Leader: Book Three (Princes of Prophecy 3) (20 page)

I hear the water go on and I walk to the balcony. “Are you fuckin’ serious?” Because one fuckin’ nightmare a year isn’t enough. Jesus!

“Yes Prez. I got him telling about your getaway. The kid was acting nice, but he was not thinking it. He wanted to hit Alex with a tire iron for being slow.”

“Sonofabitch! Get Security to get Alex away from the garage before he gets hurt. Give Jax the kid. It should be easy if it was his first time. I want Alex here when you come up. I’ll get a room straight for him. Anything else I need here?” Like a kidnapping isn’t enough. Fuckin’ pussies never stop.

“They are unsuccessful, but be aware and it has to play out.”

Great comfort. It’s only for a little while. Fuck I want to hit a wall. I clench my fist and breathe. “Thanks Dakota. I’ll see you tomorrow Brother.”

When I walk back in, Lily is sliding on another pair of sexy fuckin’ panties. I don’t know if I need to stop buying them or just stop looking. When she turns I see her ass and know I won’t stop either. Shit.

She gives me that shy look. “I thought it was about forty minutes and you were busy.”

“Come here.” She isn’t smiling, but isn’t nervous. I like this look. “You’re right on both accounts.” I bend and kiss her. “Thank you babe.” She’s breathing heavy again. “We’ll fix that tonight.” She nods. I take her hand and bring her to the balcony to see the ocean. While she’s looking I call my dad and tell him what Dakota said in Mohegan.

He’s pissed and his words are stilted. I can’t complain knowing he’s going to go overboard. I remind him we’re on an island and the suspects are on a pretty limited list. He asks me who would speak of such things and my jaw snaps shut. Fuck. Some things just don’t translate well. I step on my foot and double over. “I don’t know Dad. Where are you? We’ll meet you there?” I switch to English.

“Watchin’ you fuckin’ laugh,” he says and I stand up fast swinging my hair back. Fuck. He’s on the wooden walkway heading toward the water looking up at me.

“I meant no disrespect Dad. Some things don’t translate well. Biker dialogue is one of them.” He laughs and I look from him to my phone as if it will verify that he’s laughing. Jesus. I need a fuckin’ vacation.

“Thought same thin’. Come walk. Girls can talk.” He hangs up and stands at the bench my mom is sitting on.

He’s not as crazy as he used to be, or maybe I am getting crazy and not seeing it, but he didn’t yell at me or threaten me for laughing. The normal thing would be to call me a pain in the ass. He didn’t even do that. I change Lily’s shoes, putting on the plastic brace Mitch had built for her. It keeps her foot straight, but she can walk in the sand with it.

“My mom and dad have the boys heading toward the water.”

She watches me. “Are you pissed?”

Fuck. “I am, but not at you, babe. I don’t mean to bring it close to you but shit’s hitting and I was hoping to give you some time away from it.”

She pulls my shirt. “Do what you need to, just keep us safe.”

I nod. She’s going to be pissed, but I’m not telling her beforehand. I take her hand and walk her to my mom and dad. She kisses my dad’s cheek, takes Phoenix and starts walking. “Hand him back if he gets too heavy.” She nods walking up to my mom.

“They don’t signal to each other with you?” I ask thinking Teller was way too far away.

“See better now they’re older. Long as he sees him, Phoenix’s good.” I think Phoenix will be a protector too.

“Talked to Dakota and Pres. Let it happen. Both said the same.”

Fuck he checked with Dakota after talking to Pres? He shakes his head no. “Ben don’t get everythin’. Abilities ain’t easy. He’s Pres. Tell him more than anyone. Got Dakota on with him. He talks Indian. Pres only gets some.”

I think about that and having only half a picture when Dakota moved to the Compound. “You want me to help that with basic information. Aligning ours with yours?”

He looks at me then starts walking again. “Dakota’d know. Thin’s he knows better than me, but don’t say it better. Maybe you can help Pres.”

“Dakota helped me when we started. I can give Pres that without putting everything out there.”

He throws me chin. “Do that.”

I think about how that should look. Dakota put what’s in me on his list. I’m not sure all of that should be included, but I can give him what is already showing. I smile, mostly because he’s seen it.

I see Lily struggling to lift Phoenix up and move closer. My dad takes Teller from my mom thinking it will keep Lily from feeling bad. I throw him chin and he nods.

