Coder: Book Five (Princes of Prophecy)

by L. Ann Marie

  “Has to be NSA that shot his mouth off.”

  “Yeah, that’s what we thought too. Prez has Josè working a plan for it that may be profitable. I’ll let you know Monday.”

  “Fuckin’ kids.”

  This time I laugh. “I’ll see you at the meeting when it’s scheduled. Later Brother.”

  I swipe him off, walking back to Ops. Prez is watching the boards with Darren.

  “Ricky is clearing Billy. He’s on starting Friday.”

  “Thank fuck. Running short will catch up to us at some point,” Darren says.

  He’s right it worked today but may not always. “Yeah. I didn’t call Chevy back in. I could have, but he didn’t look good on his way out.”

  Prez nods. “It was right Brother. His mom is in hospice. He needs the work, but he’s exhausted.”

  “Shit. I’ll take one of his shifts, he’s running four hour blocks during the day. I’m off tomorrow and Billy will be here Friday. I’ll take another over the weekend.”

  Prez smiles. “I’ll take one next week. If we do two a week, he’ll get his pay and can’t bitch about us donating four hours of time.”

  Darren nods. “I’ll do the one this weekend Brother and I know Eliza will do one. Let’s get everyone to pick up one every other day.”

  Jason turns. “I’ll take his control shift.”

  “Love the fuckin’ Brotherhood,” Prez says making us laugh.

  “If I’m done, I’m out.”

  “You did good today Brother. I’ll see you up at the Club.” He throws me chin. I give it back and thank Jason for his work this morning. I look for Mucimi and see he’s still fishing. I smile walking out. Taylor is nuts.

  Chapter Four

  Two weeks

  Brantley

  Riding back to the compound we see a car swerve and the passenger door open then close. Taylor flips his lights to flashing and throws his lowlights on. I flip my lowlights. I don’t have all the shit he does because I don’t run HS, but I have the boards, feeds and lowlights. Taylor is telling Dakota what’s happening and he tells me PD is coming up behind us. They fly by and stop the car. I pull to the side and walk toward it with Taylor. He says fuck and opens the passenger door. There’s fuckin’ blood everywhere.

  “Help me Brother. Dakota, I need an ambulance.”

  I see the knife arc down and shoot. Taylor jumps back falling on his ass and I shoot again. The guy falls forward and the knife hits the floor. “You all right Brother?” I put my gun away and unbuckle the seatbelt on the woman. She’s all cut up. Shit.

  “Got my arm, but I’m okay.”

  The PD are watching. “Shine a fuckin’ light if you’re just bystanders!” I yell at them. They jump and start to move. One is shining his light in the car the other is helping Taylor up. There’s a flap on the woman’s face that’s just hanging sideways. I put my hand on her and she moans holding my arm, but lets me get the skin back together. “An ambulance is on the way ma’am.” From her mouth is another slice going to her ear that’s oozing blood with the skin hanging off. “Can you hold your hand here? I need to get something to hold you together.” She does and I pull my shirt off seeing the cop tape Taylor’s arm with his shirt and duct tape. I rip my shirt and put a piece on her face by her mouth.

  “Find out where the fuckin’ ambulance is.” I fold another piece of shirt and move her hand holding her face together. “Taylor tell Dakota they’ll need a plastic surgeon waiting.” I see the tears and look closer at her eyes. “Holly?” She squeezes her eyes tight. Fuck! “It’s Holly from Security, Taylor.” I didn’t recognize her with her hair down. It’s long, curly and there’s a lot of it.

  I hear the fuck and tell the cop shining his light to hold the shirt in place. He’s gagging. “Get the fuck away from her!” She jumps and more tears fall. “Sorry Holly. I need to check your arm. It’s bleeding and I can’t see it.”

  I look back and Taylor is watching. “Brother hold this for me. I need to cover her arm.” He nods and I move aside then run to the driver’s side folding the rest of my shirt. I pull the dead guy out and let him stay where he falls stepping over him. I get her arm together and tape it hoping it’s tight enough but not too tight.

  “Dakota, where’s the fuckin’ ambulance?” Taylor yells.

  He looks behind us to the road. “Thanks Brother.” He finds my eyes. “No siren, but they’re here.”

