by L. Ann Marie
She’s breathing as heavy as I am. I’m glad to see that I didn’t lose my fuckin’ mind alone. “I need to get to work. I’ll see you at the Club and finish this without the fuckin’ cameras. Right now I need to go kill Brantley.” I walk out the door and straight up to Ops.
Holy fuck! What the hell just happened?
***
Eliza
Shit! What the hell am I doing? They shoot people all the time. It sounds like it’s only the Officers that get away with it. I’m going to get shot. He’s head of everything from what Sheila says, and he’s killing the Brantley guy. Shit. I haven’t been anywhere near a guy since the Outlaws. That’s got to be it. I’m horny. That’s it. He’s gorgeous and I’m horny.
Now that I’ve told myself that lie, I need to get through the pop ups. I shake my head no and walk out. It will be a waste of bullets to run it now. My whole body is shaking. I need to go home. I climb the stairs and push through the door thinking I can be there in minutes when Sheila walks out of Ops with a big smile on. Fuck.
“Fun times in pop ups.” She links her arm in mine and turns us to the break room. “I need coffee and you can tell me about it. Darren is threatening Brantley with Dakota. It had to be good.”
“Oh my God. Tell me he shut the camera down.” I try to pull away so I can make it out of the building, but she isn’t letting my arm go. Food and lights are overrated anyway, I could find a job, Walmart is always hiring. They probably aren’t because the temp agency finds everyone work. Except me, they told me to try here and had me meet Sheila. They found everyone else jobs though. I could totally do the cashier thing.
She pushes me down and my ass hits a chair. “Spill it Sister.”
Oh damn. I was looking for work and forgot all about finding a believable lie to tell her. “Umm it was just a misunderstanding.” She’s not stupid and her eyes narrow. Shit. What could it be a misunderstanding of? Saying my panties are toast and I need to go home doesn’t seem like a good idea right now.
“Darren isn’t threatening Brantley over a misunderstanding. What the fuck happened?”
She doesn’t know? “He kissed me.”
Now she’s shocked. Great. “Darren kissed you and he’s threatening Brantley?”
“I kissed him back?” She stares at me. Damn it. “All right it was like a fuckin’ cyclone hit or something.”
She smiles. “That would get him killed. I miss all the good shit.” She gets up and goes to the coffee maker.
What? “How is any of this good shit? You people are crazy, you shoot people all the time. I can’t get shot. How will I stand at the register all day?”
She looks back and smiles. “Darren doesn’t lose it. Ever. If he lost it with you, he’s got it bad. What the fuck are you talking about a register?” Her phone rings and she puts her finger up. “Hi Tess. Yeah she’s right here.” She’s smiling and I’m wondering how crazy she really is.
She puts the phone out to me. “I don’t know a Tess.”
She rolls her eyes. “Take the fuckin’ phone and listen to her. She knows what she’s talking about.”
“Hello?” I take the phone wondering how much it takes to get shot.
“You are getting a job in HS and you need to stop with the damn Walmart. Get a grip and don’t fight this with Darren. It will all work out and it will be good if you get your shit together. Marty and Sheila can’t be the only women HS forever so stop playing around and take your place like you’re supposed to!”
Holy shit. “Yes ma’am.” Sheila is still smiling. I hand her the phone. “She said no Walmart.”
Sheila starts laughing. “Tess doesn’t call about shopping, what the hell did she say?”
I tell her and she’s laughing again. There is definitely something wrong here and I don’t think it’s me. “Who is Tess and why is she yelling at me? How did she know about Walmart? Are there cameras that she’s watching?” I look around. There are cameras everywhere. I saw it in surveillance when we took the tour yesterday.
“Tess is Rich and Patches’ old lady. She’s cool as shit. They’re the MC where we come from in Mass. Anyway, Tess is a seer. She sees shit and tells us when trouble is coming. I’ve never heard her swear so you must mean something to Darren for her to call and sort your shit.” She’s still smiling and I’m wondering how fast she is. I could make it to the door before she realizes what I’m planning. The element of surprise can probably get me enough to make it outside.
