by L. Ann Marie
“I think we all feel like that Brother, but LB is right. We need to let him work through what he can and be there when he can’t. He’s got enough Brothers to keep him covered,” Uncle Danny says and watches my dad.
I watch him too. It’s got to be hard being a dad and feeling helpless. I wait for him to relax. When he does, I throw him chin. I got this.
Dakota stands and walks to Prez. “I have been silent on this for a reason. Prez is right, but it will not be easy. Taylor is hurt and can easily re-injure himself. I know that is the concern here. Both me and Jeremy will be with him to help him through it. Beth will do more than we will. She is more of a comfort now than she was before. We need to let that happen for both of them. They will need our support, but maybe not so close.” He smiles making me smile. They aren’t letting go.
“No Brother. Not letting go, but stepping back. That means you tell us what you need.”
“I will Prez.” I mean it and it feels good.
“Do you need anything right now?”
“We decided to get married but postpone the honeymoon until my head is clearer. I’m nervous about being away and alone, but don’t want a constant shadow. I need the wedding to happen for her so she gets that at least.”
He smiles. “She told me the same thing yesterday. We’ll make it happen.” He looks at Uncle Danny. “Can you let Pres and Kate know?”
“Yeah. Maybe now we’ll get the fuckin’ date.” I laugh, but don’t say anything. Pres can tell him.
Prez looks at everyone. “Is there anything I’m missing or you want to say?”
Rich stands up. “Yeah. How the fuck were you going to make the shot from the bell tower. I tried your piece Brother. It wasn’t happening.”
Everyone looks at me. “Blackhawks have skillz.” Jeremy has us all laughing.
I shrug. He’s smiling. “Maybe with your shoulder out, I’m pulling higher. Fuckin’ kids are giving me a complex.” He sits hard reminding me of Jessie.
Prez puts his hand up. “Anything relevant?” No one has anything. “I need to go see my old lady and kids. I missed the fuck out of them.”
I’m hit with a thought. “Can I talk to you before you go?”
He nods and walks with me to the back. “I have a week paid for at the beach. Take Lily and the kids.”
He’s surprised. I wait. “I’m not sure I need to be that far away so soon Brother.”
I look back. My Brothers are all waiting. “They won’t let me go and I need to do this.”
He looks over at them and Uncle Steve is watching. He nods making me smile. “All right Brother. Thank you for the week. It will be good to see my family.” I almost sigh. He thinks I can do this. “No Taylor—I know you can do it.”
That feels fuckin’ good, but I shake my head. “Get out of my head.”
“Soon,” he says as he’s walking away. I laugh.
At Brantley’s, my dad says he’s going home and my mom cries. Beth holds her, then I hug her with my good arm. “I’m going to be okay Mom. I’ll see you next week.” She nods and my dad takes her from me. I look at him knowing he’s torn. “I can’t imagine what this is like for you, but I’ll call if I need help. No. I’ll call you anyway, but especially if I need help.”
He man hugs me and kisses my head. “Love you Son.”
“I feel it Dad. I love you both too.”
I’m still nervous, but relieved when everyone leaves. “Let’s grab a beer Brother,” Brantley says.
I smile at the normal. “Yeah.” I kiss Beth’s lips trying to keep the Vicks off her and follow him out.
He pulls a tube out of his pocket. “Holly thought this might work during the day. I just remembered it when you kissed Beth.”
I take it and smile. Menthol ChapStick. “Yeah. Tell her thanks.” I put it in my pocket. It will be better than the gooey shit. “I’ll try it tomorrow.”
He nods. “I’m glad you talked to Dad. He’s had a fuckin’ year of hell with us lately.”
“Yeah, Prez too. He’s going to Greece for the week.” His eyes snap to mine. “I want him to go. I need to do this, and everyone will still be here. Jeremy is staying for a while.”
He nods. Jacob comes out with a beer. “Good day?” I ask.
“Ops is Ops. It wasn’t a bad day. I’ll take it. You doing okay your first day back?”
“Yeah, it was a good day.”
He sits and looks at Brantley. “Good day?”
