Knight: Heart by L. Ann Marie
Chapter One
Two days
Aylen
Protector Ops is crazy, but it’s Mase’s Op so it isn’t unexpected. The good part about him burning his targets with fireballs, is it’s over quick. I’ve got so much shit to do today it’s not even funny. The Protector/Pres ring on my finger feels warm and that only happens when Walker is stressed or pissed which doesn’t happen often.
As soon as Cort lets us go with a good job, I’m out and flying home to Zion. I wish it were on another planet. Smiling to myself, I pull hologram boards up.
“Zenobia, to Zion Ops. I’m seventeen out. Am I needed sooner?”
“VP just called for a Protector Team at town two.” The side board for tracking flashes forward as Ranger signs off and Blogger moves me to Zion’s Flight Ops.
I pull Walker’s tracking up.
Blogger clicks back in. “Maiyun wanted coffee before the meet with the Mohegan Indians. Prince jet is about thirty from set down, Pres.”
“Roger, I’m three out.” Clearing my head, I push as hard as I can and slow seeing Zion’s town two’s main road with more cars than bikes.
“You said seventeen out, Pres. You’re right over us.” Blogger is new to abilities.
“If you put any shit about abilities in your blog, I’ll hang you in pop ups during Prospect training.”
“Roger, Pres. I’m never writing anything about abilities. Nash and Mase already warned me but you got the freaky hit and run Uber and fire starter beat.”
I smile dropping lower. “Patch me through to VP.” I hold back the Mister Philosophical because Blogger may put that in his blog and I don’t need more women chasing my soulful-eyed man around.
“VP, you’re being patched into Zenobia in Magic.” Blogger has me rolling my eyes.
“How far out is Yard?” Walker is steady as they come, but I feel my ring warm and his anxiety building the closer I get.
I ask before I’m the one stressing him out. “Is Maiyun covered?”
“She is at the moment, Pres. We’re at Dunkin’ but won’t be leaving without the Protectors clearing a path. I have her Lead, Owen, outside and Perses inside.”
“No one’s talking to me so this isn’t a try for Maiyun.” I throw in.
“Set down and shoot these fuckin’ women so we make it to the airfield before the Prince flight,” he growls and I hear Perses barking.
“Roger, VP. Blogger get someone to pick up the bikes and SUV. I better get a coffee out of this. Guns at the ready, Sundholm.”
“Roger, Pres. Guns at the ready.”
Sundholm goes on but I tune him out watching the cars move in front of me while the cars stop behind me. I spin slowly to show the guns and set down to civilians running. Powering down, I’m out of my seat before the blades stop.
“Two gunners with me, MPs at the ready. Stay with the chopper, Sundholm. Send the engineer in for your order.”
Suspending out, I pull my helmet off and shake out my hair while handing it back to him. The gunners jump holding their MPs at the ready and walk beside me the fifty feet to the Dunkin’ door. Owen is smiling away. “Man the door, gunners, shoot anyone breaching a fifty-foot perimeter.”
“Roger, Boss. Shooting anyone breaching a fifty-foot perimeter! Is this laser or bullets, Boss?” Manning is holding his smile back but letting the crowd know they’ve got permission to engage.
I smile. “Make the call, Brother.”
“Roger, Boss!” Now he smiles holding his gun a little higher.
“Send someone in with your order, Owen. We’ll be flying to the airfield.”
Owen is still smiling. “Roger, Pres. I love when we come to Zion.”
“Me too, Brother, but I could live without the drama for a day or two.”
His smile falls, but I walk through the door he pulls open for me, seeing Mr. Philosophical’s eyes on mine. Those pretty, soulful eyes earned him the name.
“Crews are getting an order then I can fly you over to the airfield. You’re not making it with the chaos on the road.”
He’s got an amused smile on. “You do know you added to that chaos, right?”
I wave it away and take my coffee from him. “Thanks. Hey, Maiyun, glad you’re meeting the jet. Protectors aren’t even close, Walker. Either you’re flying or you’re late and Aiyana will be pissed.”
He nods. “I’m not letting her down, so we’re flying.”
The engineer and one from Maiyun’s team are at the counter so I turn back to Maiyun. “You’re showing them around then staying for dinner?”
Her eyes remind me of old Pres’s but grayish blue instead of grayish hazel. “Luke Rayne is meeting me here. Walker had a bad feeling. What’s with all the people?”
