by L. Ann Marie
Ricky’s girl asks when they’re going to get back so we can cut the cake. Eliza signs, ‘snot’. Everyone laughs. Ricky just looks at her. “You need a ride home. The guard at the gate will call someone for you or send you in a cab.” Fuck. She walks without a word. “Never saw that before,” he says watching her leave.
“She’s not an old lady anyway. She wanted a big wedding with all kinds of shit,” Tiny says.
Ricky looks shocked. “You asked her about a wedding? Fuck, I wasn’t marrying the bitch.”
Eliza is squeezing my hand and looking the other way. “She was only in it for the Officer’s cut. She doesn’t really like you anyway. The next one is good. Be nice to her,” Elizabeth says and the table laughs.
“Fuckin’ kids,” Ricky says shaking his head. I slap his back as a tampon falls in front of him.
“Seriously Dad, this is getting old.” He throws it back.
We settle down and have fun. Everyone shows here and we get caught up on all the news. I’m surprised when Prez shows with his arm around Lily. They’re smiling so it’s all good. Eliza talks to Lily about the shelters. She can’t wait until they’re all open. I’m glad they have that.
Jared calls and we corral the kids for the goodbye half hour. Eliza is laughing as everyone hugs us. I love my family, but fuck–the whole fuckin’ Compound is here. Dads are proud of me and thank fuck Mom isn’t crying. We walk fast then run to the porch and down the stairs laughing.
As we’re walking through training to the elevator Eliza laughs. “I love your family and can’t imagine what it was like growing up with these people, but holy shit they take goodbye seriously. We’ll see them next month.”
I think about that. “We’ve always made sure everyone knew they were important to us. It’s just their way.”
She stops and looks at me. “I like that. Thanks.” I get a kiss on the cheek and she starts walking again. She’s so fuckin’ easy.
Before I step into the chopper I realize we didn’t see Sheila, Taylor or Jason. I tell Jared to shut it down and call into HS Security. “Sheila, Taylor and Jason never showed at the yard. Where are they?”
Chevy takes a minute. “Taylor is on the highway about ten miles from the MC town with Sheila and Jason’s bikes but Sheila and Jason are not with him.”
“Call HS in and get Dakota to the hangar.” Prez is walking up and pulls his phone. “Prez will call in as soon as he gets the MC up to speed.”
I’m watching Prez’s words across my lenses and get in the chopper. “We’re going to the pad at MC Baxters.” Prez jumps in and we’re transported to Security. Flying over the town we see Security riding in. Prez is on his phone with Princes. Jared sets down and says he’ll be right in.
In HS Ops we see the boards lit up. Digs is with Taylor and calls for a truck then tells us to get medical to Ops–he needs stitches, but refuses to go anywhere but Ops. Jake calls for Doc then gets Prez updated.
Sheila’s cuff is tracked to a town just south of here. Prez tells him to get me and Eliza bikes and gear. He looks at me. “You’re lead for Team Two.”
“Roger Prez.” I pull out my goggles and hand them to Jerry. “I need to be up on your boards.”
He takes them and smiles. “I heard about these.” He turns and pulls the chip.
“This is the building they’re tracked to,” Prez says pointing to the board. “Two entrances, windows high all the way around. Reported gang activity. By the amount of cars, I’d say they’re all in. According to Taylor they’ve been there for three hours.” Fuck.
Jake turns. “HS has bikes and gear ready.”
“Anything you have to, but get them back,” Prez says taking my goggles from Jerry. He hands them to me, “Get them back Darren.”
“Roger Prez.” I take Eliza’s hand and bring her down to the locker room. The whole time we’re changing I’m thinking of Sheila in with a gang. Since Eliza is hurrying too I guess she gets that without me saying it.
We get to the bikes and HS is waiting. My dad throws chin, but he’s pissed. No one is talking, letting me know everyone is worried about Sheila being in that building for so long.
Eliza’s bike is brought out and she has an extension for the robotic. They’re fuckin’ quick here.
“Team One you’re on with MD with Jerry on control. Your lead is LP1. Check in please.”
They check in and I get Digs on my lens, but he’s not here. My dad sits up and signs, ‘He’ll meet up.’
“Team Two you’re being transferred to LB with Geek on control,” Jerry says.