He nods. “Mom and Dad are headed home. Taylor’s home and they brought cake. It was a fuckin’ good day.”
I laugh. Mom and Dad must have been driving them nuts. “I need to get Mucimi to bed. He’s throwing me pictures.”
I smile standing up. “I’m going home Brant.” I look at them. “Thanks for being here.”
They throw chin and Jacob stands. “I’m getting cake before it’s all gone.”
Brantley laughs. “I saved you a piece. It’s got your name on it in the fridge.”
“Love my fuckin’ brothers.”
We laugh walking in. My Precious Beth looks over and smiles her sunshine on me.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Three days
Beth
I’m moving before my eyes are even open. “What do I do to make sure you don’t stop?”
“Mmm just keep moving Precious. There is no fuckin’ way I’ll stop with you moving against my dick.”
I slide my hand in between my legs and hold his dick against me while I keep moving. “That ring is my best friend right now.”
He kisses my neck. “That works too.” His arm moves under me and he squeezes my nipple.
“I’m not going to make it—that feels so good.” He bites my shoulder and I come yelling his name. Holy shit. He blows my mind. My brain feels scattered and I focus on moving and breathing. It feels too good to stop.
“Already so fuckin’ wet Precious. I’m sliding in.” I moan, trying to think. Any damn thing he wants is all I can come up with. He moves and I hold my breath. I let it out when he slides in. “I wasn’t leaving you Precious Beth.” I make a noise. I don’t even know what it is. As long as he doesn’t stop, I’m good with anything he wants to do. “So fuckin’ tight baby. I love when you’re squeezing my dick so hard.” Me too. I think I say—or moan. Damn. He rolls his hips and my eyes roll. The ring hits perfect and I cry out something. “Don’t move your arm.” His hand goes on my stomach and I’m in heaven. Every time he hits deep I feel fire roll through me. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. My body blows apart and my brain goes with it.
He’s moving me and I moan. He laughs. “Let me clean you up Precious.”
My eyes pop open. Shit. “I can take a shower.” He needs to recuperate.
He smiles at me. “I filled the tub, but I can’t pick you up.” I roll feeling groggy, but get to the tub. He sits and I watch him wet the towel with a smile on his face. He’s happy to wash me. He’s so sugary with a hard shell. I smile thinking of M&Ms, but I won’t tell him that. I think he’d take it like the word that must not be spoken. When he’s done, he looks satisfied. I sit up and kiss him. “I need to get to work Precious.”
What? “How are you working?”
He smiles. “I go into the classroom or pop ups and teach the class. I’m on a short day. Jason is teaching my other class and Jessie took ride and shoot.”
Well that doesn’t sound so bad. “Do you need me to do anything for you?”
“Yeah. Can you change the bandage on my arm?”
I nod happy to do something. Nick took his stitches out and his burns are healing at warp speed. Jeremy and Dakota are freaks of nature, but effective freaks. He lets the water out and I stand taking his hand to step out. He dries me with that same smile. He’s so cute. When he’s done, I dress and meet him in the kitchen. He hands me coffee and I change his bandage while he looks out the window.
I get a kiss and he puts everything back in the container we’ve been using. When he comes back he’s smiling. “Love you Pre
cious Beth. I’ll pick you up at twelve.”
“Okay. I love you too, Taylor. Be safe.” I don’t like him going to work so soon, but he has people around him that will get him through his day.
“Always.”
When he leaves, I call into Brantley. “Taylor is on his way to work.”
“I got his back Beth. Everyone is expecting him.” I can hear him smile.
I can’t help smiling. “Thanks Brantley.”
* * *
Taylor
I haven’t driven my truck in a while and it feels better than I thought it would. I pull into my spot and Brantley pulls in on the side of me. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you in the truck. It’s a fuckin’ badass truck Brother.”
I smile. It is. Jax pimped it out for me when I first got home. I love it. It feels good walking in the door. The Prospect throws chin and I give it back walking by.
“I’m working on the maps again. I have to get someone down there.” He thumbs us into Ops.
“I’m out early and Beth is working until twelve. I can go.”
