Sniper: Book Six (Princes of Prophecy)

by L. Ann Marie

  Darren waits for him to get his pages passed out. “This is the text to voice we got from the recording. Thanks Taylor. It is clearer than the body mics.” I throw him chin.

  Darren reads through it. “Do we have a number?”

  “We counted twenty-three, but they made reference to other people. With the names they gave as; ‘I’ll tell this one or that one,’ I’d say twenty-seven.”

  “What did Jax get?” Darren asks. I don’t look up; I’m still reading through the pages.

  “They’re on their way here. He called when you walked out.” Brantley sits back. Darren won’t say anymore until they get here.

  “Taylor’s arm is a trigger. Nick says he should keep it covered for now. Amanda will camouflage it for him,” Jessie says like he’s giving the weather. Jesus.

  “Covered will be a help for him,” Dakota says.

  I look at my hands. We could talk about anything else right now. “Do we need to know anything more or something to watch for?” Darren asks.

  I look at him. “I don’t know anything more than what he said. This was news to me too.”

  He nods watching me. No one says anything. “Dakota do we need to prepare for more that would trigger him on Ops?”

  “No VP.” Thank fuck. “Taylor is not a danger to himself during the day. The arm is difficult for him when it is uncovered. He will not allow it to stay uncovered for long. His dog is also aware and helpful at those times. His nights are easier and he is working through them with help from Delta and Beth.”

  I’m not a danger in the day. I replay his words so I can remember and look at them later. Darren nods. “Good enough for me. If something changes let us know.” I throw him chin. He’s not sidelining me. I breathe easier and Jax walks in with Driscoll following. Moving on to something else throws relief on me.

  “What did you get?” Darren asks as soon as they sit. Driscoll looks at Jax.

  “Almost all of them are slated to be dropped. They’re the pussies of the PD. The State’s Attorney laughed at them. A group of five went up to show illegal search and seizure, unlawful practice complaints and missing person flyers. They told him we were getting rid of real cops and replacing them with thugs.”

  “How the fuck would they know they’ll be dropped? Did you meet with the names yet?”

  Driscoll sits up. “No VP. Training was canceled, but we just got the list together today. Jax is meeting Taylor and Jessie tomorrow. No one knows who’s on the list and not all the officers that showed for the meet are on there. Until now I mean. We got rid of twelve, two were there.”

  Darren nods. “Brantley got twenty-seven. Do you have that on your list?”

  Jax shakes his head no. “I have twenty-three from the meet and eight that I think will jump in with them. Then there’s the one that Taylor shot, he’s a loose cannon.”

  Uncle Danny laughs. “Why’d you shoot him?”

  “He was drunk in pop ups. Technically he shot himself. He pulled his gun and I helped him pull the trigger.” They’re shaking their heads. Drunk cops are dangerous.

  “So what we have is a run on the kids and Driscoll going to the Club on Friday. I’m taking them ‘taking us down’ to mean we have a threat to the Club that will be talked about with the pussies that didn’t show. Jax and Driscoll, I have HS already on you. Stay alert and watch your backs.” They nod. “Get me anything you have on the pussies and keep up with what they’re doing throughout the day. Use Brothers you trust. I don’t want any of this outside this room.”

  “For the kids. Jessie, get family stepped up. I don’t want any of this to go through Bull. Work your schedule and I’ll get you HS to help. The kids are locked down and the old ladies shadowed at work.”

  “Roger VP.”

  “I also want the building swept. Every room.” Jessie nods at him.

  “Taylor, get to the Club and let Chris know what’s happening. No service men or deliveries in for anything. The gates are checked hourly and only Brothers with ID in. I want the gate manned by more than Prospects.”

  “On it VP.”

  “Dakota, make sure Done and Christian are aware of the threat and the kids stay in the building or are escorted to the Activity Center. Give it to Christian so he gets the threat, but sees they have extra Security running. Done will have it, but make sure he sees Christian’s reaction so he’s aware of how that could play out. Dogs with the kids and Christian whenever they are outside the Compound gate.”

  “Does anyone have anything to add or that I missed?”

  “Can cover the extra Security,” VP says.

