Page 55 of Knuckles

I shake my head and mutter, “I’m not doing this, I need to get back to my girl,” but my dad snaps, “You are fucking doing this!”

“Why?” I ask as the club quietens, “We can’t change the past, everyone in this room has treated me like shit, like the unwanted brat conceived by a trapping. I’ve been put through hell growing up to the point I don’t even want to be here anymore and the only reason why I joined, why I took the officer role is because you threatenedmygym, Dad, that I bought. I’m not a kid anymore, I’m an adult who has just watched the love of his life, a woman he couldn’t claim because he was too fucked up in the head and needed to be punched at every night just feel something, nearly die, this club isn’t even on my radar right now. Honestly,” I sigh, “my place in the club is up in the air and now I need to decide if I’m going to bring my girl to the house built on this property, a house most of you in this room tried denyingme to build to begin with or if I’m going to find somewhere else to live with her. I don’t know if I can continue to protect a club that never protected me when I needed it the most, an innocent child.”

I turn and walk past a shocked Crusher and Trick while the brothers roar out in anger and pain, but I ignore them and leave the clubhouse, not sure if I’ll ever return.

Maybe I do need to find a new place.

***

I walk into my girl's hospital room twenty minutes later, after dodging several pushy nurses and speaking with her brother, who got called out on a job. I frown when I see her bed empty, and a little bit of panic begins to build before I hear a sniffle from the ensuite bathroom.

“Fuck,” I breathe as I put a hand on my chest to calm the fear that just swallowed me fucking whole and take a deep breath before I walk over to the open door. I freeze as I see Kodi staring at herself in the mirror, her shirt – my shirt – gone, only wearing a pair of panties, tears trailing her face.

Fuck.

I will my cock to stop getting hard, but the fucker doesn’t listen, he doesn’t understand the pain in our girl's eyes.

She’s ashamed of herself and I know that feeling all too well, it’s why I had my scars tatted over.

Swallowing thickly, I slowly walk up behind her, and then gently run my hands from her hips and around her stomach before pulling her back against me.

She sobs, “I’m ugly,” as she eyes all her scars, but I shake my head at her.

“Nah, baby, you are fucking beautiful, and my cock agrees,” I whisper as I press my hardness against her ass, so she knows Imean it. She gives me her weight, and I press my lips against her neck, holding her tightly.

“Beautiful and all fucking mine,” I rasp against her skin, meaning every word, and I hold her as she sobs, promising to never let this woman fucking go, and honestly, if leaving the state is what she’s now going to need, then I’ll follow her.

Fuck everyone else.

Chapter 23

Kodi – Three Weeks Later

I gently fold up Liam’s shirt that I’ve been sleeping in as I place it in my bag, then look around the room, ensuring I didn’t forget anything.

Five weeks in the hospital, two of them in a coma, and I’m finally being released, though I’m not sure where we’re going to be staying because obviously I won’t be staying anywhere where Liam isn’t.

There hasn’t been a night that we’ve spent apart since I woke up.

Dad offered to allow Liam to stay at his, but I just, I can’t go back there anymore. I can’t be micromanaged, and even though he promised he wouldn’t, that he’s seen the error of his ways, I can’t.

“I swear, Kodi, I won’t interfere. I know Knuckles doesn’t know what he’s doing about his club or his home. I know he won’t stay anywhere you aren’t. Please, just come home until you’ve figured out your next steps, please…”

His voice still echoes in my head, all while my boyfriend sat stoically next to me with a scowl.

I remember what Masters said in front of Liam, I know he has questions, and I also know I need to answer them. I just don’t know how without him killing my father because as much as he hurt me, I still love him.

I sigh as I zip up my bag before taking a seat gingerly on the bed waiting for Liam and try not to think about the scars all over my body.

The long ones are the worst, they are deep, painful, and so goddamn ugly.

A few tears fall, and I wipe them away as my door opens and I smile softly at Crusher.

“Hey, darling, I hear you’re being discharged finally,” the man says, and I hum as he takes a seat in the chair, still in his uniform.

“You on duty?” I ask with a croak, and he nods.

“Yeah, we’ve just brought in an elderly lady who had a fall when I saw Knuckles doing your discharge paperwork with Trick and said I’d come sit with you,” he says, and I nod again before looking down at my fingers.