L. Ann Marie (15 page)

She's got tears and a smile.  "Yes!"  She jumps on me and clocks me in the head with her cast.  "Fuck!  I'm sorry.  That's going to leave a mark."  I laugh.  "If you'll still take my clumsy ass, the answer is still yes."  She kisses me gentle.

I keep it that way so I don't hurt her lips.  Thank Fuck!  I slide the ring on her finger.  Nancy is fuckin awesome, it fits perfect.  "So now that I have a yes, I have to tell you what I did."  She sits looking at me.  "First, and this has nothing to do with what I did, this is just an FYI.  The ring has tracking on it, every old lady and kid is tracked.  We'll get more on you but for now don't take the fuckin ring off."  She nods looking at it.  "Now, what I did.  I was going to ask you yesterday but your fuckin ex went psycho and blew my plan."

"Is that what was important?"

"Yeah, I had the pictures up and was ready to ask you.  Anyway, I found out the Brothers were taking bets on when I'd ask you.  Danny had yesterday and today.  I made a deal with him, all the money has to go to the Bakery for coffee and breakfast at the clinic every day."  She's not fuckin yelling at me so I might as well tell her the rest.  "They're betting on the wedding date too.  It's a couple of grand already.  If we do it next Saturday that will go to the clinic too."  I hold my breath and wait.

"They're fuckin crazy."  She's smiling.  "If we hold out will we get more?"

I laugh.  Fuckin woman.  "My deal is with Danny, I don't think the other Brothers will give up the money.  Pres offered me a hundred."

"Cheap Bastard!"  She's fuckin serious; I'm laughing so hard my eyes are watering.  "I guess Saturday is as good a day as any."

"Really?"  She surprises me.

"Yeah, I wouldn't have said yes if I wasn't sure.  You already work to show me perfect, you've got a good track record and I love you."

I hold her cast and pull her to me hugging her.  "Thanks, baby.  I love you too.  Saturday.  Do we need to do anything for the wedding?"

She smiles.  "Since Danny is winning I think he should do it.  I just want big flowers.  I don't give a shit about anything else.  What do you want?"

"To see my name after yours."  I pull my phone.  "Brother.  She wants your date but you need to set it up.  It's too fuckin overwhelming with short notice."  I listen to him talk to Kate.  "Yeah, Brother.  Just big flowers."  I hang up.  "Kate said you're going to Nancy's in an hour and Danny will handle the rest."

"Too damn perfect, my Badass Biker Man."  She kisses me again.  I'm thinking she's fuckin perfect.  Never a fuckin problem with anything.

She pulls my hand to help me up, the PVC doesn't bend; we make it home and she changes for shopping.

Kate shows, telling me I have to leave when they get back.  I heard about her and Jess with the fuckin crazy shopping sprees.  I just nod.  Mandy shows her the pictures and she cries.  I decide now is a good time to leave and I do; with a gentle kiss I'm out.

Two weeks

Amanda

I get my test scores back and smile.  My new name is on my new certificate.  I make a copy filing one and put the other in a plastic sleeve.  I send it to Bob and close down the computer.  Keying the alarm, I'm out the door and on my way to the clinic with the biggest damn smile.

I meet Sally and Doc in the break room.  Peg remembered my coffee; she's so sweet and always remembers.  I show them my certificate and test scores.

"Well, Mrs. Tailley, with scores like this I'm afraid to lose you to the fire station.  We'll hang the certificate but keep the scores to ourselves."  Doc says, making me blush.

Sally hugs me.  "Are you interested in medical school?"

I give her a disgusted look.  "Hell no!  I like the jobs that I have."  She's nuts if she thinks that sounds like fun.

Doc laughs, walking out with my certificate.  I'm so damn proud of myself; I smile for the first four hours.  Bob sent me lunch again, he's so fuckin sweet.  After I eat, a gunshot wound comes in.  A Prospect got hit off Main Street, Doc and Sally take him in the back while I take what I can of the patients.  I'm wondering where Bob is but I don't want to call; I decide to send him a text.  I work until my time is up; I need to get to the shop for an appointment.

Sally finds me walking out of the bathroom where I changed into shorts and a tee.  "Thanks for taking the extra today, Amanda.  The Prospect is headed home, he's doing just fine."

I'm relieved.  "Thank God.  No one else got hurt?"

She smiles.  "No, it is rare for the Brothers to get hurt.  You've been around long enough to know that.  What happened to you and Bob is unheard of with the Club.  They are very good at their jobs.  It takes strong women to live with the Security Brothers.  They're the guys that keep us all safe and the drugs out.  What they do is important in our community and our lives."

