by L. Ann Marie
I laugh. “The MC will pay anything that is needed, but they bet on everything and he always finds a way to get it to my mom.”
He finally smiles. “I will give him more to bet on. The ship will be done before the center opens. We can get some of that to him too.”
“What the fuck ever Brother. He doesn’t care so you shouldn’t either.” I close my eyes and feel his hand on my arm. “Thanks Brother. You did awesome tonight.” I fall asleep with no pain in my muscles.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Three weeks
Eagle Eye
I am flying back from the MC and Prez picks me up telling me I am clear to the hangar. It is early for him to be in and I wonder if there is trouble. I set down and he tells me he will see me at Security. I wanted to see Jessica, but I call her instead. She is happy I am home and will see me later. She has a full day planned so that will be at dinner. I guess I am at Security.
Jessie is at my bike waiting for me. He man hugs me telling me he is happy I am back. I am glad to see him too. The MC is nice, but I missed my wife and Brothers. I am just glad they only had two Ops requiring the chopper while Cloud is at Disney with Mase, Jeremy and Jacob.
“How did the Ops go?” he asks putting his helmet on and walking to his bike.
“Good. Pres was Air command and it ran smooth. Everyone responded and there was no playing on the radio.”
He smiles. “Prez warned them but, my dad doesn’t let them play anyway, he loses his shit if people chit chat over the air.”
I can see that, the Brothers on HS with Danny laughed and he gave Rich a look. VP does not strike me as someone that would allow playing either. “Jessica has a full day planned. I had hoped to see her, but Prez wants me at Security so it worked out. Do you want to go out to dinner? That is when she said she would see me.”
He laughs. “I have a job. Jess is excited to see you and I’m not sure you’ll make it out. You might want to pick it up on your way home.” He starts his bike.
I like the sound of take-out and try to think of what works in bed on the way. We walk right into Ops. Prez and Darren are here. I am surprised because Darren usually has nights. “It is good to see you Darren.” He man hugs me and says it is good to be seen. He is sounding better, but I do not mention it.
Prez man hugs me too. “I need you at the Town Manager’s office. We need a Mayor and he’s our choice.”
I do not think this will work. “If he likes his job and does not want to be Mayor?”
He takes some time to think about that. “He does the Mayor’s job already, he can draw the two pays and add some PR time to his schedule. We can work with that.”
I nod. “I think he will go for that.” I turn around to go out.
“Dakota.” I turn back. “Your shadow?” he asks smiling.
“They usually wait by my bike.”
Jessie laughs. “You don’t know him. We’re waiting on him now.”
I go back to them and wait. A tall man comes in, he looks to be mid-twenties with full sleeve tattoos and long blonde hair. Jessie steps to my side. “Taylor. He’s a good Brother,” he says softly.
“Thank you for your service Taylor. I am honored to have you by my side.”
He smiles and man hugs me. “I’ve heard good things about you Dakota. We met when we were younger, but it was briefly. I’m one of Cloud and CJ’s.” I get a jolt and step back.
“I am sorry I do not remember.” I try to see the boy in his features, but nothing comes to me then I see him. “The recycle program with the new trash trucks.”
He laughs. “Yes.”
“Now that everyone knows each other; can you get to work so the trainees see you sometime today?” Prez asks amused.
I check my watch. We have two hours. “On it Prez.” I turn and they laugh. Taylor catches up to me laughing. “I like to keep them off balance.” I tell him with a straight face. He laughs.
“Me too. I was shocked to see how far they’ve come. It feels odd,” he says putting his helmet on. He does not look at me.
“I am new to the MC. I know what you mean. It has been a learning experience.”
I start my bike and pull to the exit. “Eagle Eye to control.”
“Control, Brantley on with you, Brother.”
“I am on the side.” I tell him and pull out with Taylor by my side.
The Town Manager does not make us wait. I introduce Taylor and talk to him about the Mayor job. He is not happy with that so I tell him he can keep the two jobs and pay if he does the Mayor’s PR work. Taylor finds him amusing, but does not add anything to our conversation. We leave a very happy Mayor.
