Leader: Book Three (Princes of Prophecy 3) (19 page)

I turn and smile at the reporters. “Thank you for coming today. Your Mayor has an announcement he’d like to share with you.” I look at him and speak softly. “You’re resigning as of the first of the year and Princes are taking over the PD.”

He makes his announcement and people clap. “Ben Knight for Mayor!” someone yells, and I laugh.

I look at Driscoll. “Collect the gang and give them the option of leaving on their own. If they give you a problem, make an example of a couple and see if it makes a difference. If not get rid of them.”

He nods smiling.

Me: “VP detain the gang members.”

Jessie yells. A gun goes off. Security moves. I shield. Everything happens so fast, I throw and hear a man scream. Dakota is holding my arm. “Let it go Prez.” I relax keeping the shield on me and look toward the man still screaming. People give him room. I walk through them and they move away. The man is on the ground holding his head. A gun is beside him. I pick up the gun and hand it to a PD officer. He takes it and moves away from me nervous. I look at Dakota. ‘You threw to him but it was a flash everyone saw,’ he says in my head. Fuck. I look around. There are fuckin’ cameras everywhere.

“Spin this,” I tell him low.

He smiles and looks for a camera. “Prophecy, not just a name.” He’s looking right at a camera.

Jessie cracks up. I shake my head smiling. “Driscoll take care of the gang.”

“Roger Prez.” He’s smiling like a pussy. Bastard.

Reporters move closer as the gang is led away. Someone yells for me for Mayor again. I smile. These people are fuckin’ nuts. They should be running away. A reporter sticks a microphone in my face and I look at her. She steps back. I stop and turn toward all of them. “You know who I am. I am not the guy you fuck with. Keep your microphones away from me. I don’t have to move to make sure that happens so keep it in mind. We have a job to do. You got your sound bite and then some. Leave us to work and we’ll leave you to report. Don’t get in my way and I won’t get in yours. Yeah?” They nod as one. Jessie is cracking up on the side of me and I want to elbow him to shut him up.

I look at Dakota. “Do you have anything to say?”

He smiles. Bastard. “No Prez. I am happy to let you speak for the Club and Princes Security.”

“Fuckin’ Brothers.” I twirl my finger and everyone moves toward the bikes.

Sheila is beside mine with a smile. “Good press conference Prez. I’m pretty sure no one will fuck with you ever again.”

“It just happened. I don’t need shit for this,” I growl at her.

Darren’s laughing in my ear. “Oh but you’ll get it Prez. No one had a clue about your abilities until today. You’ll get plenty of shit over it. I’m pretty sure VP will be the first call you take after the news tonight, then Pres, then my dad...”

“Enough!” I look at Dakota. “Wipe the video.”

He nods and starts walking back with Hyde and Jessie following him.

I look over at Sheila. “Let’s ride.”

She stays on my side and Eliza is behind us with the extra HS and Security that was called to show. I don’t say a word to anyone as I walk into Security. Aside from Sheila, Eliza and Taylor smiling, everyone gives me a wide berth. Darren is at the door with a fuckin’ smile. Shit. “Meeting room. Get Brantley in here.” I turn and walk to my meeting room and open it waiting for them all to walk in. Brantley goes by me fast. I roll my eyes as Jessie rounds the corner with a fuckin’ smile. Jesus.

“Brantley if that video is spread you’ll wish you were hanging in pop ups.” He nods seriously.

“I had no fuckin’ clue it would happen. I was just throwing to stop him. It’s not something I planned or knew would show to anyone. Obviously I need some practice. Dakota is wiping the video. Brantley you’ll do the same.”

He raises his hand, fuck he’s nervous. “Prez, people had their phones out recording the whole thing. We have them on the feed.” Shit.

Darren looks at me. “Just let it go. If people see it, they see it. You can’t wipe everyone that was there. If Brantley’s wiping the feeds you won’t even know who has it. Send it yourself to VP and Pres, tell them what you told us. It’s not like you planned it.”

I push the hair out of my face. My fuckin’ head is spinning.

Taylor waves his hand. “If anything it will stop people from fuckin’ with us. Dakota said it perfect. It will play and people won’t know who the fuck can do shit like that. That was fuckin’ awesome Prez.”

I pace. “All right Brantley leave the feeds. Get me the section I’m going to have to explain for Pres and my dad. I’ll be in my office.” I walk out. My skin feels too tight. Pres is going to be pissed and my father is going to be disappointed. Fuck.

I call my dad. “I need you with Pres to see something that just happened down here.”

“Give me five.” He hangs up.

I pace my office for three minutes. Jessie knocks. I let him in and Darren follows. Taylor and Dakota show as I’m hitting them on the live feed. “I think it’s best if you watch it then I can answer your questions.” I play the feed for them with my heart pounding.

