Authors: L. Ann Marie
“If my money is cut to support a bunch of kids playing bikers it’s an interest to me,” Dave growls out.
VP and Jessie stand up but Little Ben stops them. “First watch how you talk to me. I am an Officer in this Club and have earned that respect and my right to be here. I am all in every day which is more than you can say. I may not be
your P
resident but I am President of the Little Brothers and respect should be shown whether you agree or not. Second, Little Brothers have made money since I was fourteen. We didn’t ask this Club,
our
Club, for a dime. We haven’t needed anyone to support us for years. Every Little Brother holds at least one job in this Club alongside of Brothers and gets paid just like they do. We have jobs outside of the Club that pay us and don’t
need
the Club jobs. We do them because we’re all in. Third, we have businesses already up and running in the new town. The money that you take from a Club you are
not
all in for is safe. If you
were
all in for this Club you would know all that and I wouldn’t be standing here,
again
, explaining shit to you. Is there another fuckin’ thing you feel is going to hurt you personally because I am opening an MC Chapter in Rhode Island?”
Dave stands up and slams his chair into the table. “You little fuck! I’m a member of this Club. I was an Officer in this Club before you were out of diapers and should be shown respect. Who the fuck do you think you are?”
VP, Jessie and Tiny stand behind Little Ben. Pres walks to Dave. “He is just as he said. President of another Club and because of that he gets respect. He’s also proven to our own Brothers and Officers that he deserves his Officers cut. You are not an Officer. I don’t even know why you are here but it has been enlightening. You should know about the Little Brothers and Little Ben. You should know every kid we have is trained to defend this Club and does. You should know the Little Brothers make money on jobs that don’t have anything to do with the Club. You are a Brother that doesn’t know shit about his Club so I’d say Little Ben is right. You are in it for the money and nothing else.” His voice is low and has that deadly sound to it. “Tell me Dave, who has your back?”
The Officers are behind Little Ben. Dave looks at Pres and drops his cut on the floor. “This ain’t an MC, it a fuckin’ preschool for spoiled rich kids. I can’t wait until they’re on their own and start getting killed off. I’ll dance on their fuckin’ graves.” Pres pulls his arm back just as Dave takes a hit lifting him up then dropping him to the floor.
“Thanks Pres but I’ve got this one,” Little Ben says. “Sheila, Jessie, get this piece of shit out of here.” The kids move dragging Dave out and Pres is smiling.
“He was here for a reason?” Pres asks Little Ben.
“Yes. Sorry Pres. This was a part of the vision we didn’t understand. I had no idea this would happen but it clears another piece of the way for us.”
Pres nods. “Let’s finish this.”
Jessie and Sheila come in and sit without a word. A Brother lost his cut and was shown disloyal. I’m glad they see that it wasn’t in any way a victory.
“Tess’s vision left us with too many questions. We have been eliminating them one by one. Dave was one of those questions. We aren’t asking for money, but we do need help. Cleaning the town needs to happen before we make the complete move. We have two that would fall into the drugs before the town is cleaned and I can’t bring more in knowing that.”
Pres nods. “We will give you all the support you need to get that done.”
“Thank you. The last issue is who is going with us. Joey has a list from Eagle Eye, our secretary, with the Little Brothers and Sisters. We know men from the MC are following but need a better idea of who we’re looking at and if we want them as Nomads or members.”
“I’ll make the announcement in Church and have a list for you next week,” Pres says.
“That’s all I have for public.”
Pres looks around the table. “Any questions?” No one says anything. “HS Officers, Cloud and Tiny, stay. Everyone else is dismissed. Thank you for showing.”
When they leave we sit for a minute. “Fuckin’ Dave,” Pres says running his hand through his hair.
“I had no clue it would go that far,” Little Ben says.
“He hasn’t been in since he got the house in the yard. I’m not surprised,” Danny says.
Pres looks at him. He’s right but Pres is surprised. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Danny shrugs. “I thought you kept him because he was part of the old guard. There was just him and Casper left then just Dave. I wasn’t going to question your motives. It didn’t have anything to do with me.”
“Me too,” Tiny says. I think me too but I’m not saying a word. Pres nods then looks at Little Ben.
“We have businesses up and running, really it was just changing ownership so there are no problems there. With the Baxters and Brothers from the other reservations we have the money we need for a hangar and helicopter. What we don’t have is the technical know-how on buying one.”
