by L. Ann Marie
I hear Taylor. “Eagle Eye permission to engage solo.”
“Roger Sniper.” I see the blips on the map and Jamie’s telling him to follow control. Fuck. My heart is in my throat. Jamie’s talking directly to Dakota. We hear an explosion then Dakota. “Blackhawk clear.” Jamie’s pissed and throws a clipboard hitting the hologram base and knocking it out.
Prez takes a headset. “Sniper I need status.” Jamie’s shocked and watches.
“Copy Air One. Eagle Eye solo engaged, locked and fired hitting the aircraft with the lock on Blackhawk.”
“Roger Sniper. Blackhawk I need status.”
“Blackhawk clear, target has guns at the ready. I’m showing no other aircraft.”
Prez turns to Jamie. “Is that aircraft on the outside?” He says its ships. “I need you to guide me here. I know you’re pissed, but we had reason and I’ll explain later. Right now I have four choppers running into battle and I need support. Can you be that for me?” I am so fuckin’ proud of him.
“Yes. They have guns aboard the ship, they had an aircraft locked on Cloud so they’re probably ready to take the others down. With no air support that won’t be easy.”
“Blackhawk resume lead for the Halo and MC2. Eagle Eye permission to run solo stands keep them covered Brother.”
“Roger Air One,” Dakota says and I’m smiling.
Jamie is talking to Prez and Cloud engages. I guess that means he shoots. Prez is giving orders and Jamie looks at him like he’s crazy for a minute then smiles. I am watching the on-boards and see Dakota twice. He swoops down and is gone both times. The ship is taking hit after hit and Jared yells he’s got a lock. Fuck that means on him. All we can see is in front of the choppers and its fuckin’ nerve-racking to hear everyone calling in and not understanding it.
Jared sounds frantic and we see Dakota coming from the side. He fuckin’ shoots his guns hitting a missile right in front of Jared then he’s gone. The whole room explodes and Prez yells to shut the fuck up or he’s clearing it. I smile seeing my dad in him. The deck of the ship explodes and Cloud is barking orders to follow Dakota hitting whatever is left. Jared tells Cloud he has the bridge and Cloud clears the deck. All we have is water and Jared’s view. The top deck of the boat blows up. Holy fuck! Now I’m excited!
Jamie is telling Prez to keep them engaged until the deck is cleared. I thought Cloud just cleared it, but I watch. They’re shooting again at anything standing on deck. It’s cool for the first run they make. They have the doors open and guns shooting from the sides too, but they all do the same thing one right after another. On the third pass I’m bored.
“Air One to Eagle Eye. I need a status.”
“Roger Air One the ship is disabled.”
“Why are you still firing?” Prez asks making me laugh. He sounds baffled.
“To ensure it does not come back Air One.”
Prez looks at Jamie and he shrugs. “Air One to Eagle Eye. Why don’t you fire a missile?” I hear Cloud laugh. I guess he said it wrong.
“Air One, I cannot while the Teams are running across the deck.”
Jamie tells Prez to cease fire so they can finish. “Blackhawk cease fire.”
“Thank fuck!” Cloud says and Prez looks at Jamie. Cloud talks to the others then tells them to jump. He says something to Prez and gets a yes.
“I was supposed to tell them to stop?” Prez is pissed.
“Cloud should have stopped them, but he’s pissed so he would wait for control to order it.” Jamie says smiling. My father-in-law just fucked up. Shit.
“Eagle Eye finish it.”
“Roger Air One,” Dakota says. He doesn’t seem fazed by the others leaving. He’s facing the ship and we see his missiles fly. The other choppers are showing water.
Uncle Danny comes in with a happy Jeremy. He jumps on Prez. Uncle Danny knows right away shits about to get real and he’s watching with that intense look. “LB, you need me to bring them in?”
Prez nods he turns to Josiah. “Air Ops transferring control to LP1. Blackhawk and Eagle Eye report to Security.” He gets answers and looks at Uncle Danny, “Just get them home.”
Holding Jeremy up, he pulls off the headset and turns to Jamie. “I’ll explain when they get in. Right now I need to call Christian and let him know his father survived the fuckin’ Op.”