That is just what I need to hear.  I was nervous about him being out on Security.  Hell, I got taken and I just do ink. The got me back the same day, getting to psycho’s aunt’s before the psycho even made it.  "You're right.  Thanks, Sally."

I make it before my appointment; once he's outlined, I start thinking about what Sally said.  I add his shades of color on auto pilot.  Bob is one of the guys that keep us safe.  Even after the accident, he's back to work keeping us safe.  I love him for that dedication.  It's the same dedication he applies to me.  When I look at it like that, I realize I need to let the worry over him being hurt go.  The guys talk while they're waiting and getting inked; he's good, Bob is always partnered with Danny when there is trouble.  He's right under Rich.  They are all held to legend status.  I smile.  I'm proud of my husband for his ability and for his job.

I finish my guy and send him to the Prospect at the counter.  Tiny puts Prospects here every night now.  I love it; they handle the money and keep us safe.

Bob walks in smiling.  "I'm just in time?"  He bends and kisses me.

"Yeah.  I'm done for the day."  I clean my equipment; he cleans my table and chair.  "I'm starving, how about you?"

He nods.  "I was hoping you were done; how about the Seafood Shack?"

"Perfect."  I check the schedule for tomorrow and wave bye to everyone.

Bob

Sitting across from her, I see she's tired.  "Sorry I didn't text you back.  I was on the bike all day.  By the time I got it I knew you were at the shop."

She smiles.  "I talked to Sally after I sent the text.  I'm proud of what you do.  You're fuckin good and I know it.  Once I had a minute to think it through, I wasn't worried.  I've worked with the Club guys for years, I should have known better.  I like you doing your job keeping us safe, that's the guy I fell in love with."

Fuckin perfect again.  I thought she'd be nervous and want me to change jobs.  "Thanks, babe."

I throw money on the table and guide her out.  At home, I fill the tub and put the towel down for her cast.  While she's in the tub I log onto my laptop and get some work done.  I spent all day hunting fuckin pussy down; Brothers don't get fuckin shot in our yard.  There was no video coverage where the bullet came from.  The Prospect was one of three allowed in Security.  Another was beaten in the City.  He's at the Club healing.  Someone's trying to eliminate them.  We have the third being shadowed.  There's not one fuckin clue for us to follow.  I blow out a breath.

"Everything ok?"  She reminds me I'm sitting in the bathroom with her.

"I can't talk about the Club shit.  It's one of those things about the job that sucks, sorry."

She smiles and puts her hand on my shoulder.  "I'm good.  I'm exhausted.  Do you mind if I take a nap when you go to the patio tonight?"

"You ok?"  It's not like her to sleep so early.

She looks at me.  "Just tired, babe.  It happens."  She's smiling, so I'm good.

I wash her up and dry her.  She sleeps in my shirt.  I love it.  Kate and Jess didn't get her any pajamas, thank fuck.  They're fuckin nuts with the shopping thing.  She has thirty fuckin pair of panties because Amanda told them I rip them.  Not something she needed to share.  The drunken women told me all about them, then lectured me on what panties were ok to tear and which ones weren't.  Fuckin women.  I just walked away; what the fuck could I say?  I don't know the difference from one panty to the next, I wasn't about to ask for clarification.  They were fuckin drunk.  The best part of the shopping spree is Mandy is always sexy as fuck; they did a good job shopping.  I'm glad they wait to drink until after the clothes are bought.  Even her wedding dress was nice.  I didn't know what to expect but she was beautiful.

I put her to bed and kiss her head.  She's sleeping in minutes.  I watch her.  She has had a busy few weeks on top of getting kidnapped and beaten.  Then the wedding and honeymoon.  Everything happened so fast, she moved in then we're married being driven back to New York for a few days alone.  The hotel was great; we went to a show and a concert.  The rest of the time we fucked, talked and slept.

Once we got home, she started with Doc.  She worked her schedule out but it took a couple of long days to get the appointments set for the times she wanted to work.  Then she took the tests to update her certification.  She's got to be worn out.  The weekend is coming up; I'll make it good for her.

I meet the guys at the patio.  No one says much.  It's one of those days, with no leads, everyone is out of ideas.  We don't want to rehash what we can't do.  Rich comes in with a smile.  "Tess is pregnant.  We've known for over a month but she didn't see a new baby.  Today, she did.  A boy."  We all congratulate him.  He's relieved.  I man hug him, I'm happy for him and Patches.  They're good fathers.  He holds on to me, "Amanda doing ok?"  I look at him.  He's got a big fuckin smile on.  Fuck!  I sit and he laughs.

