Restricted MC (The Nighthawks MC Book 14)

by Bella Knight

  Dinner was borcht, salad, chicken Kiev stuffed with cheese and mushrooms, carrots, and potatoes. The kids got tiny chunks of the chicken, carrots, and potatoes, with strawberries for desert.

  The kids were cleaned and put down to play, and the adults had dessert and tea. Dessert was an apple crumb cake, and little blinis with strawberries. They relaxed and laughed about the kids and their jobs.

  Kat kept the adults screaming with laughter with little comments, asides, and snatches of song. Jaime held her hand, and smiled at her, his eyes glinting with love. Sarah sat with Mimi and April, drinking in their attention and regard, but her eyes never really left her parents. She smiled when they smiled, and Kat’s laughter made her glow. The giggles were random, happy, and more than once the laughter spread out to the kids, except for the ones in the back who had resumed their campaign. The superheroes were covering a soldier’s retreat, and the various toys became mountains and buildings. In the living room, the girls and Colin finished building their castle, and they set up a kingdom.

  Pavel and Kieran cleaned up the kitchen, and Katya brought out the board games. Mimi, April, and Sarah ran off with electronic Monopoly. Kat went over and sat with the girls, and kept them doubled over, laughing.

  Jaime and Gregory grabbed Pavel and Kieran and took them for a walk. “What’s going on?” asked Kieran.

  “We all, or most of us, were the victim of an attack.”

  “I want to say once again that I’m sorry,” said Jaime. “This was all over my daughter.”

  Gregory said, “Shut that down, Jaime. You didn’t ask that fat fuck to hire a mercenary group to attack us.”

  “What the fuck?” asked Kieran. “What?”

  “Sixteen men split up and attacked High Desert, Henry’s farm, some Valkyries, and a Soldier Pack living on a farm, and Ivy’s club.”

  Kieran’s eyes teared up. “Who… did anyone die?”

  “All sixteen, one of the planners. Chayton’s chest is bruised. He was shot in the chest, but he put on a vest because he decided to protect the kids. Lieutenant Pocero was wearing a vest, and he was shot in the back. He went on vacation, and he’s fine now. Two people at a club were killed.”

  “You know that Kat and I adopted Sarah. Her mom died.”

  Pavel nodded. “We know that part. There is more, no?”

  “Yes,” said Gregory. “This fat accountant with a law degree had a trust, Sarah’s mother’s money. He wanted to steal it, but we knew he was crooked. Sarah refused to go to a boarding school, so he hired a security company to guard her.”

  “Us,” said Jaime. “High Desert was hired to guard her. She ended up with me. She chose me.” He wiped tears away from the corner of his eyes. “Actually, she met Kat, and that was it.”

  “I get that,” said Kieran. “She’s amazing.”

  “And, we figured out he was crooked, and we started an investigation that led to his other clients with trusts,” said Gregory. “So, he was angry with us from stopping his thievery. He had to sell a condo he had bought with his ill-gotten gains to put the money back into Sarah’s mother’s trust, and so his whole house of cards came falling down. So he got desperate, and he got super-crazy. He stole eight million from one of his elderly clients who had just had a stroke, used a million plus of it to hire mercenaries to wipe us up and all of our allies, and got caught on a private plane to Mexico. He’s in federal prison and is facing the death penalty.”

  “It gets worse,” said Jaime. “The guys he hired were terrorists, racist thugs with military training. They specifically went after the Nighthawks farm to wipe them out because of their racist beliefs.”

  “Is not your fault,” said Pavel to Jaime. “You were supposed to know this bad man would hire an army to attack? How? No one but crazy people think like that.”

  “I’m just so glad mostly everyone is still alive, and we didn’t lose any of our family.” said Kieran. He narrowed his eyes. “Why the hell did my brother keep this from me?”

  “Because I didn’t want you to worry,” said Ace, coming out of the dark.

  “Ace!” said Kieran.

  “Brother!” said Pavel. Both young men hugged Ace.

  “If I had told you someone had been shooting into the Dirty Rock, you would have been down here. And, I was fine. The cops were outside in seconds.”

  Kieran walked around in a circle, then came back. “I’ve got to do something.”