“Fuckin’ kids. You’re buying a helicopter? Who’s going to fly it?” Tiny booms out making me smile.
“Eagle Eye and Jared are both pilots. They are better with the artillery than Eagle Feather but we don’t advertise it.” Cloud says smiling.
Tiny stands up fast and his chair falls over. “Fuck! Moving, putting women as Officers, and now fuckin’ flying. I’m too old for these fuckin’ surprises!”
Everyone is laughing. “Not fuckin’ old, they are,” VP says making us all stop. We all just look at him. “What else?”
Little Ben looks at Jessie and gets a small nod. “We need the cost of the equipment and labor for the feeds. Jessie has two possible jobs if we need it but he doesn’t want to take them if we don’t.”
VP looks at Jessie. “Government?” Jessie nods but doesn’t say more. “I’ll cover the cost. Might be safer not to do them right now.”
Little Ben throws chin. “That’s what he was thinking but wouldn’t let it go if we needed the money right away. We agreed to keep personal money out unless it was necessary and a helicopter isn’t necessary but we want one,” he says smiling.
Pres laughs. “Anything else we need?”
Little Ben shakes his head no and slides the list Joey left up to Pres. “I’d like to start cleaning the town right away. Three months will go by fast. Other than that you have everything.”
“Do you want Darren with an Officer’s cut from us?” Pres asks.
“No, he knows his value to us and is too busy for Club politics. Ricky will need one. He’s staying to take over Little Brothers and Sisters up here. He earned the cut and deserves the title.” Little Ben tells him.
Pres nods. “We’ll talk about that when you leave.”
Little Ben, Jessie and Darren stand as one. “We’re out then.”
When they leave VP stands. “An office with no feeds.” We all follow him to Pres’ office.
“You shut the feed to the meeting room, why did we have to move?” Pres asks as he sits down.
“Darren and Little Ben can get around it.” No one questions Little Ben’s knowledge of computers making me smile. They are getting that he knows more than he shows. “Dave’s got our brand on him. Needs to come off. He’ll come back at us.”
Preys nods. “Give him the choice. From what I just saw he’s going hard.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Rich says.
Bob steps forward. “I’m in.”
“Me too Pres. It’s been a while since we’ve had to take our brand back.” Tiny says.
Fuck, I watched the last time they took it from Rob, he screamed the entire time. They make a time and decide what the offer is then what to do about the house then look back at Pres. The one thing they don’t do is bet on it. Danny hasn’t said a word.
“Cloud, the helicopter bill comes here. I know they paid for all the Security features to match the reservation.” Pres tells him.
He smiles. “They used casino money for that. They’re playing it smart and only spend what they’re taking in outside the Little Brothers accounts. Jessie is doing jobs to pay the bills for anything extra.”
Tiny laughs. “Fuckin’ kids are smarter than we were.”
“Who are we losing?” Danny asks.
Pres looks at the list. “Jessie, Brantley, Joey, Aaron, Jason, Sheila, Taylor when he gets back and Darren and Jacob in three months. Lilly when she finishes the school year.” Shit Lilly too. Aubrey will be heart broken.
Cloud starts pacing. “Fuck. CJ will put up a fight or want to fuckin’ move. Jacob is too young to be down there.”
“It’s an hour and a half, what’s that twenty, thirty minutes in the chopper?” Pres says.
Cloud stops. “Yeah. I can use that. I can have him here for the weekends or whenever she wants.” He sits and I smile thinking that wasn’t so hard.
I wait to see if anyone has anything else. Since no one says anything I throw out the biggest issues we will have. “IT and Training are taking a big hit. I need someone in IT right away, someone that’s able to jump into HS when we need that. I know Bull and Driscoll will be going with them. Jessie took Training because Rich and VP were too busy. There isn’t anyone that’s qualified to jump into Training on the MC side. Zack is on Baxter but that’s too much for one person.”
Pres looks at me then the table. “Bull is leaving? I figured Driscoll was on his way out but didn’t know Bull was.”
“They’re following the kids. It will work out. Driscoll will help with Security but isn’t running HS.”
Pres stands up. “How the fuck do you know that?”
Danny smiles. “I asked Tess,” Rich covers his mouth and coughs.
“So we need HS IT right away! You think someone should have told me?” His hands are in his hair.
VP makes a show of looking at his watch. “Pres, five minutes ago you read the list. We need HS IT.”
Rich cracks up. “And a trainer.”
