by L. Ann Marie
She laughs. “I won’t cut mine just to keep yours and you can donate it without worry. Your mom told us how she kept your dad’s hair long. She used the same tactic.”
“Fuckin’ mothers. My dad would never win with her. I can see how that played. I already agreed so I wouldn’t have a choice here, but thanks. I love your hair long.”
At the bluffs I turn her toward the rock jutting out of the bluff and sit. It’s such a tranquil place without everyone yelling and laughing. I’ve never been here alone.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Yes. Dakota can tell you all the legends and historic sites if you’d like to hear them.” I know she loves history.
“Yes.”
“We jump from this rock here. Jess loves it; she calls it cliff diving.” I smile. “We’ll be here with them soon I’m sure.”
She laughs. “CJ doesn’t come here does she?”
“No, after the stunt in Laconia she doesn’t watch them doing anything even remotely dangerous. I’m glad she’s got Mase. The twins test her patience.”
She cracks up. “Mase was jumping on the path through the trees. He went right over the wall. I thought CJ was going to have a stroke. We were coming back from Nancy’s and he landed right in front of her truck. I don’t hold much hope for CJ’s patience.”
“Fuck. That’s not good. She was the calmest at one time.”
She laughs. I want to make sure she’s comfortable with her life here and talk about the house, food, shopping, laundry. Every fuckin’ thing I can think of. Since I’ve lived alone for a while now, I do everything, so help there is a relief. She’s the same way. It’s good to get it out of the way, but we didn’t really change much about the way we do things.
She lays her head against my chest. “What about the bills?”
“Princes owns the houses. We pay taxes, water and trash. Everything else is covered in the natural energy program. The Club sells energy back to the electric company and makes a shit load. Our bills don’t amount to much. Joey handles our money like my mom does for the MC. You can get her to invest your pay with the rest of ours. We all just take an allowance of sorts. Joey handles everything else.”
“So I pay half the bills and my own personal bills?” Every old lady is the same.
I smile. “Yeah for half the bills, but you’re already covered on my insurance for medical. We’ll switch your car over to mine too. I have a card for the house in your name. I keep food and bill money on it and pay everything out of that account. You can deposit into it, and if something is needed just use the card. Anything you want to change in the house should come from that account. I put money in there in case you want to change furniture or whatever you want to do to make the house ours. I haven’t done anything to it but add pictures to the wall so anything you want is good with me.”
She pushes away and looks at me. “I’m on your insurance and you have a card with my name on it?”
“Yeah. Our house should feel that way to you and I knew you’d want to pay the bills so I got you a card to do that. The insurance was easy with just switching you to mine; we have the same company.”
She’s pissed. “Don’t you think you should have asked me before you switched my insurance?”
“No.”
“Anything else you’ve done on my behalf?”
I clench my jaw and look out at the water so I don’t laugh. When I look back she’s waiting for an answer. “In the event that you get pregnant you will be covered on my insurance. You’ll be covered anyway once we get married. I didn’t think it was out of line or wrong to make sure my name would be connected with a baby. Anything I do is out of respect and love for you. I am not trying to disrespect you; I’m trying to show you I am all in in everything.”
She looks like she’s not sure if she should be pissed. “Once we get married?”
I laugh. She hits my chest and I stop. “You’re already mine, you have my name on your back, the same address as me and you’re on my medical insurance. I think it’s safe to say you’ll marry me,” I tell her smiling.
She can’t hold the frown and smiles. “It would be nice to be asked, even if I’m covered on your insurance and wearing your name. If you keep this up, I’ll rethink the address.”
I kiss her. She’s cute. “I’m not letting you go. I’m yours for good, babe. Get used to it.”
“I can live with that,” she says with a smile.
“Seriously. If I overstep you need to say something. I make decisions about everything and I’m never questioned. I don’t want that to be a problem for us. I know I’d never get away with it with my mom. You’re a lot like her, so tell me when I do. I did not set up your HR paperwork, I didn’t open an account for you or switch your money from the MC to here. I spent time thinking about what would be acceptable and what wouldn’t.”