Outside I check the time. “Eagle Eye to control.”
“Control copy.”
“Is Prez still in Ops?”
“Roger, Eagle Eye.”
“Tell him we have affirmative. I will be in for training after I eat.”
“Roger, Eagle Eye.”
We pull out and I stop at the Café. With coffee and a Danish in front of me I wait for Taylor to sit. When he does I eat.
“Are you always so polite?” He is smiling.
I look at him. “If the task requires me to be yes. I see no reason not to be unless I do not get it back.”
He nods and finishes eating. “My dad loves you. He thinks you’re the shit.”
I laugh. “I think he is a legend. I want to be like Cloud. Like the old Mike commercials.” He smiles and we head back to Security.
Brantley: “Control to Eagle Eye.”
Me: “Eagle Eye copy.”
Brantley: “Blue van parked two blocks back tracking you. Continue toward the hangar. Switching to Prez at Ops lead.”
Me: “Roger, control.”
Prez: “Eagle Eye get them away from town. Once you’re away stop them and find out who they are and what they want.
Me: “Roger Prez.”
When we are away from town I speed up then turn at a secondary road on the side of the hangar. I pull my gun and am happy to see Taylor is ready. “Going back at them.” I say then lift my wheel and spin back. I speed up and shoot the tires, slowing I point my gun at the driver. The passenger fires then I do. The driver’s hands go up. I stay where I am until Taylor has his door open. He shoots into the van, but not the driver. I wonder why the driver did not stop him or hit his arm. I would have.
“Nice shot,” he says handing me the driver and walking toward the back. I check the driver for a gun, he has one in his waistband, but did not pull it or stop Taylor from shooting. He has a wallet and I pull it. Still no fight. I cuff his hands behind him and walk him to the back. “A fuckin’ arsenal, but this pussy didn’t make a move to stop me.”
“Yes. He has ID,” I tell him. He looks surprised too and points his gun at the man’s head. “Who are you and why are you here,” I ask.
He is scared, his eyes are bouncing from me to Taylor and he is shaking. “I was just driving. They told me where to go and I did.”
“With a gun?” Taylor asks him.
He is shaking his head no. “They just gave it to me. I never shot a gun before. I just stuck it like the TV shows do.” He is lying.
“They are not very realistic. Keeping a gun there now a days is stupid. With technology everything is more sensitive and you can shoot your ass off.” I tell him smiling.
“The safety was on.”
I lift my elbow and his head hits the van. I step back before the blood hits my shoes. “See Carl this is not the time for you to tell me about guns. I was just getting a trust established. Why are you here?”
He puts his hands up. “I was just a driver.”
I see me and Jessica. I turn as if to say something to Taylor and slam him into the van, he falls to his knees. Spinning behind him I have his head in my hands. “What were your plans for me Carl?” I see a truck and turn his head. I get his plan and snap his neck. “Truck!” I turn and shoot.” Taylor is ready and hits the passenger in both shoulders. “Nice shots,” I tell him walk
ing to the truck.
Me: “Eagle Eye to Ops.”
Prez: “Cleanup is on the way. What’s in the van?” I look at Taylor.
Taylor: “Sniper to Ops. A full fuckin’ arsenal. They were planning something.” The passenger is whining so I get the tape and wrap it around his head. I went to VP’s training class while I was waiting for my Op and found this to be both funny and effective. Taylor thinks it is funny and laughs. I smile because I find it effective.
Me: “Prez the plan showed me and Jessica. Can you get her with cover? There is another truck. It is red with a camper back.” I stop and look at the passenger. They will kill her. I start for my bike.
Prez: “Roger Eagle Eye, Jessie is checking in with them and Security is moving into position now.”
Me: “Roger, Prez.” We hear rapid fire and I run for my bike. “Eagle Eye to Ops on my way to the garage.” I fly down the road and turn, the garage is less than a mile.
Prez: “Ghost will meet you there. Sniper keep him covered.”
Taylor: “Roger, Prez.”
