MC: LaPonte

by L. Ann Marie

  She stops and looks at me. "I'll tell you everything, I can't go back though. He may have been wrong but my decision to leave is the same." She watches for my reaction. Fuckin bitch.

  "Ok. I ain't a fuckin marriage counselor. I just want to keep my family and friends safe. Let's get some coffee and you can tell me what he knows." I’m trying to think of where we can go that has video. "The R&R is empty at this time; we can sit without anyone bothering us."

  She nods. “I’ll meet you there. Tell them if anyone else shows I'm walking."

  I nod, thank fuck.

  I walk back to my truck; the Brothers have the guy at Tiny's truck. I keep going. Casper walks with me. "Call Rob have him block the back booth, I'm meeting Tracy there to find out what she told the fucker. If anyone else shows she's walking out. Get Digs to record and try and keep them the fuck away. Let Patches know I'm not going to make it for the kids." I slide in my truck and follow her out. Casper is on his phone before I turn out of the lot.

  Walking in R&R I smile. Rob took the table out of the back booth. It's upside down on the floor with a screwdriver on it. Tracy sits in the middle along the side wall. Rob comes out looking like he's surprised. "Can we get two coffees?" He nods and goes back behind the counter. "So what does the one percenter know?"

  "Wait until Rob gets our coffee, I don't want to stop once I get started." She says in her normal voice. I'm glad she didn't jump to bitch.

  "Fair enough." I try to keep my voice light. Rob comes over with a tray of coffee, cream and sugar. "Can you leave the tray?" He nods and goes back to the back.

  "He knows Jessie isn't mine. I didn't tell him the details. He knows the towns on surveillance. The runs Ben is going on, that Steve is head of security and ex-military. The building's the MC owns and the gangs that were taken out. The money Ben makes and how much he has in his portfolio. That Jess is a money whiz and how much you're worth. I'm sorry; I saw your paperwork on Jess desk. He knows about Casper and Geek's money too but Jess has been working your money longer, there's a huge difference. How much the Bakery makes and what bank I deposit in. He met me there one day." She stops as if thinking. Holy fuck Jessie and Jess are going to have to be watched. "The drug money that everyone spent in the yard and the Women's Center sheltering. The safe and safe room at the house and the money Ben keeps in it. I took half, he knows that too. I told him about the Clubhouse safe and the safe room there. The Salvage yard and the security there. All the women and what they do. He asked about your kids. When he asked, I didn't give him any more information than I had already told him. He knows we went to sign classes and you have two other boys. I told him about the twins and that Steve shot the SWAT guy. This morning he asked me where you, Casper, Steve and Geek worked from. I didn't tell him. I cleared my stuff out of his house and was going to the station to tell him I was out. It's a good thing Ben never gave me details. I see how that works out better for everyone now. I'm sorry if I put anyone in danger. I didn't realize what he was doing until this morning and then at the station when his boss was telling Ben."

  Holy fuck. "That's a lot of fuckin information. Thanks for telling me. Can you call if you remember anything else?" I ask, again trying to keep my voice light.

  "I'd rather not but if I put your family in danger it's the least I can do." She says standing.

  "I have Jessie this afternoon; do you want me to give him a message?" I ask stalling her.

  "No, he was always Ben and Little Ben's. Now he's yours too. He was never really mine. I'll call him again on Friday." She says with no emotion.

  "I have no fuckin idea what to say to that. You're his mother. He loves you."

  "Maybe, but he's never needed me." She says turning and walking away.

  Holy fuck! I look at the ceiling. Then back at her. She walks out without looking back. Rob comes out from the back. "Steve says to get to Security."

  "Thanks for doing this on short notice Rob. I couldn't think quick enough to go anywhere else."

  "This worked out perfect. You did good Brother. You need to get to Security. A Prospect is on his way here. Your kids are guarded and Patches is with them. The women are covered." He tells me as he rights the table.

  "Thanks Brother." I throw over my shoulder as I'm walking out.

  Security is a fucking madhouse. Casper sees me and points me to a meeting room. Steve, Ben, Geek and Doc are in a corner talking and Military Security guys are sitting around the table. Steve sees me and tells the others. Ben calls me over. "I'm glad you caught her and kept your head Brother. I don't think I could have sat there without fuckin hitting her."

