MC: Moniz: Book 9 (23 page)

At the house Cloud drops me in the middle of the road blocking traffic. Drivers are pissed, one gets out of his car yelling and Cloud points his gun at him. The onboard machine gun. I laugh as the guy runs back to his car. When I get to the door Rayne is waiting.

“Sorry man, I never did explosives in the houses before. If you show me I can do the next one without pulling you from Ops.”

He was satellite; I keep forgetting these guys from Baxters are the best of the best. “Let’s see what you’ve got and I’ll show you what I do.” We walk in and the pussy is duct taped from his mouth down. “Jesus.”

Chet laughs. “He wouldn’t shut the fuck up. The kids are scared and he was making it worse so I fixed it.”

The tablet is on the table with the pussy’s phone and I get to work. “Fuck.” I pull the schematics again and go to the hall to see the layout in person. There’s a tripwire on the door. Rayne shows me the others he found. I check the windows and see the same wiring. Fuck! Back at the computer I check his phone then the tablet. I have no timers, no detonators, no fuckin’ nothing. The guy is starting to look a little frantic. “Pull the tape from his mouth. VP we’re going to need some help here. I need Brothers and twelve foot ladders.”

VP: “Jeremy is here. Gave heads up. On their way.”

He goes to another lead and guides him through to another house then I hear a call for Digs. Fuck another wired house.

The pussy starts whining about getting out of the house. “You leave once every fuckin’ kid is out. You want out tell us how to get them,” Rayne tells him in a deadly voice. I swear all these Badasses practice that voice.

“They call in. If everything is good they reset the timer.” Fuck. There’s no timer here.

“Where is it?” Chet asks.

“Under the house. They put it there in case we got swept.”

Rayne asks him more questions but I’m looking for a fuckin’ way out. I hear snakes and think we’re fucked.

“You got the cameras looped?” I ask Rayne.

“Yeah.”

Me: “VP I need a saw. Something to cut the doors.”

VP: “Roger Geek.”

Me: “Tell Digs to loop the cameras and cut through the doors without moving the wires. They got the timers under the houses and reset on remote.”

VP: “Fuck! Roger.”

He calls Danny to the house Digs is headed to and tells Cloud to land and come cut out doors. Ian tells him of a Baxter on HS that is a carpenter. They send him to the house Rich is at. Jesus, half of fuckin’ HS is in houses that are wired to blow. Since he’s VP he gets it and has partners move out once the pussies are secure. Fuck. Chet doesn’t want to leave, but VP gave the order. Rayne tells him to go and move the bikes back.

“Are there any windows we can reach?” I ask hoping for something.

He walks out going to look. I tape the pussy to the fridge and go out when he calls me. He’s got a ladder up on the side of the house and he’s already broken the window. “They’re chained. I’ll be right back with the first.”

I yell for Chet to come around, but stay thirty feet away from us. When I get a little girl he runs up. The girl is scared. A woman runs over and he yells at her that the house is wired. She doesn’t get it so he tells her he needs a blanket for the kids. She runs away, thank fuck. Rayne hands me another girl and a boy that’s fuckin’ bleeding.

Me: “I need a medic here.” There’s continuous chatter in my buds and I hope VP can keep up with all of us.

VP: “Roger Geek.”

We move to the next window and I go up first, breaking the window and sliding in. A teenage girl is in here crying hysterically. “We’re getting you out. You’ll be safe, but I need you to listen.” She doesn’t listen. I get her uncuffed and carry her to the window. As Rayne takes her I hear the saw and climb out.

We run around the house and see Cloud dropping a panel of the door. “It’s Brantley.” He says pissed. He climbs through the door and I follow shocked to see Brantley with his arms spread wide held by chains. I pull my keys and Cloud stops me. He kisses Brantley’s head saying something and lifts his head up. His face is a mess.

Jeremy comes over our buds, “Daddy, five.”

“Fuck. Five minutes Geek. Rayne get out of here,” Cloud growls.

“No. I did explosives too. Let’s get him out.” He comes into the room and pulls wire from his pants giving a piece to Cloud.

