by L. Ann Marie
“Maybe a list aligning them to their counterparts then their differences.”
I get paper and write that. “I have been telling him about the abilities as things come up, but he does not always understand my words.”
“He doesn’t have your connection to his heritage, he’s learning, but it’s new for him and just life to you. I don’t always understand your words, but I’m not trying to keep hundreds of people safe. I just build things.” She smiles. She builds incredible things, but she is right. “Try sliding in the beliefs of your ancestors as you explain the people and situations. It will give him the whys and knowledge he needs to keep all those people safe. I can’t imagine trying to do this blind. My mom taught us to question everything. Little Ben grew up the same. He needs every bit of information so he can make decisions, but has a whole blank area that no one has filled in for him. It sounds like it’s an important area. If I can help tell me what to do and I’m there.”
“I love your willingness to help where there is a need. I can fill in the blank spaces for him. I may need help, but I am not sure what yet. I know the MC kids as well as my people and their abilities. Aligning them will be the easy part. Explaining is a struggle for me.”
She laughs. “Don’t make it pretty, save pretty for me. With Little Ben, straight forward and right to the point. If it were on paper it would look like bullet points. He doesn’t need anything, but facts.”
I nod, this is good. I can do this without extra wording. “Thank you Jessica. I will save the pretty words for you and give him what he needs. I love you my sweet Jessica.” I lean in and kiss her thinking of my wording for the abilities.
She laughs and stands up. “I have a book calling me. Let me know if I can help.”
I am listing Aubrey’s abilities in bullet points, but answer that I will.
Darren comes, but I am almost finished and do not leave my seat. He does not stay, but a minute and I am glad I did not stop. I am on Prez and do not know if he knows his abilities or when he will learn of them. I do not want to leave this one half done so I list everything. I jump seeking advice and find the ancestors encouraging. Feeling better, I list me then tell Jessica I will be gone for an hour or so. She tells me she loves me without looking up. I kiss her head and smile. Must be a good book.
Prez opens the door as I get to it. He sees more with our bond than he did before. We sit at the table with a beer and I give him the papers. He reads them looking surprised then starts at the beginning and reads them again.
“This is good Dakota, fuckin’ scary, but good. I’m glad you listed them against the kids. I had no idea there are so many types of seers and readers and they see things different than what I know.”
“I asked Jessica for help and she suggested bullet points. It made it easy.”
“Jess saw all this?”
“No Prez. I explained what I needed to get across and she told me to save the pretty words for her and give you facts to make better decisions.”
He laughs. “She did good. I get lost in all the words because I don’t have anything to apply to them. This isn’t the time for me to be confused. Now that I have this can you tell me why you’re concerned about Aponi not seeing me with the ancestors?”
I explain the roles of the ancestors in our lives first. When I see he gets it I tell him the ancestors shielded him from Aponi for a reason. He gets it right away. He says the warning from Co needs to be taken seriously. He wants to meet with Jeremy, Chevy, Sebastian and Josiah tomorrow. I breathe easier now that he sees this is a problem.
“We need a patio. I miss meeting at night or just relaxing looking at the water,” he says walking me to the door.
“You have one.”
He laughs telling me it is a Brotherhood patio, men meet to talk or not, but it is one place you can just be. I nod not understanding what he is saying and hope Jessie is home to explain it to me. I have never had a problem with language before. Now that I am learning the Brotherhood language I see I am struggling to keep up. Happier than I have ever been does not mean easier. This is fuckin’ hard.
Chapter Seventeen
One week
Jessie
The ties to DeMarco came out a couple of days ago. We have everything we need, but this pussy right here is going to make it hard. Dakota listens patiently while I want to fuckin’ shoot him. I could visit him tonight and get rid of all the fuckin’ hassle he’s going to bring us. Dakota gives me a look then a smile.
“While you are listing ways you can get something from us my partner here is listing the ways he can kill you without a trace. Let me make this as easy as possible. We have no problem leveling any structure you are in while you are in it. We have no problem killing men and pointing the blame elsewhere. We have no problem causing men to go missing without a trace.” I watch him get it and pale.
