Page 33 of Knuckles

“You shouted?” I ask, and Dad's stormy face glares my way while Masters jaw is set, and Benny sighs.

“You resigned?” my brother asks carefully, and I nod once.

“Of course I did. Dad's been trying to force a position and a man on me that I don’t want. I leave in three weeks,” I state, and Dad growls as he takes a step forward, and I raise a brow at my father.

“Going to hit me?” I confirm, and Dad tenses as he freezes, realizing he took a step forward, and Benny sighs, “Kodi, don’t accuse Dad of shit like that, you know it will fuck with his job.”

I look at my big brother, and I ask, “Why not? He hit me a few weeks ago, cutting my lip and bruising my jaw. All because he found out I was in a relationship with Knuckles, so of course, my thoughts will go to that, considering he just took a step towards me.”

“You did what to –” My big brother's words cut off as he looks from Dad to me in shock and chokes, “You and Knuckles? The man who knocked me out in high school?”

I wince and remind Benny, “You were saying some nasty shit, Benny,” and he blinks, then blinks again, before he murmurs, “To be fair, with the way he was looking at you the night we saved the kids, I should have seen it coming.”

Dad sighs, “He’s a biker, son,” and I quickly interject, “That does more good in this town than you ever have with me since Mom was killed by her lover!”

Benny's eyes widen so much I’m afraid his eyeballs are going to fall out as he chokes, “Mom had an affair?”

I grunt, “Yeah,” just as dad says, “and your sister knew without telling me, instead I got a good video of that fucker Cans screwing your mom from behind then with photos next to her mutilated body a note stating my daughter knew.”

Okay, so Dad didn’t always know…crap.

“I walked in on them after I called you gloating about how my art actually won something and I told her she was dead to me,” I admit softly, “I locked my door before she could barge in and she threatened Benny’s job within the force,” Benny gasps in shock as I choke, “And Cans threatened to have me raped if I opened my mouth to you.”

Dad stumbles back, and I remind him, “I was sixteen and scared and didn’t know what to do, heck, you even saw me take a step back from Mom, and instead of questioning it, you decided to tear me away from my dream job after she got herself killed.”

Dad looks down with shame, and I shake my head before I grab my bag from my desk, and Benny asks, “Where are you going? We need to talk about this.”

“I’m going to see my boyfriend before he sends out a search party. He knows I was hit but doesn’t know it was Dad, and I’d prefer him not to be locked up,” I say as I turn and walk towards the door, ignoring Masters glaring at me and my thoughts freeze for a second.

Can I classify him as my boyfriend?

He calls me his girl, but…

I shake my head and open the main door just as Dad says loudly, “I’m not happy about you dating a biker, Kodi, even if he can keep you safe,” and I retort, “And I’m not happy that you tore my life away from me without actually telling me why and questioning why I didn’t tell you about Mom.”

“What about your job?” Benny calls, frustration clear in his voice, and as I walk out the door, I confess, “I’ve accepted a job in Boston,” ensuring Masters is aware his little plan backfired.

Dad shouts, “Over my dead body!” as Benny says loudly, “Hell fucking no!” but I ignore them and continue my trek to my jeep.

I wanted to speak to Knuckles tonight, but with how my dad and brother just acted with me leaving and with Masters trying to mess with my job, I think I need to wait until I’m in my cardriving away. I don’t want to keep stuff from him, but I just don’t think I have a choice.

Nearly five months and the man may not have kissed me yet but something deep down is telling me he’ll sabotage my new job for me.

Shaking my head, I round my jeep, but I pause when I see a figure leaning against the hood, and I raise a brow at the woman’s attire.

A skimpy skirt that barely covers her ass, stripper heels, and a see-through bralette without nipple pasties.

She looks like she’s nearing her late forties.

“Can I help you?” I ask as I throw my bag in the back but keep my piece in my holster as a precaution.

This woman smells of trouble.

She curls her bright red lips at me as her brown eyes look at me with disgust, and it’s only now that I recognize her.

She was the only club bunny allowed to stay for Clark's wedding because she was…

“Yeah, you can stay the hell away from my son or I will kill you!” she snaps as she pulls out a knife, and I tense, but not because of the knife, no, because I know exactly who this is.