Chapter Fifteen
G
"G?"
I don't know why these guys are always hollering when they could just as easily come up the steps to talk to me.
Rolling my eyes, I climb out of my chair and walk over to the railing.
"Yeah?" I yell, smirking when his head shoots up.
Kidd rubs at the back of his neck. "Uh... The school's on line one. I tried calling Knox, but he's not answering his phone." My brows furrow.
The school?
"He went with Thorn to pick up parts."
"You want me to tell them to call back?" he asks.
I wave him off. "No. I'll handle it."
Moving back to my desk quickly, I note the time as I pick up the receiver.
"Saints Customs, this is G. Can I help you?"
"Hi. This is Dade Middle School. I'm trying to get in touch with Mr. Knoxley. We have Braydon up here in the office."
Oh no.
My eyes close as dread starts to swirl in the pit of my stomach.
"He's out of the office at the moment, but I'm on the boys' emergency contact list. Has something happened? Are the boys okay?"
"Oh! I'm so sorry to scare you. Braydon was sent down here for fighting in the lunchroom."
My eyes widen. Damnit. Knox just told him if he got in trouble again at school, he was going to be grounded for the summer.
"Uhm..." I look at the clock again. Knox won't be back for another hour or so. "I'm on my way," I tell her before hanging up.
I make quick work telling Kidd what's going on and getting out of the shop and across town to the boys' school.
Pressing the button, I flash my driver's license to the camera and wait for the door to buzz so I can go inside.
"It's like visiting a prison," the woman behind me complains.
"You think so? I see it as a layer of protection for our kids." Her eyes narrow, not liking my response, but I don't care. She's not my problem, and thankfully, the door buzzes so I can go on in.
Walking up to the counter, I fill out the form and wait for the woman to punch in the information. "Are you Braydon's mom?" she asks.
I nod. It's a lie, but I'm not about to tell her the boys' mom is in jail. It's not my place, and it's none of her business.
"If you want to go on down that hall, he's in the principal's office. It's the last door on the right," she says, handing me a visitor's pass.
I take the sticker and quickly move down the hall. Barbs press in at the back of my neck as the uneasy feeling in my belly grows.
Why would they pull him into the principal's office without a parent present? That seems odd to me, but I shake it off.
When I round the corner, I can hear a woman shouting behind the closed door. Pulling out my phone, I hit the button for it to record and march inside.
All at once my head snaps over to Braydon, who's sitting stoically with his fists clenched in his lap, his jaw set, and tears streaming down his cheeks as the battle ax from the Summer Fling yells in his face. "You're trash!"
"Get out of my son's face!" I yell. Braydon and the principal both whip around, her eyes widening when she sees I have my phone aimed at her.
Bray's whole body visibly relaxes.
That's right, baby. I'm here, and this shit ends now.
"Wh-what are you doing?" she stammers, quickly shuffling around her desk, away from Braydon.
"Braydon, sweetie? You go wait out in the hallway for me, okay?" I say, keeping my eyes trained on the bitch who has no idea the war she just started. He doesn't say a word, but I can see him in my peripheral, moving for the door.
Good. He doesn't need to be in here for this.
Once I hear the door click, I move closer to her desk.
"You think you're tough, picking on a kid?
" Her eyes narrow, but I'm not done. "You're no better than any other bully in this school.
These kids trust you to look out for them.
Parents trust you to have their kid's backs and to protect them when we're not around!
" My voice grows louder as memories of being powerless against a bully come flooding to the surface.
"If it's the last thing I do, I'll have your fucking job.
" Turning on my heel, I yank open the door and slam it closed behind me, coming to a screeching halt when I see Knox talking quietly to Braydon.
Braydon pushes past Knox and wraps his arms around my middle.
My eyes close as I squeeze him tight.
"Let me see," I tell him, wrapping my hand around the back of his neck and tilting his face so I can get a look. He's got a split lip and another shiner.
"You done?" Knox growls.
My eyes fly to his. Did I go too far? Is he pissed at me?
"I..."
"Take him home," he bites out, pointing toward the exit.
I swallow thickly.
Shit, he's pissed.
Tears well up in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I don't care if he's mad. Nobody's going to treat my boy like that and get away with it.
Steeling my spine, I look down at Bray. "Come on, baby."
Twenty minutes later, I'm pulling into the driveway, more than a little concerned that I may have crossed a line. I don't regret what I said, but maybe I should have called Knox and let him weigh-in before I opened my mouth. Hindsight is always 20/20 and all that.
