by L. Ann Marie
CJ sits by me. “I’m so glad Christian found you. You’re amazing. He’s spent his life alone too. It’s like you were meant for each other.”
Oh my God. She’s going to be the best mother-in-law in the world. “Thank you. I wish I could hug you right now.”
She smiles. “We were warned about touching you. Bob would probably point his gun at me if you got that close.”
I crack up and see a hat fly toward us. I catch it and look over. Sheila is pissed. “I get the fuckin’ demented hat.” I laugh and throw her mine.
Kate sits smiling. “Mitch is going to be pissed she missed this for a boring benefit.”
MC Jess laughs. “I’ll tell her all about it.”
I look around and notice people are watching behind the wall of Brothers, but they won’t let anyone in. Some of the guys want their hats back. A Prospect is let through with a bag and walks right to Nancy. Bob collects hats while Nancy hands them out. I’m sitting here laughing like crazy watching them decide what looks best with whose outfit. They’re too funny. When they settle with the perfect hat we all dance again.
I am officially tipsy or maybe drunk. I switch to water and keep dancing with all my new friends. This is the best night! I’m getting married and these women all like me. When I get back to the table Tess hands me another drink. “I can’t. I’m trying to do water to keep standing.” I giggle. “If I drink too much no one can lift me to get me home.”
She gets a serious look on her face. “That’s one way to be a responsible drunk.” She gets water with me and I laugh more. They’re awesome crazy. That’s what I’m calling this happy, go with the flow, not normal behavior. Awesome crazy. Oh boy, I really did have too much to drink. I drink more water and stand up. “You fit right in Dean,” Tess says following me.
I blink my eyes like crazy. I never had friends and never expected anything like this. I’m so glad Christian found me.
Tess giggles. “We are too. Show me how to do the spin thing.”
We dance with our hats.
* * *
Christian
I hear the chopper and smile. My Little Pixie is home. I hope she had fun. Elizabeth loves her and said she left her with Tess to watch over her.
‘I will need you to get her home Brother. She passed out on the way.’ I hear Dakota smiling. They must have had fun.
“I’m on my way. Come Nekanis. Dean is home.” We run up toward the gate and make it as Dakota is setting down.
When I open the door Lily, Beth, Jess and Dean are out. I laugh. “Fuckin’ awesome time. Watch the feeds Brother, she’s perfect,” Sheila says slapping my back. They all climb out laughing and talking. It must have been a good time.
When everyone that can walk is out, I climb in and lift my girl. Dakota is moving Jess when Prez and Taylor show.
I get a ride with Taylor and carry my girl to bed. She’s so fuckin’ cute in the biker gear and hat. The fuckin’ hats get me. I smile undressing her. Once she’s in bed, I get undressed and move her to my side.
I pull the laptop over and have to look for Geek’s password. When I get it, I watch the feeds. As soon as she’s standing alone on the floor I slow it down. Then I smile. She’s fuckin’ adorable. My little biker pixie can dance and she’s fuckin’ good. The hat cracks me up. She flips it, kicks it and dances like it’s part of her. When I see Security taking hats from people I’m laughing. The old ladies are right there with her. Joey, Elizabeth and Sheila surprise me dancing right beside her. I watch the whole thing then send it to Taylor and Sebastian. Everyone else can get the feeds.
I’m watching it again when Taylor pops in OC. ‘Don’t fuck it up. Love the hats.’
I laugh. I do too. My girl had fun. I shut the light and move the laptop giving her a squeeze. I jump with a smile and tell Hawk about her first girls’ night out.
Chapter Eighteen
Christian
Walking into Ops I feel the change. I saw it on the way up, but actually feeling it throws relief. They’re working with more than Ops as their purpose. Ricky’s in Uncle Steve’s circle. They watch me walk toward them. “I’m just letting you know I’m here, but I need a bike up here Ricky. Can you get one for me so I’m not on different bikes every day?”
He’s not still upset I didn’t take the seat and smiles. “VP covered it Brother. He had all the Protector bikes marked with the colors too. You have a locker with gear here, but he didn’t order any pieces for you.”
