by L. Ann Marie
Uncle Danny is watching with a smile. Crazy fucker. “Don’t shut it off. Let’s ride.”
He gets on his bike and shoots out of the lot. I shake my head rolling out and follow trying to catch up to him. “I can see this working out well.”
Prez: “Coder, you ride tight with LP1.”
Me: “Roger Prez. VP missed that rule in the two sentence crash course I got.” I get to his side and he nods speeding up. Jesus.
Prez: “Two sentence?”
Me: “Stay on his right, and if someone shoots at me, shoot back.”
Uncle Danny laughs as we turn to the on ramp. “Good advice.”
“Since it’s all I got, I was hoping so.”
Jason: “LP1 you’re clear for ten.” We hear them laughing in Ops.
Me: “I know this is funny to you, but I’ve never been on Ops and could use some real advice. No other Brother gets thrown in positions without training. There is nothing even remotely funny about doing a job without experience or a clue as to how to do it. I’m not sitting in front of a keyboard here, you have me in front of a gun.”
Prez: “You’re right Brother. You’re riding tight. We’ll let you know when a threat is coming your way. If it’s on the right you handle it just like yesterday. LP1 will clear everything else.”
Me: “Roger Prez.” It’s four more sentences to add to the others. We’re doing one-twenty-five passing everything on the road. No one says anything so I guess the lesson is over.
Jason: “PD in five LP1.”
Uncle Danny: “Roger Hacker.” After three miles he slows us down. We ride seventy-five by the PD sitting on the side of the road. Two miles up, he speeds up. We blow by an accident and I look hoping the people are okay. “All moving Coder.” I nod, wondering how he saw them going so fast. He must be used to seeing everything fast.
Prez: “This is your exit LP1. North to second left.”
Uncle Danny: “Roger Prez.” We slow and take the exit.
Prez: “LP1, Tits is on the move. HS is two blocks away following.” I look ahead and see a bike veer to the right. “HS was made. A second SUV, blue, a block and a half up. Tits is in black.”
Uncle Danny: “Roger. I have visual on HS and the second. First is just a driver and Tits?”
Prez: “Roger LP1.” We speed up and swerve around traffic. I see a gun come out the driver’s window pointing forward and shoot.
“Jesus!” The SUV crashes into parked cars on the right and we swerve to the left just missing the bumper. “Hit the tires first then the pussy.”
“Oh. It wasn’t in my six sentences of rules.”
Prez: “Coder, watch the right. LP1 will clear everything else.”
Me: “Sorry Prez. That one was in the rules.” Uncle Danny laughs. We pass the other HS team and I see it’s Cade and Tag.
Prez: “He’s heading for 95, LP1. He just got the news and has guns at the ready.”
Uncle Danny: “Roger Prez. This would be the time to have a rocket launcher handy.” I swerve looking at him. “Stay with me Brother. The good stuff is coming up.”
Me: “Sorry LP1, but I don’t know if you’re kidding or not.” He shakes his head no and we fly around a corner without looking. Holy shit.
Prez: “He’s on 95 headed north.”
Uncle Danny: “Roger.” We speed up and run through an intersection swerving around cars. “If something is coming at you jump it.”
I don’t look at him because I’m swerving again. “New rule?”
He laughs. “Yeah.” Turning for the on ramp he doesn’t slow down or even look.
“Move left!” He swerves to the left. I jump the back of the fuckin’ car coming at us and land inches away from him. “Sonofabitch! Can the tight rule be clarified?”
Prez: “Brother just try to stay close to LP1. You don’t have to jump the cars. Just—move around them.”
Me: “Fuckin’ nice. Next time you throw me in a job I want the fuckin’ rule book. Just jump it. Jesus.” We’re back to flying up the highway dodging cars.
Jason: “LP1 he’s doing one-ten twelve miles ahead.”
Me: “Any chance PD is ahead of him?” If I had my computer, I’d make the call. Everyone is laughing. Shit.
Jason: “Sorry Coder, he’s clear for ten.”
Me: “Of course he is.” They’re laughing again. Fuckin’ Brothers.