Braydon's been quiet, which doesn't surprise me, considering the shit he's been through today.
"Do me a favor?" I ask, hitting the button on the garage door opener.
"Yeah?"
"Run down to the mailbox and grab the mail for me." I was expecting the check for my deposit anyway, and if things were about to go south with Knox, I was going to need it.
"Okay," he says over his shoulder as we both climb out of the truck.
"Shit, I'll have to get a new car, too," I mumble to myself as I walk into the mudroom.
"Miss me, darlin?" My eyes fly up just as Rick lunges forward. I try to turn and run, but he's too quick. "I'm going to fucking kill you," he growls as his fingers tangle in my hair and his fist connects with my cheek. He uses the hand in my hair to toss me toward the kitchen.
"No! Please!" I scream, landing hard on my hands and knees. I know what's coming, and there's no way to brace for the impact when his boot connects with my ribs.
Fight G!
I roll onto my back just in time to see Knox with a gun to Rick's head as he roars, “You're a fucking deadman, motherfucker!”
My body sags into the tile as my eyes slowly close from exhaustion. For three years, I've been on edge and terrified of what would happen when this day finally came.
"G!"
As the world around me starts to go dark, only one thing is on my mind.
Damn, I'm tired.
My mind tries to surface when I feel someone rubbing on my hand.
Knox. I'd know his touch from anywhere. "Wake up, baby."
I'm trying.
"That man was her husband?"
Harley? What man?
"Ex. I'm going to fucking kill him."
"I don't think you're supposed to tell me that. But I'm glad, 'cause if you don't I will."
"Hmm," Knox grumbles.
"How do you think she's going to take the news?"
"You ask a lot of fucking questions, little girl."
Focusing all my energy, I will my eyes to open before Knox and Harley try to kill each other, but immediately squeeze them shut when I'm hit with a flash of light.
"Hang on, baby. Kill the lights, Harley." I can hear her moving, then, "Okay, try now."
Trying again, my eyes slowly flutter open to Knox leaning down over me. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got the shit beat out of me." Knox frowns, and I immediately regret the words. "Too soon?" Harley's eyes widen and silently she takes her leave out of the room.
"You're trying to make jokes?" he growls. "Why didn't you tell me?" I close my eyes, the hurt in his voice like an arrow through the heart. Never in a million years did I think my secret would hurt him. I should have known better.
"I'm so sorry, Knox. I never meant to put anyone in danger," I tell him truthfully.
"You think that's what I care about? Baby... That monster wants to kill you." His voice cracks with emotion. "If you'd told me, I'd have ended his worthless life years ago."
Lifting my head, a sob is ripped from my throat when I see the tears streaming down his cheeks and the wreckage caused by lying to the man who's only ever tried to love me.
"I love you, baby. I love you so fucking much and he tried to take you from me," he growls, sliding onto the hospital bed and moving in close.
"Where is he?" I ask, needing to know he can't hurt anyone.
"Somewhere on ice until I'm ready to deal with him," he answers honestly. No 'club business' this time it seems. I nod, thankful he gave me that much. I have a million questions, but I can tell by the look on his face he needs me to trust him, and I do.
"Okay," I answer, giving it to him.
"Have something I need to talk to you about," he says nervously, making me nervous. I squeeze my eyes shut when the tears threaten to fall again.
Oh, God. No.
"I understand," I sob. "You don't have to say anything. When they let me out of here, I'll come get my stuff and --."
"What?" he asks, sounding truly confused.
Why is he drawing this out? Doesn't he know this is killing me?
"Hold the fuck up. You're not leaving me, woman. Especially now that you're carrying my baby," he growls.
I'm losing my mind. I must be having a nervous breakdown. I've been through too much and now I'm hearing things. I look around this room. Is any of this real?
Knox throws his head back, laughing for all he's worth, like this situation is funny.
It takes him a minute, but once he gets his shit together, he presses his nose against mine and changes my life forever.
"You're not fucking crazy. You have been through too much, but baby, you heard me right...
You're pregnant. The doctor says you're about six weeks along.
They checked everything while you were out and, the baby's fine. "
"We're having a baby? How is that possible?" I whisper, terrified if I make a wrong move, all of this will have been a dream.
"Well, when a man and a woman love each other..."
"Knock, knock." We both turn when the doctor makes his way inside my room.
"How are you feeling, young lady?" the doc asks, looking down at the chart in his hand.
"Tired." Knox squeezes my hand.
"Well, let's go over this paperwork and we'll get you out of here. How about that?" I look up at Knox and smile.
"Sounds perfect."