Behind the Scenes: Book 0 (MC)

by L. Ann Marie

  He nods chewing his toast. “I will Pres.”

  “Swallow ‘fore you talk,” Knight tells him.

  He nods and swallows. “I will Pres.” He watches Knight and gets chin. Pres laughs.

  Knight stands and hands Geek a hundred. “Order lunch. Prospect can pick it up. You don’t leave here. I get back we’ll get you clothes and a bike. Yeah?”

  Geek looks at him. “What do I have to do for it?”

  Knight looks surprised. “Work. You get my headsets straight and better boards. Yeah?”

  Geek looks at Pres and gets a nod. “Yeah. Thanks.”

  Knight looks at JJ. “These Brothers right here threw you protection. No one touches you Geek. None of us are into kids. We won’t hurt you. If one of us gives you something it’s for work you did or work you’re going to do. Knight will get you a bike because you can’t be in the Club without one. He does that as a Brother. No strings with that kind of gift. When you can you help someone out like he’s doing. Yeah?”

  Geek gives him that big fuckin’’ smile. “Yeah. Thanks Brothers.” He throws Knight chin making us laugh.

  “Fuckin’’ Badass needs a bike,” Knight says walking away. JJ laughs.

  “Where’s he going?” Tiny asks JJ getting a shrug.

  “Training Casper. He’s helping him with ride and shoot.”

  Pres looks surprised. “What happened?”

  I look at the Brothers sitting here. Petey didn’t show so I figure I can tell them. “He couldn’t hit above 35. Knight helped him and got him hitting at 50. Told him he’d get him hitting center today.” JJ starts cleaning up and Geek gets up to help.

  “Casper wasn’t satellite?” Tiny asks.

  I laugh. “Not even close. Satellites learn everything and specialize in a few. Knight got computer and is good with figuring and following money but he specialized in stealth, sniper, Ops planning. He thinks different than us and it makes him good at those things.”

  “The way he talked I thought he was with Knight,” Pres says.

  I shake my head no. “Satellite works alone. Casper wasn’t even on the Team Knight was listed with. When the Team was down Knight was in training, he had one furlough, but took all they offered so he could come back ready to be our soldier. He’ll get Casper ready but he wants him on Ops. He doesn’t think he’d be good under pressure.”

  Pres nods. “With what he knows let him make the call.” I throw him chin. I already did. “Geek. Come sit so we can tell you about the pay.”

  I laugh at Geek’s face. He’s excited, scared and nervous, every emotion crosses his face one right after the other. I kick a chair out and he sits.

  “You’ll be working computer. The field makes more than truck drivers. I’ll put you higher than that pay. I’ll have JJ get you an account. Equipment comes from the Club. You need something the Club buys it. Your pay buys you clothes, special food you want or bike parts. Your bike gets serviced from the garage. We take it out of your pay. The rest you save. You make extra you save it. Being a biker doesn’t mean poor. Fuckin’’ bikes are expensive, you keep enough to buy a new one or fix the old. Get a house when you’re old enough. Don’t make payment on shit. Save and buy. “Yeah?”

  Geek’s nodding his head fast. “I will Pres. Can I buy a laptop?”

  “Is it for work?” Pres asks and gets a nod. “No, didn’t I just say the Club buys that shit?”

  “It’s a computer that is mobile Pres. I don’t need it for work but I can monitor from my room if I have a phone jack. I just wanted it.”

  “Monitor is work, the Club pays. You want to play card games it’s a toy.”

  Geek makes a face. “Fuckin’’ card games are stupid. We could get the video from around town. That’s better than cards.”

  JJ laughs. “You get video from around town I’ll buy you your first leather Brother.”

  Geek gives him that smile. “You owe me a coat JJ.”

  We laugh. “Fuckin’’ Brothers. I’ll go with you and Knight later.” He walks out.

  Pres looks at Tiny. “You keep Geek safe Brother. Shit goes down you make sure he’s not forgotten during it.”

  Tiny bobs his big head. “I got the little Brother’s back Pres.”

  “Let’s get to work Geek,” I say standing up.

