Leader: Book Three (Princes of Prophecy 3) (13 page)

“Fine.” Jessie throws his hands up then hands Nick the paper back. “Fuckin’ wonder boy is fine.” He walks out and we laugh.

Dakota is moving slow, but moving on his own. “It was the loss of blood. The drinks helped.” I nod closing my door. Jessie is quiet on the three-minute ride to Security.

I walk into Ops and everyone quiets down. I look for Jeremy first. He’s got four and Chet riding with him a couple of miles from the exit. I look at the boards then the sliding board of highways. Everything is clear. “Get me a second console with the alternate running the highways and towns.” Jason moves setting me up on the third HS console.

I look at Dakota. Chevy and Josiah have hands on him. I tell Jessie to take him home when they’re done and pick up his gear for a job. I know the first thing MC and Baxters will change. I pace watching the boards. Chet and Jeremy pull off at the exit and I breathe easier. This reaction makes me think Tess has cause for concern and I need to watch him. If I have to chain him to the fuckin’ house, I will.

‘No Security,’ he says in my head and I smile.

‘You stay with Prince Security and Chet or I will lock you down Jeremy.’

‘I will Prez.’

I call Pres and let him know I have Jeremy, he gets off the phone quick, they must have a shit storm going on up there.

Jeremy comes in and goes right to Jason’s console. He moves to cameras further out. Trucks get red tracking and he shows their route. “Fuck.”

I have Dakota down so I call Jared in. “They’re going to hit the MC.” I look at who is here. “Josiah get that feed up to the MC. Make sure Geek sees it.”

Jeremy looks at me. “Yeah, by ground.” He turns back and starts running the Aerial program. “Here by air and water.” He’s typing, but gets pissed and pushes the keyboard away. “Not yet.”

He’s throwing Dakota’s picture at me. They know it was us that took out the reader and Chin. It wouldn’t take much to jump there even without the pictures, so I just nod. They must know the MC gave us the address.

Dakota comes to me. “I cannot fly tonight with the loss of blood. I will be back in the morning. I will not tell you I can if I still feel that.” I nod. “Jeremy will come to me later and help.”

“Go get some sleep. We’re going to need you.” I put my hand on his shoulder.

“On it Prez.” He makes me smile.

Jessie walks out with him. He’s not pissed anymore and I know Dakota will have him laughing on the way home. He’s a good Brother.

Eliza calls in. “Lily went back to bed. Do you want me here with her?”

“No Eliza, but thank you. I just wanted you to give her the message that I was at Security.”

“Do I need to come in?” She’s a good Brother too.

“No. Get some sleep. I’ll call if anything happens, but we have nothing right now.”

“Roger Prez.” She takes orders literally like Dakota. I smile hanging up.

I can’t call a lockdown with no threat. I have added Security to the women and compound. I have extra eyes on Surveillance. We’re watching the feeds from two different sources and the reader and Chin are out. I need the call from the MC.

“Chevy, call into Co, let him know we have a threat that hasn’t shown itself yet. The MC will be hit tonight. He should be alert and prepared.”

“Roger Prez.”

I pace. When I turn, Chet is standing off to the side. “Go to the down rooms and get some sleep. I have Jeremy. If he leaves I’ll call you.” He nods and walks out. I wonder when he started yesterday.

My dad calls. “Look at the picture.” He hangs up. Jesus.

I pull the picture he sent and nod at my phone. I look at tracking. Jessie is on his way back. I give him two minutes and walk out of Ops and out to the lot. He pulls up to me and I hand him my phone. He looks and hands it back saying, “It will take at least eight hours. I’ll take my bike.”

“Yeah. Be safe Brother.”

He throws me chin and pulls away. They’re not running the plan. My dad will meet Jessie in three hours. I don’t question whether he can do it, my dad doesn’t fail.

Back in Ops I see the MC feed running on one board. HS is running through the trucks dropping grenades. They’re fuckin’ nuts.

Jared comes in and I send him to the down rooms until I need him.

“Prez. The alternate feed is looped.” Jason motions me over. I see cars moving on both. “Watch the yellow Mustang.” I watch it fly by. Two minutes later it goes by again with the same green Chevy following it. Sonofabitch.

