Knight: Heart by L. Ann Marie
Chapter Five
Three days
Aylen
Mitena holds my arm as we push to town three. Of all the fuckin’ times and places to have a gunfight, the vet house with Little Brothers bringing the food walls is not it.
“Be ready, dick on your right. I’ve got the one behind the shed.”
“Roger. I see him. Glad you didn’t say pussy. I hate that.”
She’s got me smiling when I drop down behind the dick. I hold him in place and take his gun.
Walker stops short at the edge of the shed with his gun lowering quick. “Fuck!”
He whacks the dick’s head with his gun. “It’s a fuckin’ vet house. What the hell is wrong with you?”
The dick can’t answer so I do. “I’m holding him still, well, now I’m holding him up, but he was frozen in place.”
He smiles. “So he can’t move at all?”
I shake my head. “Here, his gun. Mitena got the other.”
“I like frozen in place. Is it like the shield?” He asks while cuffing the dick.
“No, that’s a shield that stops me or others from getting shot. Freezing is holding them in place. They can’t move until I release them. Mucimi taught me how to do it when Cort first asked me to be a President.”
“It’s a nice weapon. Your new friend probably doesn’t think so.” He jerks the dick’s cuffed hands to turn him before he pulls him away.
I smile and release the dazed idiot as I walk with them. “How are the vets? Do I need Ajhil here?”
“No. The psychologist is here. They invited him for the plant walls. He wants to bring them to a cash-strapped group home that he has clients at. The Little Brothers are all over it. Cat has a message for the needs board on Sunday.”
“I’ll get it out to the Brothers.” I love the kids helping already.
“You help vets and group homes?”
Mitena hits the other cuffed dick across the stomach hard enough that he’s bent over. “It’s an advocacy Club. We help everyone, ya moron.”
Walker laughs then calls Security over to take the two. “Call PD to come pick the four up.”
The Lead acknowledges me before answering. “Roger, VP.” The Lead nods to his second who makes the call then turns back to Walker. “We’re off in twenty, VP, we can help patch up the holes the pussy left.”
Walker looks at me. I shrug. “Your call but it would be quicker than maintenance and they probably don’t need more visitors. I need to check on the Little Brothers and vets. If you got four with only Security covering, your team is out here.”
He nods. “Yeah. That works, thanks, Brother.” The Lead walks away and Walker turns back to us. “My second just went in to check on them.”
I pull Mitena with me to check the area. “The Lead thinks you’re smart.” She has me shaking my head.
“Yeah. Ops, me and Mitena are clear for area close and are checking status in the house.”
I get a roger and shut the mic off.
Cat comes running to the door but Walker’s second stops her until he sees it’s me. “Pres, no one called clear.”
I nod. “Walker was asking about ability details. I let Ops know we’re clear and checking status.”
He smiles. “Got the detail talk from VP, but not you on with Ops. I think you surprised VP. He was inching his way to the last pussy. When Mitena showed, I came in to guard the door so the Little Brothers’ curiosity didn’t get them in the way of detaining the pussies.”
Mitena rolls her eyes and walks toward the noise in the kitchen. She doesn’t like the overused pussy word. I make a note to let Merrill know we weren’t hooked to the Protector team.
“Thanks, Mocker. Security has them and are just waiting for a PD pickup. Is everyone inside doing okay?”
Cat is nodding, Mocker notices and steps aside for her to talk to me. “Nero said they’re all good. The boys showed them the water needed and a video of how to take care of the walls. I sent it to Shaman Aiyana. We didn’t have a video.”
“That’s good, Cat. Everyone should get the information we do. I think the Alpha-Bits made the video with Dreng. You can talk to him during the virtual meet.”
“I’m asking what else they have. I can send it up.” She walks toward the kitchen so I follow without telling her Dreng has it all up on the kids’ news site. Mocker stays at the door. If she didn’t see it, a bunch of other kids didn’t either so her questions to Dreng will get that fixed.
***
At the Club, I take the first step ready to jog up the stairs, but I see the cowboy guy watching the interactive virtual people. He’s never said a name and everyone calls him Cowboy Sr so I guess he likes the description.
I go to him wondering who needs what. I always talk to the Jr cowboy guy. “Are you waiting for someone?”
He turns from my virtual mom quick. “You’re Aylen Walker-Knight?”
“I am. I’ve always dealt with your son.”
He nods. “I’m Cowboy Sr. We’re looking to put up a warehouse and you’re in the perfect spot since Cort Masters will expand to the ocean.”
The giggle catches in my throat and I cough. “So, you want to put a warehouse here. It’s a good job creator.”
His mind says he’s tired of oversized furniture and everything being so heavy in the store. He nods. “I’d like a storefront with that and the Clubs keep us busy so loading trucks happens day and night. I print a lot of the pictures we use and need the space for that in the back of the store. Do you have a building that I can use available?”
“We have an old Kmart that could work for both. Plenty of parking, freight entrance in the back and it’s clean. I thought about putting training there but like everything right here.”
“It has a Zion banner on it?” He sees it in his mind.