  We get to the room for Ops and I look at the next room. It’s a cell that everyone hates, no window the bathroom is way the fuck on the other side. Walking out I get three Prospects and tell them what I want. They get me plastic and I put it up so Geek’s shit doesn’t get damaged. In two hours we have the wall down and the furniture moved. Another hour and I have the walls closed in and a couple of new outlets. One of the Prospects is good with his hands so I let him add the molding making it look like it’s always been a big room. We pull two more Prospects and have them running cleanup. When I take the plastic down Geek starts jumping around.

  His shit comes in and I watch the headsets while he puts everything together. He’s telling the guy from the company how he wants shit wired and I laugh. Fuckin’’ kid knows his shit. He finally tells the guy he’s got it and pushes him out of the way. Everything is in and the kid’s happy.

  Pres comes in pushing a chair with a box on it. “I got a Brother hooking a phone line in your room. You forgot the chairs Brother. That fold chair fuckin’’ kills my back.” A Prospect is pushing a chair in right behind him.

  Geek laughs folding the chair and putting it against the wall. “I may never leave this chair,” he says leaning back into it.

  He starts showing us the video he has around town. We see and he explains the tracking he put on some of the bikes and headsets and the Club and Salvage video. The kid was meant to run a computer.

  Knight and JJ come in amazed with what he’s got running. “Need sheets for trainin’.” Knight pulls paper from the printer and writes what he wants on it. “I just fill in. Yeah?” Geek nods. Then JJ wants sheets for the Prospects.

  I walk away laughing. I got training to get to. At the field I explain martial arts and defensive moves. We do martial arts first because Brothers lose a fight if they aren’t centered and thinking. When we move to defensive Tiny has it down and I use him to show the Brothers how to move giving maximum pain without killing themselves to do it.

  I send them to the Club when we’re finished. Tiny asks about getting Geek a cut. I thought about it this morning but didn’t want to say it in front of the kid. I don’t know the bylaw on age. “I’ll talk to Pres.”

  He nods. “He’d be safer with the cut on in the Club.”

  “He don’t go out alone Tiny. Make sure that happens for him.”

  He nods. “JJ told us last night about shit coming at us. I told him I’d keep Geek’s back. Told Pres this morning. I meant it. He’s too fuckin’’ young to be here but he’s got no family to take care of him. I’ll be his Brother.”

  “You’re a good Brother to have Tiny. JJ’s right shit’s coming our way. You keep your Brothers close. JJ, Knight and Geek are who you watch out for. They’ll watch out for you.” He just watches me then nods.

  “Let’s get back. I’m supposed to stick close to the Club.” I throw my leg over.

  “Axe, thanks for watching out for us. You and Pres could have split. Thanks for keeping us straight.”

  I look at him for a minute. “Don’t work like that Brother. What we do today impacts lives ten years from now. You fuck it up and someone is screwed. Could be your kid, could be mine, I ain’t fuckin’’ with it. Brotherhood is in everything. Can’t just be the good shit.”

  “Glad you’re my Brother Axe.” He starts his bike.

  We ride to the Club and they’re fighting again. Tiny walks up pushing Brothers out of the way. I smile and walk up the steps. Pres isn’t smiling today. “Who is it this time?”

  “Rogue and Laney. Fighting over drugs and money.” He shakes his head and walks inside. I follow asking about Geek and his bike. “Hasn’t shown yet. Kid was working till they pulled him away. Knight
got Casper on surveillance.” I nod.

  Petey is at the bar and there are some Brothers fuckin’’ in the corner but the fight drew most out.

  “Need to ask you something. Let’s take your table.” He sits and waits. “Geek is gonna need a cut. He’s young and I don’t know about the bylaws but we need to cover him in the Club. He wears it out it will be a target for him but here he needs it.”

  “Yeah, got him one. Knight and JJ both said the same thing.”

  I laugh. “Tiny too.”

  He nods. “They’re going to be good Axe.” Why does he keep saying this? “I tell you so you know it’s right. They do good for more than just Brothers. Your kid, his boy, our new Officer’s kids. All make it good. They don’t forget us and learn from our mistakes. Smart Brothers every single one of them.” I like hearing this. It brings a peace knowing it’s all worth it. You don’t get that kind of guarantee every day. I’ll take this one.

  The Brothers come in and split the room. I almost smile. Looks like they beat the shit out of each other. Pres just watches.

  Geek comes running right down the middle of the common room. “Pres, Axe I got a bike!” Laney shoves him and he hits Brothers on the bar side. They push him back and he hits the floor.

