Reader: Book 2 (Princes of Prophecy)

by L. Ann Marie

  I think of the condom and laugh. Fuckin’ Dakota. I shut him down while he’s laughing.

  ***

  Eliza

  Prez says we can go out with HS and Security. Me, Sheila and Tess are in our group. Cloud is taking CJ and Jess and Penny.

  Tess wants to go to the sex shop tent. She has it pulled up on the map. The friggin’ tent is huge. “I’ve never been to a sex shop.” I get excited, but Bob is swearing and calls Prez over talking to him in a low voice.

  Prez looks at us then Bob. “They’re stuck in this hotel with nothing to do, they aren’t asking to go to the gun or knife tents. They aren’t drinking at one of the bars. They’re all legal age and it’s not something we haven’t been in. At least the Brothers will be happy and they’ll get out for a while.”

  Bob isn’t happy. “I’m not answering a fuckin’ question when we get there so don’t even start with that shit. Before you try it Tess, I already got shit for Amanda and no I’m not telling you what.”

  Tess laughs nodding her head. “Oh, she’s going to love it all Bob.” I crack up.

  “Fuckin’ women!” Bob says walking away.

  I think I’m going to like this outing. I get Sheila’s bandage changed and we’re ready. On the way Tess is so excited and talks about all the things they have, making Bob swear. Me and Sheila don’t interrupt her. The Brothers close are laughing or mumbling, making the trip enjoyable for us.

  At the tent I’m shocked. Holy shit it’s huge and has every damn thing you never imagined. Tess knows right where she’s going. I follow not knowing what to look at first. She hands me shit for my basket and I’m reading them as my phone goes off. I’m distracted by the ring with a bead on it. Damn. “Yeah,” I answer.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Shit he’s pissed.

  “Reading about the cock ring with the bead, it says enjoyment for hours.” Tess laughs handing me a vibrator. Darren doesn’t say anything. I keep following her. She seems to know what she’s doing.

  She walks by metal and furry cuffs and rope things, but hands me leather cuffs. “It’s snaps so you can get out yourself.”

  I just nod. “Tell me that was not cuffs.”

  I forgot he was there. “Oh it’s leather with snaps–so I can get out myself.”

  “Jesus! Do not show, talk about, or ask a fuckin’ question to the Brothers or I will have to kill them.” Shit he’s really pissed. Tess holds up a tiny vibrator and I shake my head no. What the hell will that do?

  “I won’t honey, but I have a ton of questions for you.”

  “Fuck!” He hangs up.

  I put my phone away and ask what the thing in her hand is. She turns red. “For your ass.” She starts walking again. I grab one and follow. We haven’t gone there yet. He hasn’t said anything, but he makes everything else good, so I’m willing. I push the Outlaws out of my head and look forward. Tess is a row up with Sheila. I catch up and wish I hadn’t. They’re laughing at a box with an ass in it. I guess when you don’t have the real thing the Humper is the way to go. It says ‘best seller’ on it.

  After an hour Bob yells at us. “Enough! Let’s pay for your shit and get out of here. Other people are waiting to get in.”

  Sheila laughs and we walk to the register. “Maybe Bob needs the Humper.” We all laugh and he throws his hand up in the air as he walks out.

  “Somehow I think Amanda will think this is funny,” Tess says with a big smile.

  Sheila laughs. “Think she’d get pissed if we bought him one?”

  I’m doubled over laughing. “Oh my God! I’d love to see him carry it back.”

  The lady ringing us up is laughing. “I don’t think that one will appreciate all the Humper has to offer.”

  We pay for our toys and she gives us cloth bags to carry it. We’re still laughing when we walk out. Bob is standing just outside the door pissed. As soon as we see him we’re laughing again. “We weren’t sure if Amanda would be pissed if we bought you the Humper,” Sheila says to him and I swear with all his ink and piercings, the man blushed.

  “Get the fuck away from me. You don’t show or talk about what you bought. Rich and Darren already threatened to kill us.” Oh shit he’s mad and fuckin’ scary.

  We straighten up and walk quietly. Until Sheila laughs. “I can show my shit. I think they’d like the purple vibrator.” We’re laughing again.

  “Mics on,” Bob says leaning toward us. I flip it on and hear the Ops room. Two following and four coming in front. “Stand ready. I’m not up for playing today,” Bob says from behind us. I pull my gun and point it down.