We walk behind them up the beach. When they sit I put Phoenix’s feet in the water and the little man kicks his feet up laughing. “So fuckin’ cute little man.” My dad is laughing with Teller. I move so they can see each other and they start screaming and laughing together. My mom and Lily are cracking up.

When they calm down, Teller reaches his hand out for Phoenix. My dad moves him closer and they hold hands. I’ve never seen them move to each other during the day. They sleep holding hands, but this is different. Lily’s recording it on her phone. I smile at her and lift them up. Teller won’t let go so I hold them both.

They’re making talking noise at each other and my dad cracks up. “Geek’s too. Always talkin’.”

“Marty said they woke her up one night, playing and talking away, after an hour or so they fell asleep all tangled in each other,” my mom says.

I look at Lily. “Jeremy and Jacob used to sleep holding hands.”

She smiles shaking her head. “Whatever keeps them happy is good for me.” I smile, she’s so easy.

By the time we get back they need a change and to eat. We do a quick bath getting the sand and salt off and get them fed. Lily wants to take them to see the puppies we met coming in. I walk to the next house with her and notice Hyde following. Good. As soon as the boys see the puppies they’re screaming and laughing again. All I can do is laugh. It’s so fuckin’ cute. I sit Teller down and Phoenix is kicking to get down. I grab him from Lily when I see her struggling to hold him and set him down as if it was my intention all along. She’s worried, but I leave it alone. She just needs some time.

The owner lets one puppy out and the boys go crazy. She’s laughing with us. “They don’t make a sound most of the time, this screaming and laughing started today,” Lily tells her trying to keep Phoenix from crawling toward the pen.

My mom comes over. “I thought that scream sounded familiar.” She laughs watching them. They’re holding hands, but touching the puppy with their free hands. It lays across their legs and they’re screaming again. “You should get one.”

Fuck. Lily is just getting her movements back. I give my mother a look. “Don’t give me that look. You think Hawk would let anyone near Christian? Or Max with Tess?”

Lily looks at me and I know I’m getting a dog. “He’ll need to be trained.”

She nods smiling at me. “Jess wants one too. I’ll send her a video.” Jesus. She starts taking a video of all the puppies.

The owner talks to my dad about training and how big they’ll get. These are not going to be small dogs. They’re only three weeks old. She calls the mother and I’m fuckin’ shocked. She’s like a small horse. She sits by the boys and I’m watching to make sure she doesn’t get too close. The owner says something in what sounds like German and the dog lays down. Again, too fuckin’ close to the boys. Hyde moves close with his hand behind his back and I know he’s ready. Thank fuck.

My dad looks at me. “Could learn in Mohegan.”

That is not fuckin’ helpful. I want to pull him away and talk Lily into a smaller dog. One that a fuckin’ saddle won’t fit on. He laughs. I give him a look and he laughs again. The boys move closer to the horse and Lily and my mom help them. I hold my breath and look at Hyde. He’s watching. I want to pull my gun too. Fuckin’ dogs.

They touch her paw and she licks their hands. Jesus. They laugh and scream and her tail wags. Fuck. I’m fucked. Hyde smiles and I give him a look. Fuckin’ HS too!

My dad comes over to me. “Goes to train for a month—two tops. You train like Tess and dogs stay with you. Could be like Christian. Just tell ‘em in your head.”

“Them? What the fuck dad?”

“Need two, one for you, one for them.” He looks back at them. “Takin’ all of ‘em. Cloud needs one, Jessie and Darren. Bet Trapper too.”

“Jesus. And for some ungodly reason you feel I need two?”

“I’ll train ‘em in Mohegan.”

“Sonofabitch!” I look at him. “One is more than enough. You’re not hearing me, Dad.” If he says he’ll train them I know he will, but fuck.

“Heard you. You need two.”

Lily thinks this is great. She’s asking him about training them and my mom has the boys over at the puppy pen. I’m never getting away from here without fuckin’ dogs. He looks at me. “Would keep everyone away from them and you.”

“Because I lost the ability to keep me and them safe somewhere between the room and here?” He smiles.

“I’m going back to find it. I’ll see you on the porch.” I walk away disgusted with every one of them.