  “Thanks.” I look at Holly. “Fuck. She’s out. Watch your hand.” I pull her skin back up and hold it with the shirt.

  The EMTs try to move Taylor, but he growls. “I’m holding her fuckin’ face together. You find a way to do that and I’ll move.”

  The smaller guy squeezes through and tells the other he needs tape and large pads. He’s fast and gets her covered quick. Taylor moves and I help him move her around to get out. She’s got blood on the back of her shirt. “She’s bleeding back here.”

  “Sonofabitch.” The EMT tells the other to get a board.

  “I got her.” I lift her right over the console and walk her to the ambulance with the EMT yelling at me. “He used a fuckin’ butcher knife. Nothing’s broken and she works for Princes. Get her to the fuckin’ hospital while you’re patching her!” I look around. Taylor is standing behind the EMT. “Get in behind her. Tell Dakota to pick up the bikes and the useless fuckin’ PD.” I lay her down and sit on the seat.

  He’s smiling telling Dakota what I said.

  The EMT opens his mouth and I pull my gun. “Your next word is go.”

  Taylor laughs and sits down pulling the doors closed. “Love Badass Brantley. It’s like Operation Asshole all over again.”

  I ignore him. “Why are we not moving?” I growl and the tech starts checking Holly. I look at Taylor. “Isn’t this supposed to be fast? This is why we drive everyone isn’t it?” He shrugs still smiling. “If he stops, shoot him. Maybe we’ll get there tonight if his blood is spilling.”

  I climb through to the front and point my gun at the driver’s head. “Sirens and foot on the gas or I’m shooting you and dumping you out. I’ll get us there my-fuckin’-self.”

  Taylor’s laughing. I look at him. “What the fuck does it take to get someone to the hospital fast? Dakota needs a new fuckin’ medical transport company.”

  Finally, we’re moving and get to the hospital emergency room. I walk with the gurney. They move fast in here. What the hell is up with the ambulance?

  They get her settled in a bay and I pull my phone and get them her information putting me as the contact, then I give Taylor’s information. A plastic surgeon is waiting to stitch her up. Thank fuck we made it. They all move and I step in front of the gurney. “Where is she going? I’m her contact.”

  “Surgery. We need to go now!” I move with a smile. “Finally people moving fast.” A nurse tells me to wait in surgical waiting. “My brother is here getting stitched up I hope. I’ll be there as soon as I see to him.” She nods running with the gurney.

  I stop a nurse asking for Taylor. “You need to be in the waiting room.”

  I’m full of blood and pissed at the EMTs, the ambulance ride, the fuckin’ PD that didn’t secure their fuckin’ prisoner and she wants me to wait in the waiting room?

  “Taylor!” I yell.

  “Here Brother!” I head his way.

  “You can’t be back here!”

  I spin around with my gun in my hand. “I can and will. You can help me or not. There is no gender bias in my Club. That means men and women are equal in all things. Want to try it out?” She puts her hands up and shakes her head no. I hear Taylor laughing and find him behind the curtain in the next bay. “Fuckin’ people tonight are crazy!”

  He laughs harder putting his free hand up. When he catches his breath his hand goes down. “You pointing your gun at everyone may be adding to that.”

  The doctor behind him laughs. I walk over and see his arm. “Holy shit Taylor!” His arm is sliced wide open.

  “I’m okay Brother.”

&
nbsp; The doctor looks at me. “He’ll take some time to heal but he’s right, he’ll be fine.”

  “Dakota is sending clothes and has Mucimi with Jess and Jessie. Prez is on his way.” He’s talking like he’s fine.

  I move away so I’m not seeing the cut. Fuck. “Thank him for me.”

  He does.

  “They took Holly to surgery. I got them all her information and they know she works for us. I gave them yours too.”

  He tells Dakota that too and I wish I had an ear piece on me. He’s quiet for a while. “Driscoll made the scene and is pissed. The PD was a regular patrol but froze when they saw the blood. He said you saved me Brother. Thanks.”

  I throw him chin thinking I didn’t move fast enough. His fuckin’ arm is sliced open. “Who the fuck was the pussy?”

  He shrugs then winces. Fuck. “Dakota said the EMTs were scared of us.”

  I scoff at that. Fuckin’ pussies. He’s quiet for a while and the doctor finishes. He’s giving instructions and Taylor tells him we have a doctor that will take care of it. He nods and we walk toward the elevator.