I see the truck at a bay door and drive straight at it hitting tires before I stop. It is empty. I hear the car start in the next bay and run, it smashes through the door sending glass flying and I jump before it hits me. “No!” Jessie pulls by following the mustang and I breathe and run for my bike again. He is shooting and I hear the crash. I send for strength from the ancestors and pull out following Taylor. Jessie is at the truck pulling Jessica out. I stop and lay the bike down then run. She has got to be okay.
“She’s okay Dakota, she’s okay.” Jessie says not sounding like he believes it. She has blood on her.
“Stop.”
He does with his eyes are begging me. “She’s okay right? You can fix her?”
He sits with her in his lap. I put my hands on her head kneeling in front of them. There is a cut on her head and a lump under her hair. She is breathing and her heart is beating. She moans and puts her hand to her head, but I stop her. “My sweet Jessica, you have a cut there. Let me help.” She squeezes my hand and sits quiet. Jessie takes a breath and thanks God. I throw to her and she does not say a word. I put my lips to her head and hold her face in my hands. Her breath catches and I look at her, but her eyes are closed. I smile. She is excited I am home so she can tell me her news. I look at Jessie. ‘We did this.’
He smiles and nods. ‘Let her tell you. She is so excited.’
I nod and kiss her head again wiping the smile from my face. “She is fine Jessie. Our sweet Jessica has a bump on her head, but will be fine. Do you hurt anywhere else Jessica?”
“I bumped my knee and head, but that’s it.” She’s smiling.
Nick pulls up and brings his bag over. “Fuck!” He kneels down.
“It is not all her blood. She shot the driver,” I tell him.
He nods and checks her head. “All this and it looks like butterfly stitches will close this.”
I look at Taylor. “The garage, Jared, Jax and her Security?”
“They just pulled in; they were testing the new HS bikes. Security was shot, not critical.” He tips his chin at Jessica. “She’s really okay?”
I smile. “She is perfect.”
He laughs. “She shot the driver. I wouldn’t mess with your family.” I smile at him. “You’re like Jeremy?”
“We are similar, but different. I am one of his guides.” He nods.
Nick checks Jessica’s knee telling her it is a bad bruise. He tells Jessie to watch her, but she looks fine.
He stands with her and carries her to Nick’s truck. “I’m getting her showered and into Security. We need to know who this is.” He sits her on the seat and moves away. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I step to Jessica and buckle her seat belt. “You are okay our sweet Jessica?”
She smiles. “I feel gross, but okay. I thought he hit you and I was pissed at the jerk. He’s lucky I just shot him.”
Jessie climbs in and laughs. “Babe, you shot him in the head.”
She smiles making me laugh. “I can’t wait to tell my dad. He’s going to be so proud.”
Oh shit. Jessie looks at me and shrugs. ‘He’ll be pissed, but she’s safe.’ I nod.
“I will see you at Security.” I kiss her head and close the door. As he drives away I watch Security follow then I pick up my helmet and walk to my bike.
Me: “Eagle Eye to Ops.”
Prez: “You keep your mic on at all times.” Prez is pissed.
Me: “The next time I see my wife unconscious and full of blood being carried toward me I will be sure to keep my mic on so I can hear all that is happening in the Ops Center. Right now I need to know where the passenger of the first truck is.” I hear his breath hiss out.
Prez: “Point made Eagle Eye. He is in holding here at Security.”
Me: “This is local. Every vehicle is from Rhode Island or Connecticut.”
Prez: “Come into Security and see what you can get.”
Me: “Roger, Prez.”
Prez: “She’s really okay?”
“Yes Prez, she is fine.” I tell him smiling. Babies. I want to tell everyone I know, but she needs to tell me first. I lift the front wheel and spin then ride to Security. Nick is following Taylor on Jessie’s bike.
At Security I find Prez still in Ops with Darren. Darren is running cleanup and I stand beside him looking at what is being pulled from the van.
“What did you get from the driver?” Prez asks on the side of me.