  Darren smiles. “I was calling Pres when I left here. I want a wall of Security built for the Compound and Club on Friday. I need extra bodies for that. I don’t think it will be a battle, but I don’t want these pussies ever coming back at us.”

  “Will set it up. Get me times.”

  Jessie laughs. “This ought to be interesting.”

  Darren looks at him. “Prez isn’t here. I’m going to use everything we have to make sure his Club is still standing and we’re all alive when he gets back. Even if it’s for a handful of PD pussies. Is there anything else?” No one has anything.

  “VP, can you come to my office to get the timing and location for the MC Brothers?” He gets a nod and they walk out.

  I look at Brantley and I’m hit with the tunnels. “I think we should look at the tunnels. Do we have any at the Club? Or into the Compound? It’s by the water.”

  “It would be good not to overlook something that has increasingly become common knowledge,” Dakota says and we all stop and look at him.

  “We haven’t worked back yet. I can call Smithy to get more maps.”

  “I’ll take it to VP. Hold the call Brantley. Taylor, go to Smithy’s and get anything on this side.” Jessie stands.

  “I’ll go with you.” Uncle Danny stands. Doesn’t he have a locker room to build?

  I just nod. “I need to stop at the Club on the way.”

  “I’m good with stops.”

  We get to the Club and Chris calls for one on Security for every shift and a geek to watch the feeds. Shit’s been stolen and he wants the pussy. Uncle Danny laughs and we leave. I don’t get the laughing, I thought it was smart.

  At Smithy’s he puts his hand out and Smithy oozes happiness. Jesus. “Mr. LaPonte it’s good to see you again.”

  “For me too Smithy. My nephew and son tell me you’re helping them with the tunnels. I’ve been doing some work around their place and was interested in the locations. I don’t want a building falling in because of bad information.” I stop myself from rolling my eyes and watch Smithy fall all over himself to get Uncle Danny anything he needs.

  He has me follow him to the back. “You didn’t tell me he was your uncle.”

  “Does it matter? He’s our VP’s and SAA, Jessie’s, dad too.”

  “Grab the other end. He’s a big name in building. I helped with the homeless neighborhood and he showed helping just like everyone else. He can bring them back when he’s done.” He bends to an old steamer chest. “He’s Danny LaPonte.”

  I laugh and lift it up. “I’m aware.” I carry it out before he has a stroke. “Uncle Danny, he said we can return them when you’re finished.”

  He smiles. “That’s great Smithy. Thanks for helping out. If you’re ever in need, get to one of the boys, they’ll get it to me.”

  I call for a Prospect to pick up the trunk and listen to them talk about the old buildings. I’m so happy to see the truck pull up, I bring the trunk out throwing chin to Smithy.

  Uncle Danny follows me and we follow the Prospect to Security. Brantley calls in Jacob to help with the maps. He’s so excited and talking so fast I walk away. With VP, Uncle Danny and Dakota here he doesn’t need me. I go to José’s office.

  “What do you need José? With the stupid fuckin’ calls from this morning and everyone on Ops, I figure you have to be buried in here.”

  “People are fuckin’ nuts.” He
’s serious, but doesn’t say any more and I laugh.

  “They are. Who do you need me to shoot?”

  His shoulders relax. “No one. I’m just making it through the messages. I couldn’t take the calls with everything else going on.”

  “Forward the messages to me and I’ll take that. You do whatever it is you do and keep Darren from losing his mind.”

  He nods. “Thanks Brother. He’s not as calm as Prez. I swear he wanted to rip my head off when I told him he had to make a meeting in town. I sent Dakota instead.”

  I hold my laugh and take the pad and paper he wrote a number on. “Is this the code to get the messages?”

  “Yeah. I need to get some shit for Joey together. She’s sending Sebastian up in an hour.”

  I nod looking at the pad as I walk out. I almost stop and ask, but just keep going shaking my head. He’s right, people are fuckin’ nuts. I call the guy that wants us to take out his neighbor because he painted his house yellow. It can’t be as bad as the day-glow Jessie used. I pull it up on the computer and don’t think it’s a bad color. “Taylor Blackhawk from Princes.” The guy starts yelling about his neighbor. “Stop!” He shuts up. “We don’t give a shit what color your neighbor paints his house. Why you think this is our problem is beyond me. If you call with stupid shit again, I’ll have the Prospects paint every fuckin’ house on your block day-glow yellow.”