“Fuck!” Pres yells looking back at me. I put my head in my hands. Jesus. When it’s done I look at them.

“Should’ve done that instead of scalpin’ the pussy.”

What? I look at my father playing his words over. He smiles. “Didn’t know it would happen?”

I’m shocked. “I threw, but didn’t know it would show like that. It only ever happened when Jessie got shot. I swear to God I had no clue I threw so hard. I was shielding us so no one would get hit with a bullet.”

My dad is smiling. I’m so fuckin’ relieved. “Least we know no one will fuck with you.”

I stomp on my foot so I don’t laugh. Pres hasn’t said a word. I look at him, but can’t read him. “You didn’t know you could throw that hard? Is this how you saved Jeremy?”

I look at Dakota he nods. “Yeah. Dakota stopped the second, but I shielded Jeremy from the first shooter.”

“Why am I learning this now? Can Jeremy throw like that? Fuck! That’s what happened to Dakota. Jeremy hurt him like that?”

“No Pres. Jeremy didn’t know he could throw at all, he pushed away from Dakota with the same force as throwing. Dakota had to fight to get back. Why you’re learning this now is a little murky.”

“Murky? Tell me how the fuck you’re doing shit like that and I don’t fuckin’ know!” He stands with his hands in his hair. “The reporters saw this. The town saw this, but I have no fuckin’ clue you have it and that’s murky?”

My dad rolls his eyes. “Pres, my whole life everything I had was a secret. I don’t hide that I can read from the Club. I didn’t hide it from you. We practiced throwing when we were dealing with Dakota and Jessie’s old lady war. We didn’t plan it; we didn’t hide it. It just was. I didn’t tell anyone because I was taught my whole fuckin’ life not to advertise. It wasn’t a slight or intended as disrespect.”

Pres looks at my dad who is still fuckin’ smiling. Jesus. “You knew and you didn’t tell me?”

“Knew he had it in him, didn’t know he could use it yet. Know Dakota can.”

Pres looks at me. Fuckin’ Dad. “Yeah. He is a little more advanced than me.” Jessie laughs. I give him a look. “Okay, he’s a lot more advanced than me. His is not my story to tell Pres. Again, abilities were kept close.”

“Close! I’m about as fuckin’ close as you can be without supplying my fuckin’ DNA!”

My dad laughs. “Told you when he was young. Some shit ain’t up for discussion.”

“When it’s on the fuckin’ news is it up for discussion then?” he yells and I put my head in my hands. Fuck.

“Dad! He didn’t know it would happen. He shielded us so we wouldn’t be hit with a bullet. It’s a good fuckin’ day because no one died. Give him a fuckin’ break. He didn’t know,” Jessie says with his voice getting softer as he talks. He’s pissed.

I look at them. My dad finds my eyes. “Give me five.” He shuts the feed down.

I look at the floor, head in my hands, again. Jesus. It’s Pres that’s disappointed. I can’t remember the last time I disappointed him. Yes, I can. When I scalped the pussy in New Bedford. Shit.

“Your father is not disappointed Prez. He will give Pres the knowledge so he understands. We have abilities that have never been discussed and I am not sure should be discussed with anyone no matter who he is. Co will tell you the same. It is not something we can freely speak about.”

“I know Dakota, but he has no fuckin’ clue and now he’s thinking he’ll have to find a way to shield us from every fuckin’ halfwit taking pot shots at me to get to see it up close and personal.”

Taylor sits up. “Fuck, I didn’t even think of that.”

“What are you worried about?” Darren asks.

“First, Pres being disappointed means I lost trust. Second, him thinking he has to shield us means they’ll be here again. It took almost a whole fuckin’ year to get them to see we can take care of ourselves. Now I show him I had no fuckin’ clue what I was doing at the worst possible moment.”

Jessie laughs. “With all that happened with Lily and the boys being born you’ve shown more leadership ability than anyone expected. He told her that himself. I don’t think you lost the kind of trust you’re thinking. He’ll be more pissed at your dad for not telling him than you. Doing what your father says trumps his need for that information. Besides, he doesn’t understand it all. If anything he’s going to come back telling you to learn to control your shit so it’s not a fuckin’ surprise on the news for him.”

Darren nods. “You showed the ability to keep people safe. That will count for something.”

I sit up. They’re right. Dakota touches my arm. “You have to tell him you have abilities that you cannot discuss so if a similar situation happens he will not be blindsided.”

I look at Taylor. “I agree with all of them. Pres won’t come back pissed. He knows it was kept with your dad.”

I nod. Everything is going through my mind. My dad pops on the OC and I open the feed. Pres is still pacing. “Kept your Brothers safe. That’s the good. Control needs to be worked on so that shit doesn’t happen again. Yeah?”

I smile. “Yeah Dad. We’ll work on it to get that control.”