A man comes in and laughs. “She would catch you,” he says. He’s beautiful; what the hell do these people eat?
It dawns on me that I didn’t say a word. I stand up and look around. I’m not talking so how the hell does he know what I’m thinking?
“I am Dakota. Like Tess I can read. You are funny and that is good because you will need it. The Brothers are crazy, but the seers and readers can make you crazy if you let them. Do not let them.” I nod because what can I possibly say here? “We do not tell members of the readers and seers, but they know. You need to know too. Most of HS and all the Officers have the knowledge of who they are. I am one of them.”
Sheila cracks up because this is such a normal conversation to have with a man you don’t know. Dakota. He’s one of my new bosses too, I think. I’ve heard his name.
“I am. I run Security, help with training, and I am a pilot for HS. Jessie, my partner, runs HS and membership. To correct your next thought Darren oversees everything from IT to membership and Prez oversees everything from businesses to Prospects. It is a big organization when you put it all together.” He’s correcting my next thought? Like before I have it? He nods. Okay. I look at the door and he laughs. “As Tess said, you belong on HS. People will count on you to do the job and it will save lives. Walking out now means you will not give them the help they need when it is needed. You do not have to understand it to feel it is right in your heart. Relax and just be who you were meant to be.” I nod not sure if it’s an order or not. He seems reasonable–even normal. Well, except for reading minds and answering un-thought of questions. He smiles, taking his water, and walks out.
I sit. Could this get any weirder? I look around hoping no one else is reading my mind. Sheila is smiling. “Does Darren read minds?”
She laughs. “No, he’s really smart and sometimes it seems like he is–especially with Prez and Jessie – but I don’t think so.”
I blow out a breath. Thank God. “How do I know who they are?”
She gets serious. “Only first tier Officers have information on people like that. We don’t talk about it. Dakota can tell you about him, but he wouldn’t tell you about anyone else. It’s a good way to keep everyone honest and true to the Brotherhood. You’ll see shit in HS, but never talk about it. It just is.” This isn’t just conversation–this is like an order. I nod. “Let’s get to class. I’m helping with this one.”
She walks away and I stand. In this Land of Oz, they keep people safe. I guess I can do this, but wonder about werewolves and zombies. I ask if they give silver bullets and she laughs. It seems like a reasonable question to me but she never answers.
All day I’ve been catching one of the guys eyeing me. Everything I do, he’s right there watching. Toward the end of the day I’m relieved to have just one class left. Dakota comes in and talks about defensive tactics. He’s smart and funny and gives some good advice. He says he has a Brother willing to help with a demonstration and takes us outside.
The creep walks beside me. “You’re pretty good.”
I nod and throw him a thanks then walk faster. There is a boy waiting, he’s beautiful, but I’m sure he wouldn’t like to hear that. “Eliza,” he says and Dakota laughs.
“Yes Jeremy, this is Eliza. She is top of the training class and talked to Tess this morning.”
Jeremy nods and smiles at me. “It’s good.”
Okay. I nod back at him. Since he’s so cute I give him a smile too. Dakota laughs and I stop thinking and pay attention. Shit.
Prez and
Darren come out with Taylor and another guy that looks scary. They are all handsome men, but this guy has a dangerous feel about him. I pay attention and laugh when Jeremy takes my hand and pulls me to the middle. ‘Use whatever you can find to stop the Brothers from getting a hold of you.’ It sounds like this teenaged boy, but it’s in my head. I risk whiplash looking at Dakota and he shrugs. Oh my God he is a something. He’s talking in my head. I am back in Oz. Just when I thought it was safe. I picture the Walmart. I bet they don’t have people talking in their heads. He laughs then Dakota and Prez do.
Oh shit. Prez too? The creepy guy is coming right for me. ‘Eliza move!’ the kid says in my head. I move and grab a broom that’s laying on the ground. I swing it, but at the last second soften the blow and move to a trashcan cover. He throws a punch and he’s not softening anything. Fuck! I hold the cover like a shield and he hits it. I turn it and swing it into him catching him just below his stomach. He bends and I move away from another guy sidestepping closer to me. I sweep his feet and roll away from the creep. “What is your problem? I got you twice.”