I look at him.  "Don't you say a fuckin word; let her have it her way."  I say softly.  He nods, still smiling.  Fuck.  I smile.  I wonder, if it's a girl, will she name her Amelia?

He leans in.  "Get two names ready, boy and girl."

Holy shit!  Twins!  I get up, slapping his back.  I need to see my girl; she's tired because she's pregnant.  I'm having kids.  I never thought about having my own kids.  I walk home in a daze.  Fuckin twins.  I make it home and slide in beside her.  She rolls onto my shoulder.  Kissing her head I smile.  Twins.

Two weeks

Amanda

I just finish up with my last patient and grab a urine sample cup.  Being tired for a day wouldn't bother me; being dead tired for more than a week, something is wrong.  When I counted back to my last period, I knew; missing my appointment when I was in the hospital didn’t even register until I did the count.  I just need to confirm it.  I've had to go for twenty minutes, when I finally make it; wipes applied, cup in hand, I piss on my hand and all around the cup and curse the fuckin cup, smiling.  How many times have I told women to pee in the damn cup?  I'll be more understanding about how hard it is to get the aim right.

I cover it, clean the cup then my hands and carry it out.  Sally comes down the hall smiling.  "I'll do it!"  She's excited; shaking my head I smile and hand it over to her.  She brings it to the little room dedicated to samples and cultures.  I stand waiting; I wonder what Bob is going to say, we've never talked about kids.

Sally looks at me "Little Mama."  She hugs me.  I'm smiling with tears in my eyes.  "Get out of here, you're done.  Go find your man and tell him."

I laugh, "I'll wait for him to get home.  He's been stressed enough with work."

She frowns with a nod.  I hug her again and get changed for the shop.  Stopping at the Sub Shop, I chat with Evelyn while she makes my grinder.  She hugs me telling me love looks good on me;  I leave with tears in my eyes.  Fuckin hormones.  I eat in my office while I take care of the bills.

My appointment is early; I take her right away and have to wait for the next one but this gives me time to catch up with Kellan.  I'm fuckin shocked he's been dating Quinn for three weeks.  He's not drinking or smoking at work, I'm guessing that's why he's taking more appointments.  I tell him I'm proud of him and he relaxes, I wonder what that's all about but I let it go.  We talk about the Clinic.  He squeezes my hand, "I'm so fuckin proud of you, Amanda.  I'll pick up the extra ink if you want to be there more."  He looks so fuckin sincere, I tear up.

"Thanks Kellan, I'm going to be here less.  I'm glad you’re here and your head is clear, I was worried about stepping back.  I've thought about finding a manager to keep everything straight and everyone making money."

He laughs, "Without you here, we make more; we're doing ok here.  Give us a chance to keep it going; if we fuck up, put your manager here."  I nod.  I really like this clean Kellan.  I've worked with him for years while he's been high or drinking.  I'm kind of interested in how the new Kellan will handle things.

My appointment shows a little early.  He's MC, he shows me his card and I show him the MC book.  I've seen him around but never met him.  He picks a shoulder design and I get to work.  He has a full sleeve and half his torso inked.  It's all in black; I know Kellan did it by the art and ask why he has me doing the logo.  Kellan told him I'm the best with the MC detail.  I'm surprised and flattered.  He usually does the outline, then sets an appointment with me to do the detail and shading.  He's good but afraid of fucking it up and getting beat by the Brothers.  When he was high, he was paranoid.  Since I like my shop, I was ok with the way things worked.

Since Bob hasn't come in, I work a half hour over his appointment time getting him ready for shading.  I set his appointment for two days and send him to the Prospect to pay.  Cleaning my station takes no time and I'm out the door heading home feeling good about my day.  I think about Kellan.  If he can keep it up, I wonder if he'd be interested in owning the shop.  I could rent the chair space from him.  I make a shit load on my pictures; I can do more on that end and step back to a two day ink schedule.  I'll have to wait and see.  I need to rent out my apartment but I'm afraid to get a lousy tenant in there.  I'll ask Bob if he knows anyone.

The Prospect opens the gate for me, checking in the car as I go by.  Bob told me it was to make sure I wasn't being held to get in the gate.  That's scary.  I stop inside the gate and the other guard gives me our mail.

He's not home when I walk in; I drop the mail on my desk and look for dinner.  I wonder if I'm going to be sick.  CJ never got sick; I hope I'm like her.  I get chicken strips cooking for stir fry.  It's really the only good thing I can make, everything else is shit.  I'm glad Bob does most of the cooking.  Grinders every other day gets old.

