Prophet: Book One (Princes of Prophecy 1)
Page 6
“Plan for them. Plan a day of work with you so they are bored here too. Send them on errands so they feel like they are Prospects. Then plan a day of riding so that is the thing that sticks out and what they enjoy about their time with you.”
We hear a helicopter. “Jesus, what now?” Jessie asks walking to the door. We all follow.
“Bull, why is there a helicopter over the office?” He stops. “Fuck! Get the ‘rents to the office now!” He starts walking again straight out the front door. Everyone is here looking at the helicopter landing at the back of the parking lot.
Jared comes to Little Ben. “I’m sorry Prez. They talked to Pres and Danny and now they’re here.”
“I’m just getting that they’re all fuckin’ crazy. I’m going to be straight up with them and give them fuckin’ jobs for the day. Hopefully one day will be enough and they’ll leave.”
“Not fuckin’ likely,” Jessie says watching two men get off the chopper. They walk straight to us.
“Dads,” Jared says. One picks him up hugging him the other does a man hug. Jared is embarrassed and looks at all the Officers then down. Shit.
“Jamie, Kevin,” Prez says and shakes hands with them. “This is a surprise.”
“We brought Jared’s chopper.” The dark haired one says. I laugh.
Jared is stunned. “You brought me a chopper?”
“Danny said you were going to get one so the other stays in the yard,” the blond says. I laugh more.
“It’s not a fuckin’ car Dad. It’s a chopper!” Jared does not know what to think, his mind is jumping all around.
The blond looks at him for a minute. “The Princes may need the chopper when you have it home or it’s being used for transport. This will keep them with theirs at the ready and you without worrying over getting it back.”
Jared looks around trying to get his temper in check. “Thank you for the chopper. I appreciate your concern over my getting the chopper back for them, but this is my home now. I will visit and have dinners, but I live here.”
The dark guy smiles. “This means you can come to dinner and visit more.” The Officers laugh and Jared’s jaw clenches. Bikes are pulling in and the fathers all do man hugs. Damn they hug everyone.
“Conference room now!” Prez says and walks away. I catch up and walk beside Jessie to the room and stand behind Prez. There are not enough seats for everyone and while they stand I stand with them.
As soon as they are seated Little Ben starts. “This has got to stop. We are a working Club that isn’t getting anything done because you are bored and looking for reasons to be here. Just today I’ve had to reschedule a Security and HR meeting. It’s fuckin’ eight in the morning.” The fathers start talking and he puts his hand up. “We have jobs. Today you will go with your sons on their jobs. You will get to see them all fuckin’ day. We have a garage opening up to build bikes with whatever the hell Jared is coming up with for that. Tomorrow you will help Jared and Jax get that ready. I don’t care if you build a bike while you’re there, but you will all be at that garage and we will do our jobs with some room to breathe because you’re busy. Saturday we ride. We have a run with the New York Chapter that you are welcome to join. You are not calling with advice, you are not showing up all over fuckin’ town when our own Club can’t. You stay where you belong today, the garage tomorrow and the run on Saturday. If this doesn’t work for you go home. After our ride on Saturday you go home.” He looks at every one of them and I am proud of him.
No one says a word. “Any questions?” He sounds like he does not want that answer.
“My kid runs a fuckin’ computer. Watching him type all day isn’t going to do it for me,” Tiny says. I want to laugh.
“Pick one of my Officers to shadow, but you stay with them. You don’t get to switch and jump around. I want to know where every fuckin’ one of you are at all times.”
They nod like kids in school. “Now I need to talk to my Officers. Go get a coffee and wait out front for your kids.”
Pres looks shocked, but they all get up and leave. As soon as the door closes Jax looks at Little Ben. “You owe me big. I need them in the fuckin’ garage like I need another hole in my head!”
“I’ll pay for your bike. Whatever the fuck you want on it, I’ll pay. Just to keep them contained for the day.” Jax nods.
“Brantley get them set on the New York run. We deal today, Jax and Jared tomorrow and ride on Saturday.” Everyone agrees. “Let’s get to work.”