“Sweet. Thanks VP. I’ll bring some gear up.”
“New Kevlar suits. Mitch sent Protectors first. HS is next,” Uncle Steve says making me smile.
“She should have done that the other way around, but that’s good too. Are they heavy?”
Ricky shakes his head no. “It’s like wearing leather. She’s fuckin’ unbelievable with design Brother. She got the colors inlaid in black.”
Nice. “I’m at KC for training, then back here at three. You set?”
I see they’re making headway into the source and again, I’m relieved they’re working together. “I had a question about Jeremy. You have Colt with Jeremy and Aubrey. Do we need HS partnering with them? You usually don’t have him on our list.”
I think about what I can say here. “HS won’t be a help with them. Save the team for Digs.” I look at Uncle Steve. “You need to watch Air today. Dakota will be helpful.”
He watches me and I see his brain click to high speed. “Up or in Ops.”
“Up.” I turn and we walk away. Security takes us to KC.
I have Mase, Colt, Jeremy, Aubrey, Blaze and Blake. “Today promises to be as exciting as yesterday.” They laugh. “Jeremy shut down the feeds.”
“Done.”
I look at them. It seems like we’ve been at this forever, but Jessie was right—it’s been a short time. “Our threat isn’t just to the MC. Colt, you’re on with Jeremy and Aubrey today. I want you working on throwing shields over them while shit is coming your way. Jeremy, throw at him and Aubrey so he’s working to cover you under pressure. Aubrey, throw at Jeremy and shield under Colt’s so nothing hits any of you until you see he has it.” With nods, they suspend above us.
“Blake, I want you working with Blaze on controlling from farther away. She’s got the control now, but from Ops she needs to control more. It can be small objects for right now, then we’ll move to people.” He takes her to the locker room.
I look at Mase. “Jeremy and Aubrey again?” I nod. He looks away. “I don’t understand why they have to live like this Christian. They don’t do anything to anyone. If it weren’t for them needing to eat we’d never see them.”
He’s right, but wrong. “You’re not thinking about how they can benefit other people. Money, controlling others and visions are all people see with them. It’s greed and power that’s their biggest threat. Today we work to keep that away from them. Yeah?”
He stands. “Yeah Brother. What am I doing?”
I take him to the rock wall. “Move fast.” He rolls his eyes at me. I push and I’m at the top of the wall looking down. “Fast.”
His mouth is open looking up at me. “Fuck Brother.”
I push and I’m beside him. “I need you to move quickly from place to place. Look at where you want to be and push like you’re suspending, but push hard and just be there.”
“Is this how you help us from Ops?”
I shake my head no. “I control from there. This is different. Start practicing and we’ll move you on to the bike.”
He does and I check the other teams. Nekanis is hiding under a side table by the couch. I don’t blame him—this is freaky shit. Jeremy is laughing throwing everything at Colt and Aubrey. Shit is flying fast up there. Since it’s working, I look for Blaze. She’s in the locker room whipping plastic cups at Blake in the kitchen. He’s giving her pointers while deflecting. I go to her. “Try for heavier now.”
She smiles. “No problem.”
I see her move a plate. Blake yells and we hear it shatte
r. I smile walking away. Ricky will need plates with the new table.
Walking out, Mase appears on the side of me. “Good fuckin’ job Brother. That didn’t take long. You think you can move something with you?”
He laughs and is gone. A chair falls and smashes on the floor and I crack up with his yell of frustration. “Fuck!” He’s in front of me looking at the chair. I guess Ricky will need chairs too.
“Feel where your body is connected to the object you’re moving. Don’t just hold the chair. Split second assessment—feel where it is in your hands, against your body, and the space it takes up. Once you get that, push feeling it with you.”
He moves and another chair falls. “Sonofabitch!” He gets it with the next try and laughs.
I watch Colt throwing and defending for Aubrey. ‘He’s got it. Aubrey isn’t shielding,’ Jeremy tells me. Nice.