  "We need her, she told him too much fuckin information but if she left anything out we need to know. I wasn't risking another fuckin thing in case she remembers something else." I tell him.

  "You're right Brother." He says slapping my back. "Digs is making a list of all the shit she told him. We'll work out priority then setup to clear what we can off it."

  I nod. "My kids are guarded but what about Kate, Jess and Millie's?"

  "Got security at Millie's and guys in the backyard watching out for the women. We have seven women in one area, it's going to make this a little easier to keep it low profile but high security." Ben tells me. I let out the breath I was holding.

  "Thanks Pres.” I feel myself relax. Aaron, Devan and Elizabeth are covered.

  Digs comes in looking around, I hit Ben's arm he calls him over. Digs hands him a file and walks out. He gives each one of us a page. I look around and see a small table with office supplies. I grab a highlighter, ruler and pencil. Sitting at the table I hold the ruler under the first line I read to the end and highlight the line. I move to the next line it goes on to the third line so I underline both with the pencil. I keep going until I have all the points separated so I can read them.

  Steve is watching me. He asks for the page and hands it to a Prospect. "Get a color copy of this." He looks at me, "Tiny is on his way." I nod.

  "Is that what Jess does for you on the spreadsheets?" Ben asks.

  Seriously? With everything Tracy told the fucker he wants to talk about dyslexia? "On a spreadsheet it's harder to decipher the information, boxes go up and down and information goes left to right. She colors them different, I can't do the initial color coding but I can continue it if she starts me off. I learned how to do written pages in college, it's the only way I could get through information."

  "Nice Brother."

  "Tell me you're just stalling here. I can't for the life of me figure why we're talking fuckin dyslexia right now."

  He laughs. "We're waiting for Tiny, Casper and Rob. I could use the distraction."

  "Sorry Pres. I'm a little keyed up right now." I tell him looking around. I hate having my blind side to the room. "I need to move." I tell him moving to the wall.

  Steve watches me then nods when I relax. "Wrong side." He says. I nod.

  The Prospect brings me my page and hands Steve Tiny's. I read through it. My fuckin family is in danger. I need to get to the range and see where I'm at with the fuckin patch.

  Finally everyone shows and the officers decide the priorities. People are number one on the list. We decide the priority of safes and safe rooms. Ben will deal with his safe but will need help with the safe room. Bob, Jared and Dave will move the Clubhouse safe room to the safe room in the basement. Me, Casper and Steve are getting security upgrades. Millie's will have constant security. Ben will go to the school tomorrow and try to get security inside. Security cameras are going up around the school now. Geek is trying to get any information he can about how much the Rhode Island club knows and what they plan to do with it.

  With the priorities set he gets security up to speed on the new jobs. Steve takes over with them while we go to another meeting room where the Brothers are gathered. He gets them up to speed and has them keeping an eye out. He gets a couple of guys to help in the surveillance rooms here and at the Clubhouse. Everyone is anxious; I can feel it running through the room.

 
; Once the meeting ends I ask Tiny if he wants to go to the range with me. We head over and shoot targets for an hour. I start with still then go to moving. I surprise myself hitting where I wanted. I thought it would take a while to be able to adjust. I tell Tiny I'm going to run the reservation tomorrow. He wants to come along so we make a plan.

  Getting home I know I have to tell Kate what's going on. Curt is on security for the night, I show him the bonus room and get him set with some furniture from the attic. He hooks up the laptop to watch the outside. I call a Prospect to get the fridge in the garage stocked for the Security guys and Brothers. Patches comes up and I get him up to speed with what Ben told the Brothers at church and then about the risk to the family. He's pissed. I leave him with Curt to calm down and go down to dinner.

  Jessie and Little Ben are with us tonight. Ben comes in and has dinner then tells everyone we need to have Little Brothers church. Kate holds my hand under the table and listens to the security precautions Ben's laid out for the kids. He tells them about the safe places where people can see them with cameras and how to signal the camera so security knows they need help. He gives all the boys watches and Ally a necklace telling them we can always find them if they wear them. Patches helps the boys put the watches on. Kate helps Ally with the necklace. He gives me a Patriots charm to put on Devan's shoe. I slide it on the lace. I'm barely holding my anger in at my kids being forced to wear fuckin tracking devices because Tracy didn't feel fuckin needed.