We meet the fathers outside while they are checking out the chopper. “Jared get the fuckin’ chopper out of the parking lot.”
“I have a meeting Prez. It’s with the college for the Lab,” Jared says looking at his watch.
“Eagle Eye get the chopper to the yard and have a Prospect bring you back for your bike.”
“On it Prez.” I head for the chopper and Tiny starts walking by my side. Fuck. I did not see that coming. I stop and look at Little Ben. ‘Me?’ He shrugs. ‘Just get through the day.’ With Tiny. Just get through the day with the loudest fuckin’ guy I ever met. ‘You owe me too.’ He nods. Then laughs. I hear Jessie laughing and I peg them a finger. Fuckin’ Brothers.
I get in and start the check and he is asking me about every damn thing I am doing. I just start telling him without the questions and get the chopper to the yard. When we set down he says I did good. I want to be pissed because he has not shut up, but it feels good to get that acknowledgement.
We get back to the office and I tell him we have a meeting with the PD in the next town over.
I stop before the PD and get a coffee and wrap. “I was called out before I was even out of bed,” I tell him and he throws chin. While I am eating he tells me about Danny and his food. Since I am not acting like a maniac he is happy to sit with me. I want to laugh at that, but do not want to encourage him. When he quiets down he is wondering if he should ask if I can read him. “I can. Talking is not necessary.”
He talks anyway. Fuck. At the PD I tell the officer at the desk that I am meeting with the Chief. He looks at Tiny. “It is work with your kid day and he did not like his kid’s job so he picked me.” The guy laughs like it is a joke. I look at him sending ‘it is not a joke’ and he stops and has an officer bring us to the Chief’s office.
I introduce us letting him know about ride to work day and he settles to the purpose of the meeting. Tiny stays quiet as we talk about the Security Company taking high profile skips. He will set it up with the bondsmen. He asks about the Princes helping with their gang problem and I set a meet up with Prez and his task force. Once we are finished he asks about me being here and his meeting with the owner Dakota. Tiny laughs so fuckin’ loud and slaps my back so hard I take a step forward. ‘What the fuck?’
“He’s Dakota,” he tells the Chief. “Eagle Eye is his road name.” I look at him and ask the ancestors to give me strength.
The Chief shakes my hand apologizing and we leave before Tiny can say anything else. At Security he talks to Gene while I am reading the reports from the last couple of days. We have so many contracts with the Little Brothers merge it takes me almost an hour to go through everything. When I am done I have to get Gene to focus on work and explain the new hires. An older investigator and some new Brothers with experience are in training and doing well. He wants them on the job. I tell him to get with Jessie when he is in and point them out. IT is running well with the backgrounds and the new businesses we picked up. I leave him and get to the meeting with Jared at the Lab.
It is good to see people here, but it is not running at a hundred percent yet. That starts on Monday. He shows us the new night vision glasses and the sunglasses with the hologram board on one lens. He is on with Ops so we are getting the current job they are on and Tiny complains about meetings when VP is with the Op and Jessie. I set a meet so the Security Officers can train with the new equipment and head over to the Manufacturing building. Tip and Aponi are here with their department heads. Tiny walks the build
ing while we meet and I get the information about Monday’s opening. When we finish the heads leave and Aponi asks if I am okay.
“I am fine.” She saw what happened when Chevy called her. She did not get it before and is pissed I did not call. “I cannot talk about it unless you are an Officer.” She is stunned then pissed again. Fuck. Before she can say any more Tiny comes in. “I have an appointment,” I tell them and get out while I can.
At the Superintendent’s office I explain about the Indians hair. They cannot force them to cut it because of tribal beliefs, which is included as religious beliefs handed down by the federal government. I hand him the federal ruling paperwork and families’ names and leave with Tiny laughing.