He walks away and Jamie puts his head down. “Fuck.”
Uncle Danny looks at him. “Pride is a funny thing. With the kids it’s also a lesson.”
“Why didn’t he just tell us?” Jamie asks.
“Another lesson. I’m sure you’ll learn it when everyone is together. LB doesn’t do anything without a reason and he hates explaining shit twice.” He turns back to the board and watches the water. I guess he’s done.
Jamie looks at him and pulls his phone. He starts walking and I watch him. “Ben, I fucked it up again.” He walks out the door.
My father’s going to go ballistic over this one. Uncle Danny turns to me. “This is getting to be a problem.” I nod not knowing what to say. “LB needs everyone to understand he’s in charge here.”
“Yeah. I hope my dad can get them to see it. Older doesn’t make them smarter.”
He nods and we watch the first three choppers land. Dakota is flying over the reservation. Cloud hands his clip board over and is barking orders as he’s walking away. He’s pissed. He takes a Security bike and flies out the gate. Fuck. Angry Indian incoming. “Get him in the meeting room,” Uncle Danny says.
I look behind me. Fuck. No one is there. “I’ll try.”
He guides Dakota in as Cloud storms in the door. “I’m supposed to get you in the meeting room.”
He looks at me and I step back. “More fuckin’ orders from kids?”
I put my hands up. “It was from me. Get in the fuckin’ meeting room and calm the fuck down.” Uncle Danny yells from the Ops door. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him yell while he’s pissed. I thumb in and look first. It’s empty so I walk in. When he walks by me I walk out. I am not staying with angry Indian SEAL.
Prez walks down the hall with a still smiling Jeremy. “Christian good?”
He smiles. “Yeah Brother. Jeremy talked to him. It’s good. CJ took some calming, but she’s good too.” He starts walking to Ops.
“Cloud’s in meeting room one,” I tell him.
“I’m waiting on Dakota and Jamie.” He keeps walking. Jeremy follows surprising me. When Dakota sets down Jamie comes in. I tell him Cloud is in one. He nods, but doesn’t move.
We watch Dakota do his checks, he has the guns brought in and talks to his crew. Everyone fist bumps him. Taylor has Brothers moving supplies then follows Dakota. He turns back talking to Rayne then runs to catch up. Dakota waits at the gate. I smile. He won’t leave without his Security.
Prez is talking to Uncle Danny, they turn and watch Dakota and Taylor riding in. When they get to the lot Prez thanks Josiah and starts for the meeting room. Jeremy, Jamie and Uncle Danny follow. At the door Prez stops, “Jessie.” I guess I’m following too. He smiles and walks out.
Dakota walks in the front door and Taylor goes right around him. Shit he’s pissed too. Prez holds up his hand. “He didn’t have all the information we did.”
“You don’t leave a Brother behind. Ever! It doesn’t matter what he knew or didn’t!” Taylor’s yelling and Prez takes him down the hall.
Uncle Danny tells me to open the door and everyone piles in. Jeremy runs to Cloud and jumps. Jamie stands at the window looking out. I’m waiting for what he has to say. When Cloud growls walking toward Dakota. I stand in front of him. Uncle Danny stands in front of me.
“If you’d put that anger aside for a minute you will see it was us that are wrong,” Jamie says never turning from the window.
Prez and Taylor come in. Taylor won’t even look at Cloud. Fuck. This is bad.
Prez looks at all of us and smiles. “Just in time.” I smile fuckin’ Prez. “If you haven’t figured it out yet a vision had
you dead right now Cloud. I’ve already talked to Christian and had Jeremy reassure him you are very much alive.”
Cloud hugs Jeremy. “Oh Little Ninja.” He starts talking in Mohegan. Prez waits. When he stops he looks at Dakota.
Prez holds up his hand. “Sit, there’s more.” Cloud puts Jeremy down and sits.
“Yesterday Dakota saw something off and got a warning. We called Christian and Jeremy right away. Jeremy was upset and Christian was a basket case. Dakota jumped with Jeremy and found out why. Not only was his father dying in the ocean, the yard and reservation were being hit all at the same time. He couldn’t deal. We warned Pres, had men at the reservation and covered your ass.” I want to laugh at Jamie’s expression, but keep my mouth shut.
