Page 32 of Knuckles

Belle has been off for months, messing up a lot where the club is concerned, and Alexiana cut off all contact after Crusher cheated on her.

Kodi is her only friend left.

“It won’t be you who she hates,” he tries, but she denies, “It will be because she’ll know I told you.”

“Put me on speaker,” I demand as I look at Kodi to see she’s still occupied, and I state, “She’s my girl, Clark.”

I hear a gasp, and I explain, “I won’t let her take that job, I won’t let her leave.”

“I knew it!” Clark gasps, and Trick chuckles before he says seriously, “You can’t tell her that you know, let her tell you when she is ready.”

“Okay,” Clark whispers before she chokes, “do it, mess with her job,” and I sigh with relief.

“Okay,” he says softly before he says, “I’ll keep you informed, brother,” just as Clark says, “I’m glad she has you, Knuckles.”

I smile softly, and I murmur, “Thanks, Clark,” really fucking hoping I don’t let the girl down and hurt her friend.

Hanging up, I take a deep breath, trying to control my rage, but I soon relax when Kodi calls, “You ready to lose that bet?”

I smirk as I turn my head and look at her before I say, “Run,” and her eyes widen before she squeals and runs to the oppositeside of the ring, climbing out, and I chuckle as I follow her giggles.

Yeah, she’s not fucking leaving, and I will figure my shit out because I won’t lose her.

Chapter 12

Kodi – Two Weeks Later

“I’m sorry? I don’t understand. What do you mean you were notified that I turned down the role?” I ask as I hide behind the precinct, out of reach of my dad, who yet again put the contract on my desk for the deputy chief position.

I was halfway through my paperwork with a shoplifter offense when the Art of Boston called, and I quickly ducked out while Masters was in a deep conversation with my dad after he put that stupid contract on my desk and demanded I sign it.

I had no idea they were calling to express their sadness for the job I didn’t want.

“We received an email explaining that you had decided to look elsewhere,” the woman on the phone informs me and I blink.

I certainly did not.

“There must be a misunderstanding. I’ve already put my notice in for my current job. I never sent any emails,” I state, “I am extremely excited,” lies, “about teaching at your school.”

I’d rather work in an art gallery while painting and drawing on the side, but that will never happen, my dad ensured it years ago.

“Oh well, I’ll make sure to change it then. I’m sorry about the mix-up, and we’re looking forward to working with you, Miss Marshalls,” the woman says before hanging up, and I drop my hand with my phone and breathe heavy.

I put my resignation on Dad's desk last night, and I thought he hadn’t gotten to it yet, but now, maybe he did.

I shake my head. Him doing this just cements my decision to leave. It makes it easier, and even though I feel like I’m being torn in two leaving Knuckles, I know this is the right move for me, it has to be.

Putting my phone away, I straighten my shoulders when I hear, “Where in the fuck is Kodi?!”being shouted and I sigh.

Well, guess Dad is in a bad mood, and I wonder why...

It was either him or Masters that emailed the school, but by the sound of my father's voice, I’m going to take a guess and say it was Masters. He’s probably been snooping in my computer again because my dad refuses to let anyone have passwords. I briefly pause and think of Clark begging me not to go, and Trick comes to mind. The same Trick that got the teachers to believe that the whole school grading system had failed, when in reality it was all him.

I frown before I shake my head.

No, she wouldn’t ask him to do this, and neither would Knuckles, because I haven’t told him yet, but Masters, however.

Taking a deep breath, I hear Dad shout my name again, and I walk inside and towards my desk, where he’s looking around the room, my letter of resignation clutched in his hand.