I clean Brantley’s face while they do shit to his hands. “Too long, go,” he mumbles out.

“Not a chance in hell we’d leave you behind Brother,” I tell him.

“I’m good Cloud,” Rayne says and opens the cuff.

I grab Brantley from falling. Shit he’s hurt bad. “Rayne get the computer and the pussy’s shit out of here.” He goes out the door and Cloud has the other cuff off. When he moves to lift him I tell him no. “Get through the door first. You won’t fit with him.”

Thank fuck he listens. We get him through the door and the pussy’s phone rings as Rayne’s going through the door. Fuck. Cloud lifts Brantley and runs for the door. Being the smart guy I am, I follow with a smile. We won another one. The house blows as we make the street. I don’t see Rayne. Fuck. VP is calling for a check-in.

Me: Geek, Blackhawk and Brantley.” I say breathing heavy. “Going to see about the kids.”

Chet: “Rayne and Chet, four kids. Rayne is down but yelling at me to move the fuckin’ wood.”

Fuck. The Brother was in a wheelchair not that long ago. I look at Cloud. “We’re good, go.”

I run to the side and see Chet trying to pull part of the deck off him. We get him clear and help him stand up. The PD show with an ambulance and go right for the kids. The teenage girl comes running to me crying about her sister not being here. I pull my shirt off and get it on her. “We hit a bunch of houses today she could be safe already. Go with PD they’ll know. The neighbor pulls her off me and thanks me for getting them out. She knew something was wrong with the men in the house. Fuckin’ woman never reported it though. I just nod and walk away.

Rayne is standing by Cloud while Brantley is being checked. I hear him on the phone with VP, he’s riding in with Cloud and will take over Family while Bob rides with HS. VP hangs up on him. “Fuckin’ guy is too much!”

“You’ve got blood on your pants, won’t hurt to be checked,” Cloud tells him. I look at him and he’s bleeding through his pants. I throw him chin and tell him I’ll take his bike back. Handing me keys he rolls his eyes. He’s as Badass a Brother as it gets.

Me: “VP, I’m on my way back unless I’m needed somewhere, I’m on Rayne’s ride home.”

VP: “Need you ridin’ with Chet. You dressed?”

Me: “Roger VP. Yeah I’m dressed.” I always wonder why he calls it dressed. They don’t do the normal word changes. Our old Pres said once, we didn’t need a new language to be Badass, so we don’t use the usual biker terms except for this. From the beginning it has been dressed not carrying.

VP: “You need Cleanup haulin’ your gear?”

Me: “No VP, I have the backpack setup. I’m good to go.”

VP: “Follow Chet to B3.”

Me: “Roger VP.”

We run from place to place. Twice meeting up with Zack for IT support, but most of the time just cuffing pussies for Cleanup. It’s going on three in the morning and I’m fuckin’ drained.

Pres: “Brothers, I know we don’t have much left. They’re bidders not auction addresses. I’m giving it to Security to finish.”

Danny asks how many more. Pres tells him six. Fuck.

Cloud: “Jax is still out here.”

Pres: “If you want to keep running I’ll run two teams. I’ll need four Cleanup and six HS. The rest need to get rest for shifts tomorrow. Give me a check-in HS if you want to stay.”

Danny: “LP1 staying.”

Rich: “LP2 staying. I need coverage for tomorrow.”

Zack: “BS3 staying.”

Me: “Geek staying.”

Bob: “B3 staying.”

Jessie: “Ghost staying. I need coverage tomorrow.” We went one after another with no hesitation. Fuckin’ crazy Brothers. I shake my head smiling, I went too.

Pres: “Everyone else come in to Security. Switch me back to Cleanup Marty. I need a check-in from Cleanup if you want to stay.” I’m surprised he’s running with her, pissed she’s still on, and proud she not only hung with the Brothers, but is staying to finish. Fuckin’ determined to get every fucker that pays for kids, I bet.

I throw chin to Chet as he spins and takes off for Security. We’re in Warwick so it’s a drive to get back. VP tells me to go to the Diner in Providence. I laugh, I bet Danny is hungry.