“We do have a problem with you thinking you have any control or say over what we do. We are a Brotherhood promoting good in our lives and community. We do that by getting rid of the bad any way we can. I would repeat that, but I think you have it. Now, your recording of this conversation will show only static, but ours will work just fine. It will be an enlightening experience for your townspeople.”
He falls back in his seat. “You will appoint the Princes of Prophecy’s Chief of PD as yours as well. You will stop any and all negative conversations about that happening. You will release the money you have in holding back to the city so your workers can live bringing home a fair wage. We do not care about your kickbacks and will allow that to continue if it does not hurt the town or town’s people. Is anything I just said confusing or need an explanation?”
I laugh. He’s too funny. Lately he’s asking everyone the same thing. The Mayor looks from him to me. “I just want to shoot you and be done, he sees more to you than I do so I’ll wait.” I laugh again because he looks like he’ll be seeing his lunch again.
“I have someone filling in as Police Chief,” the pussy says like I fuckin’ care.
Dakota stands up leaning closer and the pussy shrinks back. “That ends today. Driscoll will see you tomorrow at nine am. at your PD for you to announce him as Chief. We will train your people and have a force that can work alongside us to promote living good and decent lives. If you do not show we will level the building and you will become unavailable for comment. I will cut your tongue out myself that way when Jessie visits you in the middle of the night he will not have to hear your fuckin’ excuses. Are we clear?” I clench my jaw and try not to move. The pussy nods and Dakota sits down.
“The money you had stashed in the bag behind the seat of your old truck in your shed will go to the church on Fourth St. The one that feeds and shelters the homeless. We have a member that will help educate and get housing and psychological help to those in need. We have a temp agency that will help with jobs. You can promote your grand idea and support the cause, but you will not interfere or have any say in those programs.” The pussy nods scared to death.
“Any ties to DeMarco and his money end today. Let him know we will not permit any more drugs in this town or you die. If you need help with convincing him of our sincerity you can have him call me.” He slides his card across the desk. I want cards. I wonder who I would give them to. Dakota looks at me and I know he’s trying not to laugh. “Was that clear or do I need to explain?”
I stand up laughing. “Pretty fuckin’ clear Brother. Let’s go get lunch.”
We walk out and he laughs. “I am getting better at saying just what I mean.”
I laugh. He’s good at everything and never says a fuckin’ word about it, but talking straight fills him with pride. The Brother is too fuckin’ funny.
We stop at the restaurant in the center of town. Something about the way he looks strikes me as odd. “What is it?”
“We need to be right here. Call Prez, we need him, Sebastian, Chevy and Josiah here.” He walks in and sits at a booth facing the window as I’m talking to Prez. He seems to know and s
ays he’s on his way.
Just as I sit to ask what’s going on he’s up and running to the back. “Sorry Brother. Follow Jeremy, be ready.” I pull my gun and look around for Jeremy. He’s running by the front window. Fuck!
I push a waiter out of the way and run seeing him at the next block. Fuck he’s quick. I chase him, but he turns the corner. Sonofabitch! I run full out and hear the shot and tires squealing around the same corner. At the corner Prez flies by. He’s alone, but I hear bikes. Getting closer I finally spot Jeremy against a building Prez pulls right in front of him. I yell, “No!” I hear the shot and I’m down. Fuckin’ pussies! My neck is burning like a bastard and I pull my rag and push in on my neck. I’m dizzy and losing blood fast, fuck! I watch and see Jeremy step in front of Prez and flash light away from them. Fuck I’m losing it. I try to stand and fall hearing Chevy yell. Sebastian lifts me up and I tell him to help Prez. He laughs saying they don’t need it and I see black.
