by L. Ann Marie
“Yeah. Kuwômôyush.”
“Kuwômôyush Taylor, Beth.” He walks out smiling.
“That is the sugariest thing I ever saw. Did he make these for you?” She’s looking at the others. One looks like brown leather, two black like the one I’m wearing, a flag, one white and one tan with tribal markings.
“He makes a ton of shit. Jess must have let him in the lab or he was at the manufacturing building. He works with Mitch at her lab, so he could have done it anywhere. He’s the one that came up with the cuffs.” I take her hand and spin her cuff so she sees the snap. “The J is for Jeremy. He has tracking and a jammer on them. If you had the cuff sooner, your phone would have worked in the car and you would have been tracked.”
She giggles. I love that sound. “That’s amazing. How come he talks so slow? I mean this is the most I’ve heard him talk, but it’s always slow.”
“His brain has to slow down. It’s like he’s roller skating on the interstate. It takes something from him to talk. When we were kids, Prez made him slow down and talk, but it only lasted until he went to Baxter’s lab then he was off again. I swear he didn’t talk for almost six months.”
She nods, but I know she has more questions. “Steve’s mind works like that?”
“No, he’s more like a computer searching for best possible solutions. He has focus issues. When something is on his mind it takes away from his speech. He talks all the time, but most people don’t understand him. We grew up with him, Jeremy, Ally and Alex so different speech was never an issue for us.”
She leans over and kisses me. “Amazing people, every one of you. I like the world that you live in.”
I laugh. “You live here with us Precious.”
“Yes I do. Think your dog wants to go for a walk?”
He does, so we do. I look at the arm band and keep thinking they are incredible. They find ways to make it easier without making me feel like a pussy for having trouble dealing with this shit.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Taylor
We get our start point and run from the church at our town center up toward the Club. At the Club, Chris has a Prospect tearing down a wall that covers the door. Darren wants sensors placed on the wall outside and a gun trained at it inside.
We keep moving while they get started. The tunnels get small in places, but we make it through. They start to widen the closer we get to the water. Brantley gets excited about the access in the ‘rents house. It’s old, but I didn’t think it was this old. They have it open before we make it there.
I check time and see I have a little more than an hour before I meet Jax and Jessie. I run home and brush Delta out, getting the dust and dirt off him. “We’ll get you washed later buddy.” He doesn’t care, so we catch a ride back to Security.
In my office, I get the training evaluations together and Jessie walks in. “Dakota fucked with the pussy’s head. He’s not a threat to anyone anymore.” I nod. “Beth is another trigger for you. Not one you couldn’t get past though. Delta is what you needed. You stayed with us, but you were shaking and fighting to keep it together. Since Jess is my Achilles heel I get it. We should have had that before it happened, but you didn’t need anything other than Delta.” I nod again thinking I did keep it together. “The warning you get. Tell me what happened before you called for help.”
I think back. She was talking, so happy to be there and I needed the information on the pussy. My heart speeds up. “Blood was pounding in my head. It took me a minute to move like I was frozen for a second. I knew I needed answers, but the questions were hard to get out. It was loud in my head and I was just trying to hold on to the questions, but couldn’t say them. Then you were there and you had it.”
He watches me for a minute. “Keeping Delta with you is good right now. Just the thought has you struggling, but you’re here and you get a warning. When the blood starts pounding in your head get Delta on you right away. I think that’s a key. It gives you a way to keep in the now.”
I nod. “I can do that.”
He laughs. “Good Brother. Now these pussies from the PD. I added my notes, but haven’t looked at them since Prez has been gone. Do you have anything that I need to know from recent?”
I give him my notes and the evaluations. He pulls people out and puts them on top. “I have five that I want to see make it. I’ll hand them to Dakota first and see what he thinks. The rest I don’t give a fuck what they do, but I’m not training them a second time.”
I hand him my list of four smiling. “These are mine.”