Pres turns looking for my eyes. “Watch your back. If the news plays that shit, people will be hunting you.” I nod. I got that from him earlier. “Anything else I need to know?”

Fuck. “No Pres. There’s a whole fuckin’ lot that you should know, but I’ve been reminded that I’m not free to talk about it. This isn’t out of disrespect. Some abilities haven’t been open to me yet and some have. I’m walking a sword’s edge here and trying to keep from being cut. I have never misused my abilities and I will work at using them for the good that they were intended every day. I know what I lost here. I’ll work for that too.”

My dad makes a sound like a growl. Pres sits in his chair hard. “Fuckin’ kids. I can’t be more proud of you. I don’t get abilities and all this shit that’s throwing and jumping. I do know the videos out there can hurt you. Our protection is guaranteed in everything, always. You’ve shown your ability to keep your Brothers safe using everything within your power. It’s that power that scares me because I don’t know it and don’t understand it. Do what you can to control whatever the fuck you have and watch the fuckin’ cameras next time. You lost nothing today Little Ben. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

I’m so relieved, but keep my body from showing it. “Thank you Pres, I will. Is there anything else I need?”

Pres smiles. “With the threat of your father killing me in my sleep, I am saying nothing else.”

Dakota laughs. I give him a look and he stops. My father shuts the feed down.

“Oh my fuckin’ God that was intense.” I bend over taking a deep breath.

They all laugh, but I’m so relieved I don’t give a shit. When they start throwing money I’m shocked. “You fuckin’ bet on me?”

Darren laughs. “Yeah, I won.”

Jessie pushes him. “You always fuckin’ win on him.”

“Get the fuck out. I’m ready to have a heart attack and you’re fuckin’ betting on it. Get out of my office!”

They laugh strolling out the fuckin’ door as if they’re taking a walk in the fuckin’ park. Bastards.

Uncle Danny calls me and I tell him the whole fuckin’ thing. He laughs and says the same thing Pres said without the ‘my father killing him’ thing. For some reason I feel better hearing it from him. Maybe because he’s not under a threat of death. Whatever it is, I leave work smiling. My girl will be ready when I get home. I’m thinking a quickie sounds perfect right about now.

I smile handing the brace to the doctor. “Physical Therapy will help with the fine motor skills. You healed much faster than I anticipated. Mitch has a less obtrusive brace for you. This will help with the movements while you’re going through therapy. You’re doing great Lily. Keep practicing, do the therapy, and I’ll see you back in a month.” I nod knowing I’m smiling like a dork.

Jess comes in smiling. “I knew it. He’s right; you’re doing great.” The doctor waves walking out.

“You heard what he said?” I’m shocked.

She laughs. “I was in the viewing room.” She points to the glass wall.

“Oh.” I look at Little Ben. He’s smiling. Damn he knew and kissed me setting my body on fire. Jerk. He smiles bigger and I want to kick him. I better not though my foot isn’t working as good as my hand right now. I glare at him and he laughs.

Jess looks from me to him looking confused. Maybe she didn’t see.

“So. This one is even lighter. It’s just for the fingers so we have it attaching at just above your wrist. I took what you told me into consideration and made it with the metal clip. You slide the Velcro through then attach it back to itself. This one should be easy for you to put on alone. I’ll mark it when I see it’s in the right position and you just attach it where I mark.”

I smile. She is so damn smart. “How cool are you?” I love the way it attaches. It’s way better and I can do it alone.

She smiles. “If you wouldn’t have said anything I would have made it the same as the longer brace.”

I just smile; she’s too much. “Thank you.”

“I need to warn you about the difference. You need to build up some strength in that hand and wrist. You’ll get there with practice, but watch when you lift something heavy or even the boys. This brace is to get you to normal, it doesn’t have the strength that the longer one has.”

Shit. I look at the old brace thinking maybe I should keep it for a while. “No. I know what you’re thinking and it will slow your progress down. Do the therapy, practice at home, and you’ll get there. If you take the old one back, you’ll use it and never get better.”

I nod. “Show off.”

She laughs. I shrug and Little Ben laughs. “Thank you Jess. I’m taking my old lady to celebrate.”

She smiles. “I heard. I’m happy for you. Go have fun.” She shoos us out the door.

He takes me to an elevator and we meet a hologram of Mitch. “Hi M4. We’re headed to the hangar,” he says, and I wonder how he knows the number.

“Hi Little Ben and Lily. Your new brace looks great Lily.”

“Thank you M.” I watch her slide the panel and push the bottom of two buttons. How do they get that to look so real? I know she’s a hologram, but it looked like she moved the panel. Mitch is amazing.

“The lights will turn on twenty feet in front of you all the way to the hangar. Have a safe flight you two.” She’s smiling and bouncing.

“Thanks M,” Little Ben says smiling at her. As we’re walking in the tunnel I ask how he knew her number.