Uncle Danny looks at me. “When we get to him you hit the tires first. Right side first that causes him to veer right. I’ll hit left. Keep riding right up to the door and hit the passenger.”
“Now I get the fuckin’ rules. I can do that.”
He laughs. “Never doubted it. Let’s ride.” He pulls in front and it’s all I can do to keep up. I just keep my eyes on his back and follow. I hear the shot and pull my gun moving to his right side. The back is up and Ortiz is shooting from over the back seat. I shoot him.
“Tires!” Uncle Danny yells.
I hit the tire. “I think the shoot back rule trumps the tires.” He speeds up and goes right to the door shooting the driver.
Uncle Danny: “LP1 clear.” It dawns on me I forgot to say that.
Me: “Me too.” Now my heart isn’t pounding so loud in my head I hear them laughing. Fuckin’ Brothers.
I ride up to Uncle Danny with cars flying by on the left of us. He was right the truck moved right onto the shoulder. “Are we waiting for PD or Clean-up?”
He shrugs. “Someone will tell us when they stop laughing.”
Prez: “You’re clear.” He doesn’t say anything else and I hope he’s fuckin’ limping tomorrow from stepping on his fuckin’ foot.
We ride back at eighty. “You were right about the tires. I didn’t know it throws the direction.”
“We get back I’m giving you the rule book. You’re my partner here.”
“No fuckin’ way. We get back I’m selling my bike and buying a fuckin’ minivan.” Everyone is laughing again. “Shut the fuckin’ mics off if all we’re getting is you laughing.” My helmet goes quiet. “Well that’s better.”
“You did a good job Brantley. You took out Ortiz with one shot. With everything running through your head right now, don’t let that get lost. The other team got made, and never caught up to us. That means Ortiz would have been loose.”
“No. We had the SUV bugged and tagged. I could have shut the on board computer off and they would have had him.”
He looks at me. “Something to be said for geeks.”
I smile the rest of the way home.
When we walk in Ops they cheer. I roll my eyes. “Would have meant something if you weren’t laughing the whole fuckin’ time.”
Prez hugs me. “When you get home watch the feed. Jason sent it to you. Good fuckin’ job Brother. Ortiz is no longer a threat and the kids and old ladies are safe.”
“Now that we’re done, I’m going home. Uncle Danny is coming too. He’s got to draw the plans for Christian’s room.”
“Meet us at the Club at six,” he says smiling.
“Prez, I do everything you ask, no questions. I need a fuckin’ minute away from you, the Club and all the crazy that’s attached to it. Before you pull the ‘Uncle Danny is the craziest of all’. That’s on Ops. The rest of today, he’s the architect.”
He laughs. “All right Brother. I’ll keep crazy away for the day.”
I turn around. “Thank fuck!”
At the house I change and I’m surprised Uncle Danny is at the table. “I thought you went to change.”
“No, just needed the paper and shit to draw this up.” He gets to drawing and I put a beer in front of him.
I get my laptop and look for Christian. He’s moving toward us. I jump in the MC feeds and smile. My dad picked him up. I check Jeremy’s room and see he cleared it out. I wonder where he put all his shit. I go back to the kitchen so I can email him and ask.
“The patio and above can be made into a good sized loft apartment. That means you lose the patio. I can build going up or onto the b
ack.”
I look at him. Christian would like the patio. The way it brings the outside in will give him what he likes about the reservation. “The patio.”
He nods. “I thought you’d give him that. I can put another on the back for you.”
“Right now I just want him to be comfortable and close. Can we do that first so he’s not feeling closed in? He’ll be in the basement until it’s done. He’s going to hate it.”
“He can stay at my place until it’s done Brant. I’ll take the basement. He won’t make it with no windows.” I look at Jacob in the doorway.
“Thanks Jay.”
I look at Uncle Danny. “I still want to do the patio for Christian first.”
He nods. “You’re a good brother Brantley. I can have them both done in less than a week.”
“Sweet!” Jacob says sitting down. “He loves the patio.”
Uncle Danny stands up taking his paper and box of pencils. “We’ll start tomorrow.” At the door he stops. “Pres will be here Saturday. Kate will get with Holly about the dress.”
I nod. “Thanks Uncle Danny.”