Mase is moving around with his chair making me laugh when he starts moving it in different positions. I call them all over and Mase lands sitting in the chair. Jeremy laughs then pulls from him how he did it. I shake my head smiling. “Keep practicing. I want you to show each other what you’ve learned and practice what you don’t have yet. Mase, you’re with me on the bike. Colt, you’re Jeremy and Aubrey’s shadow today. You shield them everywhere you go. Blaze, you’re at Ops control and Blake, you’re running with Mase in about an hour and a half.”
I look around the KC. “Blaze and Blake, clean this up, but I don’t want you moving from where you are to do it. Control everything you need to get it spotless again without touching or physically moving anything.”
Diego walks out of his office. “Is it safe?”
I laugh. “Yeah Brother.”
He walks out with his head swinging from side to side then up. “Terry’s gonna be pissed he missed this one.” He’s looking at the broken chairs and plates.
Blaze and Blake laugh while they start cleaning it up. Diego just watches.
“Later Brother. They’ll get it clean.” I walk into the hall with Mase and Nekanis headed to the house. Jeremy, Aubrey and Colt are going up to the Lab.
Mase goes for his bike. “Brother remember the chair?”
He looks around then walks to the side. Pulling a dirt bike out of the shed he’s smiling. “Ready.”
I laugh, but nod. It’s our dad’s bike. On the first try he moves to the driveway, but it’s slow. We sit on the step watching. He starts moving faster. Dad comes out probably wondering what the hell Mase is doing. “You’re not working today?”
“I’m on in half an hour. How the fuck is he moving like that?”
I smile. “Suspending, but fast.”
Mase gets cocky and moves to the top of the hedge line, then falls through with the bike. I move to him laughing and pull the bike off him. My dad holds the bike while I pull him out of the bushes. “I need to work on that.”
We crack up. “Next time use your fuckin’ bike,” my dad says, but he’s smiling.
“I actually ride mine.”
I walk away. “I’m at Security. You’re on in forty-five Mase.” I hit my watch for Security to pick us up.
When the SUV pulls up my dad waves it away, “I’ll take you. My chopper is at Security.” I nod and we get in his truck.
“I’m glad he has you teaching him. He’s happier working every day.”
I smile. He is. “Yeah.”
“Your mom loves Dean. They had fun last night.”
I nod. “Did you see the feed? It was fuckin’ cute.”
“Love the hats.” He laughs. When we’re almost at Security he looks at me. “We’re looking at a house by you. It’s two away from the Compound.”
I knew, but don’t say it. “Pres is in line Dad.”
“Why didn’t you take the seat?”
Fuck. More explaining. “I don’t need the seat to do my job. Everything I said was true. You weren’t in the meet, but I didn’t lie to them either. I don’t need more meetings. I need them to find the source. I’ll do my job no matter what, but the meetings don’t work for me. I spend half my time in them explaining abilities over and over.”
He smiles. “Pres is in line and you didn’t take the seat so you don’t have to explain.” He laughs. “I love my fuckin’ kids. Tiny said you weren’t taking any shit from Pres. I thought you were done with him.”
I’m shocked. “Not even close Dad. His life is my job. The ancestors are clear on what we’re meant to do. I couldn’t walk if I wanted to. We have so many people counting on us to get this right. I wouldn’t walk away from them either.”
He pulls in and looks at me. “I spent the night thinking it was over here. I don’t want Mase growing up with no direction and under-appreciated.”
I smile. “That isn’t yet Dad. I’m actually pretty good at this job.” He laughs and I put my hand on his arm giving it a squeeze. “He’s just getting what he’s worth here. That means something today and it will tomorrow too. Don’t jump yet if that’s your concern. When you walk in you’ll see the difference.”
He nods. “I’ll take your word for it.” He gets out and I’m smiling. He trusts me.
We go down to the locker room and I change into the new Kevlar. It’s cool as shit with the logos in black and much lighter than I thought it would be. Switching out my pocket shit I get the brace on, but can’t use the pockets on that side. I dump my shit into the others and head up to Ops.
Seeing Dakota, I walk to him first and wait until he’s done picking Uncle Steve’s brain. I don’t know how he catches the thoughts running so fast. When he’s done, he steps back.