  “What? It happened weeks ago.”

  Kieran walked in another circle. Pavel held up his hand to tell the others to wait. Kieran circled twice more, then said, “I’m going to train with Skuld while I’m here. I have the funds to do it.”

  Gregory said, “Yes, and we have the training for law enforcement at High Desert.”

  Kieran nodded. “I’ll do it.”

  “We can take some time,” said Pavel. “Or I can go back, take care of things.”

  Kieran nodded twice. “I want to move back,” he said.

  “Absolutely not,” said Ace. “I realize you’re a super-smart adult and you’re perfectly capable of making your own decisions, but you’re safe where you are. No one has gone after you there. No one really knows you’re my brother. Yes, please learn to defend yourself. You have helpless dogs who depend on you. But, you have a business, and you’re not done with school.”

  “Almost done,” said Pavel. “And where my brother goes, I go.”

  Kieran nodded, and stopped walking in circles. “Skuld training first, and when I can walk again…” Jaime, Gregory, and Ace snorted. “When I can walk again, I’ll do the motorcycle training thing.”

  “Do you ride?” asked Gregory.

  “We both do,” said Kieran. “Just use the van for deliveries and pickups.”

  “Shiva runs the classes now, but if you would prefer me, I’ll personally train you in evasion on a bike at Henry’s Harley school.”

  “I’d like to learn from you, if that’s okay,” said Kieran.

  “I can run you through the things tonight,” said Gregory. “We’ll do the real action on Saturday.”

  “Thank you,” said Kieran.

  “We’re your family,” said Gregory. “We’ll always be here for you.” He hugged Kieran.

  Kieran turned to Ace. “I’m pissed that you didn’t tell me.”

  Ace nodded. “I hear you, and I deserve it. And don’t blame Lily. I told her it was what was best.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” said Pavel. “We are strong men.”

  “You were kidnapped once,” said Ace. “And Kieran could have been killed, too. I was afraid of bringing up stuff that would interfere with you two. You have a business, and you’re finishing your business degrees, and getting each dog certified. I didn’t want to disrupt your lives.”

  “I am not some little kid you need to protect,” said Kieran, eyes flashing.

  “I get it,” said Pavel. “We both have no parents. Ace did not think like a brother. He thought like a father.”

  “Well, fix it,” said Kieran. “I am your brother, not your kid. So, I don’t need protecting.”

  “I will,” said Ace. They hugged it out.

  “Okay, let’s go teach a class,” said Gregory.

  “Can’t we all just get along?” cried Jaime. They all hit him in the shoulder, making him laugh. They walked back.

  They got the kids to sleep, then got them into the vehicles. Gregory got his kids into bed, and read to them. He came back down, and taught the Evade classwork to both Kieran and Pavel. Katya went to bed to study a bit before sleep. The boys took Ace’s bike back to Ace and Lily’s house, and the boys crashed in the pods in their room.

  Kieran was awakened early, a thing that happened from repetition. Lily stumbled into the kitchen, and Kieran handed her a glass of orange juice and a plate with two breakfast sandwiches. “I knew I loved you for a reason,” said Lily.

  “I am so amazed,” said Ace, stumbling into the kitchen. “They come, they study, they take care of their little niece a
nd nephew, and they cook, too.”

  Kieran handed him a plate with three breakfast sandwiches and a sealed cup of coffee. “Bless you,” said Ace. He ate his sandwiches standing up at the sink, and said, “I am sorry, Kieran. I got put in a position where I had to protect you, when Mom went to prison for murder, and again when Pavel was kidnapped. I forgot to disengage that mode. I know you’re a man capable of taking care of yourself. Good luck with Skuld today, and don’t let her kill you.”

  “I won’t,” said Kieran. “I accept your apology.” They hugged.

  Ace kissed his wife, and sent her off to work. Ace then cleaned up the kids, got their teeth brushed, and then Ace took the kids and the dogs to the park. Kieran and Pavel took off to be beaten up.

  Skuld included them in her FBI class. The FBI people were ready to go, and Kieran and Pavel watched at first. Kieran and Pavel got padding, and they practiced throws.