“You did good today. I meant what I said. I’d take you as a partner here.”
“No fuckin’ way. Once was enough. I can get the pussies with the computer.”
He laughs and walks out.
“He’d take you as a partner?”
I shrug. “He’s fuckin’ nuts.” We hear the chopper. “Dad picked him up.”
He smiles. “Let’s go get him.”
We take the truck to the front of the Compound and wait for my dad to land. I pull up close to the doors. Christian’s smiling as he climbs out with Hawk following. “Are you sure Brantley?”
I laugh hugging him. “Uncle Danny’s building you a loft apartment in the patio. You have your own entrance and your family close. We got rules though.” He steps back and looks at me.
Jacob hugs him. “You eat when you’re supposed to. Go to work when you’re supposed to. Don’t drive if you’re drinking, take Brantley’s room at the Club if you do. Don’t wake Mucimi up coming or going. Call Mom and Dad once a week. I bet he’d add take care of Hawk if I let him do the rule thing.”
He’s got the biggest smile. “I can do that.”
My dad laughs. “Let’s get your shit in the truck. I have to get back to pick up Mitch in Boston.”
We move everything into the truck and do the bye thing with my dad. He holds Christian back while we get in. I see them in the mirror and watch that smile on Christian’s face again. I haven’t seen him this happy in a while. They hug and he jumps in. “That smile looks good on you Christian,” I tell him as I pull away. He throws me chin making Jacob laugh. Hawk sits on the back seat watching like he’s a person. Mucimi’s going to love this.
We get to the house and Jacob tells him about switching for the week. He’s still smiling, but has tears in his eyes. We just move his stuff and he helps Jacob move some clothes for the week. They’re talking back and forth the whole time and I’m hit with how alone he’s been for so long. As teenagers we worked at the KC then the MC too. He didn’t work the same. He was a loner watching everyone else while nightmares played in his head.
Holly comes in with Mucimi and he’s jumping in her arms. I grab him before he jumps out. When he sees Christian and Hawk and he’s trying to get down. Jacob gets his walker and I stand him in front of it.
“No way,” he says shocked. Hawk licks right up Mucimi’s face making him laugh.
Jacob laughs. “Jeremy said it was time.” Mucimi walks right to Christian laughing as Hawk walks beside him. We all watch the shock on his face then the smile. Jacob looks at me. I throw him chin. This is right. Holly has her hand on her mouth, but her eyes are smiling.
Christian gets on his knees. “You are big. Do I still get a hug?” Mucimi plops down on his butt then crawls to him laughing. My fuckin’ boy. Christian holds him tight. “Kuwômôyush mucimi.”
Holly buries her face in my chest. I walk her into the kitchen. Jacob follows. “Thanks for taking us all in Holly.”
I wipe her face with the dish towel and kiss her cheek. When I’m done she holds the towel. “I never had brothers or a sister. I’m so happy you all took me in.” He hugs her.
“So what’s everyone want for dinner?” We need to get back to normal here, or I need a fuckin’ drink.
“We need to be at the Club. Ortiz is dead. Prez is giving status.”
Oh fuck. “I’m not going. Prez knows, he gave me a pass. Stay and have dinner.”
He shakes his head. “He didn’t give me a pass Brother. I got a text from him,” Jacob says.
“It’s a mass text.” I really don’t want him to go. They’ll be laughing all night.
“If Prez says to be there I’m there. I didn’t get a text with a pass.” He walks toward the door. “I’m off tonight. Billy’s taking some nights so I’m on different shifts. I’ll be back early.”
Christian comes in following Mucimi. “I can’t believe he’s walking.”
Holly hugs him. “I’m so glad you’re here Christian. They’re kind of crazy and you never know who’s going to be here when you walk out so be prepared.”
“It’s true Brother, but breakfast is fun,” I tell him and he laughs. I pull the takeout board and scroll down the list. “The restaurant or deli?”
They look at me like they’re deciding. Mucimi sends me a picture of macaroni and cheese. I crack up holding the counter. “Mac and cheese for Mucimi,” I say looking at him. His arms go up, he laughs and plops on his butt. I pick him up laughing and kiss his head. “My big boy knows what he wants.” I look at Holly and Christian.
