by L. Ann Marie
He sits back. “Why do you want in?”
Jesus he goes right for the throat. “I learned how to defend myself, but not everyone I knew could. They need people to help. I want to be that person.”
He nods, but doesn’t say anything while he types on his phone. When he looks up he’s smiling. “Sheila said to keep you busy for a while, she got held up.”
I laugh, she’s too much. “I guess you’re stuck with me for a while.”
We sit and talk. He’s funny and likes anything outside. Jessie, Dakota and Little Ben are important to him and he does everything with them. I’m glad he has people around him that care. The Club quiets down and someone sticks his head out the back then the lights go on and off. Darren looks at the door. “I’m out Brother.”
Darren nods and looks at his watch then his phone. “We better get you home. You need to meet Sheila at Security at nine.”
Shit. He never looked at his phone while we were talking she must have sent it earlier. He stands and follows me through the Club. The sex room has people all over it. Some dressed, some that look like they fell asleep in the middle of fucking. I just walk by. It isn’t anything I haven’t seen before.
In the lot he stops me. “My bike is over here.”
I smile. “Mine is right there.”
I love the look on his face then he smiles and checks it out. “Nice.”
“Sheila has been helping me fix it up. I love anything new technology.” Guys are leaving and one comes up behind him. I’m ready to tell him, but he turns and talks to him. How the hell did he know?
When he turns back he’s smiling. “I’ll follow you home.”
Umm, no you won’t. “I’m good.”
“I’m sure you are, but I’ll ride home with you to make sure you’re safe. You have nothing to worry about, my balls are still afraid of you and want to be alone tonight.”
I laugh. “Okay.” He follows me and waits until I’m in before he leaves. That felt kind of good.
Chapter Two
Three days
Darren
I watch her at the pop ups. She’s pretty good. Sheila is giving her pointers; with help she’ll be closer to Sheila on the leaderboard. That will piss the Brothers right off, but a woman mixed in the middle isn’t going to win any points; she has to be higher than most of the men to get any respect. Men are fuckin’ morons.
I turn back to the feeds. It feels good to do this with the sun shining. I spent almost a full year on nights. With Chevy, Dakota and Jessie we’ve split up the nights. I’m on one night a week and love the new schedule. Driscoll’s PD is doing a great job so our Brothers are HS support for the PD getting rid of his problems or detail work in offices and events. It’s pretty easy to schedule shit when you know what to expect.
Josiah is pulling feeds from the Home and Garden Show. I have no idea why. Then I do. Fuck! A huge tree falls sending people scrambling.
I look at my board. “I need Dakota ready for flight. Brantley!”
He comes running and flips his monitors on. “Call Prez. Jess is at the Home Show and it’s pandemonium there.”
“Josiah, get me on with her HS.” They ‘roger’ me the words and their names show up on my hologram board.
Prez shows on my screen. “What’s happening?”
“Home and Garden Show. A huge tree went down and the place is a madhouse.”
“Jared’s up in Mass.” His words are up, but he’s not down here yet.
“Got a call into Dakota to be ready for flight.”
“I’m five out.”
“Roger Prez.”
Dakota calls in. “Red extraction from Home and Garden.” He ‘rogers’ and says he needs three. “Who’s my HS?” I ask Josiah. My screen fills. Good. Sheila and Taylor are lead. “Get four to the hangar.”
“Brantley, I don’t have her team yet. What the fuck is going on?” The screen says they aren’t picking up. “Track her!” Jesus. Where the fuck is her lead? Radio doesn’t work like a phone. They should have something. “Josiah get me anyone in the fuckin’ building.” I see my ‘roger’ and wait. I hate fuckin’ waiting.
“What the fuck is going on Brother?” Jessie pops on my screen. Fuck.
“Dakota is readying to extract. Prez is two out and no contact with the building.”
“Fuckin’ hell! Tell me she’s still in the fuckin’ building.”
I want to tell him that, but I have no fuckin’ tracking on her. “Brantley it would be good to have something from somewhere to answer his fuckin’ questions before he starts shooting people. No pressure Brother, but you’d be first.”