I hear Phoenix make his sound and turn just as I’m at the path to the Bed and Breakfast. “Little Ben!” Lily screams. I run seeing a guy running toward the beach. Hyde has his gun out running and the horse passes him. I jump over the stairs and run full out flipping in front of the guy. My boy makes his sound and I pull him to me throwing everything at the guy. The horse jumps knocking him over then sits on him as he screams. Fuckin’ pussy. I picture the black rolling through him like Dakota told me and he screams louder.

My dad touches my arm. “Did good.” I look at him not getting what he’s saying. I play it back but still don’t get it. “Let go.”

I let him go and he stops making noise. Phoenix is kicking his feet talking away. I kiss his head. “Let’s go show your mom that you’re good little man.” I look at my dad. “You got the pussy?”

He laughs. “What’s left.” I look at him. Jesus.

Hyde walks back with me. “Sorry Prez. I was with Teller on the other side. The big dog was by him.”

I nod. “Get Chet with my dad. There’s someone he was running to.” He nods and talks on his mic. It had to happen like this. Dakota didn’t tell me about the fuckin’ horse though. I smile. The horse knocked the guy down. I’m glad I had Phoenix, but if I didn’t, I’d rather he fell, than be stolen by a New York gang. Lily comes running with tears on her face. Fuck. “He’s good babe.” She trips and both Hyde and I catch her. Shit. “Not a scratch. Lily. He’s fine.” The owner and my mom come up.

I hug my mom when Lily takes Phoenix. Teller is kicking so I take him from my mom moving him closer to Phoenix. They grab hands and quiet down. My mom wipes her face. “I’m sorry he grabbed him and ran. It happened so fast.”

I put my arm out and she walks under it. “He’s good. We got him back.” I look at the owner. “Your dog tackled the pussy as soon as I had Phoenix in my arms.”

She laughs. “She’s protective, especially with babies, I didn’t think the guy would get far.”

I nod and look at Hyde. “Chet with my dad?” He nods. “Let’s get back to the room. Dad will meet us there.” Hyde tells someone where we’ll be. I bend and pet the dog. “Thanks little lady. You did good today.” She fuckin’ licks me and Teller thinks it’s funny. I’m fucked.

My mom and Lily are walking together back to the Bed and Breakfast and I look at Hyde. “Got the second?” He shakes his head no. Fuckin’ great.

Walking in, the Innkeeper rushes toward us. “I’m so glad they’re okay. I just heard. That man should be strung up and quartered!” Hyde laughs and I give him a look. He steps back. With my dad she may not be far off, but I’m not telling her. She corrals us into the dining room. Lily and my mom sit. I look around and throw chin to Jax sitting with Trapper and Sheila. Sheila is watching Lily and the boys. She knows what happened. They must have fuckin’ Brantley hiding somewhere. Jared comes in throwing chin and sits with Kaleb and Mitch.

I have no clue why we’re down here and not in the room. I want information and I’m sitting at a fuckin’ table. I text Hyde to get me earbuds and a mic. When he comes in I get up. “I’ll be in the front hall.” I kiss my boys and Lily and give my mom’s shoulder a squeeze.

Nothing’s happening in Ops. I ask Jake what’s going on. “VP detained the first pussy and is hunting. He isn’t wired so I have no fuckin’ clue. Chet isn’t answering, but I can at least track him. At a guess, they’re at a dock walking up and down it looking for someone.”

“You don’t know?” Jesus. All the fuckin’ technology and he doesn’t have anything?

“You grew up with him and you have the nerve to ask me that? He’s fuckin’ VP and doesn’t answer to anyone but you and fuckin’ Pres, who is on his way there. Maybe when he gets there I’ll have a chance at knowing what the fuck is going on. It’s apparent he isn’t talking to you either!” Fuck he’s pissed.

I look for him. ‘Dad.’

‘Busy. Got ‘im.’

I smile. “Prince to MC Ops. VP has the second. He’ll call in when he can.”

“Fuckin’ Knights,” is all I get. I look at Hyde standing against the wall. He’s smiling.

“Wait until he starts training the dogs.” Hyde cracks up. I shut my mic off and call Dakota. He’s happy everything stayed good and tells me Jess is excited about the dog. “They’re going to be as big as a fuckin’ horse.” He laughs saying he saw and he’s happy that I controlled throwing. Fuckin’ readers. I hang up. With nothing to do I sit and eat. My dad comes in just as we finish. I see where he put the pussies and laugh. Everyone looks at me. Fuck.