by L. Ann Marie
“How the fuck did you pull it off? You were ahead of schedule, but not this far last meet,” I ask him.
“Whatever happened in Laconia lit a fire. The men came back and stories were going around. Everyone was taking times at the range, ride and shoot and the pop ups. I switched the techs out and have them rotating. They’re doing good on the street and Surveillance is catching everything. We got a bunch of Sheilas working, they’re willing to do everything. When you call they already have it.”
Prez nods. Driscoll goes on. “We could use a central building. If we take on the other two towns I’m screwed for space. We’re using the holding cells at the two outside PDs, but I’ll need a bigger surveillance room.”
“I’ll have Dakota find you one. He mentioned using counters as stations and no offices for regular patrol. They come in, hit the boards and have a kitchen and lounge like the fire station. With so little paperwork, they shouldn’t have that need. Would that work for you?”
Driscoll nods. “Yeah we could leave patrol at the two outside stations and move everything else to a new building.”
Prez looks out at the water. We all wait. “There’s an old factory I’ll have Dakota look at with Uncle Danny. It would be a loft setup, but we can move the vehicle maintenance with you. We can set it up like MC Baxters.” Driscoll nods smiling. “Are you good with the job?”
“Yeah Prez, I love it.”
Prez smile. “It shows. You need anything personally for the job or at home?”
“Yeah, I could use a good Brother at second. My hours are getting longer and the PD second I have is good, but not a Brother.”
Prez nods. “You have a name?”
“Strapper. He’s been right there, but doesn’t have the rank. HS trained by the MC Officers and fuckin’ good. He knows MC and the PD. When I need answers, he’s who I go to. They have some crazy shit laws.”
I laugh. Prez is smiling. “Set your second on the two outside PDs. Moving, running, whatever the fuck you want to give him so he’s out of your new building. Take Strapper as your second, get with Sebastian about his pay and start him tomorrow. Let Dakota know the plan and he’ll deliver the message to your second keeping him happy. Are you happy with IT? I was thinking maybe Bull can help you there.”
“Fuck no Prez. I already live with him. We have good IT and Jason jumps back and forth for us. Since we’re not on Ops, I don’t need the same support you do. With the Brothers running, crime is down. No one wants to fuck with them. The PD handles detectives, but not much is happening with them. They’re riding patrol more than working.”
Wow. I guess that’s good. Prez looks at him for a minute. “Take your best detectives use them like a task force. Maybe twenty or thirty when we get the two towns. Drop the rest. If you see other areas that need to be cut let me know. We don’t have to be PD. We just need to keep the drugs out and crime down. You’re already doing that. When you move, take only what you need to keep doing the job. Fuck their regulation shit. Keep the PD shit that works for you. The judges are happy; they’ve laid off DAs. Now is the time to make changes while everyone is happy. I’ll have Dakota meet with you to get what you want changed and we’ll make it happen.”
“There’s a shit ton of cuts we should make so that works for me. We don’t need all the shit we have especially with no real paperwork. I’ll get it to Dakota. We’ve been auctioning the cars and bikes, but we could use some trucks and more PD bikes. With the Mayors happy, I didn’t want to start spending money throwing doubt on them.”
The shit I learn from these conversations is unreal. Prez leans forward. “We have new HS bikes coming. I’m three weeks from a new fleet. I’ll send the HS bikes over to you. Have Taylor set up training on them starting next week. Your men can train the rest. The PD bikes are cool but the HS bikes are better. It will be fifteen bikes so pull your best riders. Get with Darren about the trucks, auction anything you’re taking off the road. Joey said she’s been slow. She likes the auctions.” He smiles.
Driscoll’s nodding his head. “On it Prez.”
“Anything else I need?”
“No Prez you just took it all. The towns are calm, crime is down and people are happy.”
“Good. You’re doing a great job Driscoll. I’m so fuckin’ glad you took the job. The Brothers are proud to be with your PD,” Prez says as he man hugs him again.
“Thanks Prez,” he says. I see Prez’s words affected him so I throw him chin.
When he leaves, Prez watches the water. “I’m so fuckin’ glad he came with us. I had no idea he did so much being PD,” Jessie says.
