by L. Ann Marie
Brantley sees me and turns to his computer. He was fine now we’re back to this?
“Get over it Brother, it’s been for-fuckin’-ever and you weren’t avoiding me yesterday.”
He looks around me and relaxes. “I’m good Ghost.”
I roll my eyes. “What the fuck is with the turning around?”
He’s scared? “I thought Dakota was with you.”
Oh shit. “Did you text the Club?”
“No! I’ll never text your shit again Brother!”
He didn’t text anyone. What the fuck is he scared of? Prez and Taylor come in and go right to the meeting room. I follow. When I sit Brantley comes in without looking around.
Prez smiles watching him. “He doesn’t care if you show the feeds Brother relax.”
I laugh as Brantley slumps in his seat. “He spun the bike around like Jessie does and I sent it before I even thought about it.”
We all laugh. “He won’t hurt you Brother. At least not the way you’re thinking,” Prez says and we stop laughing. “He won’t ever hurt a Brother. Tess thought this was important enough that she called me at seven to tell me Dakota will never hurt a Brother. He is good and only uses what others used against what he believes in. I had her repeat that. If someone uses knowledge of his abilities against his cause or people he will use that to destroy them. He doesn’t see it as scary or concerning, to Dakota it just is. I can see why you are nervous Brantley, but Tess thinks it’s funny and says you should relax because it is good.”
“If a pussy shoots at him he’ll shoot them?” Taylor asks.
“Not if he is on a job. Work is work to him. He sees it different. He follows orders and gets it done however he can. He always looks for the quickest solution. When the threat is personal to him or his people he will, according to Tess, use his abilities to destroy the threat.”
It makes sense to me and I nod. “You poor bastard,” Taylor says to me.
I laugh. “My ancestor-in-laws say we have a long story.”
“Let’s hope it’s a painless long story.” He has them all laughing.
Now I’m worried. He didn’t say if it’s a good story. I call him and hear Jess laughing. “Brother our story is long that means good too right?”
He laughs. “The ancestors smile on us always Jessie. It will have hard parts, but happy mostly.”
“So there’s no pain written in the story?” Taylor is laughing and I try to cover the mic.
He isn’t smiling anymore. “Tell Taylor your story is not riddled with pain.”
I look at Taylor. Oh fuck. “See now I don’t know if you’re fuckin’ with him.” He laughs and I relax then laugh. “Fuckin’ Brother.” I swipe the phone off. “My story isn’t riddled with pain. He was just fuckin’ with you Taylor.”
He’s shocked and I smile. “He said my name?” I nod. “Jesusfuckinchrist!”
Prez laughs. “Let’s get to why we’re here Brothers. Although this is fun, I have to leave for a meeting in a few minutes with Pres, Jamie and Kevin.”
I shake my head no at Taylor and he relaxes.
“Did you get anything else out of Doug?”
Taylor shakes his head. “No Prez, he gave just what I wrote out. He didn’t add anything to it afterword.”
Brantley laughs. “Waterboarding is effective.” Prez nods.
“Jessie did you have anything besides what Dakota threw you?” I shake my head no.
“Baxters have a stake in the fight for international waters, we have one in the drugs running up the coast. The MC believes there are ties with the human trafficking to the ships. With the evidence pulled off the freighter I agree with them. Keeping the freighter in International they can move loading with people while offloading the drugs. Any ship can meet them and transfer the human cargo. It’s a vicious cycle that needs to be stopped. I have no doubt that we’ll be working with Brothers and the Baxters again. I need to know your concerns in this.”
Fuck. The ‘rents again. “We need them to stay professional. Dakota doesn’t do relaxed on jobs. He’s like VP.” This surprises him, but he nods.
“I need help in IT. We still don’t have enough Brothers to cover full time Ops and the towns.” Brantley tells him.
Taylor looks from the table to Prez. “I’m not sure where I fit in here. I don’t have a problem training or working HS, but this is different than what I left. Am I needed here as a trainer? Jessie has it all working fine.”