“Team Two your lead is VP. I need check in.”
Me and Eliza check in and I see Rayne and Zack. I look back and sign a thanks. We watch my dad roll out then we follow. Eliza rides behind me with Zack for the fifteen-minute ride. We have two trucks following and Digs takes his place about halfway there.
Prez: “VP we have no feeds in the building. The doors are solid and windows are high. There has been no movement in or out for the last twenty. Get Kicker to a window. We need a layout.”
Me: “Roger Prez.” We leave the bikes and a truck a block away and double time it to the building.
Zack lifts Eliza to the first window. “Bathroom.” We move to the next. “Open floor. Sheila is tied to a pipe. I don’t see Jason. Eight guys armed. Front door is clear to about twelve feet. Three on a couch.”
Prez: “Roger Kicker. Blip, in T1 drive right through the front, stop ten feet in.”
Blip: “Roger Prez.”
Prez: “Team Two follow the truck in. Locate Jason and get Sheila out.”
Me: “Roger Prez.” I look at Zack. “You and Eliza get Sheila out; stay left. Rayne on the right with me.” I get roger’d and we move to the front. My dad is there waiting. They’ll be our cover. We stand to the side and the truck flies by making a hole for us to get in. Shit is still flying as we follow Team One in. I scan seeing Sheila, her shirt is ripped but she has pants on. Thank fuck! A pussy is running for the back and I shoot running toward him. There’s too much for me to follow conversations so I tune them out, getting to the door straight in front of me. When I open it I see Jason hanging.
Me: “Fuck. Located Jason.” He’s beat, but tries to smile. I look around, but there’s nothing for me to get under him. “Rayne!”
Rayne: “Coming up behind you VP.”
Me: “Hold him up so I can cut him down.” He does and Jason falls against him when I cut through the rope. I get ‘step’ on my glasses and point my gun at the door. My head registers pussy and I shoot. Rayne looks at the door then me. I shrug and help him get Jason out. “Joker where are you at?”
Zack: “Waiting at the front. Team One is dealing with a new wave of pussies.”
Me: “Copy Joker.” We get to the front and I see everyone firing out. What the fuck? “They were waiting for us. Figured they’d get us going in, but they were late.”
I nod and look at Sheila, she has a button down shirt on. They must have pulled it off someone. “You doing okay?” She nods, but doesn’t say anything or look me in the eye. Fuck.
Me: “Prez we’re at the front with two free. We can clear.”
Prez: “Roger VP. Clear to the truck. Get She Dog and Hacker out of there.”
Me: “Roger Prez.” I hand Sheila my spare. “No one gets close.” She throws me chin and steps closer to Jason.
Rayne gives me a look. “Why not? Let’s clear a path.” We lean Jason against the wall and walk out firing. Zack is laughing. Rayne moves to the side, Eliza follows him. We walk in a straight line shooting everything we see. Team One is on the side shooting. I see pussies fall, but not who’s shooting. The truck pulls up and I go back for Sheila and Jason. “Move to the side Team Two. Clear with Team One.”
Sheila climbs in the truck and I get Jason in. “Take them to Ops. Doc is there.” Tiny throws chin and peels out. I round the building and see the Teams in a circle. What the fuck now?
Eliza is kicking the shit out of a pussy. As I get closer I see
them betting. “What the fuck? You think any one of you can put the pussy down?”
“She said she had him,” my dad says.
Rayne looks at me and shrugs. “They’re always like this.”
“Eliza. Stand down.” She stops and I shoot him. “Let’s go.”
Me: “We’re clear Prez. We need Clean-up.”
Prez: “Roger VP. Clean-up is two out. Return to MC Ops.”
I take Eliza’s hand and get back to the bikes. “Good job babe.” She smiles and Rayne laughs.
I look at him. “First time I’ve ever seen HS holding hands.”
Zack cracks up. “If I wasn’t married I’d hold her hand too.”
I look at him. What the fuck? He puts his hands up in surrender. “She’s good is all I meant.”
“Fuckin’ say what you mean next time.” I wait for her to get set on the bike. “Team two roll out.”
We fly through the town and get back to MC Baxters. I take Eliza to the small locker room again and we switch out clothes. “Is Blip really his name?”
