L. Ann Marie (16 page)

“Danny can take Pres.” Tiny says.  Danny bursts out laughing.

Rich smiles at him.  “I think that’s a little too close, Brother.  He’d want to fuckin kill him after one day.”  Cloud laughs.

Tiny doesn’t look happy.  “Danny and Bob are your two best HS.  Who the fuck are you thinking of to guard him, a fuckin Prospect?”  Fuck, he’s pissed.

Rich smiles at him.  “VP.”  Tiny smiles at him, throwing chin.  “Those two are the only two that can stand each other in close proximity for long periods of time.”  Fuckin Danny’s laughing again.

I look at Tiny.  “Can you get him to the Security meeting tomorrow?  I’ll get a shadow on you before you leave.”  He nods.

“This is going to get good.  Cloud, I give them a day are you in?”  Danny, says looking at each one of us.

Cloud laughs.  “I’ll go two.  That’s one way to relieve the stress of all this.”  I look at Danny, fuckin smart son of a bitch; I hold up three fingers.  He nods.  I throw chin and get home to make a new schedule, email Little Ben and call in Brothers with the changes for tomorrow.  I write a note about the apartment for Mandy, so I don’t forget.

I climb in bed and she rolls onto my chest.  I kiss her head thinking about the Little Brothers and Sisters.  I wonder if Pres would let LB, Jessie and Darren carry on the compound.  They're responsible, level headed and fuckin crack shots.  They've trained with the pop ups and every fuckin one of them passed.

I think about Mandy getting hurt again.  I'll change out her studs tomorrow.  I need to get more jewelry up to Geek.  She changes them out and I don't want her without tracking again.  Now my kids are in her, I'm on edge.  This is what Rich was talking about, protecting them at all costs.  I always believed it, but now I feel it.  I wanted to growl at the threat to her.  I have no problem doing my job, but I want to I take out any threat to my woman and kids, wiping it off the face of the earth.  I close my eyes; I'm turning into a fuckin lunatic.  Wipe it off the face of the earth.  Who the fuck thinks like that?

Amanda

He's dressed for work.  "Don't you have PT?"

He kisses me.  I'm a mess; I rolled out of bed and came to the kitchen to make a cup of decaf.  My hair must be flying wild.  I take the tie from my cast and pull it back.

He's smiling at me, "I'm done with PT.  I get my robotic today."

I lift up and kiss him.  "I'm happy for you.  I bet that's going to be a relief to you."  He gives me a funny look.  "I know you worry about the ability to be perfect.  I think it's crazy; you already are but you worry anyway."

He smiles and kisses me.  "Thanks, babe.  We have some things to talk about.  Are you drinking coffee?"

I laugh.  "It's decaf; I might as well be drinking dishwater.  It sucks."  I dump it and get some juice.  He pulls eggs and butter out.  I get bread and some ham.  Maybe he'll make me a sandwich.

"Tess had a vision; we need to bump Security on every kid, you, Tess and CJ.  There's a threat to Pres, too."  Fuck, that's not good; they protect Ben like the kids.  "We use the visions to keep everyone safe.  As soon as we get it, we jump to erase any threat that's aimed our way."  I nod.  Shit, this is fuckin scary.  "I need to get the jewels changed out so you're tracked.  Go by Nancy's and pick some sets; you just sign for them, I'll send them to Geek to have the tracking set.  The back of the shop is getting new cameras today and you'll have Security with you.  We'll keep you safe, babe."

I think about that.  My ex got to me because I didn't tell him.  He's done everything short of chaining me to the bed to keep me protected.  "Ok.  Is there something I should do to make this easier for you?"

He looks up from the eggs with a smile.  He's cute.  "Just don't lose your guard, stay in the yard and close to the compound.  We call this area the backyard.  Anything from Main to the water has more Security; staying in it keeps you safer.  Keep the tracked jewelry on so I don't lose you."

I nod.  "Shopping is out?"

He takes the toast and puts an egg and ham on it.  I smile at him.  He loves me.  My eyes tear up; I'm demented.  "The women get an order ready, the Prospects do shopping from the list.  Be specific with brand names.  Paper goods are delivered monthly, get CJ to send you the link; delivery is the first."  Wow, that's kind of cool.

"Kate has a mom and daughter needing a home.  Can you get with her about your apartment?"  He's looking down making his sandwiches.

I smile; fuckin guy takes care of everything.  "Yeah."  I put his coffee and juice on the table and sit.  "Did I tell you I love you?"

He looks at me and swallows down his bite.  "I got a blanket on that shit."  He smiles.

"Still needs to be said."  I lean over the table and kiss him.  He flips me over and moves the plates and cups.  The fuckin guy is fast.  "Quickie?"  He smiles and nods.  I'm good with this; I sit up to pull the tee off.  He moans, poor guy needs relief and I fell asleep last night.  "I have no problem with you waking me up at night."  He lays me down and growls.  I just smile; he's fuckin cute all needy.  Bending my knees almost to my damn armpits, he slams into me, making me yell.  "Fuck, it's that kind of morning."

