Enforcer: Book Four (Princes of Prophecy)

by Marie, L. Ann

  “Not weeks. She’s exaggerating,” he growls it out and the judge’s eyes narrow. This idiot should have kept his mouth shut.

  “How long?”

  “Two weeks tops. The other times were just days.” He moves his hands like it was nothing.

  I put my hand over my mouth and laugh.

  “When was the last time?”

  The moron looks down. His lawyer is telling him to shut up. He looks at the judge. “Last week. As soon as I let her out, she took off.” His righteous indignation has me smiling right out.

  The judge looks at the woman and tells the worker to come to the bench. We wait while they talk and the pussy’s lawyer is pissed. When the worker comes back she goes to our lawyer and Eliza, “I need a report for kidnapping, bodily harm and rape.”

  Eliza pulls her tablet and starts writing. She asks the client questions and has her sign the tablet then sends the report off. The judge calls a recess for fifteen minutes and we wait some more. I smile at the pussy’s lawyer who is sweating right now.

  When the judge comes back, our lawyer stands. “Your honor I believe the restraining order is justified and there is a warrant out for the defendant.”

  The pussy’s lawyer jumps up objecting and Eliza laughs. We’re ordered to take the pussy into custody. The restraining order is in place and the woman hugs the worker. Life is good.

  The pussy’s lawyer says he’s going to complain to the Judicial Review Board and the judge laughs at him. I love it when the system works. Prez has the judges covered and every complaint gets rescinded.

  Strapper gets transport to pick up the pussy and we follow, checking out. We spend maybe twenty to thirty hours a week on Center Security. Occasionally we’re called to assist PD during our five-hour patrol shift, then we have five training hours because we’re HS. Today is a training day. I take the range and Eliza does pop ups. My time goes by quickly, giving pointers and moving the people that are ready, up to moving targets. This is one area that we follow closely. You have to hit dead center to move up. With all men in the class it’s normal to get a loudmouth that knows everything. We're almost done and I get a loudmouth.

  Today is my day for the shit for brains men. “I’m moving,” I’m told as the dipshit walks by me.

  “No. You move when I say you move.” He keeps going. “One shot goes off and you’re out.”

  He spins around pissed. He’s got a good seventy pounds on me and leans in close. “Step back before you can’t.”

  He leans closer and I flip him over me onto his back, with my gun on his lips I smile. “You are out. You can’t take direction from women. You try to intimidate people and you’re a fuckin’ asshole. All traits we don’t put up with. Take your sorry ass out of my class before you end up with a new hole in you.”

  I stand straight looking at the gawkers. “Are you going with him?” I ask, and all but one turns away. The pussy stands, mumbling under his breath. Because that hurts me. The gawker laughs. “You are free to go with him.” I get a glare and make a mental note to have everyone watch him.

  I start typing about the glare guy when arms go around me and squeeze. I lose it. Kicking and head butting, I do everything I can to free my arms. My head is spinning. When his arms loosen, I elbow with one arm and pull my gun with the other. I spin ready to shoot and Jax puts his hand on mine. I shake my head and look at him then the guy who glared at me. What the fuck? Jax punches the guy and he goes a foot off the floor then folds. “What the fuck was that all about?”

  I look at him. “I got no fuckin’ clue.” I wipe the tears from my face.

  “I thought he was hugging you. You never made a sound.”

  I look away feeling the burn in my eyes. This time I stop the tears. “His buddy just got thrown out.” I look at my phone trying to clear my head.

  “Look at me.” He’s not asking. I look at him. “I got this, go take a break.” He calls for Clean-up and walks to the roster checking where everyone is. I just stand watching him. “Go Sheila.”

  I walk out and stand against the wall breathing. I lost it. Fuck. Taylor is going to be pissed.

  Darren comes down the hall and I freeze. “Meeting room in fifteen.” I nod as he walks by. Fuck. This day just keeps getting better.

  Taylor comes running as I’m making my way down the hall. Fuckin’ great. “You good?”