We head to the meeting and hash out our possibles. Driscoll is surprised, but training has been a revolving door for some of these pussies. We figure a timeline for the firing and placement of new PD then get to the apps and new trainees. They seem happy with who we chose for the first round. Darren comes in looking tired.
“Chevy isn’t coming back. He needs to be with his family, teaching them their heritage.”
We all look at Dakota. “It is ingrained in him. He tried working and taking care of his mother so it was him she saw, not workers at the hospice. She died with a worker holding her hand. The Elders were not pleased.”
Fuck. Nunánuk was right. “This sucks. How do they think they’ll keep the culture alive if they never show it to anyone? Locked on the reservation it dies right there.”
“I agree Taylor. It is not a gem to be hidden and treasured by a few. Without knowledge of the tradition and culture of my people it will be lost. Here, we value all that culture has to offer and in return offer it to everyone to see and use. Promoting it outside of the reservation is what will keep it alive.”
“Can Prez talk to him or them?”
He shakes his head no. “It is not a time they will take advice from someone so young. His standing will not be hurt. They value him as a great warrior leader, but cannot see past their own beliefs to listen. Co is not happy with the actions of the Elders.” Jesus. At least Prez won’t get shut down completely by them.
“We need to get to tomorrow. I don’t do planning, so I need any input you have,” Darren says getting us back on track.
My team is on tunnels. VP has the dogs running with us, so I only have me and Cade. The rest of my HS team is at PD. Jessie is at the Club with his team. Sheila and Eliza the daycare and Aaron is on the move with Driscoll and Jax. With us, I don’t think we need the MC, but it’s Darren’s Op and he looks comfortable with it.
I go back to the tunnels with VP and we run them making note of places to stash ammo, the smaller sections and the doorways leading into the tunnels. VP watches Delta, but doesn’t say anything to let me know why. We come back to Security and have Brantley add our notes to his computer map.
Me and Delta head for home. I drop at Brantley’s and walk in the house taking him into the hallway bathroom. I tell him to get in the tub then sit while I wash him. He does. It takes three towels to dry him then we play ball waiting for Beth. She has her group tonight. I get us sandwiches and feel antsy so we run. He stays right on the side of me again pacing to me. We make it home and I shower thinking Beth is running late. I pull tracking and see she’s with Joey, Eliza and Sheila at Dunkin’. I eat my grinder thinking of all the work I don’t have. I hated doing the paperwork at home so I made it part of my workday. I pull Brantley’s maps and run them. He’s unbelievable with computers and I run it as if I’m an avatar. I take turns we didn’t run today. Since they all lead to the center of town I don’t get too lost.
Beth comes in smiling. “I didn’t know you played games.”
I kiss her smiling mouth. “It’s the tunnel maps. Another good day?”
“The best. We went for coffee after the meeting. I needed some advice.”
My eyes snap to hers. “Advice?”
She nods looking like she’s having trouble containing her happy. “I’m quitting the hospital and working with Nick. The hours are better; the people are nicer and I get a raise.”
I smile and lift her up swinging h
er around while she laughs. “Fuckin’ awesome Precious Beth. You’ll be happier with Nick.”
“That’s what the old ladies said. I’m so excited and I can wear character scrubs, Nick said he doesn’t give a shit.”
Characters like the panties? “Do they have Captain America and Flash?”
She laughs. “I’ll see what I can do.”
I get that picture in my head and leave her standing there to close the door and shut off the lights. The picture in my head is probably wrong, but it’s mine and it’s fuckin’ sexy.
“Picturing sexy scrubs with sexy panties under them.” Pulling her to the couch I turn and take the neck of her top in my hands and pull, it tears right down the middle showing me her Batman bra. “I love Batman too.” I lick around the lace at the edges seeing her ink peeking out. “My beautiful Precious.” Her hands are pulling my hair to the other side and my dick jumps. “Love it when you play hard.” She pulls harder and I bite her nipple through the bra getting a sexy as fuck moan. I get rid of her clothes while my mouth travels down my map. I bite and nip at the ends and where it picks back up for me. Her panties are like little shorts. My hands travel up her legs while my mouth travels down. She’s got my hair in one hand and her fingers biting into my shoulder. When my hands reach her ass, I spin her around. The shorts don’t cover her cheeks. “Fuckin’ sexy superheroes.” I bite a cheek and rip them off her.