  They relaxed when they where thrown, and Skuld made sure no jocks were attempting to harm the young men. They were stoked to find out about the dogs, and the agents asked where they could volunteer. Skuld told them about the Rock House and the Valkyries there, and they were excited to help. So, after everyone showered, Skuld led the way, after texting to be sure it would be alright to come over.

  Fire met them and walked them through training the dogs. Kieran and Pavel explained their business on the grounds of their former high school, and the student participation in the business. It usually took a year or more to train a dog, and that’s what made therapy dogs so expensive.

  They also toured the Soldier Pack Harley demo/creation facility, and were delighted to hear that former soldiers were getting training on a new way of life. “Wish this had been here when I mustered out,” said Special Agent Janine Polonas.

  “Hoo-ah,” said Fire. They bumped fists.

  “We want to help,” said Special Agent Ricki Yi.

  “Buy us a bike,” said Fire. “A dead one. We sell them for a profit. Our goal is to pay off the mortgage here, and pay for more and more women to go through. We really don’t have anywhere to go yet, when we’re through, but we need to get out of the way of the next women.”

  Special Agent Yi had her phone out, and typed things into it. “Okay, on it. We have to go. Some of us aren’t from here, and have a drive. But, you will be hearing from us.”

  They shook hands with Fire, and left. Kieran and Pavel stayed, and showed more advanced ways to train and work with the dogs. They said goodbye to the women, and hopped into the van.

  “We need food,” said Pavel.

  “And ice packs,” said Kieran. “Skuld is no joke.”

  They went by Sonic for chicken, cheese sticks, and cherry-lime frozen drinks. They then swung by a drugstore, and got ice packs, sports cream, and naproxen sodium for the pain. They went back to Ace’s house stiff and sore. Ace said goodbye and went out to work, and they ate their naproxen sodium, rubbed in the sports cream, and took the kids and dogs for a walk to the park. Pavel kicked the mini soccer ball around and took the kids on the swings. Kieran, who had fallen more, moved a little more slowly. They chased the kids around, and made them squeal with laughter. They went back, the kids had cut-up grapes and Cheerios, and cut-up yams. They cleaned up the kids and the kitchen, and Pavel cleaned while Kieran played with the kids, then they caught up on the laundry. Pavel and Kieran switched off with folding baskets full of laundry.

  Pavel started dinner, a honey-baked ham with potatoes and carrots. He cut off the vegetables and put honey and brown sugar on the ham, and put it all into the oven.

  They took the kids and dogs for one more walk, and they started dancing when they saw Ace’s bike. They went in, and the dogs and kids converged on Ace in the kitchen. “Cougar hired a new woman,” he said. “She’s a star bartender. She has two kids, and feeds her kids early, ‘cause they’re up before dawn on their farm. She wants to work, and send me home for dinner some days.”

  “Cool,” said Kieran. Kieran set the table while Ace put his kids in the high chairs. Pavel took the food out of the oven.

  Lily stumbled out, and headed straight toward the kitchen. “Food. I smell food.”

  “The mighty Pavel will feed us,” said Ace. Lily laughed.

  “Sit,” said Kieran, and held out a chair for her. They all sat, and Pavel cut up the kids’ food and put it in the refrigerator to cool. Kieran cut the ham and spooned the food into large bowls. Pavel fed the toddlers, and they sat down to eat.

  “How was Skuld?” asked Ace. Pavel and Kieran eyed each other, and Ace laughed.

  “Alright, I have to take these classes,” said Lily.

  “Do it,” said Ace. “I’ll be ready with ice packs and naproxen sodium.”

  “Love you, honey,” said Lily. They kissed.

  They got the kids fed, and Ace and Lily sat on the floor and played with them. Pavel and Kieran watched a movie, and covered themselves with ice packs. Ace and Lily took the kids to bath and bed, and then Ace came back down to watch an action movie with Pavel and Kieran.

  “I thought I’d be at work tonight,” said Ace. “This is weird.”

  “More time with the family is good, right?” asked Pavel.

  “Yes, and it’s cool, and I’m a part owner. And, I never intended to be a bartender for the rest of my life, but it’s fun. But, Cougar is right. I’ll work when Ivy works, and that’s one less day a week. It’s just… what now?”