“I’ve got no fuckin’ clue. I felt Walker and pushed to get here quick…” An explosion has me pushing as shots from the onboards fire. I’m up high looking for who and where. “Ops, connect me to Owen. Walker, six heavily armed trying to get closer to you. Gunners, move to the drive-thru side and keep it clear. Owen, two from the west. I got the dick getting ready to pitch a grenade to the chopper. Sundholm, keep that chopper safe.” I throw orders seeing the vision before what’s real.
Everyone is rogering me except Walker who yells, ‘Pres’ as I push and freeze the dick holding a grenade over his head. “I’ll take that.” I rip the pin out of his mouth, take the grenade from his hand and slide the pin back. “I could lift you up and drop it in your pants but that gets messy.” Cuffing him, I read that Walker is their target. I suspend him over to the side of the Dunkin’ door and nod to the gunner that had him in his sights. The others are cuffed and getting their mouths duct taped.
“Clear, Pres.” Walker doesn’t normally growl.
I push and land standing in front of him. “Roger.” I try for the eyebrow lift but I just can’t do it.
He knows and relaxes but isn’t smiling. “You’re on Ops with an Officer.”
Now I roll my eyes at him. “You had a bad feeling. Pulling you away from Maiyun didn’t work for me. Owen has the cuffed grenade pitcher outside. We need to move. Leave your team with the six or have transport pick them up and the team meet you at the airfield.”
“Roger, Pres.”
He sets his team on the dicks and moves with Owen and Maiyun. My gunners follow us to the chopper and I shield while lifting off.
Walker sits in the copilot seat.
“You were the target.” I throw out feeling his eyes on me.
“Me? Why the hell would I be the target?” That growl is growing on me.
“I can find out after I set down.” The crowd is staying back. I feel it and know this isn’t Justice or Teller. “Sonofabitch. Blogger, did a Prince chopper land?”
“Roger, Pres. They set down ten minutes ago but aren’t leaving the pad.” He’s not happy.
“They come and go. I wish for gone more often but it’s not in the cards today.”
“Sorry, Boss. Maybe they have a call.” He tries to comfort me, making me smile.
“We can hope.” I’ve been avoiding my father like the plague. With Aiyana and the Mohegans setting down, I’m not going to be able to avoid him and know he knows it. He played this one well, I’ll give him that.
“Pres, choppers are coming in from all over the place. Falcon is sending VP from Bravo up to help set them down.”
I look at Walker. “I can drop you at Ops.”
He shakes his head. “I have a job to finish.”
I love this man. He’ll put up with whatever crap is waiting for us in order to finish a job he took directly from Aiyana.
“ETA on the Prince jet?” I ask while setting down.
“Two out, Zenobia.”
My eyes snap to my Ops board seeing Jack as my control. “Roger, Jack.”
The engineer tells me my Lead switched. I roll my eyes and power us off. “A little late with that but my board shows the switch, Cleet.”
Walker puts his hand out so I take it and stand. He unclips my helmet and drops it on my seat, then guides me out and straight into Justice and Teller.
“Brothers,” Justice says and we’re moving.
“Eyes, Walker.” We’re stopped at the top of the tarmac a second later. This isn’t Zion. “Are we at Delta?”
“Yeah. Prez is supposed to be at the mansion for an international meet. José went nuclear. Teller has your dad. I’ve got you until the plane lands. Maybe your mom and Elizabeth can figure out what’s going on and fix it. He didn’t have a problem with Billy and Chenoa, I don’t get it.” Everything in Justice’s head is equal. I love him for it.
“She’s his youngest and a woman.” Walker tries.
Justice doesn’t agree. “He was first to take women Brothers for Officer and HS. He’s never held Aylen back from any training.”
Walker smiles. “He hasn’t but he also hasn’t put her in any position she’s earned through all that training.” My man doesn’t miss much.
Justice looks stunned. “She was Lead for Flight Team Two.”
“Who was an Ops Control Lead unless you were off, you pulled her to Ops or your crew was on vacation. When you were on jobs, she was Ops Control Lead for the MC Team.” Walker knows his Prince history.
I should thank Kyler and Seth. I nod for Justice but see he read it.
We’re flying again. “Close your eyes, Prez is in the meeting room. Abel just set down with Aiyana.”
“Brother, we don’t need to be pulled.” My ears pick up the engine and we look up at it going over us. The wind is as crazy as Justice so Walker steadies me with an arm around my back. “I need to go change.”
With a shake of his head, I swear he blinks and I’m in breeches and a cotton top with my cut on.
“My boots and guns, I’m not in moccasins ten minutes after a try on Walker.”