“He’s too fuckin’ cute,” he looks at Holly. “He threw you the picture too?” She smiles nodding. “Nunánuk should know.”
“She does. What do you want?”
We get dinner settled and text Joey and Taylor. We sit and he asks Holly a million questions about the school and daycare. “Come up tomorrow. You’re welcome anytime. They do training in the morning for an hour, but the rest of the day is fun.”
“Thanks, I will.”
Joey and Sebastian come in and do the welcome then sit with us. “You got a pass too?” Christian asks them.
Joey laughs. “Prez said I didn’t have to go unless he texts me personally and Sebastian doesn’t go unless they pull him for the Op.”
I tell them about the patio apartment and Joey squeals making us laugh. “Jeremy says this is good. I’m so glad you’re closer.”
He’s smiling again. Our food gets here and Mucimi and Hawk race for the door. Hawk lets Mucimi win. I shake my head and take the food back to the table.
“Do we need happy boy in his chair?” Holly asks bringing forks and napkins over.
Joey’s getting drinks. Sebastian glasses, and Christian pulls the trays out sliding them to the right people. I smile seeing them all work together and bend for him. He pulls his walker turning it and walks away. “No.”
She looks at Christian. “Will Hawk eat his food from the tray?”
We all laugh. He shakes his head and she sits. So easy. Joey talks to her about the wedding Saturday. She’s surprised and looks at me. I sign, ‘sorry.’ She laughs.
Jacob comes in slamming the door. Fuck. His eyes don’t move from me. “You couldn’t have told me? He’d partner with you. Again!” Christian stands up looking nervous. “Ortiz is dead. You know how? Brantley shot him on Ops today when he was partnered with Uncle Danny!”
They all look at me and Joey starts laughing. Holly looks confused. “Our danger is gone?” I nod. “Thank you!” She comes around the table and kisses me. I can deal with this. When she moves she takes my tray. Christian helps taking his and hers. Jacob is watching me. I shrug.
“That’s it? You fuckin’ Brothers don’t tell me shit. I’m glad I’m working some days. Did you get me food?” He sits and Holly cracks up. Christian puts a tray in front of him.
That’s it. I love my fuckin’ family. I clea
n my boy and watch everyone talking. My dad calls and I walk on the deck figuring he’s going to be yelling. “Fuckin’ kid. I just learned you can shoot yesterday. You think you could give me more time before you take out the next kingpin?”
“I didn’t ask to go Dad.”
He laughs. “Thank fuck for that. I’m proud of you Brantley. I’ll be there tomorrow to help with the apartment. You can tell me how you got on Ops while I’m there.”
“Love you Dad.” I smile and swipe him off. I took out Ortiz. For the first time today it hits me. Holy shit. I did that. I’m never doing it again, but I got the pussy and stopped him from all the shit he was going to throw at us. I walk back in smiling.
Chapter Nineteen
Holly
They’re crazy. I’m whisked away before I even make it home. Brantley texts me and Joey is here with Jess to take me to the helicopter.
“My mom will be waiting for us. I’m so excited!”
I laugh. “I can see that. What are we doing? Brantley just said you were picking me up.”
Jess laughs. “Getting your dress for Saturday.”
I nod. “I haven’t even thought about it. I don’t need anything extravagant.”
She waves it away. “Nancy has dresses ready for you to try. Just take the first one. Everyone always does.”
Freaky adult shit. Myself is telling me to just go with it. I smile because I’m getting married on Saturday and Nancy has the perfect dress. I’ll go with it. Eliza, Sheila and Lily are sitting in the helicopter when we climb in. Everyone being here has tears in my eyes.
Lily takes my hand when I sit. “Sisterhood.”
I nod. “I love it. Thanks.”
On the way, Sheila asks Jess about the panties. She gives a whole lesson on fabrics and how she’s working on a variation of elastic. We all just nod not understanding half of what she said. “I wore Wonder Woman and he wouldn’t rip them. I still have them.”
“You’re kidding?” Eliza looks shocked.
I laugh. “Nope, he loved them. He didn’t rip Batman either.”