Coder: Book Five (Princes of Prophecy)

by L. Ann Marie

  “No Grandmother she doesn’t seem to be. It would not matter to me. I met her before the attack and learned the lessons of my fathers. Beauty is more than her face and hair. She is a sweet woman Grandmother. Mucimi loves her very much.”

  She laughs. “As does my grandson. I am happy for you and Mucimi. Your woman’s love is pure.”

  She uses a different word for love than I’ve heard from her. “I am happy you use agape Grandmother. It is as I would hope for Mucimi.” He deserves a pure love as the word implies.

  She stands and kisses my head. “As it should be and for you too my mulish grandson. Jeremy, Dakota and Little Ben understand and welcome the love of their women. Someday the spirits will drop a rock on you to make you see it is so.”

  I laugh and follow her out. We walk to the lake and listen to stories of ancient times. I’m never sure if she makes them up or they are passed down, but they’re always good.

  Mucimi is calmed either by the reservation or Nunánuk’s voice. He sleeps on our way back to her house. Holly takes a pain pill. I watch her and relax. She’s moving slow, but not too bad. I get Mucimi changed and feed him before we leave telling Nunánuk I love her and wish to see her soon. Holly mimics my words in Mohegan making me laugh. She’s so damn smart.

  Christian hugs her again, telling her he’ll see us in two weeks. I push my thoughts away and get Mucimi in his seat. On the drive back I wonder why Christian is coming up. Maybe Taylor is having more trouble than I thought.

  “Your grandmother is very nice and I can say I met and like your whole family.”

  “They like you too. They would say it if they didn’t. We tend to be a pretty blunt group.”

  “I’ve noticed.” She’s smiling so it’s a good thing.

  When I look over again she’s sleeping against the door. I smile, thinking it’s been a good day.

  Chapter Nine

  Two weeks

  Brantley

  “Morning mylittle happy boy.”

  I open my eyes and watch Mucimi’s hand stroke her cheek. She giggles and he laughs. I can’t help but smile. Every day I hear the same thing. She’s so excited to carry him. I walk behind, but don’t do anything to get in her way. When he’s in his bed, I walk away to change. She’s not taking the pills anymore and isn’t having a problem carrying Mucimi. The doctor said she’d need a couple of months, but she’s at just over a month and already back at work and moving more naturally.

  I get Mucimi fed while she dresses and she follows me to the gate. I have Mucimi in his harness in front of me. He laughs almost the whole way. I can’t wait for Jax to build him a bike of his own. I smile at the thought that maybe he should be able to walk first. I throw respect at the gate and turn to the daycare lot right outside of it. I hear the engine and look forward seeing a car come straight at us and moving fast. The daycare gate isn’t open yet and I have nowhere to turn. A guard yells and I hear a shot. Letting go of the handlebars I cover Mucimi and jump to the side rolling until I hit the wall. The car swerves our way. I hear another shot and I put my hand on the wall pushing us to the side. Mucimi screams.

  “Brantley! Push the fuckin’ car!”

  I open my eyes. I hear Prez, but can’t see him. “Mucimi.”

  “Thank fuck! He’s okay Brant. Nick has him with Holly.”

  “He’s okay?” I can’t think past my boy. My fuckin’ back and arm are killing me. “I need to see him Prez. He’s okay?” I feel like I’m talking through a tunnel.

  “He is Brother. We need to cover your arm Brantley, then you can see your boy.”

  Cover my arm then I can see him. “Yeah.” I need to see he’s alright. “He’s okay?”

  “Yeah Brant, he’s okay.”

  That’s Taylor. I turn my head trying to see him. I have to see he’s okay. “Taylor, I need to see Mucimi.”

  “I know Brant. Let’s get you covered and you can see him.” He moves my arm and I clench my jaw. Fuck!

  “Now Taylor! I need to see he’s okay.”

  “Fuck. Don’t move him, his arm and back are hurt. Cade get Nick to bring Mucimi over here!” Prez yells.

  I hear him crying. “No! He’s okay. He’s okay. He’s got to be okay.”

  I see Nick holding Mucimi. His arm is on a board. “He’s okay Brantley.”

  Mucimi screams. “No baby. Give him to me. He’s not fuckin’ okay!” My boy. They don’t move, but Holly takes him and sits in front of me putting Mucimi against me. I move the arm I can and hold him. He stops screaming.