“Walker?” He looks down or blinks and I’m in my boots.
‘Mucimi, teach me how to make shit appear on me like magic when you have a free minute.’
‘Tomorrow.’ He’s cute.
‘Thanks, Brother.’
Justice shakes his head, then is gone to find out what the try for Walker is all about. I look at, then follow Walker who started walking toward the crowd with my hand in his. Everyone is here but a lot are Indians I’ve never met.
Owen is smiling again. “It’s been an interesting two minutes. Teller just dropped us here.”
Walker looks at me doing the one eyebrow thing. Bastard.
I roll my eyes at him. “Teach me how to do the one eyebrow up.” I ask all the time and he always puts me off.
“Later, that was longer than two minutes.” He’s asking?
“It’s a transcend time thing with them.” I smile seeing the crew move stairs to the door.
“So, we did a transcend time thing at Delta,” he says to Owen.
Walker isn’t talking to me so I push to the jet knowing mom is on it with Aiyana and Aunt Elizabeth.
“Pres.” Walker is growling again.
Poking my head out the jet door. Owen hits Walker’s arm and points up at me. Seeing his shoulders relax and head shake, I give him a look that has him standing tall and throwing me chin. I should be able to move around freely or this will feel more like Princes than our own Club. The Officer’s got me on tracking so he should use the fuckin’ program.
Walking the short entrance way, I see more than I expected collecting bags and bumping into each other. “Welcome. You can leave your bags, a crew is waiting outside to come collect them. I know or have seen most of you, for those who don’t know me, I’m Aylen Walker-Knight, President of Zion Rising. You have Co and Maiyun waiting on the tarmac with some new friends who are excited to meet you.”
Aiyana appears and hugs me. “Let us not keep them waiting.”
As I walk to the door Abel stops me. “Good to see you again, Aylen. Can I get a minute before I leave tomorrow?”
I see why and smile giving him another hug. “I’ll do you one better, let Dakota know you want to move here and I’ll have a house ready. Flight crews just got finished, they’re in barn style houses with common rooms like the compounds.”
His eyes light up. “The kids are grown but we’re closer here and will have them over regularly.”
I nod. “I saw Ken at Bravo. He said they’re trying to get you closer.” His sons will be stoked that they did it. I send Ken a text without pulling my phone. They’re going to flip the fuck out.
“Thank you, it’s time and Betty misses you kids.”
I kiss his cheek and take the step Aiyana pulls me into. “I’ll see you soon, Abel. I haven’t seen my mom but Aiyana isn’t letting me go.”
She pulls me and I’m on the tarmac in front of Co. “Elizabeth took Lily to Prez. Abel will talk forever, it is never a minute with Abel.” She hugs Co then Maiyun, forgetting all about me.
Turning, I hug Neema and her girls. “Welcome home. While you have a full-time job, I was hoping to entice your oldest into a position at the Women’s Center.”
Neema’s smile goes wide. “It would be an honor but Laxe is fifteen.”
I look at Laxe and roll my eyes. “I’m a President at nineteen, I’m pretty sure we don’t have a problem with age here, you in?” I worked with this girl in Warriors and the Center so I know she’s interested in helping women just like her mom.
“I’m in. When do I start?”
Neema laughs.
“Tomorrow. See Tipton at nine.” I type another text so I don’t forget.
With a nod they get snagged by Co, so I send a text to Laxe of a map to the Women’s Center. She’ll see her smart car when she gets to the new house. I text Nana for the car to be brought over right away. Why a man would live with the name Nana is beyond me but I’m not living with it.
My hand is taken and I turn dreading it, but give a genuine smile, surprised to see mom. “Mom. I’ve missed you. I just got Laxe into the Women’s Center.”
She lets my dad go and hugs me. “That’s great. She is more than capable of the job. She reminds me of you.” I love her.
“She reminds me of you, so thanks, I’m honored.” I get a squeeze for that.
“Your dad is off somewhere for a few days. I can work at the Center for Kelly, the office, or jet around to see the kids.”
No fuckin’ way. “Stay, work here, jet around, whatever the hell you want that keeps you close and smiling.”
She kisses my cheek. “I’ll be here.”
“Aylen.”
I look up at my dad and throw chin.
“Prez, we will be late, yet again, if we do not leave now.” Saved by Dakota!
“Fuckin’ Christ.” He looks from Dakota to me. “We'll talk when I get back.”