“He’s a good man and a loyal Brother. One thing everyone missed with him is how fuckin’ smart he is. I’m glad they did or he wouldn’t be here.”
Taylor sits forward and looks at Prez. “He ever tell anyone about his brother?”
Prez shakes his head no. “He thinks Pres had enough to deal with. It was right after Bob lost his leg. The Club was at war then the house got leveled. He just buried it.”
“I’m glad he’s here. Bull too. They’re both better than we thought, but Driscoll fell perfect,” I say smiling.
“Yeah.”
My glasses say all their names and I laugh. “Only heard once but I got all your names on my lens.”
“Fuckin’ glasses are cool as shit,” Taylor says.
“Yeah.” I look at Prez. “What do you want for his trucks?”
“Find out what he needs and get with Jax about ordering so they can kit them out. They don’t do much transport so the cars are a fuckin’ waste. I want a truck for Driscoll out of it. He’s in the Chief car and he’s too fuckin’ big for it. I don’t want it marked, but get a logo on it like the bikes. Have Jared build him a bike too. He knows what he would want.”
“You’re going to have to do something for Bull. He’s running IT for Security doing a good fuckin’ job too. The MC taught them to budget hours and shit. He’s getting shit done fast and he’s thorough,” Jessie tells him.
Prez looks at me smiling. “Get them matching trucks–different colors. Tell Jared to kit Bull’s for IT.” I nod. Bull’s going to love that.
Prez stands. “I’m going to the Club.”
Taylor stands. “I’ll ride with you.” They throw chin and walk out.
“The shit I learn. How the fuck does Prez know all this shit? Judges, DAs, budgets. We did everything together,” Jessie says.
I shake my head. “He spent time with Te Jess doing money. He spent time with Casper and Pres learning about the town and politics. We didn’t have those meets. I trained with Geek, you with VP.”
“Yeah. It doesn’t seem like a lot of time to learn what he knows. I’m fuckin’ glad he knows it, but fuck that’s a lot of shit.”
“Yeah. I had Te Jess too, but it was in HR. Thank fuck I didn’t have to learn everything he did,” I tell him, wondering how Prez keeps it all straight.
We sit for a while and I’m thinking it’s time. He looks at me. “You think Shelly is down?”
“Yeah. He wouldn’t go up late on a weeknight if she wasn’t.”
“What’s up with Lily?”
Shit. “She’s finishing the Security courses. She’ll be done after this semester.”
“That’s good. We’re settling now.”
“Yeah. I’m out Brother.” I stand and feel my muscles pulling. I’m glad I didn’t have kickboxing today.
He follows me home and I think about Lily. Prez has been waiting for her forever. Now that I have Eliza I want him happy too. I’m turning into a pussy and smile. With Jessie asking I guess he is too. He’d kill me if I said it out loud so I don’t.
I lock the doors and slide into bed. When I move Eliza she screams. Fuck. She’s fighting me, but I get her close and talk to her. Victor was like this when we first moved in with Mom and Dad. He had the worst fuckin’ nightmares, so I’d hold him and keep talking or just make sound and he’d calm. The pussy put this on her. They’re not every night anymore, but I want
to kill him myself. I hope whatever he got was fuckin’ painful.
Chapter Eleven
Wedding Day
Eliza
“Are you nervous?”
I look at her. Am I supposed to be? “No,” I say tentatively.
“Good. I don’t remember one old lady that was nervous. That means you’re a keeper.”
I laugh. “Thank you CJ and thanks for helping me dress–even though I didn’t need it.” I smile at her. They are so funny. I’m in a dress that I can dance in. It’s white and flows around my legs with a scoop neck and back so nothing falls out when he lifts or flips me. Jess helped me find it at a little boutique in town.
“Every friggin’ bride needs her girls with her.”
I smile and look around. “I’m sure everyone here loved seeing my new panties, but I could have put the dress on in the bathroom.”
Kate waves that away. “We’ve been through it all and you’re stuck with us. We have something for you. It has tracking and every one of us has one even Sheila.”
Jess takes my hand and the other Jess puts a cuff on me. I look and they all do have them. My eyes tear up and I’m blinking like crazy. “Every old lady has the same cuff, yours has a tiara like little Jess. Welcome to the family Eliza,” Tess says and I cry. Damn.