  Ops is saying there is always eight so watch for two unknowns. I listen and scan around me. I see two heading right into HS. As they raise their arms HS shoots. They had guns–shit. Ops is telling us we have six with two unknowns.

  A woman moves close and I turn. She pushes me and grabs for Tess. Darren said anything to keep Tess safe. I spin and kick up catching her chin then slam my gun down on her head. She drops and I pull Tess closer to me. “Thank you Eliza! Let me hold your bag so you have both hands.” I look at her not getting what she said.

  She takes my bag and tells me to look out. I turn and see a guy tackle Bob. Before he hits the ground I shoot him. Bob rolls and stands straight. He’s hopping on one foot and I steady him. He tells me to duck and swings. I duck and hear his gun connect. Shit. “Get their cuts. Fuckin’ pussies wearing our name.”

  HS is scrambling to get the cuts off. We start walking again and VP meets up with us. He walks back not saying anything. Tess is looking around and pointing out cute things on the table. When she asks to stop for jackets, VP tells her to get sizes and color and a Brother will get it. She nods happy with that. I can’t help but laugh. She’s easy.

  At the hotel I run the bag up to the room so no one sees what I bought. Darren sounded pissed.

  When I get back to the banquet room Bob is in shorts and I see his web leg. How cool is that! He takes my arm spinning me around. “LB wants to see you in Ops.”

  Oh shit. “Did I do something wrong?” He laughs and opens a door pushing on my back. I take a step in and he closes the door. Holy shit; they have the whole main road wired. How do they do this so fast?

  “Eliza,” Darren says. I look over to the other side of the room and start walking. He smiles. I’m glad he’s not still pissed; I want to know what all the stuff Tess got me is.

  Prez laughs and turns away. Shit. He’s a something. I need to remember this shit. When he turns back he’s not smiling. “Where’d you learn to fight?” Uh oh.

  “I took kickboxing and before that Taekwondo, when I got away.” I don’t say from the Outlaws.

  He nods. “You’ve got good balance. VP named you Kicker. He appreciates you keeping Tess safe. We all do. The man you shot was going for Bob’s leg. He knew what he was doing. He didn’t cut through, but he got enough that Bob didn’t have full movement. Any longer he would have been without it. Bob wouldn’t have stopped until they were all dead, but he didn’t have to. Thank you.” I nod not sure what to say.

  “You did good babe.”

  “Thank you. It’s hard to say anything to that and not sound like an ass. I’m doing my job or no problem don’t really work.”

  They laugh and Darren pulls me into a hug. “You’re right.”

  “When we get home I’ll have Sheila get you fast tracked into HS. You’re ready,” Prez says.

  Yes! “Thank you!” I look up at a smiling Darren. “Bob is okay? He wasn’t limping when he brought me here.”

  Prez nods. “Small cut, but his spare leg was here. He’s fine.” That’s a damn cool spare. He smiles. “The new one is awesome too.” I nod and think I shouldn’t be thinking. He throws me chin and walks to the computers.

  I look at Darren. “My normal is changing and that no longer freaks me out. I don’t know if I should be worried or not and are there really zombies and werewolves? Might as well get it all out there.” He laughs walking me out, but doesn’
t answer. No one ever answers.

  Chapter Eight

  Two weeks

  Darren

  Jax comes in smiling. “I know why Deacon was a prick. Hammer had me taking a cut before theirs. Cash every time.”

  “Fuck. How’d he find out it was bogus?”

  “HS told him I was never alone and they never handed me anything. They started paying attention to all their businesses then. They paid their dues, but nothing’s been logged for two fuckin’ years.” He’s pissed.

  Shit. I pull up Prez. “Deacon was straight with us. Brothers paid their dues, were told Jax was taking a cut in cash, lost money on their businesses for two years.”

  “I’m glad he’s fuckin’ dead. Cover the first free and clear.”

  “On it Prez.” He logs off. I turn to Jax. “Let him know we got wind and took ‘Club in need’ covering them. The first is free and clear. Second half up front. Third back to on delivery.”

  “Got it VP.” He starts walking out then stops. “You never thought twice about me taking a cut.”

  “No.” Not even a little.

  He smiles throwing me chin. “Jared’s got two new bikes coming at three.”