“Get someone in the Mobile Unit and get the second satellite up for them to compare. Track a couple of cars so they show moving up the highway.” He rogers me and calls a tech from Surveillance.

“Prez.”

I open my eyes. “Yeah Chevy.”

“Jeremy tagged a plane coming our way. He’s got a ship that looks like it’s turning around tagged too.”

I wipe my hand down my face and pull the tie from my hair. “Get Jared and call into Dakota. I need Taylor ready to fly.”

“Dakota is with Jeremy and Josiah. He’s ready.” He closes the door and I wash my face and grab a bottle of water on my way out.

I’m in Ops two minutes later seeing the Aerial maps. “Get me the nautical too.” I scan the highways from both sources and look for the MC’s feed. Cleanup is working, but they look clear. “The reservation?”

“I’ve been calling every two hours. They’re still alert and prepared Co says,” Chevy tells me.

The water goes up and I look at the ship heading south. “Has Jessie called in?” The ship turning could be their loss of a backer.

“No Prez and his tracking dropped off at the highway last night. Bike, helmet and watch.” I nod, but don’t say anything. He can’t be tracked on a job. Jared has a manual override for him on the bike and helmet and Brantley has one on his watch. I don’t know if Dakota still tracks him.

“Always Prez,” he says standing on the side of me. “Our threat will soon be over.” He looks like he wants to say more, but doesn’t. “I am ready to fly.”

“We have a plane tagged. It’s close to two hours out. If it’s a threat, I need it gone.”

“Roger Prez.” He walks out making me smile.

I watch the boards. For forty-five minutes I watch the fuckin’ boards.

“Prez, Dakota is standing ready.”

Thank fuck. I take the headset. “Chevy get Brantley and Darren in.” I get roger’d and turn to my console. “Air One to Prince I need status.”

Dakota: “Prince and Halo standing ready Air One.”

Me: “Tagging shows forty-five minutes from the town line. Keep it to low populated areas. The ship is still heading south.”

Dakota: “Roger Prez. My boards are tracking.”

I get them up and they circle the town. At twenty minutes out Jessie calls in. “We’re clear.”

“Roger. I need you in Security.”

“Roger Prez.”

Dakota: “Air One I have a visual on the tagged craft.”

Me: “Roger Eagle Eye.” I hold the mic. “Does he feel a threat?”

Josiah types in the OC then stops. “We have a lock on the building Prez.”

Me: “Permission to engage Eagle Eye and B Squared. We have a lock on the building.” I get roger’d and Dakota tells Jared to run the same play. I smile. I don’t know where he gets his words from, but they work. Jared gets a lock on the plane and fires. Dakota rises and I watch the missile go right under him. Shit. He’s fuckin’ fearless.

Dakota: “Missiles away!” Fuck.

Me: “Air One to Eagle Eye, am I clearing the building?”

Dakota: “Negative Air One.” He shoots and the missile explodes. “Debris on the compound Air One.”

Me: “Roger Eagle Eye.” I turn. “Chevy call the guard shack. Get Security to help them and tell them to stay alert for fires.”

Dakota: “Air One I have a lock on the Activity Center.”

What the fuck? The plane exploded.

Me: “Roger Eagle Eye. Can you clear it?” I look at Chevy. “Make sure it’s empty, we have fuckin’ seconds.” I see Brantley. “Lock the women down to the houses. Safe rooms wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Dakota: “Roger Prez the debris will fall to the outer compound.”

Me: “Hit it Eagle Eye.”

Dakota: “Roger Prez.”

He’s shooting and I hope to fuck Brantley got to everyone in time. Jeremy comes running to me. “Home now!”

Oh fuck. Nothing is written flies through my head. Darren comes in.

Me: “Air One to Eagle Eye, control is switching to VP.”

Dakota: “Roger Prez. Hurry.”

I hand the headset to Darren and run. I hear the explosion from the lot. Jeremy rides like a fuckin’ maniac and I’m happy today isn’t any different. The gate is open for us and he rides straight to the Activity Center.

“Here Little Ben! We have to help!” Alex yells.