Fuck. I want to tell him no, but Prez holds his hand up. “Training is where your job is. HS is where we need you in times of trouble. Brantley needs people because me and Jessie have been busy. Him with training the PDs and new Security with Dakota. Darren is full out with all the other Club shit. If Jessie could get to his job we’d have more Brothers and be ready to run with the big boys.” He smiles. “You are right where we need you, there is no doubt in any of us about that, Brother. You didn’t get handed a place here you earned it.”
Taylor relaxes. “I didn’t know, I wouldn’t have taken the extra week.”
Prez waves him away. “Any other concerns?” He looks at each of us. “Darren was concerned about the Brothers being spread thin. With the applications moving we can address that. We can run boot camps like we did at the MC when Baxters merged. Brantley, this will get you more in IT. As for Dakota, I will warn the MC again about professionalism, but Pres and VP threw him protection and VP has an open order to deal with anyone fuckin’ with him or the Ops.”
“They threw him protection?” Brantley asks shocked.
“Did you see how he reacted to a possible threat to Aubrey? When he thought VP was going to shoot him? Tiny playing tug of war with his body. Yeah he needs protection and they are the highest and deadliest Brothers to cover him. Despite all his abilities he is young and vulnerable. We will all remember that. It’s when we forget or take him for granted that he’s hurt. Every MC Officer threw in for him, since ours sponsored him our protection should be understood.” He looks at Brantley.
“He has mine Prez,” I tell him just in case the dipshit missed it.
“Mine too Brother,” Taylor says.
Brantley. “They’d all kill me if I didn’t give mine.” I laugh.
“I need to go. Jared is waiting.” He walks toward the door. “Try to keep shit contained until I get back. Brantley only emergencies get through to me. Darren, Jessie or Taylor for anything else. Dakota is off.” He smiles at me and I know he knows about the baby. Fuckin’ Brothers.
“Roger Prez,” Brantley says following him out.
“Plural Jessie,” he says as the door closes. What? Plural. Oh my fuckin’ God! I sit right back down. I smile. Ours will be the first kids born in this new town, we’ll need two for the trailblazing. I shake my head and realize Taylor is watching.
“Jess is pregnant, with plural apparently,” I say smiling
He laughs. “Congratulations Brother. Be careful or it will be all over by lunch and you’ll need trailers to hold the shit the MC is sending.”
I laugh. “Brantley won’t send any news from us anymore. Especially now.”
He laughs nodding. “He’s still the same when all is said and done.”
It strikes me he’s been gone for years. We’ve grown up and out in that time. “You want to help me with the apps and I’ll go through your classes with you?”
He stands up. “Fuck yeah, some of the classes don’t sound familiar. Dakota never made it back for me to ask yesterday. I’m not sure I would have asked after the holding cell shit anyway.” He smiles. “Now that Tess says it’s good I wouldn’t have a problem, but I didn’t get it yesterday.” I relax. Thank God for Tess.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Two weeks
Eagle Eye
Lex walks into my office. I put the reports down and wait. He is nervous, but excited. “I never catch you in. I’m glad you’re here today.”
“Me too I would have missed you again.”
He smiles, but jumps right back to nervous. “I wanted
to ask about the manufacturing job. I know the job and people.”
I put my hand up. “Jessica has agreed to oversee it. I gave the plant to the Club. I have too much on my plate right now. You were brought up to run the day to day and I agreed. The job is yours. Nothing changes except paperwork which Jessica will train you on. It will make your life easier and you will have less of it.” He relaxes and excitement runs through him. “Today I announced you as the Plant Manager and warned your people about letting it out until I talked to you.” I stand up. “I think you need to see what your plant is up to.”
We walk out and into the assembly room. There is a big banner congratulating him and all his people are clapping. Jessica pushes a big cake into the center and yells for us to come down. He is stunned and hugs me. I push back and laugh catching my breath. “Sorry E. I’m so fuckin’ happy.” He steps back and looks down at the assembly floor smiling.
“You should be. You deserve this Brother. Go. Celebrate with your people.” I laugh watching him run down the stairs. When I look down Jessica is watching me. I wave and she smiles. She was concerned.