Jessie pops again. “I’m coming up.”
“Fuck!” Brantley says.
“Josiah what have we got?”
“I pulled the closest team and they’re just pulling up now.” I look for them outside the building. They ride right up to the doors and run in. Thank fuck someone is there.
His name pops again. “I lost them. It’s something with the building. Like the signal is lost.”
Signal is lost? Not possible. “It’s jammed. Where’s Jason?”
I look for my people on the scheduling board. He’s at PD with Bull. “Get him and Bull back here.”
Prez comes in and drops his bag. “Air One, I need status Eagle Eye.”
Dakota: “Eagle Eye readied for flight Air One.”
I move to Brantley’s console and hope to fuck we get something before Jessie gets here.
Prez: “You have four HS?”
Dakota: “I have Sniper, She Dog and two Security.”
Prez looks at me. I look at Josiah. “Taylor pulled them.” Prez nods. If Taylor pulled them they must be ready to run HS.
Prez: “Prince is clear for liftoff.”
Dakota: “Roger.”
I turn to Brantley and see he’s got my voice to text up, but I have no fuckin’ voice to talk to. “What the fuck Brantley?”
“Something in the building has everything jammed, no radio, no phone–the satellite isn’t picking it up.”
“We have video feed. Jammed would be no video. Get IT Team One to scan the crowds for them.”
“Roger.” He pops on then is typing like crazy.
No voice but video. How the fuck is that working? Jessie comes up beside me. “Call the MC. This has to be the satellite. Find out how we get no phone or Bluetooth but video.”
His words pop. “VP, no radio or phone on Security at an event, but video is still up. How can that be? We had voice until they went into the building.” I watch the feeds. “No tracking shows.”
I see Jess’s lead. “Grid four get in closer!” Someone zooms in and we see Jess in between the two HS. I breathe easier. “We can zoom in on their feeds. What the fuck?”
“Got it. Thanks VP.” Jessie runs to another console. His voice isn’t picked up from here so I have no fuckin’ clue what he’s doing.
“Shots fired VP.” Everyone stops and watches. The team we watched run in is firing at a guy wearing a jacket that says Security. Everyone is moving again. Jess’ team is moving her through the crowd. Hyde looks up scanning. He’s looking for a camera. He signs ‘concession closet B3.’ Then pulls Jess through a door.
“Prez, HS has Jess in a concession closet B3.”
“Roger VP.” He pops on my board.
I watch Hyde come out of the door and stand at a column. When S3 runs by he pulls him in sending him to the closet. Taylor runs through the crowd. IT follows him right to Hyde. Sheila and fuckin’ Eliza are following, sonofabitch! They form a line around Jess and double time it out.
I watch them get her to the chopper and Dakota lifts off.
“Brantley, I want Taylor and Sheila here when they touch down.”
He looks back. “Roger VP.”
I see Security with a bullhorn talking from a platform in the center of the building. I’m surprised the tree missed it, but he’s got people stopping and listening. IT is zooming to the Brothers. They’re trying to keep everyone calm and movin
g them to exits. I look at Prez’s board. Dakota is heading home.
What the fuck is going on with the jamming and why the fuck is Eliza anywhere close to Jess?
People are talking excited. I look around trying to see why. Jessie is smiling and looks back. ‘Our satellite signal was jammed in the building. How the fuck someone got to it is not something I can even guess at. It’s all yours Brother.’
Security is talking all over themselves. Fuck. “Brantley get me check in.”
Once he calls for check in, they calm down and the lead takes over. They have two gunmen in a service area. I send cleanup to pick them up. The event coordinator is trying to get everything settled in the building. He thinks the tree wasn’t supported properly and isn’t blaming anything but the company that brought it.
We get the rest of Security doing their job and the rest of Jess’s team on the road. Taylor and Sheila come in. “Meeting room. I’ll be right in.” They turn right around and walk out.
Prez is watching me. I wait until all of Security is accounted for and back in their grids. “Brantley watch the boards. I’m in the meeting room.”