I laugh. Everything that happened, at least twenty dead and she’s thinking about a Brother’s name. “Yeah babe. He called himself Rev, but the way he rides the Brothers called him Blip. It means the same thing, but it’s more fitting for the way he rides.”
“Is that why he drove the truck?” She’s smiling.
“Yeah babe.” I take her hand and get us to HS Ops.
They clap when we walk in. I smile–my glasses say ‘clap’. “Jason?” I ask Prez.
“Doc’s with him now. Eliza I need you with Sheila. I need to know if she was touched. Team One won’t come in until they know if they’re wiping out the rest of the gang.”
She stops and nods. “Where is she?”
Prez looks at me. “Meeting two.”
I take her to the door and see Taylor pacing. Once I thumb her in he stops and looks at me. “I couldn’t ask.”
I nod. It’s hard for a Brother to ask. “Eliza will get it.”
“They were there for-fuckin’-ever.” He starts pacing again.
“What happened?”
He stops. “Jason had a flat. He must have hit something. A truck pulled up and offered help. We were on the fuckin’ highway. It was noisy as fuck. I was hit from behind and woke up to Digs. Not one fuckin’ person stopped. Three bikes just sitting there and no one stopped. I have no fuckin’ clue how they got taken. We were dressed and I know Sheila wouldn’t have gone easy.”
Eliza comes out. “They need to get rid of them and she needs to be seen by a woman.” She opens the door and goes back in. Fuck.
Taylor hits the wall. I grab his hand before he hits it again. “Brother she’s right there. She doesn’t need our anger on top of what she’s got to deal with. I need to tell Prez.”
He follows me to Ops. They’re in battle mode. “You watched the feed?” Prez looks at me–he’s pissed. “Geek got me the audio. No one watched or heard but me. I need you to get her to the Clinic. Amanda will be waiting. Security is outside. No one talks to her. I don’t know how much she can handle right now.”
“Roger Prez.” I turn around and walk out. Fuck.
I thumb in. Sheila’s at the window and Eliza is sitting on the table. “Security will bring us up to the Clinic. Amanda is waiting.” Sheila’s body relaxes. She turns and starts walking. She won’t look me in the eye, but she’s moving and not crying. Outside, I see the helicopter lifting off as I’m opening the SUV door. Good I hope they wipe every fuckin’ trace of them off the earth.
Nancy is waiting when we get to the Clinic. Sheila takes her hand and walks straight to the back. Eliza looks unsure. “Nancy will come and get you if she wants you in there.”
She sits beside me and leans against my arm. I lift her to my lap and she cries. “Fuckin’ pussies,” is all she says.
It’s an hour before Nancy guides her out. “She’s staying for a couple of days. I’ll get her home.” Eliza hugs them both.
I don’t know what to do so I do what we do right. I pull her away from Nancy. “Love you She Dog. Let me know if you need a ride or company home. Me and Eliza will come get you.”
She holds on crying. When she’s done I move her away so I can see her face. “You good?”
She laughs. “Yeah, thanks.” She wipes her face and stands straighter walking out the door.
She looked in my eyes and it throws relief on me. I think she’ll be okay. “Let’s get back to Ops babe. Prez won’t leave until this is done.”
“Yeah. I wish I was out with them.”
I think me too but don’t say anything. The helicopter is shutting down when we pull up. Zack and Rayne come out and walk in with us. “She okay?” Zack asks.
I look at him. “I think she will be. She’s strong.”
He nods. “Yeah.”
“Tell me they’re gone,” Eliza says.
“They are.” Rayne opens the door and throws her chin. “Your father-in-law went on a rampage.”
Good. Walking into HS Ops everything is calm. I look at the boards and see them following Cleanup and Team One coming in. Once they’re in the building Prez hands his headset to Geek. “Thanks Brother.” Pres is standing at the back wall and walks out. “Meeting room one.” We follow Prez out.