“No! This is happy! No crying,” Kate says making me laugh. She wipes under my eyes and Jess puts blush on me telling me I’m perfect.
Danny comes to the door. “Five minutes. Darren said you have to wear this.” He hands a bag to Amanda and closes the door.
Oh my God. He is too sweet. They change out my earrings and necklace with beautiful pink diamonds. They match my ring. Kate is showing me a charm bracelet that has a tiara with the pink diamond, a shoe, panties, a bike, glasses, a flower and HS. They are laughing but every one of those means something to both of us. I love it. She puts it on my other hand and I take a closer look. There’s a heart with a D on it. It’s perfect like him. I look at them. “I never had this, but I’m so happy to have you now. Thank you.”
Kate cries and Sheila hugs me. She’s so pretty in a dress and with her hair done. She should dress up more often. The Jesses hug me, then Tess, Penny, Marty, CJ, Nancy, Amanda and Mitch do. This is the best day and I haven’t even gotten married yet.
Danny knocks and says it’s time. “You’re beautiful, Eliza. I’m proud to call you one of mine. Let’s get you to Darren before he sends Jessie out looking for you.”
I laugh. “Thank you. Jessie is scary. I’m proud to be part of a family and yours is the best.”
He stops and kisses my cheek. “You’re perfect for my boy.”
I know he knows about the Outlaws. He still treats me like I’m special. I blink the tears away. I haven’t been crying over everything, but I’m a girl and emotions are high today, but Kate will still be pissed if I mess up my makeup. I smile because she was crying. That gets rid of my tears.
Darren is at the gazebo with Prez and Jessie by his side. They’re in their Princes cuts and blue shirts. I can’t stop looking at him. Aubrey runs up and hugs me making everyone laugh. Jeremy takes her hand and leads her away and I find Darren’s eyes again. He’s beautiful. They all are, but he’s different. Quiet and deep. I love that about him. I love everything about him. Danny puts my hand in his and whispers in my ear. “My son is special; I couldn’t have picked a better woman for him. Be happy Eliza, my new daughter.” He kisses my cheek and I am blinking like crazy again. Damn these people are determined to make me cry.
Darren doesn’t move. When I’m done blinking he smiles. “We good?” Everyone up here laughs.
I look at Tess and Sheila. They nod. “Yep.” People laugh, but I don’t look around.
“You’re beautiful Eliza. Let’s get married.”
I nod and he turns us to his other dad. “He’s not much with the words, but he’s right.” He bends and kisses my cheek. “You’re beautiful, Eliza.”
I throw him chin and he laughs. He says a bunch of stuff then Darren squeezes my hand. He’s smiling. He knows I wasn’t listening and I smile back while he says all the words and puts a ring on my finger. It fits right in with the other making it look like a bigger tiara. He is too damn cool. I say the words to him then Sheila gives me the ring to put on his finger. It’s the Prince logo with VP on it. He kisses me and everyone is laughing. Jessie pulls his arm and Pres says the rest of his words. I have no idea what he said but, I hear kiss the bride.
“One minute Brother and I’m breaking it up,” Jessie says and I laugh until Darren’s lips hit mine. He’s pulled away and Tess is laughing. When I catch my breath Darren turns us and every single person hugs me. Holy shit this is a lot of family.
Prez hugs me and he holds on. “I’m so fuckin’ glad he found you Eliza. You fixed what hurt in him. Thank you.”
“Damn. I was doing so good.”
He laughs and wipes my tears away. “You’re perfect.”
“Thank you.”
Darren takes my hand and walks me behind everyone to his parents’ house then down to the basement. We walk through the training center and go in the elevator to the Club. It takes a little bit, but he’s happy and people are talking around us. Jacob, Jeremy and Aubrey walk beside us and ride up making us laugh. Jacob says no kissing before the doors even close.
The Club is just as nice as the Princes’. Darren walks us right through it and out the back. He’s excited to dance. Jessie is smiling. “It worked. Thanks Jacob and Jeremy.” I laugh, he planned it. “You two kissing would have had us waiting for-fuckin’-ever.”