“Roger VP.” He’s happy to be watching the boards. He’s always happy, but I think he gets a charge out of doing something different.
I pull off my headset and hand it to him. He puts it in my box and slides it into the holder by his monitor. Each station has a set for me. My boxes are the same metallic aqua as my bike. I like being able to jump in anywhere and Jared made sure I could. I love the fuckin’ Brotherhood.
Prez follows me into the meeting room. “You want to tell me what a fuckin’ trainee was doing on the chopper masquerading as Security?”
“She’ll be HS Darren,” Taylor says and signs.
“Will be. Is not even Security, but will be someday.”
“No, she’ll come out of training and go right to HS.” He’s sure in his words.
“She’s not Security, not HS and had no business being on the fuckin’ chopper! I watched her on pop ups today, she’s not HS.”
“We had her slow down so she’d hit everything dead center today. She’s right there, Brother. She would make HS now and she’s two days in.”
Prez turns. “She’s two days in and you put her on a red extract? Who the fuck are we talking about?”
“Eliza. A friend of Sheila’s. Brother and stepfather were Outlaw,” I tell him.
He looks from one to the other. “What the fuck is she doing in our training?”
“She deserves to be here. She can do the job and she’s fuckin’ good at it. She lived a hell because of the Outlaws. She wanted PD because she wants to be there for other women in need,” Sheila says looking right at him. He’s getting whatever she has on Eliza. I see him relax. I look over and see Taylor does too. He reads Prez like a book.
“Get her in here,” he tells Sheila. She goes out and he looks at Taylor. “She’s HS right out of training?”
“Yeah, she’ll hit right under Sheila. We slowed her today so she’d hit dead center. Once she does I’ll have her pick up the pace. We changed up the pop ups too, she’s good Prez.”
Sheila comes in with Eliza. She’s got my dick swelling and she’s in cargos and a tight T-shirt. I’ve seen her on the feed, but haven’t been near her since the Club. Even with my balls aching she had me hard riding home.
Prez looks at her. She has Sheila’s athletic build, but she’s shorter by about two inches, which would make five foot eight. “I’m told you’ll come out of training ready for HS. What makes you want to run High Security?”
She keeps her eyes on him, but her body tenses up. “I’m needed. I would try for PD, but they aren’t taking women right now.” She’s got an attitude and her words come out sharp.
He smiles. “No, Driscoll will wait until they’re trained from here. I won’t put a woman on if I’m not sure of her ability and she has some experience. You’ve got the ability now tell me why you want in.”
Her shoulders relax a little. She’s got a resigned look on her face. “Some women need the help. I hope you give me a shot so I can make it into PD. I want to help those women that can’t help themselves. Right now I need a job. I worked in PD HR while I was going to school, that closed when Driscoll took over.”
He watches her. She doesn’t say a word while she’s waiting. “To get into HS you need to be a member.”
“Does that mean I’m Prospecting?” She looks shocked. I almost laugh.
“No, we don’t have women prospecting.” He smiles. “It puts women at a subservient level that doesn’t work for us.”
She looks shocked. “You have whores all over the Club.”
“They are paid well and get benefits. It is a job and their decision to take it, this doesn’t make them worth any less than you. They are never beaten or mistreated by the Brothers.”
Her eyes go big and Sheila turns her head. She hates the whores. She thinks they gave up on themselves. “I had no idea.”
He nods. “You had an affiliation with the Outlaws. Tell me about that and how it plays for us.”
She looks at me then her shoulders slump. She doesn’t want to say with me right here. Prez looks at me and I know I’m right. “My step-brother and father were Outlaws. They didn’t treat women like you do. Whores weren’t paid and it wasn’t a voluntary position. Women I cared about died or were sold. I wasn’t affiliated with them, I was dragged in and that wasn’t voluntarily either.”
Prez nods and looks at me. “Six months, no problems or issues and she gets her shot at PD.”
Since it isn’t a request, I answer. “I’ll get her on the lineup when I meet with Jessie and Dakota.”
