by L. Ann Marie
“Prez said he could have killed you. That’s not something I’m going to drop. Do you need to be protected from Jeremy?” Chevy is not going to drop it.
“Leave it until we know what the fuck is happening. Little Ben will tell us what is going to happen next.”
Chevy throws his hands up. “He’ll tell us? He has a kid that just hurt Dakota.”
I spin around and get in his face. “He does and he has a Brother that is hurt and he doesn’t know how or why. Pulling this shit before we know is useless and wrong. Little Ben protects all of his Brothers. You don’t know what the fuck happened, but you’re already making a plan that may be pointless against someone that may be blameless. Calm the fuck down and wait until we know!”
“Jeremy did not know.” I look at Dakota. “He did not realize what he did until I backed away from him.” He’s still talking slow, but not slurring his words. “It was not on purpose. He does have the knowledge now and can hurt me or someone else again. With all that is in me I say he will never hurt anyone intentionally, but he can.”
“He can’t be close to you. What if Little Ben didn’t know what to do? You could have died,” Sebastian says and I want to punch him the fuck out.
Dakota smiles at me. “Jessie has the ability to slit your throat, get rid of the body and wipe any evidence of your existence away. Do I stay away from him too? Or Little Ben who is just as deadly, but quieter about it. Maybe Chevy? What we do is teach him right and wrong. Learn with him so he understands how it works. How to harness and use it when he needs it. It is no different than any other weapon in our arsenal. Do not jump before thinking Sebastian. It is here and we better fuckin’ learn to understand it because I am not getting zapped again.”
I laugh. “Fuckin’ Brother. I need to tell LB you’re up and thinking. Keep them in line while I’m gone.” He laughs holding his chest. Shit.
Walking out I see Little Ben holding Jeremy. It’s good that he didn’t hit him. Jeremy gives me a look. “I didn’t zap him Brother, watch the looks you give me.”
He closes his eyes and Little Ben turns. “He didn’t know,” he tells me.
“Yeah, Dakota told us. He’s thinking clearly. Says we need to teach Jeremy what he has and how to use it before it happens again. I don’t think he’s up for that happening today though.” It looks like I just took the weight of the world off his shoulders.
“He’s okay? I can’t see,” Jeremy says with tears, fuck.
“Yeah little Brother he’ll be okay. I think you need to stay away for right now. He’s not a hundred percent. He made me laugh though so it’s all good.” He has a hopeful look on his face. Jesus he’s young to deal with this shit.
“No! I did it I should have known.”
I step back. “Look Jeremy I don’t want to get zapped and I’m not trying to piss anyone off.” He starts crying. I look at Little Ben. I have no fuckin’ clue what to do.
“He thinks everyone will be afraid of him. He didn’t know he could hurt anyone. He’s the healer. He doesn’t hurt.” Jacob puts his hands up. Jeremy cut him off or he can’t reach him because of the crying. Great.
“Since I’ve brought great joy to all I’m heading back in. Sorry Brothers.” I turn and get back in the room before LB gives me shit.
“Fuck!” All three are watching me. Well that worked out well.
“What happened?” Sebastian asks.
I wave my hand, deciding I’m done with the games shit. “Just read it. Jesus. I’ve done enough damage opening my mouth and mind.” I pull a chair and sit the fuck down. Little Ben is going to be pissed.
“He really didn’t know,” Chevy says.
“No. He’s scared to death out there. Can you imagine having something like that in you? I don’t even know what the fuck it is, but it scares him.”
Dakota stands and his knees buckle. I jump to catch him. “Where are you going?”
“I need to help calm him. He will not be satisfied until he sees me.”
“Sit the fuck down. God save me from the well intentioned,” I mumble going to the door. “Prez, Dakota doesn’t think you’ll calm him until he sees he’s all right.”
He turns and smiles. “He’s right.”
He walks to the door and turns Jeremy. “He doesn’t understand and I can’t get through. I’m not willing to go any closer so whatever you can do from there do it.”
Dakota nods and closes his eyes. Jeremy calms right the fuck down and closes his. I guess they’re doing it from there. Little Ben shakes his head at me. I stand against the wall and think of the waterpark. At least it’s fun. Chevy laughs. Fuckin’ readers.