  “Fuckin’ peachy.” I keep walking. In the break room I take a water, wishing it was a shot, and walk my ass to the meeting room. I thumb in and think about what the fuck I’m going to do. I worked fuckin’ hard to get to HS and just blew it in thirty seconds. At least I hope it was thirty seconds. I've never lost it like that before.

  Jessie comes in and kisses my head. “It’s all good She Dog.”

  I want to hug him, but stay sitting. No one ever comes that close to me. “Peachy.”

  He smiles and sits down; I’m glad he doesn’t ask. Darren, Prez and Jax come in. Great. I need to do this in front of Jax – that would make it all complete.

  Prez looks at me. “What happened?”

  I blow out a breath. “Pussy put his arms around me from behind and I lost it.” No sense in anything but the truth.

  “That’s what I saw. Do you think you can’t do your job?”

  I look at him. “I think that you think I can’t.”

  He smiles. “You have no idea what goes through my head Brother.” I smile. He always calls me Brother and getting it right now feels good.

  He looks at Darren then back at me. “You need help dealing Sheila. I have no doubt about your ability to do your job, but you need help dealing with this. Someone coming from behind you throws you back and can end up getting you killed.” I nod. He’s right and I can’t even argue the point.

  Prez looks at all of us. “Keep her on the roster, off of training, and I want progress from a therapist.”

  I’m shocked. I nod, so fuckin’ relieved I smile.

  “She needs someone watching her,” Jax says and I want to hit him. Who the fuck is he?

  “I think Prez is right. She’s in the fuckin’ yard all day every day. Eliza is her partner and they keep each other safe,” Jessie says and I throw him chin.

  “Where the fuck was Eliza when she needed her?” Jax asks and I give him a ‘shut the fuck up’ look.

  Prez gets pissed. “The class is split. Eliza is in pop ups. Sheila and Eliza are good together – they’re both HS and have proven track records. She stays working, but gets counseling for the flashbacks before it turns into something worse.”

  I nod and stand before the fuckin’ jerk-off says something to change anyone’s mind. “Anything else?”

  His eyes soften. “See Lily. She is setting up sessions for the military. I think you will be more comfortable there than with the shelter women.”

  I shake my head. “I’m already on it. She roped me into it this morning.”

  Darren laughs. I glare at him then turn for the door.

  “Sheila if you need time you say so.”

  I nod without turning around. “I will Prez.”

  I go back to the break room and wait for Eliza. I put my head on my arms and think this went a whole lot better than I expected. Having someone tell me to get help works for me for some reason. It’s not like I didn’t know I needed it.

  “Why didn’t you say something sooner?”

  I lift my head up and look at this fuckin’ annoying man that I have crushed on forever. He’s losing ground here by the second. “Thanks for stopping me from shooting the pussy. Why you feel I need to tell you anything is beyond me. I could point out the ‘none of your fuckin’ business’ quote from our past conversation, but you seem to be missing the fuckin’ point of it.”

  He sits down and smiles. Definitely losing ground here. “Since you remember that, you’ll recall that I am making it my business. Stop playing fuckin’ games with me and talk to me.”

  Playing? “What the fuck are you talking about? I don’t play games with you or anyone else
, and why the fuck is anything I do your business?”

  He stares at me and I’m trying to think of what the hell could make him think this is okay. “You don’t remember the wedding?”

  The wedding? Brenda’s wedding? I think back. I got shit faced after the wedding, but don’t remember Jax there. “I remember the wedding, but not after.”

  He’s fuckin’ gorgeous when he laughs. My eyes snap to his. He was there. “That throws some relief. At least now I know why you’re acting so fuckin’ weird.”

  “What happened that makes you think I’m your business?” Fuck I need to remember this. I hope to God I didn’t sleep with him. I would really want to remember that. Like every second of it.

  He smiles and I don’t move a muscle. Shit this isn’t good. “We danced until you fell, we talked until you passed out and I carried you to your room where I put you to bed.” My whole body relaxes. He looks pissed. “When the fuck did I become Ramsey to you?” Fuck he is pissed.