I hear the alarm and turn toward him.  He looks tired and he's favoring his leg.  He smiles and bends to kiss me.  "Thanks for starting dinner, I had a long meeting tonight then I had to pick up your tracking from the Club."  He washes his hands and takes the wooden scraper thing out of my hand.  Maybe I'm the only one that thinks my stir fry is edible.  I smile and get him a beer and some Advil.  He throws me chin, making me smile.

"I got here late too.  I'm going to take fewer appointments, Kellan has been working clean and he's dating Quinn."  I laugh at his expression.  "She's not that bad."

"Fuckin woman hit on me for a fuckin week knowing I was with you.  That's bad."  He's disgusted.

I take a breath, "You're right, it's bad but Quinn is an artist at the shop.  I don't socialize with her, sleep with her or spend any time talking to her.  She's just a worker.  I bet you have Brothers you wouldn't spend time with but they do their job.  That's what Quinn is; she fills a chair making me enough to pay the bills."

He nods adding vegetables to the wok.  I get the plates on the table and a bowl ready.  He drains the noodles and puts them in with the vegetables.  I never did that, they don't look all cooked.  He throws the chicken back in and tells me when the steam is gone it's done.  Fuck, I could do that.  He dumps it in the bowl and carries it to the table.

When he sits, I dig in.  "Damn!  I want to learn how to do that."

He smiles.  "I took a class at the Center when I was Prospecting.  Jess is a fuckin wiz in the kitchen.  She taught Sam; I used to help but she did breakfasts.  I learned how to do simple meals that I could make fast."  He’s perfect.  I smile, because he’s mine too.  “About Quinn, you’re right.  She’s just a worker; she doesn’t need to be your best friend.  I didn’t think of it that way.”

Yep, perfect.  “What is my new tracking?”

He smiles, “Jewelry for your piercings.  Danny told me that’s how they tracked Kate when she got kidnapped.  Everything she has is tracked now.”

“I love it.  That means I’m guaranteed new jewelry.”

He laughs, leaning over to kiss me.  “Yeah, baby.”

I guess now is as good a time as any.  “We never talked about kids.  How would you feel about one, say, in about seven months?”  I watch him.

He smiles like he won the lottery.  Thank God.  He pushes his chair out and pulls me onto his lap, kissing me until I can’t breathe.  “I’m going to love watching my babies grow in your stomach.  Thank you, babe.  Seven months.”  He smiles so sweet.

“I’m excited.  We never talked about it.  Amelia wanted a house full; I don’t think I cared enough one way or the other to put thought into it.  Now I can’t wait.”

He laughs.  “You’ll have to wait at least seven months, my impatient woman.  This is going to make you fuckin crazy, isn’t it?”

“Probably.  Once the baby is here, I’ll get back to normal.  Can you handle a crazy ass, fat woman for a while?”

He laughs.  “I’ll manage.  Have you been sick?”

“No, just tired.  I hope I don’t get sick, from what I heard it isn’t pleasant.  I need a book or something.  I’ll ask CJ tomorrow.”  I think about all the things I don’t know and it scares the hell out of me.

“Patches got a book that told every fuckin thing you can imagine about being pregnant.  He said Tess didn’t have half the shit in the book and it scared the shit out of him and Rich.”  He looks worried.

I make a face, “Let’s not get
that
book.”  He laughs, looking relieved.

We clean up the kitchen; he’s still favoring his leg so I tell him I’m going to take a bath.  He gets everything ready and climbs in with me.  I knew he would.  I relax against him thinking about how a baby is going to change our lives.  All the women here are so easy and relaxed; I can do this.  He starts washing me, which of course leads to bathtub sex and more cleaning.  I love my Badass Biker Man.  He puts me to bed and goes to the patio with the guys.

Bob

I’m so glad she found out. I almost told her last week.  She’s out in minutes; I like watching her sleep.  I’m like Horse with the fuckin ‘she’s the one’ pansy assed thinking.  I haven’t said it to anyone but Danny, though.  Tiny has never whipped a tampon at me; I’d like to keep it that way.  Whenever he does, the whole fuckin Club knows about it.

I shake my head and get dressed.  I’m feeling better after the Advil and bath.  My fuckin leg was throbbing all afternoon.  Mitch is having the robotic delivered to Security tomorrow.  She says it takes some getting used to; Trey is happy with his, that says something.  I heard he was a bear before he met Mitch.  She tested her first robotic leg on him and they’ve gotten better every time she comes up with something new.  I’m so fuckin lucky the MC is close to them.  Between the kids doing the healing thing and the Baxter’s getting me in the brace right away, I’ve had it better than anyone that ever had to deal with losing a leg.