"Stop talking, Mandy. I need to show you how much I love you.  I'm going to do that by burying myself as far as I can in your tight fuckin pussy."  Fuck!  He marks every word rolling his hips;  I'm not saying a fuckin thing.  He bends, his mouth playing with my jewels.  I hold his hair, moving him to give equal attention to my girls.  He stands, holding the back of my knees up so they're back to my armpits and watches his dick slide in.  I move my fingers to the stud and give him a better view.  "Fuck, woman."  He whispers.  Holy shit, he's sexy as hell; he's got his teeth holding his lip and pleasure written all over his face.  My other hand follows his ink up his arm.  I feel my whole body tense up and yell my release.  Shit, when reality floats back to me, my whole body feels like lead.  My head clears and I realize he's on top of me.

"Need air."  I get out.

He pushes up to his elbows and looks at me.  "Fuckin beautiful."  He kisses my lips and stands.  How the fuck can he stand when I feel like silly putty?  He gets a towel from the drawer, cleans me, then stands me up, kisses me and cleans the table, putting our plates and cups back on it.  He sits down and finishes his breakfast.  I'm just sitting watching him; at least now I can breathe.  I take a drink. "I need to change your jewels, babe.  Are you done?"

I laugh.  I don't even know why.  It's the fuckin demented thing.  "I can change them.  Go to work, keep us safe.  I got this."

He smiles kissing my lips.  "Thanks, babe."  He walks out with his bag.

I laugh for a full two minutes, sitting at the table all alone.  It was like a hit and run fuck.  I can't complain, he made it good for me but that was funny as hell.  He sat down and finished his breakfast like I didn't just explode three minutes before.  At least he washed the table.  I clear the table and wash it with Clorox.  Giggles bubble up every once in a while.  Fuckin guy is cute as hell.

After a bath and changing jewelry, I go into the office; mail is piling up, so I take care of that first.  I open over the barrel because it's mostly junk.  I put house bills in one pile, shop bills in another.  I have a check from the art I did last month and a bulky envelope.  I open it and smile.

Sitting, I go through the pictures of Bob posed in different places around the house and on the back porch.  His brace looks fuckin cool as shit.  Badass; it's a fitting name.  I pull the picture I made and put one of him posed beside it.  This will work; the coloring is perfect, I'm excited.  I draw a tattoo out and pack it together.  Putting some of the pictures around the house, I put the others back in the envelope.

My guard is sitting on the porch.  "I'm going to the shop."  He nods.  We go in his truck.  He doesn't say a word.  I run in and find Kellan sweeping the floor.  "This is fuckin weird.  I've never seen you touch a broom before."

He looks embarrassed.  "It's about time I picked up the slack; you've carried my ass for years."

I can't help the shock on my face.  "I'll take it.  I need some ink when you have some time."

He smiles.  Fuck, this is weird.  "Right now, let me see."  I pull the sheet.  "Fuckin nice."

"I need to get the Prospect to bring this to the printers.  Did he come in?"

He nods, looking at my picture and the smaller one of Bob.  "He's cleaning the apartment.  Bob said it may be rented and he didn't want anything forgotten up there.  It's empty though; Danny checked it before you got out of the hospital.  These are fuckin crazy good, Amanda."

"Thanks.  A photographer did the shot."  The Prospect comes in and I give him the pictures for the printer.  I call over and explain what I want.  They know me, so it's short and sweet.

Kellan gets the web around my heart done in minutes and starts on my shoulder blade.  When our appointments come in, we take them.  Quinn takes one of his so he can do more on my back.

CJ comes in for some shading.  Kellan is on my back while I'm finishing her up.  Fuckin guy is hard to stop once he gets going.  CJ will send the baby book over with Joey later and she'll email the form and link for dry goods.  She loves the way it works; she's not big on shopping either.  When I'm done she looks at her art.  "It's beautiful!  You are friggin amazing, Amanda!"  She has a dream catcher with Cloud caught in the web.  It's in 3-D.  I give her the dream catcher he made for her and a hug, shooing her away.

Kellan finishes and covers me in cream.  I take my next appointment.  My guard brings me lunch.  "Tailley sent it."  I smile, thanking him.  I swallow down lunch at three and take my last appointment.

Bob

Little Ben added tracking to everyone last month.  They have watches, necklaces and earrings on the girls; leather wristbands with a metal clasp at the snap on the boys.  He's fuckin good.  I ask him about carrying on the compound.  He wants to talk to his Little Brothers first; he'll get back to me.