  “His arm is hurt, but everything else is fine. He was upset when they moved him away from you.”

  I look at her face with tears running down. “He’s okay?” She nods. I kiss his head. “I am so sorry baby. I should have kept you safe.” He’s whimpering against me, but it calms me.

  Taylor bends beside us. “No Brantley, it was the fuckin’ crazy woman. She was trying to hit you.”

  “The ambulance is here. We need to get you to the hospital,” Prez says, but I still can’t see him.

  I look at Taylor. “Taylor if they try to move him you better fuckin’ shoot them.”

  He nods. “I’ll stay with you and keep him with you or me.”

  The EMTs move in and I don’t see Holly, but I can hear her tell them to leave Mucimi on me. “Don’t let them take him away Holly.”

  “She can go with you Brother. Holly and Taylor will go with you,” Prez says in that voice that I know he’ll make it happen.

  I’m on the board and Mucimi holds on. I wake up moving on a gurney and all I see are lights passing by, but my arm is holding Mucimi. People are talking around me and I catch Taylor and Holly’s voices.

  “Brantley they need X-rays. They’re going to do Mucimi then you. You have to let him go but they’ll do them right here.” Her hand is on my face.

  No. If they take him he’ll feel what I do. “Don’t let them take him away. He won’t be able to handle the pain.”

  “Nick is here and explained it. They won’t take him out of the room. I’m going to hold him while they do the X-ray then they’ll do yours and I’ll put him back.”

  She knows, she won’t let them take him away. “Yeah.”

  She moves my arm and lifts him up, he cries. I don’t see where she went. “Turn me.”

  My shirt is being cut, but Mucimi is crying. “Turn me so he can see me!”

  “Stop! It’s three fuckin’ feet!” Taylor turns me.

  I find Mucimi’s eyes. “You got this little man.” He settles and Holly holds him still so they can X-ray his arm.

  He’s holding my eyes and the nurse cutting my shirt comments on it. “No fuckin’ shit,” Taylor says making me smile. Mucimi smiles.

  They get me X-rayed and start putting a little cast on Mucimi’s arm. It’s broke and I feel like shit. I should have protected him better. He doesn’t make a sound, but watches me. I let them do whatever they’re doing with my eyes on his. Holly keeps talking to him, telling him everything they’re doing, but she won’t let them turn him.

  “Fuuuuk!” Holy fuck it would be better to cut the fuckin’ arm off. Mucimi cries. I clench my jaw. “No baby. I’m okay.” Holly looks away, but doesn’t move him. They keep doing shit that makes me want to cut it off myself but I finally get a shot that helps and Mucimi stops whimpering and settles.

  After for-fuckin’-ever they’re done and Mucimi is back on my chest. Holly stands with her hand on his back. I look at the doctor for the first time.

  “Your collar bone is fractured. Your arm, obviously, where it broke through the skin. Your shoulder was dislocated. You have three fractured fingers and sprained your wrist. Your back will be sore, but there is nothing but some swelling at your neck and shoulder.”

  I wave my hand at him. “My son. Tell me about my son.”

  Nick comes over. “His arm is broken, but you covered him Brother. There’s not even a scratch on him anywhere else.”

  I blow out a breath. “Thanks.” The doctor looks at me as if
he has more to say. “Tell Nick whatever you need to.” I look for Taylor. “Do we have a ride home?”

  He smiles. “Yeah.”

  I turn toward Holly and move to stand. Taylor puts his hand to my back helping me up and settles Mucimi on my good shoulder over the sling they put on me. I look at the doctor. “Thanks.” We walk out and I stop. Everyone is here. “Holy fuck.”

  Prez smiles. “I tried to keep it to a minimum. I’m fuckin’ glad to see you walking.”

  “Me too.”

  “I need to tell them status or they’ll follow you home.”

  I shake my head. “Nick can tell you. Mucimi has a broken arm, but the rest of him is fine.”

  He smiles. “You did good keeping him covered Brother. Jason sent you the feed in case you doubted that.” I got him a broken arm. There’s not much room for doubt there. “Watch the feed Brother.” His eyes are intense.

  I nod and Nick starts telling everyone the same thing the doctor said. I look at Taylor and he smiles. “We’re out.” He starts moving people so we can get through.