He looks at me. “Really? I’ve got someone to go with you. I just need to know where the doors are closed up and passages are open. It will help with the mapping. You’ve been down there. No one else wants to go down.”
I bet. “I have two classes then I’m out. I need to get lunch...”
He cuts me off. “No. I’ll get your lunch Brother. Meet me at twelve-thirty in the break room.”
Even better. “I will. I need to get downstairs. Later Brant.”
I get through my classes and Prez calls me into Ops. Brantley is at his console watching the boards and typing. I have no idea how he keeps track of it all. I stand back until Prez looks at me. “Can you jump on with the PD. Aaron is waiting for their fuckin’ high speed chase that’s never fuckin’ ending.”
Brantley hands a headset back and I get on with Driscoll. I’m surprised he’s on.
Me: “MC Ops Sniper on Boss. Shooter is readied.”
Driscoll: “Roger Sniper. Shooting tires, pussies, whatever, it is appreciated.”
I hold my laugh.
Me: “Shooter roll on my one. Three, two, one.” I watch them roll out and guide them to run parallel to the truck. It’s like a parade of PD behind them and blocking the streets. The passengers are shooting out the back. “Shooter speed up twenty, cut across and come at them head on.”
Aaron: “Roger Sniper.” He tells his team and they’re turning four blocks ahead of the pussy. He’s shooting—running full out and hits the driver and back passenger. His second hits the passenger as he turns to the front. The car is still moving fast and Aaron tells his tag to hit the tires, then jumps the hood. Fuckin’ nice. PD isn’t slowing down. Shit. “HS Team Three clear.”
Me: “Roger Shooter. MC Ops to PD Boss. Call your parade off before they hit HS!” The PD cars slow and Aaron spins heading back to the car. “HS Team Three come in to Security Brothers. Good fuckin’ job Team Three.”
Driscoll: “Boss to MC Ops, thanks for the assistance.”
Prez steps over holding his mic. “Get him in here for a meet today. We need to get rid of all his regular police and get the Brothers and Security in there.”
Me: “MC Ops to PD Boss, Prez wants a meet today here at Security.”
Driscoll: “Roger Sniper. If it involves mass firing I’m there in five.”
I crack up holding the mic. Prez is smiling while he’s talking to Abel, but signs thirty.
Me: “Thirty will get him clear on Air Boss.”
Driscoll: “Roger Sniper. Boss out.”
I watch Aaron riding through town and hand the headset back to Brantley when they pull in the back.
I’m not sure if I need to be here for the meet or not. I wait for Prez. When Abel is landing, he hands his headset to Billy. “Thanks Brother. I’ve reached my limit with fuckin’ stupid this week.”
I smile. I’m all for getting rid of the shit he has. It’s been good to see the growth and some that work out, but the majority need to go. “Am I at the meet with Driscoll?”
He shakes his head no. “I’ll have him set something up with Jax to start moving the Brothers in place. Jessie will need to get on the apps and get more viable candidates. They went through three fuckin’ towns with the pussies shooting. They’ll need who is worth keeping from you, but that can wait for Jax and Jessie. I’ll set it up for next week. You don’t need me here for that.”
“I’ll be ready.”
“How’s the arm?” He starts walking out.
I look at Brantley and get a nod then follow. “Good. Jeremy is keeping me off meds and Dakota stops every day too.”
“Good. Let me know if you need anything.”
I stop at the break room. “Thanks Prez.”
I run back to Ops. Billy is switching seats and Brantley is coming my way. “What’s up with Chevy?”
“His mom died last month. He’s been having a rough time. Prez gave him some time.”
Fuck. He takes a bag off the counter and we sit. I love the deli. “Should I go see him?” I feel bad I didn’t even know she died.
He shakes his head no. “He’s on the reservation. He took his family back there last week.”
We eat and he tells me about the passageways and how Smithy said some were blocked to throw wanderers off. “Why isn’t Smithy helping?”
He rolls his eyes. “He’s busy. Apparently, he’s got a full schedule now that he’s dating.”
I crack up throwing my tray in the bag. “Glad you’re eating again.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.” I remember eating in New York.