I watch as he turns and walks away without an answer from me. He’s always Prez. My head shields my aversion to a talk from dad and the not if I can help it thought.
Aunt Elizabeth laughs getting me and my mom’s eyes on her. “He forgets that you’re a President, one of his kids and a woman. Deadly combination for a man. Walking away from you like that doesn’t even register. Don’t get me wrong, he’s my brother and a President to be honored above all, but he’s a fuckin’ idiot sometimes.”
My mom’s eyes snap to mine and I see she’s morphing into fight mode. Oh shit. “I see it now you say it and we will be fixing this.”
Panic right now wouldn’t be wrong. Lily in battle is a good reason to worry. The fact that it’s my dad she’s preparing for a battle against - when I’m pissed at him and it’s me he’s treating like I’m five, I think I should panic, but I’m not really sure how to do that. I text Stella and turn at the laugh.
“You don’t know how to panic and think Stella does?” Maiyun asks, watching my mom and Elizabeth go back and forth. She’s got a point.
“You’re right. I’ve got too much to do anyway. Panic seems time consuming.” I delete the text. Lately, every time I see or think something new, I’m jumping quick. I don’t need to learn stupid shit. I make a note on my list to slow that jumping down.
She nods seriously. “You obviously never needed it. It would make you look weak to men and you’ve never been weak before.”
I get it but don’t say I just realized it. “I don’t need to create drama.”
“No, so, I was just going to tell you we’re off to the compound. Aiyana and Co, along with all these other tribes are going to go and set up the feast.”
I nod like it’s good but let her know it’s not needed. “Prospects got everything there.”
Her head nods. “You can tell them or I’ll just say to go swimming and start the music.”
I laugh and hug her. “Thanks, I’ve got a dick in holding I need to see.”
She shakes her head. “Justice is waiting with Walker. It’s a threat to you by killing him.”
My hands hit my knees and Perses stands in front of me. It makes breathing easier and reminds me I’m never alone. “Fuck.”
“Spirit in the sky! Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
I breathe deep and get my shit together. Standing, I hug her throwing calm so she doesn’t freak.
“I need it; it’s not wrong. Go, show the Mohegans how to party.”
She looks in my eyes and nods. She’s worried about saying more stupid shit.
I shake my head. “I’m fine, it wasn’t stupid but took me by surprise. A year of learning each other taught me how much I don’t want to lose my Mr. Philosophical.”
She smiles. “I know that feeling well. Go, blow up whoever to keep that intense man with you.”
I laugh. “I’ll recruit Mase.”
Aiyana pulls her away while she’s laughing without an answer. Perses follows but looks back at me. I throw him chin, not knowing what to say to the dog. I look around at the crowd that grew while I was talking and don’t see Walker. I push to where I feel him and stop short.
“Are you serious?” He is pissed, holding a woman away from him that I’ve seen him shut down in the Club.
I send a short blast to her and Justice laughs. Walker is looking at him like he’s crazy while the woman is bent over screaming.
I step closer and put my arm on his back. “It was me. She was warned.”
He nods. “You’re right. The threat was to me and Justice has intel for BSC.” In other words, he isn’t getting it until they have a plan.
I am not in planning for BSC but nod. “That puts us both at high, well me higher than high.” Looking at Justice, I ask, “Who can be a Protector for me here?”
“Mitena, Tucker is in the Officer classes at Bravo right now, so him, JC now that Brown and Spano are comfortable.”
So, JC or Mitena. Tucker is getting ready to move into VP.“Mitena, can JC work her shifts?”
He nods. “I’ll get her here.” He’s gone.
Walker shakes his head. “Where did they all go?”
Turning back to where the crowd was, all I see are SUVs and smart cars. “Aiyana and Co together are powerful, they must have suspended them all.” I point to the confused Prospects. “With their luggage.”
He pulls me closer by my flight suit and kisses me. “We need to talk about that Officer with you.”
I nod. “Mitena isn’t a BSC Officer but she’s a Protector. I don’t have an Officer with ability here. It’s the best I can do and will have to be accepted.”
He nods, surprising me. “I agree. You anywhere alone scares the shit out of me. Mitena is a good Brother and well trained. We need to fix the procedure is what I meant.” He’s right, we do if I ever want to move around Zion when I’m needed.
“That was almost too easy. The other half of my name is Knight so I need to add making it not so easy. You need to pull tracking when I’m away from you. I’m tracked like five ways.”