“The necklace. It has stones on the chain. Each hologram appears with the number of stones on the chain. So M2 has one on each side of the pendant.”

“She’s crazy smart with the details. Did someone tell you?” I look around and shiver. It’s kind of creepy down here.

He smiles down at me holding my hand tighter. “I noticed the uneven number when I was introduced to M5. The same thing happened with M7 so I knew it wasn’t a chance thing, but an actual detail written into the program.”

We climb stairs and I love the light shining when he opens the door. I definitely don’t like the tunnels. Jess says the boys played in them. I wouldn’t.

The helicopter is already going when we come out of the room and out of the hangar. I wonder if you say it’s running like with a car, then drop it as Little Ben walks me closer and I hold my skirt down. I don’t like flashing the Security guys and Little Ben was pissed the last time. He looks at me and I smile. I remembered this time. I almost stick my tongue out, but remember the look he gave me last time and just smile instead.

I climb in and sit in the first seat, he sits beside me and puts headphones on me. I sign, ‘thank you’ because he doesn’t have them on yet. He goes for a different color in a higher drawer. I guess he doesn’t like yellow, he took blue.

It’s a longer ride than going home, but I see the compound on the way. We get dropped off on Narragansett Island. It’s a beautiful place with a few neighborhoods and some really big houses. We get dropped off at one of the big houses. Chet and Hyde are here waiting at the door.

“Your ride in okay?” he asks and they throw him chin. Men are funny.

We walk into the foyer and I see it’s a Bed and Breakfast. It’s beautiful and I’m getting excited. Jess and Steve are here somewhere with the boys. That’s about all I was told. Chet gives him a key and he walks up the stairs slow so I can keep up. He knows right where he’s going; he must have been here before.

He unlocks a door and walks me in turning so he can see me. “Our home for the next three days, babe.”

I’m so excited I kiss him. “It’s so quiet here.”

He smiles. “Only a few of us right now. Tomorrow it will be busy.”

I don’t ask him why; I just walk around looking at everything. It’s a beautiful room with an old Americana feel to it. “I love it.” He walks up behind me and walks me to the bed then pushes my shoulders down so I’m bent over it. “I love this place.” He laughs.

My skirt is lifted and he slaps my ass. “These sexy as fuck panties are killing me.” He rips them off and I put my face into the bedspread. He keeps ripping them and buying more. I’m smart enough to keep that to myself.

His fingers slide down to my ring and I freeze. Damn he’s so good with his hands. “I love it when you start off wet.” He bites my neck and I shiver. “What to do, what to do. We have forty minutes.” He moves his hand and I hear his zipper. “Are you wet enough?” I don’t say a word, I know he isn’t really asking me and I’m trying to breathe here. I am so damn turned on. His fingers go right in me. I push back getting a slap, then I do it again. “You want it rough today. I like that.” He slaps me three more times and I stop. My hair is wrapped around his hand and he pulls me up. “I love your back arched just like this. It pushes your ass right where I want it.” He bites my neck again, this time a little harder. I moan. He doesn’t slide in, he slams in and I cry out. He slaps my hip and I quiet. I want to yell harder, but he doesn’t want directions today and I’m still trying to breathe. Dear Lord he gets me hot fast. He slides out slow and slams in again. I grab the bedspread with both hands trying to hold on. “Hands on your bars Lily.” I love the Prez voice and move one under me. “Now!” I get slapped again three times. I’m ready to come and try for deeper breaths. “Fuck that looks pretty.” He’s still slamming into me; I have no idea how he keeps moving when I’m ready to blow apart. His hand moves around me and he fingers my ring. I turn my head into the bedspread again and scream. Holy shit I need air. He moves his hand, but keeps going. When I feel the heat building in me again he pulls out.

“Sit.” He lets my hair go and I turn sitting up. He doesn’t move back for me and I open my mouth knowing what he wants. “My smart naughty girl. All I can think is I want to fuck those pretty red lips.” I roll my tongue on his ring glad he changed it. I like giving it a tug with my tongue. His hand grips my hair harder and I love it. “Mmmm babe you never disappoint. Open so I can fuck those red lips.” I do keeping the smile off my face. I read red lipstick has men picturing those lips on their dicks. I guess it was right. I do everything I can to get him breathing as heavy as I was. When he’s gripping my hair hard and moving fast I feel him swell and move against his hand swallowing him. “Fuck!” He growls out and I slow down without moving my tongue. I just suck hard and let him slow his pace. “So fuckin’ good Lily.” He pulls out and bends kissing my lips. His phone rings and I smile. His pants are around his ankles. He swears pulling them up and grabs his phone zipping them just enough to hold them on his waist.

That is so damn sexy and I bet guys don’t even know, it is more for practicality than to look hot. I take my torn panties into the bathroom and see my bag and his shaving kit. He thinks of everything. I smile.