When I get to the Diner, Danny and Zack are waiting for me with an egg sandwich and coffee. When I finish we go to a converted factory building by the old docks. Jerry tells us about the surveillance. I hook into their feed from an outside splice and think they aren’t very good at this. Once I loop the feeds and control their video we climb the stairs to the fourth floor. It looks like they’re mixed office and loft apartments. The number we want has an old fashioned panel door. I pull the tablet and run through the feeds until I see Jax hanging just like Brantley was. It’s an open floor plan with Jax in the fuckin’ middle. There is a wall blocking the bedroom view, all I can see is the stairs up, I pull Danny and Zack to see it. Turning the camera I see the alarm panel. I talk to VP and get the okay to shut the breaker for the front of the loft. Zack runs for the panel we saw in the stairway. When he’s got the breaker Danny tells him ‘now’ and slides in. I follow counting as I pull the panel apart and he closes the door. We have ten seconds and I just make it. The alarm is down and I open the door for Zack. Walking through the door he’s pulling wire from his pocket, they’ve done this one before. I wave my hand in front of Jax face. He’s out which will be a help. Danny signals me and releases his cuff holding the chain up. I catch Jax and hold him up waiting for Zack. When he releases his cuff he holds the chain and Danny helps me get Jax out. Cleanup is waiting for us when we hit the street. Jax never wakes up so they’re going right to Doc’s.

Danny tells me to pull the feeds and goes back up. Ten minutes later they come down laughing. Not unusual for LaPontes but Zack surprises me. They left a trip wire at the bedroom stairs. I nod but cringe when Danny hits the buzzer for the loft. Fuck. We ride out fast and I hear the blast a block away and shake my head. Fuckin’ crazy Brothers.

VP: “LP1 need you back Security.” He sounds bored making me smile.

Danny: “Roger VP.”

We head back and I’m glad we don’t have anymore. I drop Rayne’s bike with the Security bikes and head to HS Surveillance. Pres is yelling at Danny and Zack about blowing up the building. I stand in the back of the room waiting until he’s done. I see my girl still running with the last team. She looks tired, I go to Rich’s console and OC her that I’m proud. She looks for me and smiles when she finds me in HS. Signing, ‘she loves me’ quick she gets back to typing and answering Little Ben. There’s only one team still out so I watch until the yelling stops. Jessie is pulling in and Little Ben signs off.

Danny is looking at Pres. “There weren’t enough explosives to take the building down. They had it on the outside walls ensuring it would blow the windows and do minimal damage.”

“You’re a fuckin’ explosives expert now?” Pres is still yelling.

Danny looks at him and answers in a calm voice. “With all the explosives we’ve been dealing with lately I’m thinking I know enough. That’s not what led to the decision to let him blow himself up. I know buildings and how the explosives would affect the structure. I haven’t seen or heard anything about it but I can tell you the explosion didn’t cause a fire, no other floors were touched and the damage was only to the outside east wall of the building. If you’re done I’m going home.”

Pres just looks at him. “You’re right but we didn’t need the news picking this up.” He runs his hands in his hair looking tired now that he’s done yelling.

Jessie is by the door watching. “Cool, I’m riding with you,” he tells Danny and they walk out. Zack turns away laughing.

“Am I done Pres?” I ask hoping for a yes. He’s looking at the door, I bet wondering if Danny disrespected him or is just Badass. “He’s just Badass.”

He looks at me and nods. “I never fuckin’ know if he’s the shit or he’s just fuckin’ rude.”

VP laughs. “Fuckin’ Badass. Knows his shit good enough to be right and not worry.” He goes back to the board and guides Digs and Rich in. He pulls up my office board and I see Little Ben holding Jeremy while talking to Marty. VP cuts in. “Wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t see it. Did your job and was fuckin’ good at it. HS ran smooth today because of your skill. You sleep and we’ll talk about usin’ you when we need help tomorrow.”

Marty looks shocked but hides it quick and throws him chin. We all laugh and she winks at me. Fuckin’ woman. VP closes it out and walks away talking about pains in his ass. I laugh all the way to my bike. My girl is fuckin’ Badass too.