I put my hands up. “We’re here so put your Badass away.”
Everyone laughs and he hugs me. “Perfect.”
Darren pulls me away. “Find your woman and turn the fuckin’ music on.”
Jessie laughs. He’s not so scary. Everyone is gathered around and we stand facing each other. “I’m a little nervous now,” I tell him.
“We got this beautiful.” He smiles and I relax.
Jessie stands on the side of him. “Ready Brother?” Darren says yes and puts the buds in. Jessie set it as a speaker. The music starts and Jessie walks away.
Darren takes my hand and pulls. I lock my elbows and swing right around him and touch down then I’m through his legs. Everyone is clapping and we dance having fun and laughing. This is the best day! When we finish I’m arched over his arm and wink at Tiny. Danny and Kate laugh. I hug him and Jessie pulls us away from each other. “Two more then I don’t give a fuck,” he says laughing.
I stand facing Darren and wait for the music. When I look at Jess she’s smiling and ready. I’m one step ahead of her and I hope I don’t miss the beat. I don’t need to worry though she yells go. I do. Running I flip into a front then back handspring when I land Darren is finished his alone part and bows toward me. Everyone laughs and claps. We dance with Jessie and Jess. The part where Jessie throws me up and Darren catches me has me scared to death, but Jessie doesn’t throw me high enough to hit the tent ropes. Dakota starts dancing and we get spun around like a top between all of them. Jess is laughing and I’m having a blast. I hug her when we’re done and the next song comes on. I’m so glad it’s the waltz so we can catch our breath as we do this one. “You did perfect babe. I’m proud of you.”
“You were too honey. I’m proud of us.”
He laughs. Danny cuts in and asks how I got him to swing dance. “Dakota did. He had Jared fix the earpieces so he got the sound better. Something about a man not being as sensitive as a woman. Once he got the sound better, Dakota taught us the swing dances. We’ve had a blast learning and he even took me to a club that only plays swing.”
“Fuckin’ nice. Thank you. I’ve never seen Darren smile so much.”
I nod. “I think not missing shit helps. He seems happier with the glasses and better sound.”
He laughs and Pres cuts in. He says basically the same thing and so do I. When Prez cuts in I’m relieved. “Everyone here knows how to dance. I shouldn’t
be, but I’m surprised.”
He laughs. “Uncle Danny brought us all to dance lessons. He started us by saying we’d be the guys the girls would have their arms around. Teenage boys want nothing more, so we all went.”
I crack up. “Smart man.” He nods then Darren is in front of me.
Prez is laughing on the side of me. “I was wondering how long he’d take.”
“The fathers are one thing. Fuckin’ single Brother is another.” Damn he’s not playing.
“Relax Brother, I was just fuckin’ with you and I’d be the last one you should be worried about. Fuckin’ ecstatic you’re happy.”
Darren step closer and hugs him. “Fuckin’ with you LB.” He laughs.
A fast song comes on, but I’m thirsty. I pull him away and he sits me down and goes for a drink. “Are you happy Eliza?” Kate asks sitting down.
“I passed happy a couple of weeks ago, today I’m just floating.”
“That was beautiful to see. He’s so happy, thank you.” She hugs me and walks away. I laugh. She’s wiping her eyes as Pres puts his arm out for her.
Darren kisses my cheek and I turn. He has beer and champagne. I look around and Sheila whips a bottle of water my way. I lift my hand and catch with a yell of thanks and drink half the bottle then the champagne. “Thank you.”
He laughs and kisses me. Before I know what’s happening he’s pulling me away. Jessie and Dakota are laughing and I wave to them. In the Club he unlocks a door and lifts me up. I laugh. “Like a hotel we’re in the honeymoon suite?”
“No babe, this is me and Jessie’s room–or it was when we lived up here. I stayed here when I came up. I guess we should fix that.”
Him and Jessie? I nod not really interested anymore because his lips are on mine. His hands are on my waist and he pulls on the dress. “No!” I pull away and he’s confused. “I need to take the dress off and my bag is at the house with my panties. No ripping today.” He nods and helps me get undressed. His hands are shaking. “Are you okay?”