At the Club I am scheduled for ride and shoot assessments and Tiny gets excited. We run the course before my class gets here and he tells me I did a good job. I get that feeling again and wonder about growing up with men like them. He is happy to ride with the trainees and tells them all they did good and what they should work on. VP, Danny, Kevin and Cloud are here and I ask them to run the course with the tops of the training leaderboard. They could give tips that the Brothers can use and make it higher. Kevin does not ride and shoot so he is on Jason’s laptop doing something that has Jason excited. I leave them to it and watch the Brothers’ amazement at the speed the fathers run at.
When they are done my class moves to pop ups and VP tells me to run with Danny. I match his speed and hit my targets. Every one of them slaps my back and laughs that I beat him. He is smiling and asks me in my head if he can hug me. I nod and he does. They bring me for a beer and tell me he is the top of their leaderboard for ride and shoot. I do not ever remember being so proud of my accomplishments, but these Brothers are not going to let me forget them. It feels good.
Prez and Darren come in with some Brothers that topped sniper and pop ups and everyone gets a beer and acknowledgement. Chevy is happy to be included and I am happy to see his smile too. I love this fuckin’ Brotherhood. Prez man hugs me telling me he is proud I am on his team and everyone around slaps my back again. Needing a minute I walk out the back calling the ancestors close. When I open my eyes Jessie is on the side of me smiling.
“Beat Uncle Danny. Fuckin’ nice. Good job Brother.” His smile gets bigger.
I man hug him surprising him. “Everyone acknowledging it feels good. Thank you.”
He wonders about my father. “He is a reserved man, melancholy in demeanor. I was always the leader and expected to excel. He wanted me to be the best in what I am to become. I learned many things from him as he is a wise man and good leader for our people. He is not accustomed to displaying his emotions. This is different, but good too. Being a leader is sometimes lonely. I like the Brotherhood I am learning with the new and old Brothers.”
He looks at me and I know when he shields. “Maybe you wouldn’t mind helping at the garage tomorrow.”
I turn around. “Not a fuckin’ chance Brother. I did my part.” He laughs following me in.
The kitchen is packed with people getting ready for dinner. I move quickly to the common room, but find it just as busy. I school my face and walk through to the bar. Men are having sex with the Club whores on the furniture in there. Jessie does not say anything this time. He laughed at me last night so I make sure to shield my mind and face from him. At the bar the fathers are having fun and talking to everyone. It is nice to see their interactions and I find myself smiling and laughing along with them.
A hand touches my shoulder and I freeze. It is a woman and I take a step to the side. She does not stop, but puts her other hand on my stomach and leans into me. Fuck. Her energy is coursing through me and I stop her hand on my stomach pulling it away. “No.” I try to step back, but she does not let go. I have no idea what she is saying as I see pictures of her with men flashing through my head.
“Get your fuckin’ hands off him. He said no!” My body starts shaking and she steps away. Danny leads me out the back and into the field. His touch is more of a comfort and I am throwing what I can at him. He stops at a table and I sit. Fuck.
“I was not expecting it. Thank you,” I tell him putting my head in my hands and trying to breathe normally.
“Got a Brother that gets hit with flashes and I’ve seen it bring him to his knees. You’re different. Tell me what you need Brother.” I look up at him. He is serious.
“I need to jump.” He sits with his knee touching me and nods. I jump.
The ancestors are waiting and give me peace. I sit on my branch and let their wind flow over me. I hear and feel around me and disconnect to the now. I smile hearing Tiny talking about the skips at the PD. Opening my eyes I see Jessie smiling at me. “Glad you’re back Brother. I brought you a beer.” I smile. He is a good gu—Brother.
“Thank you for the beer Jessie and peace Danny.”
He looks at me and I feel him. It surprises me, but I do not say anything. “That will be a problem for you if it doesn’t get fixed now.”
“Yes. I was going to talk to Prez,” I tell him not really liking where this is going.
“I don’t mean to get in your shit, but have you been with a woman?” Jessie asks without caring who is listening. Fuckin’ Brothers.
I give him a look and see he is trying to be helpful. “Of course. It is easier with a partner like with you and Darren, but I have been alone too. When I know what is going to happen I can shield for it.”