I wake up alone again and think this is a bad start to my day. Walking through to the kitchen I get some coffee and climb the stairs to the office. I hear Geek talking and peek around the corner he’s on video chat with Steve. Mitch found some information yesterday and Kevin wants to meet with everyone about closing down the money running through trafficking. I smile at that then stop; I can’t believe how many people are paying for these kids, and why isn’t there more news coverage about the kids missing? I wait until Steve signs off and walk in. I’m wearing his shirt but don’t have anything under it.

He pulls me on his lap taking my cup as he does. “Morning babe.”

I smile at him. ‘Morning.’

“Technically afternoon.” He kisses my head then lips. I look at the computer and it’s just after twelve. Shit.

‘Why didn’t you wake me? Was Aubrey ok this morning?’

He smiles. “Brenda brought her to see us she kissed you, but wouldn’t wake you up. She’s fine. I told her we’d take her out to eat tonight for giving us the heads up and dealing with it like a big girl.”

I smile. He’s so damn sweet. ‘Thank you. I’m proud of her.’

“I’m proud of both of you. So is every old lady and all the men that saw you working yesterday. You did good babe. VP doesn’t give compliments often.”

Little Ben said that last night. ‘Thank you, but it wasn’t just me. Little Ben, Jessie and Rich, Pres. Everyone is so skilled and professional at this. I was surprised then in awe of them doing their job and making decisions so fast. It was awesome to see that side of them. You stand out there with them. I’m proud of you Geek, you did what you needed to, then didn’t quit when you had the chance, but finished the job. You found Jax. I’m so proud of everyone.’

I think about Brantley and Jax. Brantley is going to be fine. Jeremy came in exhausted after sitting with him, but talked to Little Ben about what was happening. He’s like Steve with the one word or short answers but Little Ben understood him. He loves that kid. From what I see he loves them all. We got regular updates about Brantley until he left. Jax is at the hospital. There’s a signup sheet at the Bakery for visiting.

“I have to get to Security. I didn’t want to leave until I got to see you.” He lifts my chin and kisses me like he’s leaving for a week. “Love you babe.” He stands with me in his arms and sets me down like I’m made of glass.

‘I love you too.’

“I’ll pick up Half Pint on my way back.” He turns and puts his laptop in his bag.

I walk him to the door and wait until I hear the garage door going down then fist pump and stomp my feet. I did it! I worked with the men on HS and they said I did good! I run into the bedroom and dress as fast as I can then get to work.

Josh got a call from Little Ben and is surprised to see me. I wave him away and get some work done. No one stops by so I’m done at four and run for coffee on the way home. Peg comes running around the counter and hugs me. I laugh, the grapevine here is unbelievable. I have never heard anyone talk about anything, but everyone always knows what’s going on. She buys me my coffee and hands me a box for breakfast. I sign up to see Jax on Saturday morning. It is an awesome day.

When I get home I get caught at the gate waiting for mail but it doesn’t dampen my mood. There’s a truck leaving my road and I think it’s odd because no one lives here but us. I forget it as soon as I pull in. There are flowers planted making the yard pop like spring hit while I was away. I’m smiling when I walk in, then I cry. Aubrey is the first thing I see. Pictures and paintings of her alone, her with me, and all of us together. There’s a picture where she’s holding a flower out to me and my hand is on my mouth. It never happened but her smile is so sweet and my reaction looks so real. I sit and look at them bawling my eyes out. There are pictures with Aubrey looking younger and I wonder how he got them. I recognize the clothes but her face looks younger. The wall is different sized matching frames and all placed perfect looking like a work of art by itself. It’s beautiful.

I hear the bike and stand but don’t move. I can’t even if I wanted to. I hear Aubrey talking and the door opens. She has a flower like the picture and I start crying again. With my hand over my mouth, I take the flower and fall to my knees. She hugs me so tight and all I can think is I am so damn lucky and I love them so much. “We love you too Mommy. Daddy thought you would like the pictures. Amanda worked hard on them for you. She even made me some so I can have you and Daddy on my tree house walls.”

I smile, she’s so damn cute. ‘Thank you. I love them.’