I have no right to complain so I don’t.  I have been wondering about my kids and how they’ll react to my one leg.  I bet I’ll be able to play ball before they’re old enough to notice I’m not like everyone else.  Mitch and Trey don’t have any problems doing stuff with their kids.  I’m at the patio and realize I made it here on auto pilot.  I smile walking in.  Danny looks over and throws me chin.  “What’s the smile for?”

“Mandy’s pregnant.”  I’m not fuckin telling them with twins.  They’d find a way to tell her.

Tiny hits the table.  “You’re like the fuckin plague for me!  Your shit ain’t worth me betting on!  Fuckin Brother, messing with my fuckin winning streak!”  Danny laughs.  I grab a beer and sit.

“She doing ok?”  Danny asks.

“Just tired.  She’s going to cut back on her hours with the ink; I think she said two days.”

He nods, “I’ll let Ben know.  Doc's new help starts this week.  She got someone renting her apartment yet?”  I shake my head no.  “I have a woman from the shelter that doesn’t want to leave town; her ex is still threatening her.  That’s a good area, with Security always around.  Ask her what she wants for it.  It’s the woman and one daughter, six.  I’m sure they’re not a problem.  Kate thinks highly of her and Tess sees the woman and girl as good.”

I nod, “You need to get better coverage on the feeds, the back has blind spots.”

“I’ll get the Brothers on it tomorrow.  Let me know tomorrow, she’s going into the hotel the day after if we don’t find something.  I told Kate I’d ask.”  I throw him chin.

“She’s a twin Danny said, right?”  Tiny asks.  Fuck.  I nod keeping my face blank.  He looks at Danny, “A grand it’s twins.”  I laugh; fuckin Brothers and the betting.

Danny surprises me.  “I don’t think I’ll take that bet Brother.”  I keep the blank look because he’s watching me.  “Fuckin poker player isn’t giving anything away.  Alright, a grand.”

I wait until he turns to the water and smile at Tiny.  He throws me chin.  Cloud and Rich come in.  “How’s Tess?”

He’s not smiling.  “She’s good now but she had a bad one today.  It’s been good for a while, with Christian anxious and Tess upset, I’ve got FS on high again.  I’ll need you to get the FS updated tomorrow.  I had Sticks send a text out before I came over, night crew is aware.”

“Do we know who we’re watching?”  I need to get the tracking on Mandy and check what the kids are wearing for tracking.

“Every fuckin kid here.”  He’s got that determined look on him.

I nod.  “I’ll get LB to look at tracking tomorrow and get something else on them.  Joey has an appointment this week in the City.”

“Is it with your doctor?”  I nod looking at Cloud.  He nods.  “He’s coming tomorrow with the robotic.  See if he can see Joey, too.  I’m sure if he needs to, he can use the Clinic.”

I pull my phone and send an email to the doctor about the threat and ask if he can see Joey at Security or the Clinic.  I look at Rich, “Anything else?”

He looks resigned.  “Tess, CJ and Mandy need shadows beside their normal Security.”  Fuck.  I nod and think about the schedule.  “Pres needs a tag.”  My eyes snap to his; I wait.  “It’s bad.  We’ll meet tomorrow but that needs to be set before anyone leaves the compound tomorrow morning.”  I nod.  “I have HS on the compound tonight.  We have no time or date.  She was too upset and Patches was nervous.  I didn’t get home until the end of it; she was already out of control.  He recorded but it’s hard to hear, Digs has it, trying to decipher answers for tomorrow morning.  We meet at nine.  That will give you enough time for the noon appointment with the doctor.”  Fuck, I’d be nervous too.

“Why didn’t he call me?”  Danny asks.

Rich looks at him for a second.  “She was in the tub.  He pulled her out when Max started barking.  They were on the floor when I came in.”  Danny nods.

“I hope she doesn’t remember them like with the twins.”  Tiny says.  I nod.  She usually bounces back pretty quick but with the twins she didn’t really remember anything.  That worked to our advantage.  That’s when Cloud and CJ got together, it was fuckin nuts.

I look at Rich; He doesn’t have anymore.  “I’ll go look at the schedule and let you know in the morning what the coverage is.  I can pull from Security?”  He nods.  “I’ll mix them with FS and HS on Pres.” He nods.