Pres sits down and puts his head in his hands. “Fuck. They’re really leaving. I thought we had more time. I need IT and I’m forced to make a change that’s going to fuckin’ split the Club.”
I’m smiling because I don’t have to say it and he’s right. Danny stands up. “I’m behind you whatever you decide.”
VP surprises the fuck out of everyone. “Me too Pres. Always.”
Pres looks at him then smiles. “Fuckin’ Brothers always surprise me.” He looks at me. “Will she take more hours?”
VP answers surprising me again. “Josh just cut her hours. She’ll want more.” I look at him. He told Josh to cut her hours? “May have helped that.” I laugh. Fuckin’ Brother.
“She can work from home or in KC until it’s more accepted by the Brothers,” Pres says smiling. I just nod.
“She’s good with it,” VP says and I’m wondering what fuckin’ realm I’m living in now. He just smiles at me.
“So I have Ricky as lead in KC IT with José, Diego, Billy, Victor, and Alex.” I say wondering how the fuck I’m going to work this out.
“Kaleb and Jeremy help there,” Rich says. Okay I can work with that.
Pres stands again. “We need a Trainer.”
“Me and Jake can do outside, Zack and the letters can do inside,” VP says and Pres nods. “Paperwork’s easy. Tell the computer to do it and it does,” he says shaking his head. I smile at ‘the letters,’ his name for J&K.
Rich, Danny and Tiny are laughing. I look at Cloud. He shrugs at me with a smile. Definitely another realm.
“Geek, thank Marty for me. Rich, Bob, VP stay so we can get the schedules covered and gear up for cleaning the town.”
Me, Danny, Cloud and Tiny walk out the door. “Holy shit that was weird,” I say as I’m walking toward the cafeteria.
“Enlightening is the word of the day,” Tiny says. I laugh, okay enlightening.
“VP heard what Little Ben was saying and it clicked for him. They spent twenty years teaching the boys how to treat women, never realizing those women would grow up, and expect their fathers to treat them with that same respect,” Cloud says grabbing a tray and putting fruit on it.
“Fuckin’ A,” Tiny says. I look at them. Aubrey will be anything she wants because of that teaching so I’m glad they got it now.
“So how was working with Mitch?” Danny asks when we sit.
I can’t help smiling. “She got screens made, the program separated so it worked three boards and everything done in under three hours. She’s un-fuckin’-believable.”
They laugh. I’m glad I got to see how she works but think I’ve got her figured. She’s methodical and figures the best way to get what she wants fast. She did that today just like VP. It was cool as shit to see and I didn’t end up dead.
I’m just coming out of the best dream and realize it isn’t a dream. His mouth is on me and I’m ready to come. I love this man and push my hips up so I’m right where I want his mouth. Oh my God, I’m so damn glad this is his favorite position, and wonder how the hell I got so lucky. He takes his mouth off me and I want to yell at him.
“No fuckin’ way you’re coming and I don’t hear it babe,” he says reaching for the nightstand. He hands me my chip.
Damn guy! Like this couldn’t have waited? I pop it on. “One damn time! You couldn’t just finish then get the chip?”
He looks surprised. “Not a fuckin’ chance I’d miss hearing my name when you come. Fuckin’ sexy as hell.”
“I don’t know whether to smile or be pissed. You think you can finish now?”
He smiles. “Absofuckinlutely.” He kisses my lips and moves back down getting me to begging him not to move again in no time. He does that thing with his tongue and I’m gone. Holy shit, am I gone. “Always fuckin’ sexy babe but that has to be the sweetest sound you make,” he says sliding into me and kissing my ear. He can get that out of me anytime he wants I’m thinking as he rolls his hips hitting just perfect.
I moan and he does it again. “That feels so damn good. Fuck me harder Geek.”
He pushes up on his knees. “If you stop again I’m going to have to kill you.”
He’s got that serious look on his face. “Not stopping, but what about the baby?”
Here we go again. “Nothing is going to happen to the baby. You need to read the damn book, but first fuck me and make it hard. You won’t hurt me or the baby.” He starts moving and I push up into him. My hand rolls a nipple and I know I’ve got him. He’s watching my hand and pulling me into him hard. “So damn perfect,” I say barely breathing. I cry out as I come. When I can think again he’s rubbing my belly smiling at me.
“Beautiful Marty.” He pulls out and kisses my belly then my lips. “Love you babe. I’ll read the book.”