“If it was anything else I could have warned you. I will not repeat my fathers’ mistakes. Aubrey is a lesson no Brother should ever forget. I will not be the one that puts another kid in hell. Now you know why things happened the way they did let’s move to your reactions.”
He walks away from the table then back. “I was fuckin’ pissed that a Brother that has known me for years would treat me with such disrespect. You know I have very little experience with Air Ops and you left me out there. An Officer and a Brother, at one time the man I took guidance from. You fuckin’ knew and did nothing to help where and when I needed it. Whether you like it or not this is my Club, anything and everything that happens here is on me. While I was keeping your ass safe you were letting me swing.” He leans on the table looking from Cloud to Jamie. “Dakota didn’t want to fly under you two because of the last time you fucked it up. I gave him a way to do that and keep everyone covered.” He looks at Dakota and Jeremy. They get up and walk out.
“I don’t know if it is me or Dakota that has you both second guessing everything we do, but I’m not taking any more chances with his or anyone else’s lives. He has done nothing to earn disrespect from either one of you. Pres is due here tomorrow and will stay until I am comfortable with Air Ops and know how to keep my people and yours safe. Your services here are no longer needed or trusted.”
Cloud stands up pissed again. “I was on that fuckin’ chopper and watched you fly away.” Taylor has tears in his eyes and I look away. Fuck, I never thought of that, no wonder he was pissed. Cloud goes to him and I understand I’m sorry from what Dakota has taught us.
Prez walks out. I look at Uncle Danny and know I’m staying. Shit. “How do I fix this?” Jamie asks and I’m surprised he’s looking at me.
“What you lost here was respect. Prez is big on second chances. The thing is, you don’t realize he’s a grown man now. You still treat him like a kid. He has never given anyone a reason to think he’s incapable of doing anything yet you all expect it and smile when you think he’s wrong. When have you ever seen him wrong in anything he does? All he wanted today was to keep Cloud alive, keep the yard and reservation safe and stop Ortiz’s ship from supplying drugs to the northeastern seaboard. He did that on top of keeping peace in two towns, the families covered and dealing with disrespect from adults that should know better. What was your plan for the day?”
Uncle Danny cracks up. “Sounds like a light day for LB, let’s take him out for dinner.”
He stands, so I do too. I look at Jamie. “Prez won’t put any weight to what you say until Dakota is shown some respect. He saved millions on choppers and the lives of three crews, one being your son. Once that’s done he’ll need some space to get the Air Ops. He asked for help and trusted you to give him that. You’ll need to build that trust with him to get an invite back.”
He nods. “And with you?”
I’m surprised. “I can’t say I’d send an invite to my next Op, but I don’t have a problem with my father-in-law hanging at Christmas dinner. Just don’t fuckin’ growl at me.” Uncle Danny laughs and pulls me out with Taylor.
We run to Prez’s office laughing. Taylor follows, but doesn’t understand and keeps asking. I open the door and pull him in then close it quick. Prez and Darren are watching and I mash in behind Uncle Danny. He throws money down. “Jamie first.”
I throw in a hundred. Dakota laughs. “Fuck, I didn’t even see you there.” They shush me.
Jamie tells Cloud he fucked it up and should know better. Cloud doesn’t say a word. Jamie stands and says he’ll have Jared bring him home. Cloud nods. As soon as the door closes Cloud pulls his phone. “Pres, I know you’re pissed.” He listens. “I need some time. I’m not leaving until I fix this.” He listens pacing. “I’ll do the fuckin’ maintenance and earn it back. I don’t care, but I’m not leaving until it’s right.” He listens then asks my dad to bring Christian with him.
When he hangs up he looks at the camera. Fuck. I smile. “I have no fuckin’ excuse. I will be at the hotel and work at the hangar every fuckin’ day until you feel I can be trusted to fly with you. Never once did I have a reason to doubt you or your ability to lead.” He starts talking in Mohegan and I’m lost. I didn’t get that far yet.
Whatever he said, Prez relaxes and Dakota is smiling. “Well, I’m buying dinner,” Uncle Danny says and we laugh.