  Tiny shows and lifts Laney then throws him against the wall. “Fuckin’’ little Brother didn’t do shit to you. Keep your fuckin’’ hands off him!” He looks around. “Any of you fuckers touch him you deal with me!”

  “He ain’t our Brother. You get Officer and now you threaten us? Should have voted no.” Rogue says.

  I pick up Geek and send him toward Pres. “Geek will get his cut at Church. You won’t see him, he’s computer. Set our Ops with headsets and tracking so we can keep the Brothers running safe. He’s got Axe, JJ, Knight, Tiny and my protection. That’s a lot of fuckin’’ Brothers to make it through.”

  Knight and JJ come in. Knight scans the room. No one says shit. “Geek, tell them about your bike?” The kid nods but doesn’t look at him. JJ looks around. “He rides like he was born on it Pres.” He’s watching for reaction.

  “Let’s go see your bike Geek.” Pres slaps his back. Geek gets his smile back but moves away from Rogue as he’s going by. Knight watches and lets them pass but doesn’t take his eyes off the common room. Tiny follows me out and we check out the kid’s bike. A first bike is big so we make sure he feels it. He rides around and Knight tells us they brought him to the track to learn and he’s safe.

  JJ got him a book to get his license and he read it while Knight was paying. “The Brother is smart Pres.”

  Pres nods and watches Geek go around the lot then building. He’s proud of the kid. When the kid’s tired of his circle he backs in by Knight’s bike. “Thanks for the bike and teaching me Brothers. This is the best day of my life.”

  Tiny laughs. “First bike is little Brother. Gives you freedom. Nothing like it. You don’t leave the lot without one of us. We’ll take you out but you never go alone. You got me?”

  He bobs his head up and down. “After in there I ain’t going anywhere alone.”

  “What happened?” JJ asks.

  “Pissing contest. Didn’t have to do with Geek but they used him,” Pres tells him.

  Knight looks at him. “You’re in trainin’ tomorrow. Casper can cover.”

  Geek gives him that smile and throws him chin. The kid is cute.

  Walking in you could cut the tension with a knife. It seems to be directed at us this time. We walk to the bar and take the seats right in the middle.

  “You get clothes today?” Pres asks Geek.

  “Yeah and I ate in a restaurant. They brought us everything.” Pres smiles but I see concern in his eyes. Sixteen he should have been in a restaurant before now.

  We talk about training and Geek tells Knight about his sheets and filling in the information. He says he set up the old computer so anyone can use it for the sheets. They need a password but he already set Knight so he can put the information in. JJ’s smiling. He likes Geek helping out Knight.

  The Brothers are starting to move around and Knight turns. He scans the room constantly. I’d think he was a machine if I didn’t know better. It strikes me as Schwarzenegger from the movies.

  I push off the bar. “Let me know if you need me.” I start walking and Geek stops me.

  “I’m going to set up the laptop.” He tells Pres and walks beside me. He won’t be going anywhere alone. I look at Pres and he nods. I pull a whore off the couch and she follows. I wait for him to get in then move when I hear the lock click.

  Another night of good. I pull Janice in my room and fuck her against the wall.

  When she’s cleaned up I open the door and see Laney walk in Geek’s room. Fuckin’’ Brothers.

  Geek yells. “Get Out!”

  I move the whore and hit the door in time to see Geek swing a bat at Laney’s head.

  I stand aside and watch. The kid isn’t into fuckin’’ around. He hits him two more times then drops the bat. “Good job Brother.”

  He looks up white as a ghost. “Did I kill him?”

  I check Laney for a pulse. “Nope just beat the shit out of him. We need to get you that gun.”

  “What the fuck?” Tiny booms from behind me.

  Geek sits down. “He came in here to kill me. Said I wasn’t protected now.”

  The kid’s shaking. “Get him out and get Pres.” Knight comes in looking pissed. “Stay with him.” He nods and I go to my room and grab a bottle of Jack. “Take a sip. It will calm you down,” I say handing him the bottle.

  He does and grabs for a cup on the nightstand. “I forgot water first.”

  “Where did you get the bat?”

  He looks at it. “JJ got it for me. Tiny brought me my stuff from JJ’s truck.”

  “Good thin’.” Knight says and Geek nods. I look at him. He’s pissed. He always talks like that when he’s pissed.