I sign. ‘I have to go to work.’ She nods and Lex hugs her. I get my reports and breathe for a minute. I should have known and prepared for Lex. I will know next time. He does well here and I am happy for the man he becomes.
I drop my bag in my office and run down to training. My class starts in a few minutes, but I haven’t seen Taylor the last couple of days. I hope to catch him today. He’s waiting by the room and I smile. “Brother, I was coming to look for you. It has been busy with all the new Brothers.”
He smiles. “It has. The boys went back today. I’ve been rushing out so I can spend time with them. Fuckin’ Mase is so smart already. I loved having them here.”
“Your brothers loved being here. Jeremy and Jacob look up to you. They are proud of the man you have become.” He looks surprised. “We all have what are not proud moments in our lives. We follow the path as our fathers taught us and do what must be done. Those moments are forgotten as we see the right happening around us. With time and more right than wrong happening you will see more clearly Brother.”
He watches me saying the words over in his head. “How old are you?” I laugh. “Jeremy says you’re the prophet. I don’t know exactly what that means, but I’ll take his word for it and listen to every fuckin’ thing you’ve got to say. Thanks Brother.” He steps toward me and I put my hand out.
He hits my fist. I shrug. “Lex caught me by surprise, I am still reeling from it.” He does not understand and the class is coming in so I cannot explain. ‘I will tell you later.’
He laughs and walks in. “Jessie said I need to do this class. It’s the only one he didn’t do with me.” I nod and smile. This one is my favorite.
The first half I talk and take questions. The Brothers are eager to learn and I take them to the field behind Security. We have what looks like debris set up and they step over or around it. Prez, Jessie and Darren come out to watch. I ask for four volunteers and take the four biggest. I ask Taylor to help me defend with anything lying around. We play and the four are down in three minutes. Everyone is happy and laughing. Taylor is fast and thinks quickly like Jessie. I ask Prez if he wants to play. He nods handing off his knife and gun and walks up with us. Darren and Jessie are laughing.
I tell the Brothers the game and they agree to the rule; once they are down they stay down. Prez runs and flips into the center of them. I am shocked and look at Jessie. He is watching Prez. Taylor is laughing and I notice two Brothers getting closer to me. I flip and swipe the feet of one and he falls laughing. The other jumps to tackle me and I turn hitting his back with a stick just enough that he feels it. When I stand up a Brother is backing away from Prez and I laugh. Everyone is down and watching. I take his feet out and he falls on his ass thanking me. The Brothers are watching Prez, but not saying anything. He points to two and tells them they can leave then thanks the others for playing. The two are pissed.
‘They had more than fun on their minds,’ he tells me and I nod. He is getting good at reading.
I pair the Brothers and watch as they defend with what they find. Jessie’s laughing when a Brother throws a water bottle at Taylor. He catches it and has the Brother’s neck holding the cap side to his eye. He tells him to think of what would hurt most and lets him loose. The Brother is smiling and I am proud of Taylor. He is here to teach.
When class is over Prez calls me and Taylor into the meeting room. “I am surprised and proud you showed for the Brothers Prez.”
He smiles. “Sometimes it’s good to show. Today it felt right. Did you get the two Brothers?”
I shake my head no. “They have been aggressive, I was going to ask Taylor his thoughts on them and one other, but we have not met yet. I did not get intent from them.”
He nods. “If you have concerns get rid of the last. I don’t want negative right from the beginning. If training brings it out the job will cause it to fester.”
Jessie laughs. “There’s our Prez, I missed the old guy.”
Everyone laughs and Prez just smiles at them. “I want Taylor with Dakota when the MC is here tomorrow. Jessie pick up the classes for him. Try not to shoot anyone.”
“Fuck! I mean, on it Prez.” Jessie rolls his eyes and I laugh.
“We’re running Ops from here, Rayne and Zack will run with you, but Taylor is your lead on both days. I trust Zack and Rayne and will run beside Jamie, but I’ve never run Air Ops with more than our two choppers. Cloud and Eagle Feather are in the other two.” Shit.
He looks at Taylor. “You run with Ops, but your crew doesn’t. If at any time, Dakota is left without a control, take it and order permission to engage solo. Josiah will get the same message so it won’t be long before I’m on.”