I run the schedule with the families' activities and print it out.  It's almost time for the meeting, so I get Ed, the office assistant, to print me out twelve.  It takes less than three minutes and he's handing me back a file.  "I need the original."  He pulls it from the copier handing it to me.  We were warned about leaving shit in here; Ed is a gossip.

I'm the first one in the meeting room.  Tiny, Pres and VP come in.  We throw chin; Rich and Driscoll come in, Danny, Little Ben and Jessie follow them, surprising me.  Cloud comes in with Allan, Bull and Chet.  Digs runs in, passing papers out to everyone.  When he sits, Pres stands.

"We have two different threats.  I met with the Bosses and got assurances they would deal with the son that jumped in with Brad.  If you've seen the news you know that Brad is not a threat any longer.  The son is still a threat; he's pissed we interfered with his plans for some government money Brad was going to throw his way.  It's unclear right now how that threat will play out."  Fuck, we have to wait for something to happen or more visions.  That's a fuck of a way to run Security.

"The bigger concern is the one percenters.  Beside what Tess saw.  I had a call from Colorado; the one percenters are rounding up nomads and members of allies for a run at us.  Our Brothers in New Mexico, Colorado, Michigan and New England are gathering info and support for us.  Read what Tess saw, then we'll give you a preliminary plan."

We all pull the sheet Digs handed out and read.  Fuck!  Jeremy, Brenna, Christian, Little Ben, Tess and the twins.  CJ and Amanda try to help and end up taken.  I look up.  My old lady is pregnant.  We have babies all over the fuckin place.  No time, no date.  She started chanting; when I get to that part, I know it's done.  I look at Rich.  He's holding his head.  Fuck, there's more.

Pres stands up again.  "Little Ben, what did Jeremy have to say about the vision?"

He looks at us, then Pres.  "You die; my dad and Danny are hurt.  A lot of Brothers die, some kids; I'm taken.  He sees more but I need my dad to get it from him.  He won't let it out if it's too much for whoever is talking for him.  He's little, but smart; he'll tell only what we can take.  As soon as Darren heard I'm taken, he went off and Jeremy stopped."

Pres nods.  "Set up a meet for this afternoon; I want Rich, Bob and Cloud with us.  Jessie, are you able to take this?"

He doesn't answer right away.  "I want to say yes because I need to but I'm not sure I can hear about
how
my Brothers die.  Jeremy's visions are graphic; I sometimes pick up pieces of them and it's hard."

Pres gives him a sad smile.  "Thanks for telling us.  Can you wait outside and come in when we need you?"  Jessie nods yes.  "That's what we'll do.  Little Ben, what's up with Darren?  Do we need to pull him back?"

"No, Pres.  He went off but it was finding ways to stop the one percenters.  He's been looking at military strategy sites."  He looks at VP.  "He reminds me of my dad; sometimes he needs to be reigned in."  We all laugh.  "Seriously, he was pissed that we didn't bring him.  He's figuring out ways to keep me covered 24/7; I'm almost afraid of what he comes up with.  I need to get him on a job to keep him busy, so I can do my own freakin job."  He blows out a breath.  Everyone is smiling at him.

"I'm right there with you, LB.  I have fuckin Brothers waiting outside the door when I take a fuckin piss."  Pres tells him.  I look down, smiling.

"That's how it should be, you're Pres.  It's your vision we follow.  Without you, we lose the vision.  You should always be covered, even without the threat."  We all look at him.  Fuckin kid is older than his years and always floors me.

VP agrees, then Tiny.  Danny sits smiling; we've had this conversation and Pres shut us down.

Pres nods, but waves him off.  "VP, get with Darren.  Have him look at surveillance in and around the compound and backyard.  I want every house, road, and business gone over.  I like the setup at the reservation; work with Cloud on the sensors and guns trained in different areas."  Cloud and VP nod.  Pres looks at Little Ben.  "I need you to get Brantley and Taylor to look for and find ways to intercept and redirect these bulletins that are going out all over the fuckin country.  Bull, I want you in the Kids Club working with them on whatever you can find.  Colorado has some leads, they sent an email three fuckin pages long with them."

"Bob, I want you with Little Ben and Jessie working on coverage and personal Security.  Rich, make sure they have the people they need, work with Bob on this.  I need you in control with Digs, keeping everything secure while we're spreading the Officers thin.  I don't want either of you distracted with anything else until everyone is back where they need to be.  You'll have to meet with Bob before or after your scheduled surveillance time."  Rich nods at me.

"Tiny, get the Brothers on high alert for anything new that comes up.  We need everyone working; let them know of the threats from the one percenters but don't give too much away."  Tiny nods.

"Driscoll, I need you to monitor and prepare the HS teams; let Bob and Rich know what's going on or any potential problems, but I need you to have them ready at a moment’s notice.  Deal with issues, but let someone know what they are.  Make sure ammo and supplies are ready for drops before we need them."  Driscoll nods.

"Am I missing anything?"  He asks, looking at all of us.