  I hang up and call the next idiot. This isn’t so hard. When I’m done, I tell José his messages are clear and hand him two things I couldn’t fix. One is a meet with Prez, the other something with the wind turbines from Baxter’s. He’s happy.

  I check in at Ops. Eliza is on and tells me they’re in the meeting room. Delta follows me in and sits by the door. Uncle Danny is calling out numbers while scrolling something over a map. VP is watching the hologram board and Brantley is typing on the laptop. “Need help?”

  Brantley looks at me and his hands are still typing. “Tomorrow I will. Can you go down again? I’ll get a new Prospect.” Uncle Danny gives him another number.

  “I’ll go,” VP says.

  “Eight-thirty so I can get some shit done first?” he asks while typing in the next numbers.

  “I’ll be here.” I walk out and call the therapist. She can see me today if I can make it there in the next twenty minutes. Me and Delta make it in eight.

  Before I head home, I text Beth that I’m on my way. The whole drive I’m thinking about what Dakota said. I’m not a danger to myself during the day. It’s got me on edge. I can’t tell the therapist without explaining shit she doesn’t need to know. I stop at the clinic, but it’s closed. Stopping at Brantley’s, I drop my guns and walk around to Christian’s door.

  He lets me in and we sit. “Nick said my arm is a trigger and I’m having Amanda cover it.” He nods. “Jessie told them at a meeting and Dakota said I’m not a danger to myself during the day. Am I still a danger to myself at night?” Beth is my concern here.

  “Beth is never in danger from you.” I let my breath out. “You’ll always have the threat of being a danger to yourself. I don’t think he means nightly or tonight. I think it’s the possibility. I know everyone keeps stressing to drop your guns. It’s that possibility that has them saying it.”

  I think about that. It isn’t something I didn’t know, so I nod. “The ‘not a danger to my day’. Does that mean I won’t get hit during the day anymore?”

  He doesn’t look happy. “You want reassurances where no one can predict that for you. I don’t know if you will be hit during the day, but I do know your mind is easier with all this than it was two weeks ago. That alone has me thinking the daytime episodes are over or you are controlling that better. It’s not anything I saw, just a guess based on where your head is at today.”

  Shit. I shouldn’t be asking him of all people. “Sorry Brother. Since he worded it that way I’ve been nervous. Knowing Beth is safe is enough. I don’t need anymore.”

  “It’s not that I don’t want you to talk to me. You have a right to your questions and your worries. I’d be a fuckin’ basket case if it were me. PTSD isn’t predictable. The fact that we’re getting the triggers before you’re hit with a bad episode is encouraging to us, but must drive you nuts. Delta helps you, the ChapStick helps you. Every time we find something new or something that changes, we know to look for a way to ease or stop that trigger from blowing up. We will always be looking for those, but we can’t predict them.”

  “Thanks Christian. I need to just relax.”

  He laughs. “I think you are relaxed. Jeremy will be looking for you later. He said he has something for you.”

  I stand up to get home. “I told Beth I was on my way. Thanks Brother.” He man hugs me and Delta follows me out.

  “Lucy I’m home!” I yell walking through the door. I hear her laughing and feel better already. I need to do something about this bouncing emotion shit. I can’t ever remember jumping from one emotion to the next so fuckin’ quick.

  She’s folding her scrubs. I kiss her and grab a shirt at the top of the pile she has laid out. “Good day at the clinic?” I watch her face as I’m putting the top on the hanger.

  She gives me a sunshine smile. “The best! The people are happy and nice. Even the rude cop Nick threw out was nothing compared to the hospital. It was awesome.”

  My hands freeze. “Rude cop?”

  “He was drunk. Nick threw him out and the day went back to nice people happy to be helped. This little girl was so cute...”

  “Precious, go back to the cop. Why was he in the clinic?”