I look at Taylor. He is confused. “Why am I control?”
“So he’ll have the order to get the job done. He can plan and find the best way without Air Ops control, but he’ll wait for the order. That’s you in the event of a clusterfuck like the last Op One ran.” Prez looks at me asking if that works. I am comfortable with both Zack and Rayne, but I am glad to have Taylor and nod yes. I am not so sure about Jamie and control. When I am flying and keeping so many things going at once I need a direction to focus on.
“Security is flat out tomorrow so we have HS running with Family. Ortiz is our only Op for the day. MC will have six from HS here. Driscoll is set and has been doing fuckin’ awesome with the PD. Is there any other area I am missing?”
I can think of none. I close my eyes and look, then jump. I feel the ancestors’ support and am comforted by it. On my branch I sit letting the wind run through me. Co tells me to remember our fathers and all that came before. I answer I will and jump. When I open my eyes Prez is watching. “Remember our fathers and all who came before.” He nods and I see everything flying through his head.
“Jessie get Jeremy up for me. Taylor call Christian and find out if he sees anything coming toward the MC. Dakota check in at the reservation, find out what Co’s trying to say, maybe without the cryptic fuckin’ message.”
I call Co knowing I will not get anything more. Aiyana is nervous and Co is concerned. Prez calls me to him. I smile he is getting very good. Jeremy and Jacob are on the computer. Jeremy isn’t talking or thinking clearly. He is upset.
“Jeremy where do we need people the most?” At least he looks at me.
“Dad and the yard,” Jacob says looking at Jeremy.
“I will be with Cloud. Prez made sure that will run right. If you have Air at the yard will that help?” I am trying to gauge his body language and see him relax a little.
“You can cover.”
I wait for more, but Jacob is not saying anything. “Jeremy jump.”
He looks at me with tears in his eyes. “Yes,” he says closing his eyes.
I jump and do not feel him. “Come to me Little Ninja.”
“Here.”
Turning I see him. ‘Just
be. You are trying to force it, just be, Jeremy.’ We fly through feeling the ancestors and he relaxes. On my branch I wait for him to calm. Co speaks and Jeremy freezes. ‘You remember the fathers my warriors the ancestors smile.’
Jeremy laughs and jumps. Shit. How does anyone ever keep track of this kid? I jump and they are not on the computer. Prez is watching me. “He smiled. Tell me we know more than we did.”
“Something with Taylor’s order and me knowing to cover Cloud calmed him. I think we need to warn the MC about possible trouble. Something up there has Jeremy worried.” I turn and Taylor is watching. “Did Christian see anything?” I ask knowing he did, but not what.
“Mom said he’s not talking. He won’t if he thinks it will change or he can’t process it. She’s worried.” He’s worried too.
Prez is thinking again and everything runs through his head. “Tomorrow the first sign of anything off you get Dakota off control. Dakota follow the fuckin’ order from Taylor. No questions, just follow.” He talks in that voice that demands a response.
“Roger Prez,” me and Taylor say at the same time. I am relieved by this order and think it is right.
“I need to call VP.” He walks away pulling his phone.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jessie
Everyone is fuckin’ nuts today. I sent the trainees out to learn the roads for the last two hours of their time. Walking in Ops I feel the tension. MC’s HS sent two instead of the six and Prez sent them to the reservation.
Air is just leaving and they take center stage on the boards. It’s a boring ride with just water to see. I don’t get the draw to fly if that’s what you get to look at. I’m actually excited to see a fishing boat.
Jamie tells Cloud he will have a visual in one and I hope to fuck he means minute. Josiah jumps in with a plane heading toward the choppers then the room explodes. The MC has shots fired on Main. The reservation has shots fired at the gate, but the pussy is dead and the reservation is secure. Thank fuck for sensors.
Cloud tells Jared to drop back and I move closer to Air. Prez is on with the reservation making sure no other gates were hit. Jamie tells them to do something and Cloud says they can’t he’s got a lock. Does that mean he’s locked as a target or he locked on a target?