The building is intact, but a blade from a wind turbine is on the ground. “NO!” I run past him. Fuck no. “Lily, I’m here Little Mamma.” Jeremy has his hands on her stomach. I call an ambulance. Her head is bleeding and she’s unconscious. Alex tells me a truck is here. “Cancel the ambulance, let’s go.” I look at Jeremy and get a nod, he hasn’t let her go and moves with me.

Jessie’s driving and it registers, but I don’t ask. He flies through the streets and pulls to emergency. Chet meets us with a doctor and a gurney. The doctor is ordering shit while we move through the hall. He tells me I have to wait outside.

“Not fuckin’ likely.” I keep my hand on her with Jeremy moving in front of me still holding her stomach.

When he calls for Security, Chet pulls his gun. I look the doctor in the eye. “You fix her with us in the room or I’ll have our Security take over the fuckin’ hospital.” The doctor puts his phone down and talks to the nurses.

When they put a belt thing around her Jeremy moves his hands. Beeping goes off, when he puts his hands back it stops. The doctor looks at me. “He heals,” I tell him. He nods and looks at her head telling the nurse to do something. Everyone has hands moving on her and I’m fuckin’ helpless here. I put my hand on Jeremy’s back and ask the ancestors for strength and help holding onto her.

“Yeah,” Jeremy says. I close my eyes and feel my boys. Something is wrong. “Now. She needs to have them now.” The nurse looks at Jeremy then tells the doctor something else and they start moving fast.

“I need to get her into surgery. She’s in labor.”

I look at Chet. “Take her chart. Stay in the hall, but her chart goes to you when they’re ready to move her. Don’t leave her Brother.” He throws me chin.

“Jeremy. They need to take her.”

“No. With me.” He moves his hands and everything is going off. He puts them back and we have one beeping sound. I have no clue what to do. Can he go in surgery?

“He goes with us,” the doctor says taking that from me. I nod and let him go.

I follow until the doors. “I can’t take everyone.” The doctor looks nervous.

“I’ll be right here.” He pushes her through with Chet on the side of her and Jeremy holding her stomach. Before the doors close Jeremy yells ‘Jump!’ in my head. My hands hit my knees and I breathe deep. Nothing is written.

“I’m right here. Go Brother,” Jessie says.

I lean against the wall and slide down. I jump. I can feel it’s still wrong. They’re too early. I need help to hold onto them. “I am here my great leader. We can hold them with Jeremy.” I picture all of us holding them. We fly the reservation and back, over and over. Something stops me and I feel like I’m fighting to hold on and breathe.

‘Again Little Ben,’ Jeremy says and laughs.

‘Whatever it takes Little Brother.’ I turn and go again.

I feel Dakota touch my arm and open my eyes. “The doctor is coming Prez.” I keep hold, but stand asking Jeremy to hold on to them.

“The babies are being moved to the NICU. One is four pounds two ounces the other is four pounds even, but is not breathing on his own. We lost him and your friend helped, he won’t let him go. He’s got permission to stay with them. Your wife has swelling and pressure around her brain. They’re draining it right now. We’ll know more after some tests.” A nurse comes up beside him. “This is to identify you as the babies’ father.” The nurse puts ID bands on me. The doctor gives my shoulder a squeeze and I’m blinking my eyes reading what he thinks. Nothing is written.

I look at Dakota. “Stay with Lily so I can see my boys. I’ll be back down soon. Don’t let her go Dakota.”

He nods, but doesn’t say anything. Fuck. Walking away is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’m holding her right now, but don’t know how long this can last.

I feel my boys before I get to them. I’m told to put shit on and tie my hair back and do, then stand beside Jeremy. He’s got his hand on my boys. “They’re so small.” I look at them holding hands with their tiny fingers. I put my hand on his and feel his energy running through them. One has a tube and they both have wires on their feet. I hope the energy is healing them, they’re so fuckin’ small.

“Yes. It’s good.”

Tess comes in. “I’m here. Go Little Ben. I’ll stay with Jeremy.”

“Don’t let them go Tess.” She hugs me and puts her hand on mine. I slide mine out and watch my small boys. One breathing with a tube. I ask for strength again and walk out.

I pull my phone and call Dakota. He’s in a room with Lily and Jessie outside the NICU doors. It’s actually down the hall, but I find them easily. He’s holding her arm and Jessie has her leg. I’m shocked to see the bandage on her head. She’s got a tube down her throat too. I blink and lift her up getting her on my lap. I jump and talk to her, telling her about her boys, so small with dark hair and their tiny fingers holding hands.