  He walks across the hall and tells someone to get their stuff and get out. Coming back he tells Geek tomorrow he’ll set a trip on his door so he knows when someone opens it. Geek nods. Pres comes in and Knight tells Tiny to take the room on the other side of Geek and to get JJ. He’s going to box him in. Good Brother. Coming back in he looks at Pres waiting for him to finish talking to Geek.

  “Nothing down this hall but Officers and Geek. We set cameras and a trip for his door and put us around him. Fuckin’’ Brothers makin’ a statement comin’ here when we threw protection. Need to show ‘em what that looks like.”

  Pres nods. “You do what you need to Knight. You keep him safe. I’ll get a cut on him tomorrow.”

  JJ steps closer. “With four Officers you can get the cut on him now and show him at Church.”

  Pres smiles. “You’re right. I’ll get it and we’ll give it to him tonight.” He walks out. Geek is watching everyone. “Why is everyone protecting me?” He’s looking at JJ.

  It’s Knight that answers. “You need it and we need you. We take care of our own.”

  Geek looks at me. “He’s right. You’ll be a good Brother for the Club. We’ll make sure you make it.” He nods and moves the bat to the side of the bed. “Glad you had the bat Brother. It saved your life.”

  “Yeah.”

  Pres comes in with Tiny following. Fuck the room is small. Pres says his normal welcome to the Brotherhood speech and puts the cut on Geek. We all hug him. “These men are your sponsors. You look for them when you have a problem.” Geek nods with a serious expression. “I’d get you a beer but I don’t want you at the bar tonight. We’ll do that tomorrow. Yeah?”

  “I’m good Pres. The fuckin’’ Brothers may start shooting they see me with a cut on tonight.” We all laugh. He’s right but he’s funny.

  Chapter Seventeen

  I hear banging and I’m out the door. “What the fuck Knight?”

  He looks at me from the top of the ladder. “Trip.”

  Oh okay then. Fuckin’’ Brother. I turn around and go back in my room. It’s fu
ckin’’ six. Doesn’t this Brother ever sleep?

  I shower and dress. Might as well make breakfast. He’ll have everyone up by now. In the kitchen I start pancakes. I just keep piling them up and setting them behind me. JJ comes in bitching about Knight. Tiny’s laughing. I look behind them. “Where’s Geek?”

  “Putting up fuckin’’ cameras. He’s like a rat up in the fuckin’’ ceiling.” JJ is disgusted with them both.

  “Think he slept in his cut,” Tiny says smiling.

  JJ runs his hands through his hair. “Didn’t sleep much.” I laugh. “Knight was right. Brothers throwing protection out and making a play for him is a statement. There will be more.”

  I nod. “Yeah. You keep his back.”

  Tiny nods. “Always Axe.”

  I make more pancakes thinking about the kid and how smart he is. He needs to make it with them Pres said. I keep making the point and hope they get it. Petey comes in and everyone’s quiet.

  Casper and Rogue come in and I hope they just happened to hit the door at the same time. They sit opposite each other but no-one’s talking. When Geek comes in with Knight he’s smiling. “Done.” I nod.

  Rogue stands up. “He got a cut when?”

  JJ smiles. “Last night. When Laney tried to kill him in his room. Pres thought everyone should know his protection stands.”

  He slams his chair into the table. “That’s fuckin’’ bullshit!”

  Knight stands in front of Geek. “Why?”

  “We didn’t vote him in.” He’s not backing down from Knight. Stupid fuck.

  “Five Officers sponsored him. Bylaws say you need four. Look it up.” JJ stands beside Knight.

  Rogue turns and slams out the swinging door. “I am!”

  “I’m going to eat before the next try for my throat.” Geek says pulling a plate off the counter. They all laugh. I smile at him. Fuckin’’ kid.

  When everyone’s done Knight tells Tiny and Petey to cleanup and Casper to get on Ops with JJ. Geek stands and puts his plate in the sink then follows Knight out. I watch and JJ’s smiling. “He must have been a hell of an Officer.”

  Casper doesn’t find it funny but follows JJ out. Petey’s talking about Geek’s cut and everyone throwing protection on him. Tiny shuts him up and they start cleaning. Two Prospects come in eyeing the pancakes. I make a plate for Pres and hand them the rest. “Cleanup when you’re done.” They take the plates nodding. Tiny slaps their backs and walks out.