  Prez is turning the corner and stops looking at my clothes. “It’s not mine. She’s a fuckin’ mess.”

  He hands me a bag. “It looks it.”

  “We held her face on her waiting for the fuckin’ ambulance,” Taylor says pissed.

  Prez looks shocked then covers it. “We’ll get her straight Brother. Whatever she needs.”

  We nod and step into the elevator. Prez looks at me. “Driscoll says you stopped Taylor from getting it in the back.”

  I look at Taylor. “I don’t even remember pulling my gun. It just happened.”

  Taylor laughs. “Years of pop ups. Thank fuck someone at the fuckin’ scene was trained.” He smiles at me. “Why’d you throw the PD pussy out of the car?”

  “He was gagging holding the side of her face. She was crying then. She didn’t need to see that. Fuckin’ pussy. Like she didn’t already know it was bad.” I walk out of the elevator toward the waiting room but stop in the men’s room to wash and change. When I see myself, I get dizzy. I’m covered in blood. I pull my T-shirt off and rip a piece from the back, using it like a facecloth, I soap it up and wash. It takes me forever but I can look in the mirror and see me and not her blood. Fuck. I hope she’s going to be okay. Maybe Lily can have someone talk to her. She’s going to need it. She’s shy, but talked to me in the break room when we had lunch at the same times. She’s sweet and was a pretty girl, especially when I made her laugh. I shake my head and throw my clothes in the trash, filling my pockets I walk out. Taylor’s in the hall. “Any news?”

  “No Brant. I was waiting on you. That wasn’t just a little blood and you shot the pussy. You doing okay with that?”

  I hug him. “I’m okay. The blood was tough to look at, but the pussy was aiming for you. Kill or be killed. Wasn’t letting my son’s favorite uncle go without a fight Brother.”

  He smiles and slaps my back. “Thanks Brantley.”

  I throw him chin and walk to the waiting room. Prez is talking to Dakota. They stop when we walk in. “Good job Brantley. After seeing the feeds, I understand why you were so pissed. We need regular training like the Brothers do for the PD. Driscoll is now convinced that it is so too.”

  I nod. “They need to do something. Fuckin’ PD then EMTs were too fuckin’ much. They’re who shows for emergencies? What the fuck do they do if we’re not there?”

  “We were just talking about restructuring the PD so everyone rotates through there and pulling them into regular training” Prez says.

  Taylor nods. “It can’t fuckin’ hurt.”

  A doctor comes in. “Blackhawk?”

  I step forward. “Yeah.” He looks at Prez, Taylor and Dakota. “She’s Princes.”

  He nods. “The plastic surgeon is working on her now. She had a wound across her stomach that caused extensive damage. The only option was a hysterectomy. The plastic surgeon already did the work on her stomach. She had superficial wounds on her back and arm nothing major was damaged. The worst was her face. That will take a couple of hours to close. She’s going to need counseling. This type of attack will leave scars well beyond skin deep. Does she have someone that can care for her when she’s discharged?”

  Fuck. She doesn’t have an emergency contact. I can make sure she’s safe, but I don’t know what to do emotionally for her.

  Dakota steps closer. “She does. She has a good support system in place, we will make sure she gets what she needs, for however long she needs it.”

  I nod because I don’t know what the fuck to say. Prez puts his hand on my shoulder. The doctor watches me. “If you need counseling, it is available through the hospital.”

  I shake my head no. “I’m good thanks. I’m pissed at what she’ll have to go through and how long it took to get her here.”

  He nods. “The plastic surgeon will be out when he’s through.”

  I shake his hand. “Thanks for taking care of her,” I say distracted, thinking about her being stitched for hours. He nods and walks out.

  “She does not have family,” Dakota says.

  Shit. “I’ll help her, but I think she’ll need Lily’s help to get her straight. We were literally holding her face on.” I picture the skin hanging and Prez sucks in a breath.

  “Whatever it takes Brother.”

  We wait four fuckin’ hours before anyone comes in. “Blackhawk?” I open my eyes and stand.

  “She’s being moved to a room. We had to sedate her when she woke up. There are close to two hundred stitches on her face alone. You brought her in right? You’re Brantley?”