  She laughs and I wait. “That’s what Nick asked. He was drunk and needed his foot looked at. He must have shot himself and didn’t want to go to his regular doctor. I don’t think Nick called it in. He dragged him out for being rude. I loved it. I wish we had him at the hospital...” I kiss her.

  “Beth it’s important. Did he know who you were?” My heart is pounding in my head and I hold it with one hand.

  “No, I never met him before. Are you okay?”

  I need to think. I pull my phone. “Jessie are you home?” He is. “Can you come over?” He hangs up. “He’s coming.”

  She looks nervous. “What’s wrong?”

  I turn and sit on the bed. “The cop. He needs to ask you about the cop.” Jesus. I hold my head with both hands. “Does your name tag say Blackhawk?”

  “No, the new one didn’t come in.”

  “Brother?” He’s here.

  She moves to the door. “In the room Jessie. He’s asking about a cop at the clinic.”

  He nods and walks to me. “What do you need Taylor?”

  “The cop was at the clinic. The loose cannon.” He nods and tells Delta to get up and me to sit back.

  I do and pet his head. The cop was at the clinic. “Her name tag doesn’t say Blackhawk.”

  He nods. “That’s good. I got this.” He’s got it. I relax. He asks her questions and calls Nick.

  She sits on the side of me. “He’s a bad guy? Not just a cop?”

  “Yeah. He pulled his gun on me, but shot his foot.”

  She smiles. “You’re clear?”

  I nod, “A little foggy, but I’m here.”

  “That’s an odd coincidence.”

  I pet Delta. “Yeah.”

  Jessie comes back in the room. “Darren’s having him picked up. He said he’s not taking chances.”

  I nod. That’s good. “Thanks.”

  He smiles. “You’re good?”

  “Yeah. I had trouble thinking, but I’m good now. I didn’t want to miss anything.”

  “So you caught it and called me before you lost it?”

  I pet Delta. “Yeah. I remember everything, but it got hard to think of what I needed to ask her.”

  “It’s being taken care of. I’ll call when he’s in holding. You did good Brother. I think we have another figured out, but you’re fighting to keep it straight. I’ll talk to Dakota when he gets in and see you tomorrow.”
r />   “Thanks Jessie.”

  I watch him leave and smile. I kept it together. I rub Delta’s stomach. “We did good.”

  Beth laughs and I look at her. “I guess he’s the solution. I have to tell you—I love this dog.”

  I smile thinking I do too. He’s a good dog. “You want me to order dinner?”

  “Yep. I need to get this done. Thank you my tattooed biker man.” She kisses me and I’m relieved.

  I get dinner ordered and put away all the dog stuff. Jeremy comes in with our dinner and I smile. He hasn’t talked to me in a few days. When he takes the third tray out of the bag I laugh, but don’t say a word to him. I get the boxes from the dog stuff out and call Beth.

  “Hi Jeremy. I’m glad you’re here. I had a question.” He nods. She asks what he’d like to drink in Mohegan and he laughs. He tells her water in Mohegan. She smiles and gets him a glass. Fuckin’ Beth.

  We talk about the day. I tell her about the crazy people and she laughs making me smile. Everything she does is full out. Nothing is halfway with her. Jeremy looks at me and says, “Her love is like that.”

  I shake my head. “It was worth the wait.”

  He nods and bends getting something from the bag. “For now.” He hands me material with snaps on it. I look at him not sure what it is. “For your arm.”

  I put it against the bandage and see it covers the whole thing. Nice. “Can you put it on me?” I hold it out to Beth.

  “No. You,” he says. Fuck. I don’t want to see it. “You can do this,” he’s talking slower. Shit.

  She takes the bandage off and I look at the material, but not my arm. As soon as she’s done, I cover it. Jeremy puts his hand on mine and I look at him. “Feel.” ‘Don’t look, feel,’ he says in my head. I keep my eyes on him and snap it all the way down feeling from one to the next. When I’m done, he moves it around. “Now look.” I do and smile. It’s like a shield. He nods. “It’s good.” He signs. ‘You do this.’ He bends again and drops more on the table. ‘For wash, bed, shower, swimming.’

  “Thanks Jeremy. I can do this.”

  Beth kisses his cheek and thanks him. His eyes stay with mine. “Feel. Don’t look.”