She waves her hand at me. All women must learn that move. “With the explanation; what you did is fine. It would be nice to ask for the next thing that comes up.”
“It’s noted. Are you ready to head back?” I need to feed her and talk to Dakota.
“Yes.”
I stand and set her down steadying her. She smiles up and I have to taste that smile. “As good as it looks.” She laughs running away. I run and flip so I’m in front of her then lift her up spinning the other way. “Where you running to?”
She’s laughing and I love that carefree look. “Right here.”
“Glad I could help.” I set her down holding her waist and walk us back.
It’s been a good day.
I think about all the things we need to go over at Church and where Lily is the next few days. I need to get a schedule to her so she has where I’m at. I have her ring and some jewelry with tracking that need to get on her. I already told Geek to keep her on up there.
As we get closer to the bike she looks at me. “These last few months have been like a dream. Thank you for today and all the time you spend thinking about me.”
I have nothing to say to that so I kiss her. “Find a shelter,” Co says in Mohegan making me laugh.
I look at him. “Some things just don’t translate into English, Co. ‘Find a shelter’ doesn’t have the same ring as ‘get a room’.”
Lily cracks up and Co nods. “You are right my wise Prince. I will work on that.”
I throw my leg over and put my hand out for Lily. “They are fuckin’ funny with that dry sense of humor.” She wraps around me and I’m loving the feel of her against my back.
Chapter Three
Little Ben
“Jeremy is due in before Church. I think he’s staying with Taylor, but it’s not clear so he could be here later.”
She looks up smiling. I love that smile. “Okay. Does he need anything special while he’s here?”
“No, he takes care of himself. He has books and his computer in his room. He knows where everything is and comes and goes as he pleases. He doesn’t leave the compound without Security and he’ll leave a note if he’s going to be anywhere for a while.”
She laughs. “He has a room here?”
I guess I didn’t mention that. “The blue one. He has stuff at Taylor’s and Brantley’s too, but he sleeps here a lot.”
“I don’t have a problem with him here, but why wouldn’t he stay with his Brothers?”
I smile. “No one sleeps here but me. Jeremy doesn’t like company – Taylor and Brantley are bikers with healthy sex drives.”
“Oh. No one has ever slept here?” Thank fuck she didn’t ask anything else.
I shake my head no. “You are it. No, that’s not true. My parents and Pres did before I gave them a house of their own so I didn’t have to share.”
She laughs. “Good to know. Thank you.”
I sit and pull her to my lap. “My life was meant to be shared with you Lily. In everything, I am all in. When you told me how I was treating you I fixed that. I will do everything I can to make you happy and show you I’m all in every day for the rest o
f our lives. Marry me Lily.” I show her the ring in my hand.
She’s surprised and tears fall. “I didn’t expect this so fast. You’re like a train speeding down the tracks.”
Is that bad? “Does that mean yes?” Jesus, why am I nervous? She has the ability to hurt me with a no. Of course I’m nervous.
“Yes!” She kisses me and my heart slows. When she pulls her mouth away she smiles up with her tears. I don’t know why, but I want to laugh. “I don’t know why you were nervous. I’m already on your insurance.” She watches her ring moving closer to my mouth.
Laughing, I kiss her hand. “Thank you. I love you Lily, for always.”
“Love you too, my handsome Prince. I have to call Brenda and Aubrey!” She tries to jump up.
“Hold on babe.” She relaxes back and I show her the bracelet and necklace. “All your jewelry is tracked. Between here and the MC we have you covered. I’ll get you some rings and barbells and get tracking in them so you have changes to keep you happy. For now, you keep your jewelry on and I’ll breathe easy. Yeah?”
“They’re beautiful, thank you. Yes, I’ll keep them on. You made it easy.” I get a kiss and she’s up like a jack in the box. Jeremy walks in with a big smile.