He growls at me and I’m pissed. I will not take shit from fuckin’ pissed off men anymore. Finding rope, I hold it and let him move closer. Elbowing him as he tries to grab me I spin around hooking the rope around his neck, then drop and pull it as I’m going between his legs. When I stand behind him I pull it tight. “You’re fuckin’ done. That’s the third time.” He swings his elbow back and I’m wondering how with his balls mashed. I duck and stand fast pulling tighter. Finally, the asshole bends forward. “It really didn’t have to be this way. You should have stayed down the first time.” People are laughing and I turn around. Oh shit. Half the class is sitting on the ground watching me. I let the creep go and walk toward the class. I’ll sit with them.
The kid, Jeremy, is flying everywhere and the rest of the class is trying to catch him and Dakota. As I get closer, two men are watching behind me. I stop and wait, listening for his feet. Hearing a hard step, I move to the side and turn. He falls flat on his stomach and I drop my knee into the small of his back. “What the hell is wrong with you?” I ask him. Darren lifts me off him and sets me straight. The creep stands and looks like he’s going to try and grab at me again. I set my feet and Darren moves. The guy is flat out on his back. “Damn, teach me how to do that.” The class is laughing.
Darren smiles. “If you weren’t trying not to hurt him he would have been down sooner.”
He’s watching me and I laugh. “I was wondering how he moved with his balls mashed.”
“Get him out of here. Drop him by the road. There’s no place for him here,” Prez says.
Oh shit. I look at him. He turns around and walks away with scary guy and Taylor. I look at the class. Fuck. They’re going to hate working with me.
“No, they will not be working with you, but they are relieved he is gone. Bad apple and all that,” Dakota says and I sit on the ground and laugh. Two guys lift the creep and carry him away. Darren walks away without saying anything. I watch him, hoping it isn’t because he’s pissed.
Dakota thanks me and Jeremy then we demonstrate with partners. The guy I’m paired with is making it easy, but I’m not. We’ll never learn anything going for easy. When class is done he is sweating. I thank him and he waves me away.
Sheila is waiting and we go right to the Club. Me looking like a hot mess means nothing to her. I wash up and fix my hair and makeup in the bathroom. She’s meeting someone and wants to make sure I get all of this book before then. Great. I start reading and she stops me at different places to explain. Since it isn’t a huge book we’re done at seven-thirty.
I rush home to shower and change.
***
Darren
Where the fuck did she go? I saw her here with Sheila before I left. I bring the dinner I picked up to the kitchen. I need to meet with Jax so I stick a note on the bag and go look for him.
He’s with a whore so I wait at the bar. He doesn’t make me wait long. We get the schedule set and some help for Maine to set up storage. The first truck up hits right after Laconia. This ought to be interesting. I think Hammer will announce they’re not taking any more guns at the table. He’s going to be surprised we don’t need him to. The MC gets a cut, but VP left me in charge and Hammer has given me shit at every fuckin’ meet starting with the second one when he sent an Officer in his place. He wasn’t even inner circle and I left without telling him shit. Since I don’t know his people, I wasn’t giving anything up and Hammer had to meet with me at the MC because I held the truck. VP didn’t show for him and it pissed him off. I’ve taken shit ever since, so I won’t lose any sleep over his closing the guns down. Maine will take them and less of a cut. It works for me.
Jax heads back to the whores and I talk to Jessie and Jess. She’s cool now that she’s married. With the work she’s been doing with Jared, I have something to talk to her about. Jessie is happy and that works for me. He still smiles when she talks about work. I don’t know how he does it. Eliza comes in and talks to Jess surprising the fuck out of me. I see her say Tess and wonder how the hell Eliza knows Tess.
“You know Tess?” They both look at me.
“She called me this morning. Really she called Sheila, but asked for me then yelled at me to get my shit together and forget about Walmart.”
What the fuck is she talking about? “Tess, my sister-in-law, called you and swore this morning?”