  Ben takes me Patches and Kate out to the patio while the kids play in the living room. He looks at me, "Brother keep it in check. I know this isn't optimal but I'd rather be safe than sorry."

  "I just put a tracking device on a fuckin two month old. Don't talk to me about fuckin optimal right now." I spit the words out. Kate takes my hand.

  Ben puts his hand on my shoulder, "I know Brother. I don't mean for it to sound patronizing. Right now we don't know what the other Club knows. This really is precautionary. I should have given you that information before you left church today but I forgot until Digs handed me the package. My priority was and is keeping the kids safe. I know if you had the time to process it beforehand you wouldn't be pissed right now. It was my mistake Danny. It won't happen again."

  I nod and try to relax. "I know Pres. It's just not something I have ever thought would happen. I meant no disrespect." He gives me chin.

  "I met with the Alan, the fireman, at R&R. He didn't add much to what we already had but said to watch Jess, Jessie and Darren. No threat was made but he overheard a conversation that they were mentioned. This was about a week ago." I nod. Fuck!

  "I need to talk to Jessie, Little Ben and Darren about Security and what to do if they find themselves needing help. Are you good to sit in for that?" He asks.

  "Yeah. Kate doesn't know what's going on yet." I look at Patches. "Can you stay so I can explain it to her?"

  "Anything Brother." Patches says.

  I take a breath and let it out. "Ok Pres." He nods and asks Patches to get the boys for us. Kate goes to start baths.

  "Tiny tells me your aim hasn't been affected by the patch." He says.

  "Surprised the fuck out of me. We're going tomorrow to see if I can still ride and shoot straight. Not sure how that will turn out but I'm relieved knowing I can still shoot straight." I think he's stalling again.

  "Tiny said its more than shooting straight. You hit the moving target every fuckin time, not one wasted bullet." He smiles.

  "Yeah." I don't know what else to say. Patches comes in with the three boys. He sits them down and Ben talks to them about the security details and to get themselves and their Little Brothers to a safe place if they're scared or in need. He asks them phone numbers for him, Steve, me, Tiny and Patches. They know all of them. He gives each one a phone and an extra for Lily. Little Ben will get Lily's to her. Telling them how to turn them on he has them set them to vibrate and the list of contacts to call for help. He makes sure Darren can work the text, telling him Geek set it up so it’s ready for him to use. Jessie asks about Aaron, Elizabeth and Devan. He's relieved knowing Security will be at Millie's. Little Ben tells us he'll watch out for the boys and Ally with the other Little Brothers. He asks if all the kids are needing the extra security. What a fuckin smart kid. Ben tells him our families and Casper's kids. They all nod. "We'll make sure the other Little Brothers know at school tomorrow, we can stay in the gym for recess." Jessie tells him.

  Little Ben looks at Darren and signs. "Ally and Alex don't have recess or lunch with us. Chad, Lily and Lee have recess with them, I'll talk to them tomorrow morning. You can stay with them for lunch if you get your reading done early again. You have to do it until the Big Brothers tell us it's safe. Can you do that?" I'm watching this kid keep the others covered in Little Brothers. I look at Ben whose smiling at them.

  Darren signs, 'I can easy. I'll read in the morning when they do the board work. I'll have lunch with them."

  "We have to get a partner to walk with them too. Lee can walk with you Darren he's next door to you. Chad and Lily are in the same class. Me and Little Ben can get Victor. Alex and Ally's teacher walks them out but he doesn't pay attention to them. We need someone to walk with them." Jessie signs to them. I'm fuckin amazed.

  "I can get to them fast, I'm closest. You have to tell Lee he don't sign good. I'll go out the side door, their class is around the corner. We'll walk behind them. Meet us with their teacher and we can all go out together." Darren tells them. They nod to each other and look at us.

  "We can keep us all with partners. If anything happens our partners will be able to tell someone." Jessie tells us while signing. So fuckin proud of these boys and their ability to think this through and keep everyone partnered up.