  “Yeah. What’s her room number?”

  He looks surprised. “She has other wounds that I closed.”

  “Is it on the paperwork?” He nods. “She’s alive and she’s alone in a room somewhere scared to death. She needs me to be there more than you listing her ‘wounds’. Get the paperwork to her room and I’ll read it when she’s sleeping. What room is she in?”

  Dakota laughs and the doctor smiles. “325.”

  I walk out with Prez beside me. Dakota and Taylor don’t make the elevator and I don’t wait. As we’re going down I wonder if I should have waited for Dakota.

  “Jeremy is here.”

  I look at him as the elevator stops. “Now? He’s here?”

  He smiles and the doors open to a smiling Jeremy. I hug him. “Thanks Brother.”

  He walks with us to her room and stands on the other side of the bed. A nurse smiles at him then looks at Prez. “How are your wife and boys?”

  “They’re good thanks. Boys are getting big.”

  She nods and touches Jeremy’s arm. “I’m glad you’re here.” He throws her chin making me smile. “Are you Blackhawk?”

  “Yeah, Jeremy is my brother.”

  “They had to sedate her before they moved her. She woke up screaming and pulling on the bandages. She needs to be calm. Call me if she wakes in a panic.” She picks up a remote and shows me the red button.

  “I will, but Jeremy will keep her calm.”

  She smiles. “He’s good at that.”

  When she leaves I look at Jeremy. Fuck, he has tears in his eyes. Dakota comes in and touches her leg. I take her hand being careful not to move it and chant with them. Prez touches my shoulder and I feel their energy rolling through me. I hope it’s enough.

  Chapter Five

  Brantley

  “I hope this is right Brant. She just lost the ability to have kids.”

  I give him a look. “When did you become the worrier? Nunánuk says it’s right. Jeremy agreed.” I take Mucimi and walk down the hall giving his head a kiss. “I missed you last night little dude.” He smiles and wets my cheek. “You missed me too.”

  He signs ‘yes’ and Taylor laughs. “He’s too fuckin’ smart.”

  We’re all smiling when we walk in the room. Holly is sleeping, so I sit with my boy talking softly to him. Prez and Dakota left earlier, but Jeremy
stayed. She woke up twice and was nervous with us all here.

  Prez gave her a notebook and pen and told her what happened then asked about the man. She wrote that he took her from her driveway and was asking questions about Princes and the kids. She saw me and Taylor in the mirror and tried to pull the wheel and jump out, but he was too fast. He cut her while we were right there. Prez put HS at her door and told her he’d be back.

  Dakota talked to her, holding her hand. It seemed to calm her. When I explained Jeremy, she thanked him and fell back to sleep. He hasn’t let her go. Taylor sits by the window.

  “You’ve got to be exhausted Brother. Why don’t you go home? Get some sleep.”

  He looks at me. “I’m good. Jeremy fixed me up.”

  Mucimi bounces on me. He’s watching Holly and trying to get to her. I look and her eyes are open. “Glad you’re awake. Mucimi came to visit. Can I sit him by you? He is trying to get closer.” She nods with tears in her eyes. I stand and sit him down on the bed watching that he doesn’t do anything to hurt her. He touches her hand and smiles making baby noises.

  Jeremy laughs. I touch his back and feel energy running. My eyes snap to Jeremy’s and he smiles. “It’s good.”

  Oh shit. He laughs again and I look at Taylor. He just shrugs. I was prepared for visions but not this. Mucimi leans forward and crawls up toward her face. I reach for him but Jeremy puts his hand out to stop me. I watch my son lay his head on her arm and make his talking noises. She moves her arm and he leans against her chest. She’s watching him and it looks like her eyes are smiling as she puts her arm down on his back. He’s still making his sounds, but his eyes are closing. My throat closes and I wonder if he misses having a mom.

  “Fuckin’ kids,” Taylor says and Jeremy laughs.

  “Like Aubrey.” Like Aubrey? Mucimi is like Aubrey? “Yeah.” He’s going to be a special like her? I get a flash of Holly reading a book to Mucimi, but he’s older. Like Aubrey. Oh fuck. “Like Geek and Aubrey.”

  I sit down. “Got it Brother.”

  “No fuckin’ way.” Taylor looks at them then Jeremy.