  “What about learning the Harleys and working with the Soldier Pack?” asked Kieran.

  “Damn, bro, you’re smart.” Kieran ducked his head and laughed.

  Malpractice

  Alvitr bit the bullet and called Wraith. “She what?” asked Wraith, her voice low, and leaning toward the growly. Alvitr sincerely hoped that voice would never be aimed at her.

  “She needs to see another therapist. We’ve all taken turns, last four digits social, last four digits military ID number, being on the phone for hours. Getting her to see another covered therapist is nearly impossible. They think she’s got one, that’s good enough. But the woman said that the whole thing that went down didn’t happen. Found out she’s been hypnotizing Fire, too.”

  “Then we’ll get her on our insurance.” Wraith thought a minute. “We need a process server. A notary public, too, for our documents.” She thought a minute. “Her background as a legal officer should qualify her to take the examinations. We’ll pay for them, of course. Part-time work, part-time pay, but we happen to give insurance to our part-time people.” She thought harder. “Wait, that stuff was both in the paper and there were a lot of police documents filed on that Night of the Guns.”

  “We call it Fallujah Two, here,” said Alvitr.

  Wraith winced. “In the meantime, we can get another therapist; get all her documents moved over.” Wraith grinned evilly, and realized Alvitr couldn’t see her. “Subpoena them, if we have to. Including all audio records, including hypnotism. Then we’ll sue her ass for malpractice.” She thought another minute. Alvitr was comfortable with the silence. “If she did this to one soldier, she did it to another. We need a watch on her office, see who goes in, goes out. Hidden camera in the hall just outside her office should do it. Then, talk to them. Find out and subpoena those records.”

  “Then we sue her bony ass,” said Alvitr, triumph in her voice.

  “Then we get her malpractice insurance to pay, get anyone she treated proper medical care,” said Wraith. “Get her license yanked too, but that one’s harder.”

  “No law against taping yourself in a therapy session, is there?” asked Alvitr.

  “No,” said Wraith, slowly. “No. That would be quite helpful. Once or twice only. Tell her we’ll get her out of there super-fast. In fact, get her over here and we’ll get her on the payroll. I don’t care if it’s a military law advisor. In fact, that’s a good one.” Wraith thought it through. “Got to be some way to prove some other things, too, and Fire can help us with that, yes.”

  “What other things?” asked A
lvitr.

  “Where and when anyone was anywhere in Iraq and Afghanistan is tied up tighter than a prick’s ass.” Alvitr burst out a laugh. “That bitch was counting on it. Can neither prove nor disprove. But, I suspect there is a way.”

  “Find that way,” said Alvitr. “These women are mine. None of them get left behind, not even mentally.”

  “With your shield,” said Wraith.

  “Or on it,” said Alvitr. Both women hung up.

  Process serving turned out to be difficult in the state of Nevada, something that usually took six months. Wraith sent Fire to school to become a licensed investigator as well as a process server, and put Daisy Chain to dig into the psychologist’s life. They taped two more sessions, including a hypnotherapy session, where psychologist Missoula “Leslie” Racano flat-out attempted to tell Fire that neither Fallujah Two happened, nor several deaths that Fire witnessed while in the military.

  Dr. Leslie Guggenheim, a psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of military veterans for a variety of problems, including post-traumatic stress, sent a very innocuous bit of paper with a USB still in its package and a follow-up call to psychologist Missoula “Leslie” Racano, marriage and family therapist with a supposed subspecialty of helping PTSD victims. Her medical office receptionist and filer, Minnie Alvarez, dutifully made a copy of all the files and put them on the USB, including audio files, and sent them to Dr. Guggenheim. Minnie was just out of the local community college, and thought the files were recordings of therapy sessions. She had no idea the files included hypnotherapy, something Racano wasn’t qualified to do, except for an online certificate she received for reading a book and twenty hours of lectures. She also had a single class in dealing with PTSD, and had never worked with actual soldiers before hanging up her shingle as a therapist. She had, however, filled out all the right paperwork to be paid by the US government to treat military people. Her medical biller, a woman named Crystal Mathers, operating out of her own home, was rather good at finding things that the government would pay for. Crystal Mathers was the one that put Racano onto the hypnotherapy track.