  At the SUV, Taylor hands Mucimi to Holly and helps me in. Prez jumps in the front and Taylor says he’s right behind us. “Who was the crazy lady?” I ask.

  “Mucimi’s grandmother.”

  Fuck. “She had to have seen him.”

  He looks back. “Yeah.”

  Holly shivers and I grab her hand. “Thanks for keeping him with me.”

  She gives me her smiling eyes. “Always.”

  “I want to lean down and kiss you, but I don’t think I’d get back up. Not a smooth Badass move.”

  She laughs and lifts up to kiss me.

  Chapter Ten

  One week

  Holly

  “Morning mylittle happy boy.” He pets my face and laughs then I do.

  Brantley puts his hand on my head. “I love that.”

  “I’m glad you’re smiling this morning. I was getting worried.”

  His eyes get hard then clear. “I need to let it go. They did what they thought was right and I don’t get all the shit they do.”

  I just nod. Mucimi sits up and moves to slobber on Brantley’s face. It always makes me smile. “How are you feeling today?”

  “I’m good. I’m going to work this morning.”

  This surprises me. “I guess we should get happy boy dressed then.” He laughs his little baby laugh making Brantley smile. I like him with the smile.

  When I get Mucimi to the kitchen Brantley’s there making his cereal with worn jeans and no shirt. I swear they must buy jeans that look like that. I haven’t seen a new pair of jeans the whole time I’ve been here. While I’m staring at his ass then abs I realize he hasn’t moved. I lift my eyes to his then look away. He’s been watching me. Yep, caught gawking. Crap, crap, crap!

  He stands in front of me and kisses me. I hold Mucimi tighter so I don’t drop him. “I’d say it’s time to do more than look.” Holy crap! He smiles taking Mucimi and puts him in his seat. He hands me his shirt and I help him cover what I want to touch. I do touch him too, not nearly enough, but I get to feel his stomach and back. By the time I finish and his shirt is on and smoothed down I’m taking shallow breaths. “How the fuck can you make putting clothes on me erotic as hell?”

  I look at his eyes. “I don’t know, but I want to do it again.” Oh my God I said it out loud.

  His mouth crashes down on mine. Lifting his head, he kisses my head. “Fuck. We have work.”

  Crap, crap, crap! He turns to the baby and sits feeding him. I escape to the room and get dressed as fast as I can. I’m happy my clothes disappeared and I have all new. I put on sexy panties and a cute sleeveless dress with lace at the waist and bottom. These crazy people are so sweet and have the best taste in clothes. I picture his worn jeans and how he fills them out. I tell me to cut the crap and get moving. Luckily I listen.

  Grabbing my laptop, I carry my bag out to the living room and drop it on the couch. I have a book to finish and hope to get it done today. Prez told me he doesn’t care what I do at work as long as I greet the clients and treat them right. I do, with a lot of time to spare, so I write and illustrate my books while I’m there. I used Mucimi for this one. My bear has a cast and calms everyone showing them he is still the same bear with the cast on.

  Brantley has toast and fruit on the table. “Oh fuck.” I look at him alarmed. “Nancy is killing me.”

  I let my hair cover my smile and sit. If she gets his pants she’s killing me too. We eat talking about the boys. Christian went back home yesterday, but he didn’t look happy to leave. I wondered if he wanted to stay, but didn’t ask. We clean up and I get Mucimi in his seat. I’m glad I get to do all this while Brantley can’t use his other hand. I feel like I missed it and now I’m rewarded. Telling myself to get moving – I do. I spent entirely too much time alone and need to stop talking to myself. I smile getting in.

  Brantley closes my door and sits in the driver’s seat looking at me. “For the first time in my life I want to play hooky.”

  Me too! “There’s a saying about patience, but I can’t for the life of me remember it right now. When I do I’ll tell you.”

  He laughs and leans toward me kissing my cheek. Holy crap I want to play hooky. When we get to the gate I see him start shaking, but keep my mouth shut. He drives the fifty feet to the daycare gate watching the road in front of us and lets out a breath when the gate closes.

  I heard Jessie say the guard wouldn’t open the gate with a threat to the kids so close. Brantley was pissed then said he understood. There were four kids inside already that needed to stay safe. He had Mucimi covered, but I see it still bothers him. Done comes to the truck for Mucimi making small talk and smiling. He has Mucimi say bye and he signs ‘dad’ making Brantley smile. He signs ‘son’ and Mucimi laughs jumping up and down against Done. I wave to the happy boy and watch them walk in.