  I check the time and nod, it’s on my schedule. “I’ll be there.”

  I get the information up to VP and get a smiley face back. What the fuck? I call Geek and tell him. He’s laughing, but calms down and looks at me. “Mitch got pissed because he said something then added ‘for a woman.’ She fucked with his programs. No one can fix them because she set a virus up to fry the computers.”

  Oh shit. He can’t kill her so that’s good. “Baxters are okay with this?” VP can be fuckin’ scary.

  He’s laughing again. Jesus. Finally, he looks at me. “Mitch said he has to ask her to fix it and VP is refusing. Baxters are staying out of it but think it’s funny. She’s got ballerinas decorating his Ops board.” He’s laughing again. Shit. I close him down.

  I wonder how much the bet is for this and call my father. “Dad the bet for VP and Mitch. How much?”

  He laughs. “Six grand as of this morning. The PD got it and are jumping in.”

  “I’ll drop a hundred for the eighth.” He laughs and hangs up.

  It dawns on me he didn’t ask about the wedding. I call him back. “Your fuckin’ glasses are killing me.”

  I smile. “How much for the date?”

  I hear shooting and smile, fuckin’ guy answers while on a job. “Two grand. Gotta go.” He hangs up.

  I look at the calendar and pull the ring out of my drawer. The eighth is Mitch’s birthday. I know the MC will be there so I look at a week later. We’re up at Dad’s for dinner that Saturday and the park will still be up. Perfect. Everyone can be there and it’s not too far off.

  I text Pres the date with nothing else. He sends me a smiley face. This one I’m not worried about. He always does shit like that. It will be the first time he’s won anything and I wonder what he’ll do with the money.

  I finish the paperwork and track Eliza. She’s on HS for her second full shift. She’s with Dakota at the new plant. She was excited but tired yesterday. He’s everywhere and his HS is switched out weekly so they don’t get burned out. I’m glad she’s with him her first time out. The rest will be a cakewalk.

  At three I head outside to wait for Jared. Prez and Dakota are here so I look around. Eliza moves against the building and smiles at me. She’s good. I wouldn’t have seen her if she didn’t move. Hyde is on the other side watching the road. When I look back Eliza is too. Good job.

  I stand with Prez and see Jared. “No vibration.”

  He laughs. “No sound or only a little.” He doesn’t look at me but watches the bikes.

  Jax is smiling. I step up and feel the tank. It’s on. He laughs. “The exhaust. Fuckin’ awesome.” Nice.

  “Fuckin’ Jared, these are the shit!” Jessie says then laughs.

  Prez comes closer. “Can the exhaust be changed out on the other bikes?”

  Jared nods and shuts the bike off. Jax gets off the bike and Jared shows us what he’s done. A hologram board shows above the handlebars. “You need a thumb to start and work the programs. The bikes are tracked, have video and mics. Low lights when you need them and no sound on the exhaust.” Prez walks around it smiling. He points to the grip. “Yeah five minutes without a thumb when it’s on shuts it down. For maintenance you need a thumb, but admin allows for maintenance without an alert to Security.”

  Holy shit he’s fuckin’ good. I laugh at Jessie getting on Jared’s bike and trying to start it. Jared pulls a small tablet out of his low pocket and pushes some buttons. He gets Jessie’s thumb on the tablet and tells him to go. Jessie flies up the road then lifts the tire and spins back. Just as he’s passing a cross road Eliza runs with her gun out. What the fuck?

  Hyde runs by us. Eliza shoots hitting the front tires on a truck aimed at Jessie. How the fuck she didn’t hit Jessie is beyond me. Hyde yells to get Prez in and Dakota pulls him toward the stairs. “Now Prez!” he yells surprising me. HS is running out of the building, but Dakota pushes them through and gets Prez in.

  I switch glasses and tell Brantley I’m on. “Prez wants you inside.” Fuck. I look at Eliza and run up the stairs. She’s kicking the shit out of someone so I better make sure it’s only one someone she’s dealing with.

  In Ops the board is full of fuckin’ calls. “They’re hitting fuckin’ everywhere.”

  “Get our board up for Driscoll,” I tell Brantley.

  Prez is running with Josiah and Jason comes running in. “Jason, get Chevy in.”

  “Roger VP, he’s on his way. He called me.”