Jessie and Jess are laughing. What the fuck did I miss?
‘Brother it’s all good. She was plotting a way out of Security when Tess called,’ Jessie signs.
‘When the fuck did Tess start swearing?’ Why was she plotting getting out of Security? I thought she wanted HS. I don’t ask that, but wait for Jessie to stop laughing. Eliza is watching him and I’m pissed that he seems to have the answers, but I’m getting nothing from him. “Did you eat?” I ask the easiest question I have. She shakes her head no. I take her hand and walk away from the fuckin’ laughing hyena.
I grab the bag, two beers and walk to the back porch flipping the light on. “I got salad plates–chicken and tuna.” At the table I set the bag down and pull out the trays. “Which one do you want?”
“Doesn’t matter,” she says looking at me. I just realize she always answers or talks without me having to tell her to look at me. I put the top tray in front of her and the other at my seat. Once I get the forks and shit out, I sit handing her the utensils. “This is great thanks. I missed dinner.”
I’m not telling her I kept an eye on her so I nod. She’s surprised when she opens the tray. “I’m a guy, salad only goes so far.”
She laughs. “This is good; I do salad with a meal not as one.”
I nod happy to hear that. Our trays are filled with potato and macaroni salad. I have tuna so she has a mound of chicken salad on one piece of lettuce. I give her a roll from the bag and make a sandwich with my tuna. “Dakota opened a grinder shop in town, they have the best fuckin’ menu, it’s all meals like this.”
She nods. “I’ve seen it. Sheila said he has all kinds of businesses.”
“He does. He has a knack for starting them. He sees a need and starts a business. He doesn’t like running them so he gives them to the Club or hires someone to run it so he can donate the profits. The grinder shop is one he kept. I think he likes knowing the food will stay the same.”
She laughs. “I’m glad I didn’t eat earlier. I would have missed trying the food for myself.”
This strikes me as odd. “Don’t you eat out?”
She looks up embarrassed. “Not often. I don’t like eating out alone and I lost my job a while ago.” I know when she lost it but just nod. She hasn’t had a man around for a while. We talk about the town and I tell her about the party this weekend. She doesn’t look thrilled until I tell her about the waterpark. “It’s not here?” she asks.
“There will be a party here, but most of the Officers will be at the Compound party. It’s like a family day.”<
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She doesn’t understand so I explain. “We have a family day every three months or so. It’s at the Activity Center; the families come out for food and fun.”
“With the bikers?”
I look at her. What is so hard about family day? “Yeah. We eat and have kids–so we have a family day.”
“You have kids?”
Jesus. “Not personally, but the Brothers with kids.” She’s nodding, but she doesn’t believe me. “Come to the party. You’re off this weekend. I’ll pick you up, most of HS will be there and you’ll get to meet them.”
I drop my tray in the bag, she watches me but doesn’t answer. Someone is walking behind me and I turn. It’s Chevy. “Hey Brother.”
“VP. Sorry to interrupt your dinner, but I need next Friday off. I just found out my mom needs to go to Providence for some tests.”
“I’ll get it covered. Anything we can help with?”
He looks worried. “Not until the tests are run. Thanks Brother. I can make it up this week or next. Whatever you need.”
“No man, you have enough on you. Take care of your mom. Bring her this weekend, some fun with the kids will be good.”
He nods looking relieved. “I’ll ask her. Thanks VP.” He shakes my hand and goes back the way he came. I hope his mom is okay. Chevy isn’t someone that rattles easily.
When I turn back Eliza is watching. “He’s in HS. I would have introduced you, but he’s worried right now. It didn’t seem right.”
She smiles. “What time are you picking me up?”
I laugh. “Noon.” I tell her about the kids. She laughs when I tell her about Alex, Ally and Aaron. Our three As.
“How many kids did you grow up with?”
I explain how we became a family then the Compound and everyone helping out. She asks a million questions and makes me laugh. I’ve never spent so much time talking to a woman before without feeling like its work and realize it’s after twelve. Shit. I sign we need to go.