“They were drawing me close, but did not expect me to confront them. While I was busy they were taking Jessica. She was to die. They want me and would have kept her alive until I gave them information. It is connected to DeMarco, but I do not understand how. He is dead. They have help and it is local.”
He looks surprised. “Local as in our people?” Fuck. I nod. “The passenger is in holding. Go see what you can get. I want who is involved.”
In holding, the man is moaning laying on the cot. I open and walk in the cell and put my hand on his arm, he jumps then stills. I throw then pull my hand off him. He is not moaning and watches me. “Tell me who you are working for.” I see Gene with Aponi standing to his side. There is an older man dressed in a suit. He does not answer.
“Tell me how you were going to take me and what you are looking for.” I see Gene again then a Brother from Security. They are looking at maps. The Security Brother gives Gene papers. They are planning, but I do not get what. The man does not answer again.
“What did you hope for by taking me and my wife?” Money flashes through his head. Fuckin’ greed. I start to walk out and see Aponi laughing with him. I stop and see her naked on him. I walk out and slam the gate closed then throw him pain starting at his head, I close my eyes never turning and picture black pain rolling through him. As he screams, I walk away.
I go right to the meeting room and thumb in. Prez and Darren are here. “I need to see Security Brothers, I do not know the name. Aponi needs to be found and Gene is involved. They speak to an older man in a suit. Gene and the pussy downstairs were looking at maps. They look nautical, but I am not sure.”
Prez nods and sits. “Darren get me Brantley. I need Taylor and Jessie when they get in.” Darren leaves. “They were going to kill her without using her. What do you have that she loses value for?”
“The ability to learn and get into places.” I am looking for a connection. “The PD book. Did anyone ever go through it?”
“No. Jessie has it, but I don’t think he’s looked at it yet. We’ve had too much going on. When he comes in we’ll look together. Baxters had someone trying to get them out of International waters, but they aren’t looking at Jess. Why come this way to get to them and not use her?” His mind is flying over scenarios. He looks up at me. “Aponi told them about you. Does she know your abilities?”
“Some. Not all. She does not read me, since we are bound she does not read you either.” There is more to this.
“What
did you do to the pussy downstairs?” he asks and I know he is just looking for something to change his focus.
“I sent pain through him. He will not be thinking about anything, but the pain. I do not want Aponi seeing me through him.”
He nods. “Call the reservation and make sure Aiyana is covered. I’ll call Geek.”
I make the call and learn Aponi has seen her recently. I look, but do not see anymore. I tell Co to keep everyone away from her. He knows. When I slide my phone off I look at Prez. He is running scenarios again. “Aponi has been there. How did you know?”
“You threw some of what you got when you ran for your bike. I got kids. I’m not sure why it feels right, but it’s all I got. Why kill Jess? She would be the logical choice. If it’s for learning and getting into places they’d be able to control someone weaker than you. You’d only last for so long before you killed them. Without Jess to hold over you they can’t control you. They’d look for easier. You are trusted everywhere and would be able to get them one of the kids.”
“I would die before putting a child at risk. Aponi knows this.” I was thinking of Jessica and not what the pussy was thinking. I’m glad he got it.
He nods. “But they would have that control for a short time thinking they’d have Jess. Without either of you I have to think they will go for what they want in a different way. How well does Gene know the MC and the Reservation?”
“He will not make it through the night, it will not matter.”
Brantley comes in. “Get me the Brothers in Security on the board I need Dakota to identify one.” He does and I watch him slide through pages of six at a time. “With the knowledge they now have it will matter Brother.”
He is right. I nod and see the Brother. “Him. Bottom right.”
“Doug. Track him and get him in here. Whatever it takes,” Prez tells Brantley.
Jessie and Darren come in. “Jessica?”
Jessie nods. “She’s in the next meeting room with her laptop and tablet.” I breathe easier.
Prez is still running scenarios and they sit not fazed by his inactivity. We are waiting for Taylor so I sit. He looks at me. “Aponi wouldn’t know the MC, but Doug would. He’s never made it to HS, but he’s tried. Even moved here hoping to get in. They needed MC for information.”