  Ben laughs. "Nice planning Little Brothers. I think your plan will work. Make sure you get to the other Little Brothers in the morning and get the phone to Lily. Do you need to be early for that to happen?"

  "No, the Little Brothers sit together for breakfast. We'll make sure everyone knows to watch out for us and Lily. We have some good Brothers at our school they won't let us down." Little Ben tells him.

  I laugh. "I'm proud of you boys. You're going to make awesome Big Brother's when you get older." They smile and fist bump each other.

  I look at Ben and Patches. We're all smiling. Ben takes Jessie and Little Ben home, Patches helps finish up showers for Victor and Darren. He keeps the boys busy in their room while I talk to Kate.

  "Why the hell would she tell some guy how much money you have? I don't think I've ever had a conversation with anyone but Jess about money and that's only because she handles it for me. She's never told me anything about anyone else's money. Old ladies make a point to keep gossip out of our lives. We purposely don't tear each other down with shit like that. This is what happens when you do! Fuckin Tracy. I'm so pissed at her right now." She yells as she throws her shoe at the closet. I don't think I've ever seen her so mad.

  "Babe." I move behind her and hold on. "I was sitting across from her and wanted to hit her. I've had more time to go over it and calm down. The important thing is making sure the women and kids are safe. Security is in the bonus room, our house is surrounded by cameras. The boys came up with a plan to have the Little Brothers cover them at lunch, recess and walking out. Ben has Security in all the buildings our women are at. If we stay aware and have patience with security we'll keep everyone safe. Hopefully Geek will have some information soon." She relaxes against me. I kiss her neck.

  "I know you're right. I think I'm just mad that she was my friend for so long but we never gossiped, why would she do this now? I just don't understand why she's acting like this." She says as she turns in my arms.

  "I don't know baby. Are you going to be ok with a shadow for a while?"

  She snorts making me smile. "I'll be fine. I'm not taking any chances; I have my kids to get home to every night."

  "So easy, love you my Beautiful K." I kiss her lips and walk her downstairs where
Patches has Devan on his shoulder while he reads a book to kids. Darren is signing to the twins.

  Kate snaps a picture with her Phone. "They're worth the security." She smiles at me. Beautiful K.

  Chapter Thirty Five

  Tiny laughs at me as I blow the balloons up and climb the trees to tie them on. I don't care. I keep moving and putting out balloons. I tie two at every stop making twenty stops. I ride back to the main road and park waiting for Tiny. When he gets to me I explain it. "You're red, I'm blue. You start at thirty increase speed by five miles each balloon you pass. When you get to fifty you decrease by five and then go back up. You only hit the red balloons. Got it?"

  "Yeah I got it. Red balloons and watch the fuckin speed. You go first, I never played this game." He looks at me like it’s a challenge. The guy can shoot and he's got a loaded weapon. I'm going first. I nod and start. I miss one and hit the rest. I stop at ten turn around and go back two to reload. I continue on and hit all but one. I hear Tiny shooting so I sit and wait. He comes up with a smile. "You hit all but fuckin two. I thought for sure you'd miss at least half. Fuckin nice aim Brother."

  I laugh. "I've done this before, was part of my training. So how many did you hit?"

  "Hit fuckin twelve but one was yours. I don't know how you didn't hit mine moving fast on some of those fuckers. Why did you stop and go back? You still had rounds."

  "I was taught to never let the gun empty; you never know what could happen. I leave enough just in case."

  "Let's do it again." He says.

  I laugh and reach in my bag for more balloons and string. "This time you blow them up. I'll tie them."

  "Fuckin Brother." He does it and hits 14, I got 19. Not bad for one eye.

  It's too fuckin cold. I get my bike in the garage and get in the truck. Since I never met with Jess yesterday I drive to the Bakery. Peg smiles when I walk in. "Hi Peg can I get a big coffee." She makes it just how I like it and tells me Jess is in the back without the flour this morning. She has a meeting in thirty with the electric company about the power we're generating. I smile and walk around leaving five on the counter. Karen is at the work table with Mary, they look up as I walk in. Mary smiles telling me Lily called her from school. "She did?" She's in third grade.