Just when there’s nothing left for me to think of Little Ben walks out with Jeremy. I sag with relief. Dakota laughs.
“It ain’t easy coming up with shit to think of when every fuckin’ Brother in the room is looking.” They all laugh. “What the fuck ever.” I sit. “Is he good now?”
Dakota looks at Chevy and Sebastian. “Yeah.”
I wait. Little Ben comes in looking right at Chevy. “I can’t tell you what I don’t understand. I hope to get that understanding from Dakota. He doesn’t think it should be shared because it puts Jeremy at an even higher risk. I’m asking you to have faith in my ability to keep two of my Brothers safe.”
Chevy starts walking to the door and stops in front of LB. “I do. I understand more now. Dakota told us it wasn’t intentional and Jeremy is a fuckin’ basket case. I’ve never seen him like that.” Little Ben throws him chin and he walks out.
Sebastian is looking at Dakota. He nods and turns around. “Call me if you need me Prez.” He walks out. Little Ben leans against the door and closes his eyes. I wait.
“Can you tell me what happened?” he asks. He sounds exhausted. I get up and pull the other chair over. He throws chin and sits.
“He wanted me to teach him how to throw commands. When I said he was too young and the ancestors would not give him that he got pissed saying he wanted to know anyway. I should have known something was wrong because he was too upset. I have never seen him like that. He disconnected and threw energy at me. I had to fight to get back, even then I was pushing it away, but could not stay ahead of it. I do not remember anything after you lifting me. I thought I was safe and then everything was gone.”
“And now. Are you okay?”
Dakota waves his hand. “I will be fine. He is powerful.”
“I wouldn’t have left you if Chevy and Jacob thought you were still in danger. I stayed until I was sure.”
Dakota waves it away. “I saw it all. You did the right thing. Jeremy is young, not understanding will drive him crazy. He is as nervous about touching people as you are about him getting close to me. We will need to teach him and that means trust him.”
Little Ben is shaking his head no. “I can’t do that today. I need him away from you until it is straight in my head. That scared the shit out of me. I need to call Pres, but I’m not leaving you alone. Is there anything I can do for you before I get into all this with Pres?”
He shakes his head no and leans against the headboard.
“You hungry?” I ask.
“I could eat.”
Since I’m fuckin’ bored out of my mind I go down to make us some food. Carrying in the tray I hear LB talking to my dad. I smile at the cadence of his voice. He tells him he’s not leaving him alone and thanks him. “Cloud is coming,” he says and grabs a plate from the tray.
“I hope he doesn’t tell him what happened,” I say setting Dakota up with the tray and pulling my plate.
“He said he won’t. Thanks for dinner.”
I nod and hand him a beer, “Can you have a beer?” I ask Dakota, he holds up water. Guess not.
***
“He brought everyone? Fuckin’ Pres!” I watch as they walk across the field. My dad, Cloud, VP and Uncle Danny, he brought everyone. “Fuck we’re never going to sleep tonight.”
Dakota has a laughing fit. “At least my dad is not with them.
He would bring the Elders.”
LB looks at him. “Fuck!”
“I’ll be right back with the parade,” I tell them walking out the door. Dakota is still laughing. I meet them in the kitchen and they follow me up to the room. As soon as they walk in my dad asks Dakota how he is.
“I will be fine.”
“What happened?” Oh Jesus. I walk into the hall so I don’t have to hear it all again.
Darren comes running up the stairs with Christian. “Who is with Jeremy?”
“Brantley, Jacob and Joey.” I relax as they go to the door. They can’t fit in there with the fathers so they’re standing on the threshold.
“Who is with Jeremy?” Little Ben asks and I know he’s pissed.
Cloud comes out with Pres and tells me to take them to Jeremy. I turn and walk down the stairs thinking it’s a good thing I moved so fuckin’ far away from them. My eyes roll so hard it hurts my brain. I smile and bow at the door. My dad slaps me upside the head and walks in. Fuckin’ ‘rents. Cloud pulls me in by my shirt and I stand at attention. I’m not doing a fuckin’ thing to piss off the angry Indian. Jeremy laughs and I sign, ‘Cut the shit.’