***
Eagle Eye
I walk the corridor and I think for the thousandth time I should have had his back. DeMarco will not live to see another day. If I did not shield when I did we would have lost Jeremy and Prez, but putting Jessie without cover feels like fuckin’ shit. If I did not tell him to be ready he would not be here. I stop in the waiting room and look out the window calling the ancestors for help. Prez puts his hand on my shoulder. “It was right Brother. He’ll be okay and you saved Jeremy. He wouldn’t have wanted you to choose him over Jeremy.” I put my head down.
“He saved you Prez. He didn’t tell Jessie so he wouldn’t interfere, he would have died if he got the warning. He saved you then Jeremy, but he didn’t go for Jeremy, it was you.”
“Enough Chevy!”
“No. It needs to be said. The ties have to be strengthened and he wonders why you didn’t warn Jessie. He needs to know the truth to keep that tie strong.” He is right.
I look at Prez. “He would have died with you. I cannot lose you both. Jeremy was the only survivor. I could not do it.” I feel the tears in my eyes, but do not hide it. “I could never replace what you are meant to do Brother.” He pulls me to him.
“I shouldn’t have questioned your loyalty; you are the most honorable Brother I have ever met. That says something because I know a lot of good fuckin’ Brothers Dakota. I’m sorry the thought ever crossed my mind. You don’t deserve even that thought. Thank you for saving all of us today.”
“No!” Jessica yells from the door.
Prez lets me go and turns. Fuck she thinks he died.
I go to her. “He will be fine. He is in surgery, but he will be fine.”
“They won’t tell me anything. Dakota I can’t lose him.” She’s crying and not hearing me, I lift her sitting in a chair and jump.
“Jessica he is going to be okay. We are blessed with a long story, the ancestors say it is so, he will be fine.” She calms.
“Why was Little Ben holding you?”
“He was thanking me for covering them.”
“Jessie will be okay?”
“He will, I have to tell you what happened. I told him to be ready, I knew if I warned him he would die, but I gave him an indication and he got hurt. If I did not say anything he would have followed me. I could not stop it. I had to cover and had no time to explain, but I told him to be ready. I am so sorry he is hurt. Every bit of this is my fault.” The wind picks up calming me.
“No Dakota, you did what you thought was right. He was shot because a bad man with a gun pulled the trigger. He won’t blame you and neither do I. I love you my beautiful Indian. Jessie does too. He will understand all this better than me. Please, can we go back so I can see he’s okay?” She does not blame me. I see it and I am so relieved.
“Thank you sweet Jessica. I just wanted you to know the truth from me.” She nods. I jump us back and she is calm. Prez is right in front of us holding a hand on each one of us.
“None of this is on you Brother. Drop that and let’s concentrate on Jessie and getting the men that did this.” He saw. I am embarrassed and he yells in my head to stop. “Dakota you are young. I forget sometimes that you don’t have my experiences. Trust me Brother. Trust me like I do you. There is no doubt in me, you can see that. Give that back Dakota. Trust in me.” He is open and I see.
I nod. ‘It was DeMarco. He does not even know about the Mayor yet.’
“We will fix this as Brothers. Together Dakota. You are not going to do this alone. Promise me you will stand with your Brothers Dakota.”
Fuck. I look away. He knows what I have planned. He loves Jessie as I do. He will make it right and stand with me for that vengeance. A peace settles in me when I think of our Brotherhood. “I will Prez. I will stand with you.”
He lets out a breath and throws me chin. ‘Thank you Dakota. I won’t let you down again.’
I do not understand. ‘I will be all in for you just as you’ve shown me from the beginning,’ he says in my head. I want to tell him he is, but the doctor is here.
Jessie lost a lot of blood, they repaired an artery, but he was brought in on time. He is young and strong and will be fine. I lean against the wall holding Jessica to me. I see him in my head as fine, but hearing it has relief flooding through me.
It takes another hour, but Prez has him in a big room and we are all with him. Prez will not leave until Pres is here from the MC. I am nervous about seeing him. I put his son in jeopardy. He could have me killed.
Prez laughs. “He will thank you for saving Jeremy and me and having Sebastian show just for his son.”
“Thank you Dakota. I have no words to tell you what it means to me, but thank you Brother.” Pres says standing in the doorway with Kate by his side.