I follow her and wrap my arms around her from behind. “I have to get to Church. I’ll have Jeremy with me,” I say bending close to her ear without the phone against it. She nods and screams. “Fuck. I’m out babe. Call me if you need me.” She nods stomping her feet with a big smile on. Jeremy laughs. “Let’s go before she screams again.” He follows me out. I’m glad she doesn’t hide her reactions from me. I like seeing her excitement.
We make the gate with Darren, Sheila, Jared and Brantley following us. Jeremy falls back with Brantley and Jared, and Sheila stays behind them. Thank God he doesn’t pull out and fly through the streets. I can feel him laughing and tell him to stay behind me. I get a, ‘yeah Prez,’ in my head.
The lot is filling up and I wonder why everyone is getting here early. ‘Surprise,’ Jeremy tells me. It can’t be bad so I don’t think much of it. They’ll celebrate anything. When we walk in everyone is quiet. I look around and see Dakota up against the bar. He’s stressed. Jeremy goes right to him and I follow. ‘You good Brother?’
He nods. ‘I will be fine.’ I smile at that. He always says the same thing.
“What do you need Dakota?”
‘A minute,’ he says in my head.
I touch his arm and turn him. “Let’s get to the meeting room.”
Darren moves people out of the way and Jeremy walks on the other side of him. ‘What happened?’ I ask while we’re walking.
‘The new Brother hugged me for giving him a job. I did not give him a job. He thinks I am Driscoll.’
Jeremy laughs and I give him a look. In the meeting room he sits and Jeremy sits beside him. “Jump Brother, we’ll cover the door.” I feel him go.
Darren watches then looks at me. “Brother was thanking him for a job hugging him. He thinks Dakota is Driscoll. That doesn’t feel right.”
He nods. “I’ll check the feeds. He had to have surprised him. This hasn’t happened in a while.”
I nod and watch him leave. Who the fuck would touch him. A new Brother. I’m scrolling through the new people trying to place someone wanting in the PD. Driscoll has very little open. I walk out and stand with my back to the door hitting Driscoll’s number.
“Yeah Prez,” he answers right away.
“Do you have a new Brother starting for you?” I’m still scrolling in my head, but can’t find anyone that wanted PD.
“No Prez. I have more than I need now. We took a civilian for the maintenance.”
“Thanks Driscoll. I’ll see you at Church.” I swipe him off. Darren comes down the hall not looking happy. “Fuck. It’s not anyone working for PD. Driscoll doesn’t have any jobs and training hasn’t trained any PD possibles. Do you have a name?”
“Not a Prince, Brother. The cut is a Nomad, but not anyone I know. I have Brantley running it through facial recognition.”
I push the hair out of my face. “For some reason ‘disable Dakota’ keeps popping in my head. Where did he go once he left Dakota?”
“Out the door and rode right out the gate. I called into Security to have someone run it back and follow his movements. Dakota can stop people from touching him now. This guy held onto him. It wasn’t just a second.”
I nod with everything running in my head. “Get a wand and check him and have Security pick up the pussy before he leaves town.” He walks back to the offices and I pace.
Disable Dakota. ‘Jeremy, did the Brother want to disable Dakota?’ I keep pacing until he answers.
‘Yeah Prez. I don’t see it all. Something stops me.’ He doesn’t say anymore so I look. His fuckin’ brain goes so fast I’m trying to keep up and find what he sees when Brantley and Darren pull me away.
Darren waits until my eyes are on him. “Security is watching him. He’s at the café right now.” I nod.
“Prez he isn’t anyone we have in the database. No Club has him,” Brantley says.
I look at Darren. “Get HS to the compound and have someone watch tracking. Brantley send a text to the women to stay alert because we have someone in a cut that isn’t a Brother. Darren make sure Eliza has HS following her up, along with her Security.”
“On it Prez,” Brantley says.