Prez asks Darren to check in at the reservation and the MC and text him a clear. I call our wife and she’s going to dinner with her dad and Jared. Since I’m staying away from all that, I pull Dakota up and out to dinner with Uncle Danny. Taylor is hunting Jeremy down and will meet us. It turns out to be a pretty good day. Dakota is smiling and glad it will all work out. This tells me it will all work out. I’m learning.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Two weeks
Eagle Eye
Today Jessica says we can tell everyone she is pregnant even if it’s a bit early. I am excited and call my mother. They are away again, but she sends her love and says she will see us soon. It is more than I expected and makes me smile. “You look happy,” Jessica says leaning over to kiss me.
“I am very happy. My Mother is excited about the baby, sends her love and will see us soon.”
She smiles. “My mom next.” She takes my phone and calls her mother. They scream and squeal laughing and excited. If I were the babies, I would hide. There is absolutely nothing Mitch has in common with my mother and that makes me smile. I am glad Jessica has this moment. She talks to her sister screaming and squealing again then they make a girl day.
I hope I have work that day. They scream just for fun. I kiss my smiling wife and call Chevy. She laughs at me, but I tell him without the screaming. He congratulates me and Jessie. I wait to call Sebastian because he might scream.
She sits in my lap and kisses me. “Are you trying for coffee?” She smiles, her eyes are shining with excitement. I slide her robe off her shoulder and take her nipple in my mouth. She holds my head so I cannot move. When my hand squeezes her other breast she moans and starts moving on me. I am going to come if I do not move her off me. Standing I kick the chair back and take my mouth off her. I turn her and push her shoulder down so she is leaning on the table. Starting from her shoulder I kiss down her back telling her I want her pussy.
“I didn’t shower,” she says and moans when I bite her ass.
I bite just below the other cheek. “It excites you when you know we have already come in you.” I lick from the bottom up smelling Jessie and sweet Jessica.
“Yes.” She pushes into me looking for more.
I give her more and she moves for my tongue. When she comes I stand kissing her back and dropping my pants. “Now you will have both our scents on your body my sweet Jessica.” I bite her shoulder getting another moan. “It excites us too.” I slide in feeling her still tightening and releasing. She cries for harder so I slam into her. Holding her hips, I keep her steady. I lose control hearing our bodies slapping together and her noises.
Jessie comes in and groans, I cannot stop and feel my dick swell when he leans down to her. “It’s a good morning for our girl. I love smelling us in you babe.” He moans with her and kisses her lips then stands smiling. “Hurry it up Brother or you’ll be
late.” He laughs walking out the door.
“I may be late,” I say pounding into her. She starts tightening around me and I give her harder. “Come for me Jessica.” When she cries out I let go. I fall to my elbow on the table and kiss her back. “You smell best with us both on you.” She makes a noise and I smile laying my head on her back. Sweet Jessica.
***
Jessie
I fire the asswipe at the Dunkin’ and make Church on time. Dakota is sitting beside my empty chair. I can’t help, but smile. “Glad you made it Brother.”
“It was close,” he says with a smile. Fuckin’ Brother. I rode halfway to Dunkin’ with a hard-on.
Prez comes in and throws his pad on the table. His hands go through his hair and I look around, everyone is smiling. “Dakota has Cloud given you what you need to work with him?”
“He has turned into a pain in the ass. Everywhere I go he turns up helping with everything. He took the trash out of my office and Armor All’d the fuckin’ chopper. I will fly with him if you can make him go home.” He looks disgusted and everyone laughs.
“While forgiveness is the theme of the day can we get my father-in-law home too? Cock blocked by Dad is getting old. That’s supposed to happen before you get married not after.” I don’t give a fuck if they laugh I need him gone. Jared is begging to send Jamie home.
Prez wipes his eyes and takes a deep breath. “Between him and Pres I am comfortable with the Air Ops. I learned more in a week than I will ever need. They were thorough and respectful. I have no concern with Cloud running with you Dakota. He’s apologized and met with me to learn what happens in the choppers. I am confident that they have both realized we are men and sometimes know best. I’ll meet with them today. Cloud can run with your Op tomorrow then I’ll ship him home.”