“Since you’re laughing I have to think you’re good,” my dad says and Jeremy looks down.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know that could happen.” Cloud moves to him and I breathe easy.
“Brantley, take Joey and Jacob for dinner.” I say around the back of my Dad.
Jacob looks at Jeremy. “I can talk for him.” I move and sit beside him touching his leg.
“You’re not afraid of me no more?”
“No Brother, I wasn’t afraid of you before. I was surprised. I don’t normally see you so upset and mad all at the same time. Jacob couldn’t read you. It’s bad when he can’t reach you.”
He nods and leans against me. I look at my dad. “Can you tell us what happened?” I stop myself from rolling my eyes and look down at Jacob so I don’t get swatted again. The fuckin’ rings hurt.
Jeremy looks at me and clenches his jaw. Fuck. He starts filling my head. “I was asking Eagle Eye about throwing commands and he wouldn’t tell me. I saw Little Ben get taken and they tried for Jessie.” I look at him and he nods. “They won’t listen because they’re mad. I wanted to make them go somewhere else and was pissed he wouldn’t help me. I let him go and kicked away and he couldn’t get back. When I cried out Little Ben held him and helped. I didn’t know what to do. Then he wouldn’t let me help him. He was afraid and I was scared I hurt him, then he fell. Little Ben wouldn’t even let me near him to help. He doesn’t trust me.” Shit. He starts crying again.
“What he said to me is that he needs to find a way to help you understand while keeping Dakota safe. He didn’t say he didn’t trust you.” I squeeze his shoulder making the point. “You thought I was afraid of you too. You were upset and it messed with your head little Brother.”
My dad looks at Cloud. “Why are we here?”
Jeremy laughs. Cloud lifts him so his head is on his shoulder. “I’m good Dad. I was scared, but I’m okay.”
“Sounds like it was scary. Can you jump with me so we can make sure?”
Jeremy rolls his eyes and I turn my head. Fuckin’ kids. “I’ll be in the hall,” I tell them and walk out.
My dad follows me. “Sounds like Little Ben handled it right.”
“Yeah Dad. You can’t keep showing up, it makes him look weak. He’s the same guy you trusted to keep us safe growing up. He knows what to do. You made sure of it.”
His hands go in his hair and I smile. I’ve missed seeing that. “Jessie, I’m a dad. Like all the other Dads I just wanted to see you. This gave us that excuse.”
“You might want to tell the rest of the Club that,” I tell him while I hug him. He doesn’t let me go for a second and I feel bad for bitching at him. “Love ya Dad.” He squeezes me and lets me go.
“Love you too Jess. I need a fuckin’ beer.” He walks away and I laugh. I look in the room and see Cloud is still gone. “Getting a beer with my dad,” I say to no one listening to me and walk to the bar.
Darren is telling Uncle Danny about the Mayor cracking everyone up. I just watch. The ‘rents are pretty cool to hang out with when they’re relaxed. Little Ben comes in with Dakota so I move to his side. He looks tired, but he’s standing. Chevy comes over and looks like he’s blocking from the other side. He nods to me and I grab a beer.
Chapter Five
Moving day
Eagle Eye
I am leaning against my seat at the highway underpass. Jax is on the other side looking as bored as I am. I check my watch and see I only have a half hour until my relief gets here. I hear bikes and look toward the ramp. “Eagle Eye to Ops One. Bikes coming from the highway. You want to let us in on it?”
“Sorry Eagle Eye. Friendly. The MC decided to come help the movers.” Oh shit not again.
“Ops One if you see my family coming from the south let me know so I can jump in the wind.”
“Eagle Eye, Prez says he better be on your left and how long before you’re off?”
I laugh. “They will be there before I am off Ops One.” The bikes are ridiculously loud under the overpass. Shit, they will be there in less than ten minutes.
Our relief shows early. I tell Ops One we are out and headed for a ride. I hear Prez yelling in the background and laugh. We head to the Dunkin’ that has a Baskin Robbins in it. I get hot fudge sundaes and ride back to Security. Jax follows with a smile. He carries one bag and I have the other. I start handing them out as I am walking to Prez. I hand him one and he laughs. When my bag is empty I start walking out. “Where are you going?” ‘The wind Brother.’
