be a good man for Kaden and Janessa.
If I’ll be good enough to teach him how to be a man and how to be the best version of himself he can be.
I certainly didn’t start out being a good dad to him considering I wasn’t there when he was born or when Janessa brought him home from the hospital.
“Break apart!” Brick shouts, jerking me out of my head as Homicide jumps in the cage and pulls me back to my corner.
Omen gets inside and helps Grudge up from the mat.
He says something to him, but Grudge isn’t hearing anything as he tries to clear his head.
Homicide is talking to me and I don’t hear a single thing being said by him.
My attention is on Grudge where he sits in the other corner and glares at me and only me.
Again, he’s not truly seeing me and there’s shit he needs to work out.
That’s why most of us get in the ring, or cage, to begin with.
It’s our way of working through the shit causing us so much pain and torment instead of talking it out with someone and feeling like a bitch.
I hate talking about my feelings and what’s going on.
The only one who gets that side of me is Tease. And now Janessa.
“Get out there and end this fight,” Homicide says, slapping my cheek and pulling my attention from my head.
Nodding in response, I shake the thoughts away once again and prepare for Brick to start the fight again.
It doesn’t take long before I’m in the middle of the cage, landing one hit after another on Grudge.
His head truly isn’t in this fight. Grudge isn’t putting up a fight or trying to force me off of him at all.
In a matter of minutes, Brick is raising my hand as the winner of the fight and I’m surrounded by the club and all the women trying to get at me.
With one look at Homicide, he’s ushering me through the crowd and away from everyone toward the locker room.
“Get showered and changed so you can get to your woman,” Homicide states, pushing me through the door of the locker room and standing guard in front of it.