“I’m glad, they made me keep changing clothes, I’m never being a model. They have to change all the time for pictures. I only did it ‘cause it was for you.”

I laugh and Geek pulls me up. ‘Thank you.’

“Good tears I can take, don’t understand them, but I can take them,” he says hugging me. He walks us around and stands in front of every picture. “They’re amazing. I like the wedding picture and Aubrey with the flower.” He lifts my hand that’s still holding the flower and kisses my fingers.

‘When did you have the pictures done?’

He smiles, “The day before and the day we got married. Amanda was taking pictures of everything. I can’t believe you didn’t see her but she’s a stealthy Badass old lady. Brenda and Lilly helped getting Aubrey changed for different pictures.” He laughs. He’s so damn sweet.

‘Thank you. I love you too.’ He nods but he looks confused for a couple of seconds. When he gets it he squeezes my hand. We walk into the hallway and there are other pictures with us superimposed on paintings. They are awesome.

“This is my favorite.” It’s the waterpark and I laugh. Amanda is awesome! She’s got me and Geek holding hands walking behind Aubrey but we’re looking at each other. She had to be right in front of us and I never saw her. It’s perfect. “That’s all of them. She said she can make more but I thought you’d want to add your own. I took all the pictures from your phone and had her print them. She has one of Aubrey spinning with her dress puffed out like a cupcake. She thought you’d like that one so she put it in a frame on your desk. The rest are in an envelope for you to go through them. She says you have a good eye.” He’s so matter of fact and gruff and I’m melting here. How the hell does he do that?

I laugh. He’s just too much. ‘Again, thank you. You are the best husband.’ I stop before I tell him he’s sweet again.

“Are you ready? I’m starving Mommy.” I smile at my baby and nod. I need to stop thinking of her as my baby. She’s getting too big for that. “It’s okay Mommy. I know you missed me a long time. You can call me a baby. I got this.” All I can do is look at her.

Geek cracks up. “Come on baby girl. We’ll feed you.” He picks her up and takes my hand walking us out like my world didn’t just explode in love for them. Damn guy.

We go to a place called the Pub a couple of towns over and I laugh when I see Mitch, Kevin and Ben with Jacob and Jeremy. Geek looks surprised, then his eyes narrow at Jeremy, shaking his head. “You got them here?”

Jeremy smiles and Jacob laughs, “Me too. He gets stuff in his head and I’m stuck there. I’m glad this was a cool one.” He takes Aubrey’s hand and sits her between them. I look at Geek not sure if she should just sit with them without asking. “Just sit down Marty.” He shakes his head then looks at me. “He isn’t going to let this go,” Jacob says.

Mitch bounces laughing. Geek is watching Aubrey and Jeremy. “You’re doing everything you can to keep her safe Jeremy. This is real; we don’t know how she works yet.” He growls it out surprising me. It’s the learning thing! It hits me while he’s watching Jeremy. He gets his answer in a nod and sits.

I say hello finally, smiling because I’m an idiot. “I’m so glad you came here! They have great food,” Mitch says bouncing. Kevin and Ben laugh. Ben tells us the Baxters own it making me laugh. She waves it away. “It’s still good food.” The woman’s smile makes me want to smile so I do.

“You missed having little ones around so you stole the gruesome twosome?” Geek asks.

“Jeremy was working with Mitch, Jess and Kaleb. Jacob was riding the trails with Jared. Jeremy didn’t need him until the end. We were just feeding them before bringing them home.” He looks at Geek, “Jeremy was tired, but said he was okay to stop.” I don’t think he believes it.

Geek looks at him, “You doing okay little man?”

Jeremy nods smiling at him. “Yeah.”

Geek looks back at Kevin. “He won’t lie to you. He’s good. I bet with Aubrey he’s better than a couple of minutes ago.” Jeremy laughs nodding. I’m not really surprised. CJ calls them her freaky kids. She does it with love, and it’s cute, but it’s so true.

“Kaleb helps him too,” Jacob says surprising the Baxters. I’m not surprised by that either because I’m in that other realm right now I just smile.