“Wait up!” He hands his half eaten sundae to Brantley and tells him to get Darren out front.
“Do you not have to meet with the moving people, parents, or run Ops or something?”
He smiles. “Gene is on and I’m not going anywhere around the ‘rents. Let’s ride Brother.”
Jax is waiting not sure what to do. “Are you moved in?” He nods. “You can go to the Compound if you want. I’m avoiding the fuckin’ ‘rents,” Little Ben tells him and he smiles. Darren and Jessie come running out the door. Little Ben starts his bike and we ride in the formation he told me about. We stop in Connecticut and he answers his phone.
“Grilling sounds nice. N, I won’t make it back, sorry. We’re in Connecticut. If I had known you were coming I would have planned to be there. We spent a week training and getting everything ready for Church when the Brothers get their cuts. Yeah it’s been busy, we’re in the wind, what’s the point if all we do is work? Yeah thanks Dad.” He hangs up laughing. “He’s pissed they’re not riding with us.”
“Fuck. We should set up some runs to ride with them. They’re bored and looking for shit to do,” Jessie says.
Little Ben hits his phone. “Shut the grill off and meet us at the Waterfront Bar & Grille. We’ll be there in an hour.”
I look at my watch we have almost an hour to ride. We are sitting on the side of the restaurant. I shrug at Jax and he laughs. We ride for the hour and make it to the restaurant a few minutes late.
Everyone does the man hug thing, but I am ready for it. Danny touches my shoulder and moves his hand fast. I am relieved. He notices and wonders if I am bothered by touch. I nod and he laughs. He is like Jessie laughing, but seeing everything with his one eye. We sit and have a good dinner. These men all laugh and have fun sharing stories that are just fun with no lessons in them. I wonder why my father does not have this with the men on the reservation. He is always so melancholy.
Danny is on one side of me and Jessie the other. Danny turns his chair and Jessie tells him he will switch. They do and he talks to me about the new job. He is interested and laughs when I tell him about meeting the man that wants to replace the Mayor. He is a jerk, but he is not stupid. The fact that he thought I was made the meeting more interesting. When he was finished naming all the businesses we owned I told him we we
re proud of our contribution to the town. I thought he was going to shit himself. Danny tells me to shoot his foot the next time I see him and Pres yells at him making me laugh. I cannot imagine what growing up with these men was like.
We talk about the helicopter and Jared wanting to buy his own so the Princes’ would stay at the yard. He likes that idea and says he will talk to Jamie.
By the time we are ready to leave they are planning their trip home. They do not look like it is a trip they want to take. Little Ben’s head falls forward and he tells them to stay at his house and he will stay at the Club. All I can do is laugh. Jax is at my side thinking this is funny too. Jessie and Darren say they will stay at the Club so I decide to stay too. They are my new Brothers and I know they would stay for me.
We ride back to the Club and it feels empty. Chris says there are a couple of Brothers out back, but everyone is at their new houses and apartments.
We play darts and shoot some pool and I drag myself up to my room thinking this was a good day. I thank my ancestors again for guiding me here and wonder if they get sick of hearing me say it.
Chapter Six
Three days
Eagle Eye
I am called to Prez’s office before I am even awake. I dress quickly and jump on my bike. Almost all the Officers are here already. I ask the ancestors to help guide us through whatever is coming our way and run up the stairs.
Everyone is in the conference room so I stop there, but Brantley points me to Prez’s office. Walking in I see Jessie and Darren are already here.
“Thanks for getting here quick. We have a fuckin’ problem and need to deal with this before it gets out of hand.” I nod and sit. “The ‘rents are driving us fuckin’ nuts. They have nothing to do and decided to do that here. We need them to get the fuck home so we can do our jobs without the constant interference. I’m tempted to call my mom at this point.” I am trying not to laugh because he is pissed. They all look stressed over the fathers being here. I think they are funny and good natured, but my Father is not here and I am not sure I would like him under foot all day. “We got nothing, do you have any ideas?”