  Brantley looks more relaxed on the drive to work. I wonder if he should be driving one armed but he’s good at it so I don’t say a word. He walks me in kissing me as Ramsey walks in.

  “I’d tap that.”

  Brantley turns and punches him with his good arm then holds his chest. “Fuck that probably wasn’t smart.”

  “Holy crap! Are you okay?” I’m focused on him and don’t even look at Ramsey.

  Aaron comes in and laughs looking at the floor on the side of us. I look down and Ramsey is spread eagled and out cold. Damn, no wonder he hurts. Brantley kisses my head and says he’ll call Clean-up as he walks away. I’m shocked and look at Aaron. He shrugs stepping over Ramsey and follows Brantley.

  Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap! A man I don’t know, but is in a Prince shirt, comes from the back and drags Ramsey out by his arm.

  Darren comes in. “How’s it going?”

  I smile because it’s been bizarre. “Brantley hit Ramsey and Clean-up just dragged him away.”

  He laughs. “Everyone hits Ramsey.”

  I nod because he’s vulgar and needs to be hit. I ignore him on a daily basis. He keeps walking and I sit down laughing. I tell me to get the book finished and pull my laptop to do just that – forgetting about Ramsey and how it felt good to see Brantley hit the jerk.

  ***

  Brantley

  With the day’s Ops done, I watch HS roll in. I check the boards and tracking. Everyone is where they should be and no alerts are thrown. It’s been a hell of a day.

  After getting shit for hitting Ramsey, I cleared my desk. I didn’t even try to type with one hand. I hooked the voice recognition up and got my shit done in a reasonable amount of time. I type faster than I talk, but the computer doesn’t work quite that fast.

  The IT meeting was held remote. Geek is making progress in trafficking, but we have the threat against the kids as a priority. They’ve been getting the same hits we have, but they’ve had more. I want to keep the kids on double coverage and Prez does one better and locks them to the compound. Thank fuck it has everything there to keep them happy.


  What we know is that our threat is New York based and they’re trying for anyone that can pull them money. That’s every fuckin’ kid in the family. The try for information from Holly wasn’t in their MO, but support staff is being tracked now that it showed. This isn’t as bad as the NSA threat, but it has the potential to get there. The money they’re spending here isn’t even close to the NSA Op, so a mistake is bound to happen. Geek’s biggest concern is that they know about the abilities and are trying to get anyone that has anything.

  Our next priority is getting information on a gang moving into a city between us on the 95 corridor. Geek sends me a file to work background for any possible link to the New York threat. He’ll run players and tag addresses. I know that includes wiring what they can to keep an eye on them.

  With our plans set, I went to Ops and ran lead for today’s cleaning assignment. We had an abusive asshole harassing the kids in a neighborhood, kids trying gang colors, and a pussy annoying the shelter Security. They all were dealt with and either left or were redirected. Redirected was Jessie shooting the asshole in the foot and Taylor giving the kids something to do. I’m glad it worked out, but even happier to be leaving for the day.

  A woman from IT is sitting on Holly’s desk talking to her when I walk out. The woman leans forward a little showing off her cleavage. She doesn’t know shit about me. If she did she’d know I’d never go for someone that tries so hard to convince me she’s worth it. Getting close I see Holly’s hair covering her face. The woman was messing with her? I get more of a show as she touches my good arm. “I heard what happened. Are you okay sweetie?”

  I step back and her hand drops. What the fuck? “First, keep your fuckin’ hands off me. Second, you want to make a play using sex as the first show that’s okay, but do it at the Club. At least there we know what field we’re playing on. Club chicks and whores are recognizable right away. Third, everyone in this fuckin’ building saw the feed of me kissing my girl then hitting Ramsey. Retract the claws because there’s nothing even remotely attractive about your play here. Pathetic last ditch effort is what jumps in my head. Grow some class and stay the fuck away from my old lady or walk out now. I’m not playing fuckin’ bitch games with anyone on my team. In IT you should be smart enough to know we have the building wired. I’ll know. Get back to work before I rethink you staying for not being smart enough to think your play through.”