“It’s gotta be in the water,” he says making me smile and I relax. “I hate the whores always preying on Officers. We need to make it easier for you and us by keeping them away. It will take that off your shoulders. It can’t be easy always having to block everything. We can talk to Prez and get it straight right away so you’re not taken out of every party vibrating with this shit.” He stands up and walks away.
I laugh. Danny joins me. “I guess it’s handled.”
“They don’t need us,” Tiny says and I realize VP and Cloud are here too. Fuck! VP laughs.
I look at Tiny, he is hurt. “Sons will always need their fathers. Now it is just in a different way. Wanting to be the men you taught us how to be is important to us. We will always need guidance and a voice of reason when we step wrong, but the unconditional love and support mean more as we are changing into those men and becoming who we are supposed to be.”
“Fuckin’ A,” he says and everyone laughs.
Little Ben comes over with Pres following. Pres has questions, but does not voice them. ‘You okay?’ Little Ben asks in my head.
“I will need help with this one. It is not so easy in parties with so many people around.”
He sits across from me. “Anything. Jessie is gathering the Officers; we will do what is needed together.” He is intent on fixing whatever the problem is without even knowing what it is.
“I think we need to tell them how touch affects me so they understand and can help. There will be times when Jessie and Chevy are not with me that I may need that. I think my new Brothers can be trusted and help.” I tell him hoping he agrees with my trust in the Officers.
He watches me and I pull the shield. “Your Brothers can be trusted. I don’t like the block when we meet because of that.”
“I meant no disrespect. There are more here tonight than usual.” I tell him I am sorry in my head. He will wait for his Officers to find out what is going on.
“These men here, Pres’ inner circle are always a safe haven for you as well as our own Officers. Use them as you need and know they have your best interest at heart.” I look at them. ”Yes, I am honored to be included in this Brotherhood with the fathers’ guidance.”
Tiny laughs scaring the shit out of me slapping my back. Danny growls at him. “Did you not get that touch affects him?”
Tiny sits. “I love this kid. He talks like Nunánuk and Jeremy all mixed up.” I smile shaken. I am going to be bruised from all the fuckin’ slaps he has given me today. He is happy like Brantley and the comparison surprises me making me smile.
I am surprised by Jessie starting us off. “I asked that we meet right away to settle a problem that has always been a problem for Officers. The whores are constantly preying on us and refuse to take no for an answer. They’ll wait until we drink too much and try again. It’s ridiculous how far they’ll take it. We need a rule in place stopping that from happening. They should only be touching us if we initiate it.”
Everyone agrees they are pains in the asses, but wait for Prez to say more. “I will agree to this, but not for your reasons.” He stops and looks at his Officers, stopping on me. “Everyone knows what too much energy does to Jeremy. We have an Officer that suffers from the same thing. Jessie, Darren and Chevy have been blocking for him and helping release that energy. With so many people at the Club, and only three to help, it is difficult for him when it shouldn’t be. He is putting his trust in us to have this knowledge and help guard against possible threats to him. No one outside of the first tier Officers will have this knowledge. Dakota has help in Chevy, Sebastian, Aponi and Tip. He can get what he needs through them and if you need help you can call on them for him. The whores have been a problem since I can remember. I will stop them from approaching the Officers so Dakota can relax in the common areas of the Club. The fact that you all agree makes that easier and I’m glad we can throw that relief to you as well.” He looks around and nods to me. “You can ask your questions directly to Dakota, but understand this is about how touch affects him. His abilities are not up for discussion.”
I know what they are going to ask and wait for them to voice it. I answer everything and Jessie helps with how to block without being obvious. Darren tells them he and Jessie can meet tomorrow to show them examples. Everyone agrees surprising me and making it hard to swallow. I thank them for their help and Brotherhood and Prez laughs. “Out loud Dakota.” Shit. I nod and thank them out loud making them laugh. I have made more mistakes here and have never felt happier. I smile at Prez. “If there’s nothing else, go have fun, but remember the meeting tomorrow morning.”