“Still easy, Juana. The bad feeling had me alert. You going missing didn’t help. I knew at Dunkin’ but was reminded when you hopped to the plane. I’m asking Stella to make me glasses with tracking on the side so I’m not adding my shit to you. It will get old quick.”
Stopping, I pull him down and kiss him. “Thank you. I can make you glasses.” I won’t but can.
He shakes his head then puts his hands on my cheeks and forehead against mine. “I should be intimidated by all the shit you know but I can’t feel anything but proud. Love you, Juana.”
A cough has us turning. Ajhil smiles. “I need some help, Pres.”
“Aylen and how can I help?” I ask.
He turns and walks with us. “The homeless need some help. With the counselors in place, it’s good but we need medical for them.”
I nod. “I have it for the meet tomorrow. Chenoa has three EMTs in the Bravo tribe moving today. They’ll be starting day after tomorrow when they’re settled and you’ve shown them the new EMT huts.”
He’s surprised. “We have huts?”
Walker chuckles. I nod. “Yeah. Most homeless aren’t going to a doctor, so malnutrition, cuts, small aches and ailments can all turn to bigger problems and end up costing a fortune. Getting them on a diet that doesn’t lead to diabetes, which is at epidemic levels now that fresh food is more expensive than fast food, will keep them healthy and save us from supplying medication that costs a fortune. Aiyana will be pissed at me if we start that shit. We need the Brothers in place to be the help the homeless need to help themselves.”
“Thanks, Pr–Aylen. I got the houses built but don’t get all the services they’ll need. I left a guy at Doc’s because he has a cut that’s infected. It stinks bad.”
“Train the Prospects in place to bring small issues to you. It’s like the SAA work, they spend more time in places than you do, use them to be your eyes. We screen Prospects who go in the neighborhoods, so we know they have an interest in helping those people.”
“I’m meeting them tomorrow afternoon. I’ll set it up. Thanks.”
He gets on his bike so I take Walker’s hand again.
“The Little Brothers will get the plant walls filled soon,” he says, seeing the need.
“Yeah. Rome wasn’t built in a day. With help, we’ll be running right in another month or so. Crops need time to grow, businesses need time to open and our Officers need time to understand their jobs. We’re on schedule and will be built sooner than Rome was. Eyes.” I push us to the Club. “I have shit on my desk. We’re at the Indian compound at seven.”
He squeezes my hand. “I should be done by then. Little Brothers is early today.” He loves heading Little Brothers and I was surprised when he asked for it. He grew up with a foster dad that collected the check but didn’t talk to him much and wants to be there for kids like him.
I raise up on my tiptoes and kiss his lips quick, then I’m gone.
Abbey Crouch, aka, my pit bull, is not happy with me. “You missed a meet with Chenoa.”
“She left me the paperwork and got the EMTs to the Club when she went to the Indian compound. I talked to her before Ops. We had an issue in town two that I was needed for after Ops.” Seeing she’s going to push it, I raise a hand. “I landed a chopper in the middle of the street and stopped a dick from throwing a grenade. Six heavily armed dicks posing a threat to Maiyun, Walker and countless civilians aren’t armed anymore. I just skated by a talk I don’t want to have with my dad and don’t need shit right now. With texts sent all day long, I need to catch up to that because I haven’t seen my phone or screensaver of Walker’s sexy eyes all day. Once that’s dealt with, I can clear my desk so I can be done by seven for a dinner with the Indians and whoever the hell shows up.”
She melts with a mom smile on. “I organized your desk so it’s categorized, email and messages too. Falcon sent fruit for the help yesterday. Go deal with your freaky texts and eat some fruit. I sent the bakery box to your house.”
I love the way she doesn’t give me shit and has everything easy for me. “Thanks, Abbey. Only emergencies. Oh, will you have a chance to get Inner Circle shit out?” I hope she does so I’m not sending it at midnight.
“I finished it about ten minutes ago.”
“Thanks. Ajhil had an issue and needed the EMT info.” I walk through smiling at the fruit basket. It’s a small one this time. I send a thanks in a text then pull my phone. All fuckin’ day I’ve been sending texts without looking at the phone. I grab a stick of pineapple, dropping the phone on my desk as I sit. She’s got my messages piled but as I look through, I see she added replies.
I officially love Abbey. Today is the first day she’s been on when I was away for a few hours. Chenoa copied Ajhil the paperwork and letters of recommendations from her and Alder for our new EMTs. She’s awesome too.
Everyone has been going the extra mile to help me out. I love them all and start clearing my desk thinking no other President must be loving the Brothers like I do. I’m a girl so I can.