“Hey! Stop ripping my clothes off me.”
“They’re too fuckin’ sexy Precious.” My fingers find her wet and I slide through her folds hearing her moan. “Hands on the couch Precious.” She moves showing me her ass and I wish the panties were back on so I can see how this looks. Once my mouth is on her I forget the panties and lap up her, loving her rolling her hips against my mouth. When she yells my name, I stand moving her so her knees are on the couch. She lays against the back moaning. My dick swells and I slam in getting a yell. “Harder Precious?”
“Yes!” She’s loud and breathing heavy.
If my dick swells any more it’s going to explode. I fuck her harder and the table behind the couch falls. “Don’t stop!”
“Didn’t plan on it baby.” I keep moving until she’s yelling again. “Fuckin’ perfect Precious.” She can’t keep herself up so we turn. Leaning her on the arm with an arm around her waist I put a knee down and slam in again. She moans and I lose control moving in her fast and hard until she’s tight and chanting for me not to stop. “Come Precious, come on me again.” I fall forward bracing my arm and she yells my name while I’m coming. Fuckin’ perfect.
I lower her and catch my breath. There’s no way I’m moving so I slide down and pull her against me. “Love you Precious Beth.”
“Mmmmm. Love you too. I feel like a wet noodle,” she mumbles.
“Me too. Let me get the tub ready.”
“Kay.” She doesn’t move making me smile. She can sleep through anything.
I climb over her getting a moan and see the side table with the lamp on the floor. Jesus. Coming around the couch the high table with all the shit that was on it is on the floor. I step around it and go fill the tub. Beth is out on the couch so I carry her to bed and get a towel to wash her. She never wakes up. I get in the tub and wash, then get right out. No sense wasting the water, but without her in it a bath doesn’t do it for me. Delta runs out of the room and I hear a knock on the door. Shit. I throw shorts on and open it to Uncle Danny.
“You still working out?” he asks walking in and sitting down. I get him a beer and turn the light on since he’s staying.
“Martial arts?”
“Jesus.” He’s looking at the living room.
I shrug. “We were testing the living room. It failed.”
He laughs and takes the beer. I follow him and pick up clothes then the small shit that went flying. “I ask because the meditation and breathing may be helpful. I read an article that said basically that. I know you did it when you were younger, but have no idea if you still do.”
He lifts the table and I put the lamp back. “I don’t. I do kickboxing and defense training, but not martial arts. It’s been a while for me. Like since I’ve been out.”
“Your dad is good with the meditation and breathing. Dakota is right here, but I think your dad needs some time.”
I look at him. “Is he okay?”
He nods and I follow him back to the table. “He’s in Mass, his kids are all growing and going through their own shit. He’s relegated to sit back and watch. It’s a helpless feeling he’s working through. Being able to do something has got to be better than that.”
I think about him teaching us all to work through shit. He’s made us who we are but now he has to watch us become those men. “Yeah. Helpless sucks. I’ll call him.”
He smiles. “Talk to Christian too. He may benefit.”
I laugh. “Christian never stopped.”
He nods. “But he’s not using the meditation and doesn’t have the peace it brings. He’s just now getting settled. He could benefit.”
“I’ll ask him.” He’s said it twice so it must be needed. “I’ll call my dad tonight.”
He stands up. “Jessie said your dog is doing good. I’m glad it’s working. There will be a time when life is easier, you’ll have less episodes and be able to deal without everyone so close. That’s not too far off Taylor. Keep working it until you have all the kinks out. Use everything that people throw at you. It can’t hurt.”
“I will Uncle Danny. I know everyone is worried about being close, but it’s not so bad anymore. Help is around when I need it and everything has been working in my favor. I can’t complain.”