Pres is standing at the window. When HS walks in Prez stands. “Jason’s tire had a bullet hole in it. Once Taylor was down Sheila pulled her gun, but they had a gun to Jason’s head. There were five total and she dropped her gun. As soon as she did they had her cuffed and shackled. She spent three hours with them and they had hands on her. Amanda says she’ll have some scarring, but she’ll heal in a few days. She ran tests and sent it to Baxters Lab. She will get the results back in a day or so. Sheila is staying on the Compound for a couple of days. Kate will get her someone to talk to and we’ll get her transport home when she’s ready. Jason has a broken arm and is cut and bruised, but Doc says a couple of days is all he needs. He’s flying home with us. We’ll have his bike picked up with Taylor’s. Taylor has seventeen stitches and a concussion. You ran a good Op, but I’m not up for a drink at the Club. Thank you Brothers for getting them back and Pres for letting me run Ops in your house.”
Everyone’s quiet. Eliza is squeezing my hand and I’m guessing trying not to cry. Pres comes to the table. “Why weren’t they picked up? This far north, should have had them on our fuckin’ boards.” He’s pissed.
Geek looks at Jerry. “They never showed and they were two miles from where we start monitoring traffic.”
“Sheila’s cuff is always tracked! Every fuckin’ old lady is tracked! Why was she not noticed moving into a known gang area?”
Jerry looks nervous. “I just walked in when Jake came into HS Ops. I don’t know Pres.”
“Fuckin’ great! Jake, find me who was in that seat NOT monitoring a fuckin’ thing. Three fuckin’ hours she had hands on her! Princes called in when she went off course. Who the fuck said it was okay? That’s what they were told, it was okay! They never alerted anyone on our fuckin’ say so.” Holy fuck he’s pissed. His whole fuckin’ face is red and his body is shaking.
VP comes in dragging a geek. He pushes the guy and Eliza moves away before he falls on her. “Was playin’ a fuckin’ game on the computer. Too fuckin’ busy to do his job.”
Prez moves so fuckin’ fast and has the guy against the wall. “She took it from five guys because you were playing a fuckin’ game! Thank fuck the leader didn’t show, but you’ll get the chance to feel what that’s like.” He hits him so fast Eliza leans into me when the guy falls and Prez turns. “That’s what we’ll take. He can feel what she did. I’m taking the rest of my Brothers home. I’ll get transport set for Sheila when she’s ready.”
Pres nods. Tiny hugs Eliza and thanks her for the help with Sheila. He has tears in his eyes and I look away. His girl was hurt here. We walk out and right to the helicopter. Prez doesn’t say a word the whole way home.
Chapter Twenty
One week
I’m so damn happy Sheila is back. She’s quiet, but demanded to come back to work. Prez let her. I think she’s relieved they’re not all trying to coddle her. I treat her the same. I know what she went through, but she’ll never get past it if the people around her won’t let her forget. It’s an early day and I smile at her when we check out. “Jeep shopping?”
She laughs. “Fuck yeah!”
I call into Security and tell them where we’re headed. I hope we make it this time. Her damn Jeep has become a jinx for us. I pull in and blow out a breath. We made it. She jumps out looking at every one of them. When we get to the Rubicon, I know she found it. The salesman that’s following us around stands close at her back and she swings hitting him in the stomach with her elbow. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were so close.” He backs away and I smile. She’s going to be fine.
She goes to the manager and orders the Jeep to be sent to the garage to be kitted out. She hands her card over and the manager is surprised and starts to say something, but she shuts him down. “Just get it paid for. I’ve already dealt with one asshole here. Next comment, I’m ordering it online.” The guy spins around and walks away. I laugh.
With her Jeep ordered we go to Baskin. We get coffee and sundaes. Joey comes out and gets a coffee. She’s always so happy. “Sheila ordered her Jeep today,” I tell her as she sits. She pops right back up and hugs Sheila making a God awful screeching noise. I’m smiling when Prez, Jessie then Darren come in. People move away from them and I realize what a sight they are. All handsome men, but a feel of danger about them. I keep smiling. They are protective of this town and the people, but more protective of their Brothers. We really need to be Sisters, but I’m not taking up that fight. Yet.
Taylor comes running in and they laugh at him. They pull tables over. Jessie stares a guy down then takes his table. I laugh. Prez is shaking his head.
“Got your Jeep?” Taylor asks.
She gives him a look and I look at Darren. What is up with that? She nods. “Yeah. I went with the Rubicon. It will be delivered to the garage.”