He drops his tray in and throws the bag out. “You ate one meal a day then nothing in the hospital.” Fuck.
“I can’t really remember New York, but I ate in the room. Uncle Danny always brought me food.”
“Yeah. He said he got one meal a day in you, but you were working out or pacing constantly.”
I follow him into Ops, but don’t say anything. My head was fucked so I can’t tell him different. Aaron is watching the boards. He smiles at me. “I’m glad you don’t mind going down. No one else would go with me and I want to see these tunnels.”
I throw him chin and we get our start and a basic layout from Brantley. Walking out I tell him I need a jacket and run to my office. Then I have to explain about the lockers. “My dad is coming next week to work on it.”
“I’m glad. It’s a pain in the ass to change in the office and run downstairs.”
At the PD substation in our town we head down. We have LEDs to light our way and give Brantley locations of doors and passages that are blocked. Aaron gets a kick out of the tunnels and we end up staying later than I expected. We come up by the water and a Prospect is waiting to take us back to my truck.
“That was awesome. He needs to get more mapped, I’ll go again if he can do one of my off days. Can you imagine the troops they ran through those tunnels?”
I laugh. “You sound like Jessie; he loves the history of them too.”
I drop him at Security and head home. I drop all but one gun and go around to the deck. Christian and Jeremy are here so I sit. “Brantley just got in too. He said you and Aaron helped him map the tunnels.”
Jeremy holds my arm. “Yeah. A few. There are miles that need to be mapped.”
“Why doesn’t he use a drone? It would be faster.”
I look at him. He’s right it would, but then we don’t get to see them. “I kind of like going down there and doing the map thing. I get to see it and touch the walls and shit.”
He nods. Jeremy lets me go and walks in the house. I smile. “You good?” he asks looking tired himself.
“Yeah. How about you?”
He shrugs so I look at the trees. “It’s been a rough week, but Jeremy jumped with me and tonight is good.”
I nod. “I’ve learned to take the good moments and feel every bit of them. I don’t let them go so easily anymore.”
He sm
iles at me. “I’m learning.”
I stand up. “I need to shower then go get Beth.”
I walk home smiling. He’s learning. I drop my clothes and shower with the hand held so I don’t get my arm wet. Once I’m dressed I take everything to the laundry room and I’m hit with the smell. Fuck! I back away. I got this. My ChapStick. I feel for it and run to the bedroom. Everything starts changing. “No, no, no. I got this.” I’m on my knees feeling for ChapStick. It’s here. I know it’s here.
“Breathe Brother.”
Christian. Christian is here. I got this. “The smell. I smell it. It’s wrong, but I can’t.”
“I know Taylor. Just breathe and open your eyes.”
“Yeah.” I open my eyes. He’s holding the ChapStick. I grab it and try to take the cap off.
“It’s open Taylor just put it on.”
Yeah. Just put it on. “You’re here. The smell isn’t Beth, it’s mine.”
“That’s right. It was from your arm. I’ll throw the clothes in the wash and you won’t smell it again.”
Yeah it’s from me. It isn’t Beth. Fuck. My head is in my hands, but I’ve got this. “I got this.”
“You do Taylor. You’re right here with me. I want to get the clothes in the machine, but I need to take your gun. Are you okay with that Taylor?”
Oh fuck. “Yeah. I’m here. I got it. Go ahead.” I feel him pull it from my back. I had a fuckin’ gun. I don’t lift my head up until he walks out. What the fuck is wrong with me? I know better.
“I’m glad you’re thinking clearly Brother. This isn’t a lesson you’ll need twice.” Of course, Prez has to see this.
I’m ashamed I fucked up. “I know better. I have to get Beth. I didn’t think about being alone. I won’t forget again. I know better.”
“You do. You know what strikes me? You were fighting to get ChapStick. You knew it was the smell that set you off and you were fighting to get fuckin’ ChapStick.” He laughs. I just look at him. I fought for the ChapStick. I nod. “I’m taking it as a good sign Taylor. A fuckin’ good sign.”
The ChapStick. I had a gun, but was looking for the ChapStick. “Yeah.” I smile.