He slaps my shoulder. “Good to know.”
I call Christian, then my dad. He sounds happy making me smile. I tell him about the article and me not working out. He doesn’t make me ask, saying he’ll be here twice a week.
I let Delta out thinking about how everything has played out. Even at its worst I’m still better than most. What I said to Uncle Danny is true. I can’t complain. I climb into bed smiling.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Beth
I move and moan. I’m sore again, but it’s a ‘hurts so good’ kind of sore. I smile and open my eyes. He’s already in the shower. Stretching I smile bigger. This has been the best week. I got an awesome job, I got married and he’s doing better. I think about getting up and check the clock. I have time I decide and roll onto my side closing my eyes.
“Fuck!”
Opening my eyes, I roll out of bed and shuffle to the bathroom. The arm band Jeremy made is on the floor and Taylor’s head is back like he’s looking at the ceiling. Delta picks it up and rubs his hand with it. I stand still watching. He takes it and lays it across his arm. “Thanks Delta.” His head is still up, but he gets the first snap on and I step back making it back to bed before he comes out. He’s doing it alone. I smile thinking about him jumping these hurdles and making it.
“Precious I was letting you sleep. Are you excited about today?” He leans over me for a kiss.
“I am. This has been the best week of my life.” I pull him down again and kiss him. “I love you Taylor Blackhawk.”
“Love you too Precious.” He sits up. “I’m running Ops today. I won’t be able to deal with the fuckin’ biker. If he bothers you I’ll deal when I get home.”
I’m surprised he’s running Ops, but not really and giggle. “Are toys involved?”
“Definitely.”
I think about it. “I’ll show him my new moves and keep him away from me. I want to make clam cakes. Do you want to go quahogging this weekend?”
He shakes his head. “Yeah. I can’t put my arm in the water though.”
“Hmm guess we’ll have to find another way for you to show appreciation for my suit.”
He stands up smiling. “I’ll think of something. I’ll text you when I’m clear. We might go up to the Club later for status.”
I love going to the Club. “Okay.”
&nb
sp; He walks out with Delta following. I run to the bathroom and get in the shower. I need to shave and I like not having an audience. Since he’s always trying to wash me this doesn’t happen often. I get my Minnie Mouse top on, smiling as I walk out the door going to my new job. I am so excited, I miss Jessie laughing at me doing my happy dance.
* * *
Taylor
In Ops, I’m on one of the empty consoles going through the tunnels with my avatar. Delta is sitting on the side of me watching. I thought dogs couldn’t see two dimensional, but he’s watching. “Can see better than us,” VP says on the side of me. I smile and throw him chin.
I make it to the main hall that runs from town to the water. I go back following another passage.
“Call VP,” Brantley says typing like crazy.
“Darren we need you in Ops.” I hang up moving behind Brantley. He hands me headsets. I give one to VP and put one on. When Darren comes in I give him a set.
The pussies are waiting for someone, but they have enough dynamite to take out the Security building. Uncle Danny comes in and I give him a headset. I point to the words that are popping on Brantley’s screen so he can read to catch up.
We hear grunting.
Voice one: “That’s all of it. Get it moved to a hallway headed toward Princes Security. Marin will set it when he gets off. He needs two, he said make sure they’re ready to come down for three o’clock.”
Voice two: “I’ll have them here. Is Parker ready for the run on the kids? He’s got one inside that needs to go. He’s an MC kid.”
Voice three: “He’s fuckin’ crazy. He wants to toast the fuckin’ kids.” My hands hit my knees. Delta sits on my feet. I got this. Breathe. The pussies laugh. I breathe.
Voice one: “Medeiros has the men from the other departments. He’ll be ready as soon as the building falls. They’re waiting right outside King Knight’s surveillance feeds. The kid in there will be out. He’s taking a break when I text him, the building goes then Medeiros moves to the Club. The men down here will come through the basement. Parker has their houses once the kids are gone.”