  “It’s not that.”

  “Then what is it?” he growls. What the fuck do I say here? “The truth Sheila.”

  “All right stop with the fuckin’ growling. For years I had a crush on you then you left.” I look away.

  “Look at me.” His voice is softer. I look at him. “You said that hasn’t changed. I told you why I left. You don’t remember anything from that night?”

  “No. I don’t.”

  “I’ll pick you up at eight and tell you what happened. I’m sick of the fuckin’ waiting games.” He stands up, slamming his chair into the table. “Eight, Sheila. We don’t stop until this is straight.”

  I nod wanting to know what happened and to run home to Nancy all at the same time. “If you run I will find you.”

  “What are you? A fuckin’ reader too?”

  He laughs. I like that better than the fierce look of a second ago. “No, but I know you. Tiny won’t save you this time.” He walks out.

  Tiny saved me last time? What the hell? I want to call and ask, but I’m afraid of that answer so I clear my head. That’s been working awesome so far. I roll my eyes and put my head back down. Nancy would drag me back home if I call her acting like a fuckin’ five-year-old. I need to get my shit together and clean up this hot mess that I’ve become. I lift my head and call Lily. She’s super smart with hot messes like me.

  “I’m glad you called, I need help.” She sounds out of breath.

  I stand and jog down to pop ups. “What’s wrong?”

  “The homeless neighborhood behind the Center. Get here before Security does.”

  I look at my phone. She hung up. “Eliza! We got a call.” As soon as she looks at me, I turn jogging out.

  When we’re outside I tell her what’s going on. We make the Center in three minutes. Going around back I see a group of women all yelling and Lily in the middle. I push through. “Shut the fuck up!” Eliza yells. I smile at my girl.

  Lily is holding onto a kid that looks to be fifteen or so. She’s small. “What’s up Lily?”

  “Thanks for getting here quick. They found her inside one of the empty houses and were dragging her kicking and screaming to the gate. She’s hurt. Can you get her cleaned up? Anita can set her up with clothes and personal things.”

  I go to take the girl’s hand and she steps back behind Lily. “Just cleaning you up and getting some clothes. Lily will let us know the next step, but the cops don’t deal with shit like this. Come on.” She looks at Lily and gets a smile and nod. I look at Eliza. “Stay with Lily and find out what the fuck they were thinking.” She nods and I take the kid inside and right to the bathroom. “I’m Sheila. I’ll get the first aid kit and clothes to cover you from Anita.” She looks down and tries to hold her shirt together. She had no clue.

  I get what I need and knock on the door. “It’s Sheila.” She opens the door and steps back. Putting the clothes on a shelf I turn and see her back in the mirror. Jesus. “Don’t put the new clothes on yet. I need a minute to get something that will clean the gravel off your back.”

  I go out and Anita gives me a shower head that connects to the faucet. Great. The drain will keep the water from running out. Again, great. The fact that they’ve used this before is pissing me off. She tells me she ordered the kid food and I walk away still pissed.

  I get the kid showered using the soap and shampoo Anita brought us and make a mental note of where she’s got marks. This kid was beaten before today. I cover her cuts and brush her hair out sticking it in a ponytail. The whole time I’m telling her about life with Tiny and Nancy. She doesn’t say a word.

  While she’s dressing in the corner, I clean up the bathroom and pull the hose off the faucet holding it over the drain to empty. I’m holding the fuckin’ thing up forever while she’s struggling with the clothes, but she doesn’t ask for help so I wait while the hose drips. When she’s done I roll the hose and give her a smile. “Anita ordered some food for you. Let’s go see if it’s here and if Lily’s done reading the bitches in back the riot act.” She looks scared and I laugh. “They are all homeless. It seems pretty shitty for them to throw you out for being homeless.”

  She looks away and I take her hand walking her out. At the meeting room I stop and thumb the door open. Anita follows us in with a bag and a big cup. “Well child, it looks like Lily is still bitching the ladies out. You got time to eat while you wait.”