My dad touches my hand on hers and I open my eyes. “See your boys. I got Lily.”

I move her as gently as I can and stand stretching. Dakota is still holding her arm. I call Darren on my way to NICU. Everything is calm and Cleanup is handling the Compound. He tells me to take care of my family, he’s got the rest and will call if he needs something.

I get my band checked and I’m told to tie my hair again then go in. The nurse tells me she’ll have the doctor come and talk to me. I’m surprised to see Cloud. I don’t ask how he got in when I get checked before they will even open the door. Jeremy still has his hand on my boys, but the tube is gone. “He’s breathing on his own.”

Cloud smiles. “Yeah.”

“Phoenix,” Jeremy says.

I smile. We lost him, but Jeremy didn’t let go, now he’s breathing on his own. “Phoenix it is Jeremy.” Phoenix Knight. Somehow I think Lily will like his name. Phoenix. I need to hold her like he held Phoenix.

I put my hand on Jeremy’s and feel that energy again. A doctor comes in, but I don’t know him. He isn’t the doctor from earlier, he tells me about the boys and Phoenix breathing. He watches Jeremy chant while he talks. “Is this Reiki?” he asks before he’s finished telling me what the hell is happening.

“Indian healing chant. I guess it is similar. My boys?” He’s keeping them together because they get distressed when they’re apart and Jeremy said no. They’ll stay in NICU so they can be monitored. If Phoenix continues to be stable they will move to the nursery. I almost laugh at Jeremy saying no, but keep it together. He fills the paperwork out for the names and puts cards on the glass thing they’re in. He looks at Jeremy as if asking permission. Jeremy moves for him and he lifts my little fighter out handing him to me. Jeremy’s hand goes right back on him.

I get an incredible feeling just holding him. I sit in the rocker and Jeremy sits beside me. The doctor puts Teller on my other arm. “My boys.”

Jeremy laughs. “Yeah.”

A nurse brings me bottles and shows me how to feed them. She puts a blanket on my lap then hands me the boys. Jeremy holds Phoenix as I feed and burp Teller. He’s so tiny, I tap his back afraid of hurting him, she tells me to rub it and he burps. I like rubbing better. I put him on my leg while I feed and burp Phoenix. Jeremy never lets him go. “They don’t cry.”

The nurse laughs. “They have someone with them all the time. Whatever he’s doing is keeping them calm and happy.” Jeremy has the biggest smile on his face.

“He has that effect on people,” I tell her and he laughs.

Cloud comes in with Aubrey and I’m surprised again. The nurse doesn’t say a word. “These are my nephews. I came to help Jeremy so they can go home like they should,” she tells the nurse. I thank her and watch her hand so gentle on Phoenix. “He’s going to be strong like Jeremy.” I think about that and think I would be honored to have a son like Jeremy. He throws me chin making me smile.

Smiling right now feels good. I have Lily on my mind and think she’d love all this. Aubrey kisses Phoenix’s head and I’m blinking back tears hoping Lily gets to see her boys and kiss their heads. Jeremy grabs my arm, but doesn’t look at me or say anything. I get a bad feeling. “I want them moved with my wife.”

The nurse is surprised. “They should stay in NICU then they’ll be brought to the nursery.”

“No. I want them with my wife.” Everyone that has kids has them in their rooms. I want my boys with Lily. No matter what happens she should feel them with her.

She doesn’t answer right away. “Your wife’s condition is unstable. It would be better for them and her if they were in the nursery.” She doesn’t think Lily will make it.

I put Teller on my shoulder then hand Phoenix to Jeremy. I pull my phone and hit the numbers. “Pres I want the boys moved with Lily. How do I get that?” He says he’ll get it straight and call me back. “Get them ready to move to my wife’s room or a room we will all fit comfortably.”

She’s not so happy anymore, I notice, as she walks out. Aubrey looks at me. “It’s right.” That’s enough for me. Nothing is written. I’m going to do everything I can to help write what should be.

Jeremy laughs and kisses Phoenix’s head. “Don’t let go.”