Jeremy calls me into the room in my head. “Do you have something for me?” I ask walking in.
Dakota opens his eyes. “A reader is trying to get information. I threw a shield before he touched me, but did not have time to command him to stop. He was shielded before he got to me. Once he touched me the shield was gone. They cannot receive and shield. It is not a powerful reader.”
I run that through my head then run it again. “We all can shield and read. When I’m shielding for someone else I can still cover me and read. Who is comparable to what you are describing?”
“Jacob, Jared, Jessie, Billy, Mase,” Jeremy says. I see the list and nod. Most of the smaller kids and a few of the adults that have some reader ability.
“They are not powerful as a reader. Why would they try something like disarming you without the power to actually do it?” I get it. “Another test.”
They both say yes. Scenarios fly through my head. “They have no idea of the abilities you have and are trying to see if they can gauge that. They’ll try again with someone else that is not as strong or they think is not as strong.” Everything is whipping through my head. “We have very few that they would be able to test that with, but it isn’t known that they are readers. That leaves the known readers open. Chevy, Sebastian, Josiah, Jeremy, Ally, Tess, Aubrey, Christian, Aiyana, my father and Darren.”
“Darren is not a reader,” Dakota says stopping the flow of scenarios.
I nod. “People assume he is with the glasses and his constant scanning. None of them are accessible or without the ability to shield and read. I need to warn my father before Church. Dakota try and find anything that could be a link between this test and the loss of feeds. All the feeds ran during this. They can’t do that either.” He nods and I go back to the hall. My dad answers right away and lets me play off his scenarios. When it’s straight in my head he signs off to talk to Pres. I see Darren looking down the hall. He’s holding the Officers for me. I throw him chin and he walks toward me with Officers following. I wait for Brantley. “Did you get that to the old ladies?”
He nods and walks in. I tell Darren to wait while I get Dakota so he’s not being checked in front of everyone. He’s clear and we take our places.
I go through the regular meeting information. I tell them the satellite status and get reports from everyone.
Since I read the reports I breeze through and get everyone up to speed with the threat of losing our surveillance. No one is overly concerned and everyone is paying attention. Driscoll asks questions then Brantley and Bull. Since they didn’t get it the first time, I rep
eat it. “First sign of trouble HS is dispatched and we jump to auxiliary in the building. If that goes down, we go to the Mobile Unit then the PD dispatch units.”
Brantley is going to ask so I just keep going, “If all of that fails we have mobile phones and the Bluetooth with tracking from multiple sources. We are covered as well as we can be and will adjust as needed. There will be things that go wrong. We will deal with them as they come up. I am all for being prepared and we are. I’m not going to go over every possible scenario right now, we have other concerns at the moment.”
I look around the table making sure everyone is following. “Today Dakota was tested. Our threat is from a reader trying to gauge his ability. We will be working with the MC HS switch and covering the readers. Anything you see that is out of the ordinary needs to be reported. A Nomad walked into our Club with no known affiliation. That is the type of reports we’re looking for. Anything out of the ordinary.”
Jax sits straight. “He had a cut?”
“Yes.” He has questions, but will wait.
Josiah looks at me and I nod. “Is Aiyana covered?”
She is the reservation’s counterpart to Christian. I’m glad he thinks of her right away. “She is as of yesterday; this was before Dakota was tested.” He throws me chin.
I look around the table once more. No questions that can be answered with everyone here. “I need HS and Security to stay. Jax I can answer your questions before theirs.”
The second tier Officers and all that aren’t Security leave and I wait until the door closes. “We ran his face and followed him, right now he’s sitting at the café. He will be picked up. He has no tie to any MCs’ database.”
“I wasn’t contacted about anyone close. I would have been called if he was showing here. Did the MC get anything?”
Jeremy says no in my head. “No. Can you get his picture to the other Nomad reps and let them know he has a cut?”
He stands. “Yeah, I’ll do it before Church starts.” I throw him chin and wait for the door to close.