I smile at him ready for a nap when I just woke up. “Love you too, hon. I know you’ve been busy. I’m turning into a bitch in the morning.”
He laughs. “Don’t think you know how to do bitch.”
He climbs off the bed and lifts me up. I wonder who the hell was a bitch to him. I’d like to scratch her eyes out. I kiss his chest as he sets me down gently and holds his hand out. He puts the chip up on the shelf and hands me the cap for the shower. I get it on and he turns the water on washing me then him. I always love this side of him. Gruff and rough are gone and sweet is what he shows. I kiss him and sign, ‘thank you.’ He does the same thing every day, I’m turned, and he slaps my ass as I take a step to get clothes.
I get his coffee and our breakfast while thinking about my day. I need to get some warmer clothes for Aubrey, but I have a three hour block for HS this afternoon and Kate needs me at the Women’s Center this morning. The rest of my week looks pretty much the same but at different places. Mitch has me filling in to explain the programs at her businesses. I love the work, but my baby needs some clothes.
“What’s wrong babe?” he asks and I realize I’m standing with his coffee.
“I wanted to smell every last drop?” I ask smiling up at him. “Aubrey needs some warm clothes and I was trying to figure out when I’d have time to get them.”
“Call Nancy. She gets clothes in for the girls and they do a kids girls day out. Fuckin’ crazy but they do it,” he looks disgusted.
I make a face. “This doesn’t sound like fun and your face is telling me I’ll hate it.”
He smiles, “I’d take her but it’s a girl thing.”
“So when my boy gets here you’ll do the shopping thing with him because it’s a guy thing?”
He’s already shaking his head no. “I call Neiman’s and tell them to send him clothes and they do. The Brothers have them trained and the boys don’t care what they’re wearing until they’re older, then they call themselves or order online.”
“Damn! Sometimes being a girl sucks!”
He laughs. “But you’re making that better for all women babe. It’s tough being the poster child. VP is a proud papa and tells everyone about you so it has its perks. You’ve got him wrapped.”
“Jerk. At least now he leaves me alone with the training shit.”
He cracks up. Shit. “He’s got a new schedule he wants to show you tomorrow. You’ll be learning about explosives starting Wednesday.”
He’s crazy. “You don’t find this a reason to worry? Explosives! I want back in that other realm where I don’t have to learn about crazy shit.”
“Relax babe, it’s in a classroom. He’s proud and wants you to learn to defend yourself.” I think he actually believes this.
I give him a look and hand him his burnt toast. “Defending myself with martial arts is good. Learning how to shoot is good. Explosives are not good Geek. That’s crazy in every realm.”
He looks at me as if he’s trying to figure it out. “The kids learn it.”
“They are freaks of nature! I’m a normal woman, a pregnant woman that is just running a computer. Normal pregnant women don’t learn about explosives!” I butter the hell out of Aubrey’s toast and throw it on a plate.
“I want to be like you Mommy. You help everywhere. Sandy did you for her paper on a strong woman. Then Brenna and me changed ours. You got in the Badass boys club when no one else did. Sandy says you’re like Martin Luther King but better ‘cause you did it without all the extra people believing in you. You and Daddy was enough.” My damn daughter has to say this now? I kiss her head and sign, a ‘thank you.’
Looking at Geek I ask, “What do I need to know about explosives so I’ll be ready for class?” He laughs and I sign, ‘Jerk,’ but can’t help smiling. I’m just as crazy as they are.
He hugs me. “I’ll get you information later and I’ll ask Brenda to take Aubrey to Nancy’s.”
I smile feeling better already. “You love me. Explosives and shopping services after that awesome wakeup call. What more can a girl want?”
“Alright, it’s a little out of the norm, but for here it’s pretty tame.” He kisses me and I forget the question. “I need to get to work. Love you babe.”
“Love you too.” I kiss Aubrey head. “Love you baby. I’ll pick you up after school.”
“I’m going to KC today with the other kids. Brenda is getting me.”
I back up and look at the fridge. She’s right. “Got it. I’ll see you for dinner.” She runs out following Geek. I sit on the chair he just left wondering when life got so bizarre. I should be wondering why I’m smiling about my bizarre life. Sandy did her paper on me. Go figure. I jump up and grab the towel to clean the breakfast dishes. There isn’t anything to clean, they already did it. Too sweet. I grab my backpack and head out with the damn smile. Explosives. I drive out the gate laughing. My BG follows me to the Women’s Center.