  I tell her I’ll be right back and she looks scared. “I mean it. I need to put this shit away.” She nods and sits taking a drink and making a face. “You want a water?” She nods at me.

  I get the shit squared and grab her a couple of bottles of water. Dakota comes in and follows me to the meeting room. I look at him before I thumb in. “Jeremy said she does not talk much and I need to be here to speak for her.”

  “God save me from fuckin’ specials,” I mumble, and he laughs.

  “You love every one of us.” He makes me smile.

  “Barely.”

  He laughs walking in and introduces himself to the kid.

  By the time Lily comes in we know basic information about the kid. Her mom died last year and she lived with her stepfather and sister. The father took her as his new toy and she ran. She has no other family and was beaten at the old house the kids sleep in. She says things here and there, but Dakota does most of her talking and gives me an address for the kids. It’s on the Connecticut line. Eliza takes off with Dakota and I stay with Lily and the kid.

  “Where is she going?” I ask looking at the time. Jax will have to wait.

  “With you. She’s a special. We can’t leave her out there alone and Dakota said you’d look out for her for a couple of days.” She’s giving me that big fuckin’ smile and I want to pinch her. The kid laughs then covers her mouth. When the fuck did he say that?

  “In her head like me,” the kid says.

  Whatever. I roll my eyes. “Does she have more clothes?”

  Lily nods still fuckin’ smiling. “Eliza took them to your house for you.”

  My partner didn’t think to tell me this shit? Oh we’ll be having a chat about this tomorrow. “Let’s go Judy.” I take a step and stop. The Jeep is at Security.

  ‘I want to ride,’ the kid says in my head. This is like having fuckin’ Jeremy around.

  I get on my bike and hand her the helmet. “She Dog to Ops. Shut Ops down on my lid.” I’m pressing the mic, but realize she can read me and don’t bother saying anymore. Chevy rogers me and I tell her to hold on and move when I do. She does and we make it to Security no problem.

  We run in so I can drop my helmet and get back just in time to meet a pissed off Jax waiting by my Rubicon. Great. The kid stays behind me. “I got held up, then apparently Dakota felt I needed a new friend. I’m heading home now. Once I get the new clothes that were dropped and her settled, we can talk. There is nothing that I could have done different tonight so don’t give me shit on this.”

  He smiles. “Wouldn’t dream of it, cream puff.”

  “F
uckin’ cream puff? You better have a better fuckin’ name before we hit the house or we’ve got nothing to talk about.”

  He laughs and follows me home. At the compound Prez is walking Alpha and Omega down the street. The kid jumps out as the garage door is opening. “Fuckin’ wait!” I jump out following her right to him.

  “Prez!” She hugs him and his hands go up making me smile. Every Brother does the same thing.

  “Judy take a step back.” She does. “I am Prez. I came to talk to Sheila about you staying here until we can get you up to the Mass compound.”

  She steps back and nods. “To Nancy and Jason.”

  I look at her. “Jason is here. He doesn’t live with Nancy and Tiny.” She gets tears in her eyes. Shit. I look at Prez.

  “Why is Jason important?” We all look up the road. Speak of the devil. He comes flying down the road and drives right up to us. On my grass!

  “What the fuck? You think you could use the damn road? This is my yard!” My grass is going to have tire tracks.

  He ignores me and goes right to Judy. Holy shit. I look at them together then at Prez. He looks at me and laughs. “That explains the twin thing missing from your house.”

  “No fuckin’ way. How did this happen and no one knew?”

  He shrugs. I look back at them. Jason hugs her and she cries. Fuck. I hope he deals with this. I’ve got no clue what to say here. He looks at me with tears in his eyes. Dammit! “I have another sister. Christian called and said I had a sister waiting to meet me. Where was she? You found her for me?”

  I hug him. What the fuck am I supposed to do? “I think she found us J. She’s here now. You can talk in the house. Let me get her settled in a room and we can order some pizza and get all the details. I got no fuckin’ clue about any of this. I’ll call Nancy and she can help.” He nods. I think he’s in shock.

  Prez laughs. “You good here?”