Geek is talking to Kevin and Ben about programs and Mitch asks about me working HS. ‘I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I got to run control for Little Ben and Pres on Cleanup.’

She bobs her head up and down excited. “I was watching. You’re very good at your job. Do you want to work control?”

I laugh. ‘Not unless they need me. It was challenging and different, but I like my other jobs with the Women’s Center and HR. I get to work from home most days.’

“I’m the same way, I like bouncing around. It keeps the guys guessing too.” She laughs making me smile. She’s like an older Tess.

The kids talking draws my attention. “Jeremy thinks you should ask her,” Jacob says to Mitch.

Mitch smiles at him. “I plan to right after we eat.” Food appears on the table in front of me. I look back at the waiter and thank him. Once everyone has their food we eat talking about everything. Aubrey makes them laugh with her thoughts on solar power. Geek just watches her shaking his head. Mitch tells her about the programs that help low income families and I’m impressed with them and the MC. The compounds run completely on clean energy. They surprise me talking to the kids as if they are adults. I smile the whole time not having much to say.

“You enjoying yourself babe?” Geek says close to my ear.

‘Very much. I like that they talk to the kids and listen to them.’

He nods. Kevin clears his throat and Mitch smirks at him. “We had another reason to take the boys home tonight. I was hoping to stop in at your house. Since you are here I don’t have to.” She is like a bundle of energy. I nod waiting for the why. “Jeremy drew up a diagram and I helped him put it on the bump out program to build it. According to the computer model it will work. We brought the doctor back in to see if it would be feasible and work for you in particular. I know you didn’t want the surgery that keeps your throat open and you pushing a button to talk. I don’t think I would. They don’t sound pleasing to the ear either.” She stops and I nod too stunned to reply. “The doctor thinks it can work. He assures me it will be easy to place the sensors. They would work like the robotic sensors and generate the sound based on the movement of muscles in your throat. This would be a chip like device with a speaker built in. It’s small and would clip to your throat similar to the ear pieces Lori wears.” She stops and I nod again because I’m speechless. “Because yours would be seen Jeremy came up with covers to make it decorative. He put tracking in them so you’d have that too.”

I look at a smiling Jeremy then Geek. He’s shocked looking back and forth between Jeremy and Mitch. “Seriously?”

Mitch laughs and bounces. Jeremy watches her with that same smile. “Yes. Seriously. Twice I needed help with sound and figuring out how to make it work so the person isn’t going through surgery every couple of years and twice it was someone else that told me to take it out of the body. I should have learned the first time. Thank God Jeremy came up and drew it up for me. Jess had it built and the doctor is waiting for a date. He’ll clear the day for you.” She nods her head like that’s all. “Do you want to talk again Marty?”

I cry nodding my head. ‘No hole and flap?’ Geek grabs my hand.

“None at all. You will have a holder of sorts, kind of like a skin covered milk cap. Your chip snaps into it. It’s about the size of a nickel and will hold the sensor returns and speaker.”

‘I would talk for real? Not a computer voice?’

She’s smiling. “We put a diffuser in the speaker and got a real voice. You will need to learn to use it but it will be a woman’s voice you hear. We can adjust the pitch but Jeremy set it and said it is your voice.”

I look at Jeremy, how would he know? “He hears you talk all the time,” Jacob says.

Aubrey nods. “Me too Mommy. I like when you sing to me.” I just look at them. They’re freaky alright. They laugh.

Jeremy figured out how to get me a voice, my voice. He’s incredible. I thank him and he signs, ‘You are welcome.’

I can’t stop the tears and don’t even try, I’m going to talk again. I look at Mitch. ‘When?’

She has tears in her eyes. “Whenever you want it.”

‘Monday? Can we do it Monday?’

The men laugh but I keep my eyes on her. ‘Of course.’ She signs then wipes her eyes. Geek hugs me and the kids cheer.

‘I’m going to talk.’ Because he wasn’t right here listening to all this. I’m still in shock.

He nods. “Yeah babe.” He doesn’t say anymore.

I tell the table. ‘I’m going to talk.’ They all nod smiling.