He looks at Taylor. “Mix her in with the trainees. No more training alone. She’s right alongside them so they see the ability and not any special treatment.” Turning to Sheila. “You work with her after and make sure she’s ready in everything. She needs to learn about the cut before she can wear one. You make it happen for her so she gets a fair shot.”
“On it Prez.”
He looks back at Eliza. “We have a Women’s Center with shelter houses that will be opening this year. The need for women in Security will be high. If you make it, we can make sure you’re headed in that direction.”
She’s blinking back tears. “I will make it. Thank you for the chance.” He nods and walks out.
I look at Taylor. “Get her with trainees today.” He nods and tells her to follow him.
“She’s going to make it,” Sheila says.
I believe she’s right but wonder what Prez saw. He’s never given someone a cut like this. We have eleven female members and only Sheila in HS. I don’t want to ask, so I walk out and get back to Ops wondering how bad it is.
This chick’s got me noticing everything. I watch the trainees around her and she gets distance from them. No slaps on the back or conversation, but they’re watching everything she does.
At the Security meeting with Jessie, Dakota and Taylor, I bring her up and have her put on the Security lineup. She can’t get into HS without the cut first. Dakota is quiet with this and I know he sees something, I’ve learned his moods and characteristics.
“Not that I want her on my family, but could she do Family?” Jessie asks.
“Prez is looking to fast track her into PD focusing on the Center and shelters,” Taylor says and Dakota nods.
Jessie is watching Dakota. “Family?”
He shakes his head no. “She needs to be in Security on HS. She’ll move to the PD and be happy there.” He looks at me then away. Fuck. I have no clue what that means. Do I need a warning?
He doesn’t say a word. Great. I push it all away and get back to the trainees going to PD and Security. There are no HS in this group except Eliza.
Dakota warns Taylor. Really he says, ‘Watch her with Dane,’ but that’s enough of a warning that he takes notice. “I’ve thought he was off from the beginning. I don’t like him for anything but mall cop status, but I’d gladly get r
id of him based on your warning,” Taylor tells him and Jessie smiles.
Dakota watches him for a full minute then speaks. “You will, but that is not yet.”
Taylor nods and gets to the next trainee. Dakota isn’t going to say anymore so there’s no point in wasting time.
Chapter Three
Darren
I’m just walking out of the pop ups as Eliza comes in. My dick swells and I’m pissed. What the fuck is up with this?
“You’re doing good,” I tell her walking to the computer. We move the pop ups faster for the Brothers that came out of Little Brothers. I set it right and turn, surprised she’s waiting for me. “You can go through.”
“How do you guys run it so fast?”
“We’ve trained on them since we were young. Every Brother from the Officers’ families have been training since we were little.” I shrug.
She laughs and I like that look. “You don’t find that strange?”
“What I find strange is people bringing wars to our door because we make life good for our Brotherhood and community. Kids being kidnapped and sold, women being sold or beaten, money hungry people out to steal what they haven’t earned. Those things I find strange. Defending ourselves to make it easier on our Security just was. We didn’t train just in case, we trained because the world is crazy around us and we needed to know how to stay safe and keep our Brothers safe.”
She gets a faraway look in her eyes. “Yeah.”
“Come to the Club tonight. I’ll be free at eight-thirty or so.” What the fuck am I doing?
She stares at me then shakes her head. “I’m meeting Sheila there after dinner to go through some book. I don’t know what time I’ll be done.”
I nod and turn to leave. Her hand goes on my arm and my dick comes to life. I spin pushing her against the wall and look at the camera. “Shut it down.” As soon as it’s out of my mouth I turn and kiss her. She’s pushing me, but her tongue is in my mouth and my dick doesn’t know what to make of this. Fuck. I loosen my hold and she pushes me up against the desk putting one hand on my neck holding my head to hers. Fuckin’ woman’s hand is all over me, which works in my favor because mine are all over her. It’s like a match went off and I’m burning in the fuckin’ flames. It clicks in my head where we are. Before I rip her clothes off, I pull away. “Jesus.”