  Thank fuck for readers. We clear boards and Sheila calls in with her slicer. Chevy’s got Hyde and Eliza stopping the pussy and Sheila is pissed. “They’re just stopping him She Dog.” She doesn’t answer, but we see her swerve around a car and fly up the block. She’s fuckin’ crazy.

  Driscoll calls in with an all clear and he’s sending the wagon around for the pussies. Prez has him dropping them at holding. When I get back to Sheila, she’s beating the shit out of her slicer. When I think she’s done she pulls a knife and slices straight up his stomach. He falls and she calls for cleanup. I watch Eliza. She gets on her bike and rides on the side of Hyde with no reaction. I should probably be worried, but I’m proud of her.

  Dakota laughs. “You will not ever have to worry with her.” Good to know.

  I get back to watch cleanup. Driscoll has the wreckers out picking up bikes and two trucks. He’ll auction them off to cover his budget. The Mayor loves the process and the townspeople love the lower taxes.

  When I’m clear, I look for Prez. “Driscoll just dropped them.” He nods pacing. I wish I knew what was going through his head.

  “No, you do not,” Dakota says. Okay maybe I don’t.

  Prez stops and looks at us. “I want Sheila and Eliza at holding with Dakota.”

  “Why?”

  “Meeting room.” He starts walking and tells Brantley to shut the feed down. Why the fuck does he want them at holding?

  Dakota puts his hand on my back and nods to me. I follow. As soon as we’re in he turns around and closes the door. “Some of those pussies are Outlaws. Anyone I put there will hear about her past. This brings trouble to the Club with Brothers thinking she’s an easy target. We can’t shield her like Tess. She’s fuckin’ HS. There is no way she’d lay down for it and I have no other way to keep that close.”

  Fuck. I nod because he’s right. “It is right Brother. She will be fine. I can explain on the way,” Dakota says and I nod again.

  Pres looks at me. “Clear Ops. Keep Chevy, Josiah and Brantley. Have the boards up with Driscoll. We need an hour.”

  “Roger Prez.” I turn.

  “Brother it’s the last time.” His hand is on my back.

  I don’t turn. “No Prez. Every day she lives with it. Today is just out loud.” I get back to the boards.

  I watch them leave and Sheila, Hyde
and Eliza meet up with them. At holding Prez has Hyde wait outside. He’s surprised but stands at the door. Brantley and Chevy are watching the boards and Surveillance. The pussies are cuffed and Prez walks right into the cell with six of them. One charges him and he slides to the side watching the pussy hit the bars. Eliza is staring down a pussy in the next cell. The guy holds her eyes smiling. It’s a smile I want to hit off his face.

  Prez is talking to the other pussies, but no one is answering him. A guy arches his back hitting his head on the wall then falls forward. Fuck, Dakota is there. The pussy smiling at Eliza asks her how the burns healed and I’m seething. He’s slammed back then relaxes. She doesn’t take her eyes off him.

  He fuckin’ laughs asking if she’s had anymore brooms up her ass and I freeze. She doesn’t say a word, but keeps her eyes on him. He falls forward with a yell and I’m hoping for dead. He sits back up smiling, but you can see the pain on his face. “My favorite slave with the best mouth.” Eliza winces, but doesn’t move. I see the tears in her eyes.

  “Fuck!” I hit the desk and Josiah jumps. “Kill him!” The bastard laughs, then screams.

  When he falls forward Eliza turns blinking and takes deep breaths. When she turns back he’s on the floor. “Never again you bastard,” she says, but it doesn’t show on my screen. She must have whispered it.

  “That’s my girl.” She stares down the others. Every one of them watches her. When she locks on another he begs. “I never hurt you Liz.” She shoots him.

  I show Brantley saying ‘fuck’ and look over. “Prez put her there and had me clear the room so no Brothers throw this at her.”

  He nods and looks at Josiah and Chevy. “I’ll kill them myself VP.”

  Josiah raises his hands in surrender. “She’d kill me.” Chevy nods.

  “Thank you Brothers. Prez picked you to be here because he trusts you.” They all nod.

  No one is talking, but one by one they are falling either by Eliza’s gun or Dakota’s mind fuck.

  Prez asks him if he got everything and Dakota nods. This time Josiah says ‘fuck’ and looks at Chevy. He nods and looks back up. I guess Chevy settled him.