“Do you have some time to heal my leg? I still can’t stand on it without the brace.” I see it play out in his head. Fuck! “Can you heal it enough for me to stand on it?” This fuckin’ sucks. I want to jump, but stay to hear him out.
“I will do what I can. In time, you will be able to stand on it, but you will always have a limp.” I see me older walking away from him fuckin’ limping.
Jesus. I throw my helmet and walk out. I walk down the hall and sit. Nekanis leans against me and we jump. Nunánuk and Hawk are waiting. “I’m okay Nunánuk. I just need a way around it.”
She smiles and sits. “I believe you will find it my grandson. You are a master at finding solutions. This will be no different. Is your leg painful?”
I shake my head no. “Not with the brace. It’s fine even working out.”
Her eyes smile. “You’ve already found the way around it.”
I shake my head. “I guess I did. Why is everything so hard?”
“Easy doesn’t teach you humility, compassion, or pain. Without it you would never know what happiness truly is.” She’s gone and I think about that.
I think about Dean. She made hats her life when she had no one else in it. She was so happy this morning because she had friends and no one had a problem not touching her. She’s never had that. She’d never know without first going through the hard. Now she’s the sweetest woman I know.
I guess we all learn the same thing, but in different ways. I got this. I have the way around it. I’ll see if Mitch can get something a little easier to fit over my clothes since I can’t fit this one under the Kevlar. That will be my way around it.
We jump back and my dad is beside me. “Jeremy stayed with Phoenix and Teller in the operating room.”
I smile, he’s trying to find a way around it too. “I’m not them though. They don’t have a problem with touch. I’d never make it back Dad. That’s why they didn’t tell me. Jeremy saw it. I’m good. Nunánuk got me straight. I need to ask Mitch about a different brace, this one won’t work with the Kevlar, I lose the pockets with it outside.”
He shakes his head smiling. “Fuckin’ proud.”
I laugh feeling it deep, “Got that Dad.”
Back in Ops Uncle Steve watches me then smiles throwing chin. Dakota is relieved and Ricky doesn’t know what to think. I throw him chin letting him know I’m good.
Ricky calls all but Securit
y control to the meeting room. We go over everyone’s position and I smile when Geek comes in upset because he’s late. When Ricky’s done, he tells Geek and Officers to wait. “You got something?”
Geek smiles at him. “Yeah, but I’m not sure of the tie in. I’ll get back on it as soon as we’re done today.”
I like the way Ricky is thinking. “See if Brantley can cover you on control for Ops. If you need more let me know and I’ll find you people.”
Geek smiles. “Victor would be good. He’s like a dog with a bone. I’ll call Brantley and cover Ops. Can Jacob cover for Victor?”
Ricky looks at me. ‘Not today Brother. Maybe Billy or Jason?’ “Jacob is needed today, but I’ll find out if we can get Jason or Billy.”
Geek throws him chin walking out. He’s already calling Brantley.
I look at Ricky. “You need more chairs and plates in KC.”
He’s surprised then smiles. “I’ll get Diego on keeping it stocked.”
I get back to Ops and see Ally telling Blaze about going out last night. Jacob is watching the boards. Perfect. “Jacob, Blaze.” They turn. Ally turns back to her monitor. She’s cute. “Blaze you’re on the side of Jacob working through the boards as a distraction to the pussies any way you can. Jacob work around what she can do. If she’s got someone looking one way you get the team to hit them from the other side. Make everything she can help with count. If you see something she can do, tell her so she’s working right with you. Yeah?”
Blaze smiles big. “Yeah.”
Jacob laughs. “Terry is going to be pissed.”
Ally spins around smiling. “I’ll send it to him.”
I laugh walking out. “Devan, I’m moving down to the garage. They have me on a new bike so I need a minute to get used to it.”
‘It’s fuckin’ sweet Brother. I have nothing on the boards yet.’
I see the Protector logo and smile. All our bikes are in a line in front of a bay door. I know mine right away. My Prince number is on the back inlaid in black. Fuck, he went all out. “Thanks Uncle Steve.” I can see him smiling. Fuckin’ Badass all the way.