She comes to me and Jessica and kisses us both on the cheek then goes to Jessie. I stand and move the chair so Kate can sit beside the bed with Jessica.
I go to the window while the Pres and Prez talk. “Jump with me Dakota.” I turn and see Jeremy.
He is crying. “What is wrong my little warrior.”
“You deflected for me!” He falls down crying and cannot talk, fuck! I lift him looking at Prez.
“Is Chevy still here? He needs to calm to heal. He cannot like this.” He pulls his phone. I start to walk out the door and Pres stops me. “I need a place to jump. I do not want to cause more stress to Jessie.” He does not understand and Jeremy is getting louder. “To the ancestors.”
He gets it and walks in front of me. Chevy and Prez meet up with us. He finds an empty room and puts a guard at the door. We sit and jump.
Jeremy calms, but is not talking. We soar above the cliff to my tree. “My little warrior what has you so upset?”
“You deflected for me.” He puts his head down.
“Yes Little Ninja I did. It was the right thing to do.”
“You were supposed to block Little Ben. The bullets were too fast. I didn’t know.” He starts crying again. I look at Chevy. I do not understand.
“Jeremy, Dakota was supposed to shield for you. He had Sebastian going just for Jessie. Dakota told him to cover Jessie, but he didn’t make it on time.”
Jeremy looks at me. “You were supposed to block for me?”
“Yes, you are very important and need to help us be who we are supposed to be. You teach us and we keep you safe, we are bound Jeremy, I will always protect you with all that is me.” I wipe his tears and speak in English. “Brotherhood is everything Jeremy. Always.”
He jumps into me knocking us off the branch. Prez and Chevy catch us laughing.
Before we jump back Jeremy stops me. “Thank you Dakota.” Light flashes and everything is brighter and more colorful. I laugh. Fuckin’ kids.
Walking into Jessie’s room is a little difficult. There are so many Brothers here and not one is a Prince. Prez walks in front of us holding Jeremy’s hand. “We need a minute,” he says and all, but Danny and Pres leave. Jessica stays seated beside the bed watching.
We go around the bed and Jeremy cl
imbs on. Jessie watches, but is not talking. “Prez, put your hand on Jeremy’s back.” I look at Chevy, he is ready. “Jeremy we will give you everything that is us. Throw what you have to heal what is needed. I will stop you or deflect if it is too much.”
He is scared and looks at Prez. “Trust him Jeremy.”
He closes his eyes and I grab Jessie’s arm holding it as he holds mine. Chevy puts his hand on Jeremy’s back close to Prez’s.
I feel Jeremy throwing and Jessie’s reaction. He holds my arm tighter. When he loosens I open my eyes and look at him. “Enough Jeremy.” Prez and Chevy pull their hands away. Prez lifts Jeremy and puts his head on his shoulder. I smile, pretty soon Jeremy will be touching the floor.
Jessie squeezes my arm. I look and he looks better. “Thank you. What would we do without them?” His voice is barely working and I think we did not do much for him.
“I do not want to know Brother. I am so glad you are okay.”
Danny gives him some water. “I am too, but I knew I would be, my new ancestor-in-laws gave me a long story.” Everyone laughs. Jessica bends kissing him. All I can do is smile. Fuckin’ Brothers.
Danny pulls me to the cafeteria and puts food on my tray. I just carry it beside him. When I put it down he tells me he has the ring. Now I know why I am sitting in front of food I do not want. He hands it to me and my breath catches. It is perfect. “Do you think he can do other jewelry that matches?”
He nods eating. He does not talk until he swallows and I want to stop him from eating, but I get the feeling he will bite me if I do. I smile at the strange thought and wait.
He pulls a bag from his lower pocket and hands it to me. “You’re all set. When is the date?”
I look at him wondering if he realizes we have not asked. He wants to bet. I smile. “We have to ask her first.”
“Yeah, do that tonight and set the date. I’ll get Pres here and he’ll get with Mitch for the party. What does she want big?”