“Yeah. An Officer was looking at making apartments in it but it will be expensive to run water and electric split thirty ways. The farmers market uses the awning on the side and I put in a public restroom against that side wall. I made a promise so you’ll need to honor it. There’s no way into the building but they get water and electric from it. I put solar on the roof and wind collectors hold the lot lights so it’s not an electric expense you’ll pay. Our water is our water, clean and reasonable.”
He’s happy with no electric. That building is huge so electric pays us. “We pay a thousand a month for our warehouse in Phoenix.”
“You keep thirty to fifty workers employed and it’s yours for a thousand a month.” I smile at his shock but Banks got it at auction for almost nothing.
“We have approximately forty working in Phoenix including the drivers.”
“There you go. It already works. See Walker and he’ll get you set up with keys, the contract and Security. It’s a Zion property so you can pay on the website monthly or have it as a direct debit.”
Now he smiles. “That will be perfect. Thank you, Aylen Walker-Knight. I’ll see VP Walker and get it all set up. Do you have housing available close by?” He’s done some homework to know Walker is a VP.
I think about what he asked. He’s a Mason with some kind of shield. “I don’t know details but do know Cort has a shield on you. We have Security and PD at the building regularly. You know to come to the Club if you have a need of a room. We have subdivisions or that building has an old security office and break room upstairs that can be made into a good size apartment. It also has a security system installed that alerts the Security office here and cameras surround the building and lot.”
“That sounds perfect.” He’s evasive with that answer but it’s an answer.
“If you want changes made to the upstairs, call Ray Morter. He’s the building guy.”
“I will, thank you for this and congratulations. I can say the first Badass woman President is impressive in knowledge and is working to make a better community for her people. It will be a pleasure to work with your Zion Club and townsfolk.”
“I’m honored you’re here, adding to the workforce and taking the building off my plate. I have a meet but Walker is coming up behind you so you won’t have to wait.”
“Pres?”
“Walker, this is Cowboy Sr from Phoenix. He’s taking the Kmart. A thousand a month and thirty to fifty workers that includes drivers.”
Walker nods and turns to the cowboy. I push and sit with Ajhil and Merrill. “Sorry, I got waylaid by a cowboy.”
Ajhil laughs. “He said he was going to check out the new Club.”
I nod. “He’s moving here. Well Sr is; his son is staying at Phoenix. Did you talk to Alder about Alpha-Bits?”
Ajhil smiles. “We’re added to the circuit and three want to move. They love the Indians and two want to work IT and with Indian Resources. The other wants to work in the greenhouse. From what Alder said, he’s like a supply clerk and foreman scheduling fertilizer, water ratio and some herbal alternative to pesticides.”
“Sounds like what we’re looking for. What do we need for them? One alone will be a problem for me.”
He nods. “Alder too. They all have Security dogs and a handler. We have Bobby at the greenhouse and he worked ABSZ so he knows Kadeem. Alder agreed right away with the dog. Merrill has the other two. He has their house being added to for the dog room, door and bathroom.” Too easy.
“So this is done? When do they get here?”
“The three by dinner. Falcon is bringing them over. Alder is working with Jeremy and Mucimi on some fuel alternative for choppers.”
I saw Mucimi and Jeremy last night at the reservation just looking at each other. They’re weird and do it all the time, but now I know why before they surprise us all with their crazy shit.
“Merrill, you have a shortage?”
“With the Alpha-Bits here and crew coming in once a month, no, Pres. We do have some issues in Ops. VP was probably going to bring it today but he’s not here. The Brothers are good and tested above our cut off, but they don’t know ability and get stunned. If it’s once it would work. This is with everything new you show. With Mitena here, it’s a problem we need fixed.” It’s a concern if all ability is stunning Brothers.
“Call AJ before Falcon gets here. Someone put a video of ability being used together. If Pepsi doesn’t know, Falcon will. I want it going out to every Zion Brother and explained in training. Ajhil, do you understand ability?”
“No, Pres. I accept it but don’t understand how or even what you say half the time.”
“Merrill, send it to me first. I’ll label the terms we use and send it right back.”
He looks up from his laptop and smiles. “Sent. I’m like Ajhil, I accept it but couldn’t help with more than the basic words you’ve given. I like it out to all Brothers and still in training. We need everyone aware.”
“Of what?”
We all look up at Cort on the board. “Abilities. They’re causing a stunning issue for new Brothers in Ops. I’m labeling the video so they get the words and see abilities before they’re stunned in Ops and we lose Brothers.”
“Good job. Send it to me with the labels. I’ll get it in training so they aren’t getting to you with no knowledge of it.”
“Will do, Boss. This will end early so it will be right after this meet.”
He nods. “I got a heads-up that Cowboy Sr wants to move there.”
I smile with a nod.
“You know?”
“He’s taking the Kmart building so it’s off my plate. He’ll employ thirty to fifty Brothers making it a job creator. With his business, you know he’s impacting other businesses from food to housing. I acknowledged his shield and offered a room when he needs it.”
He gives me the politician smile. “I was going to tell you he’s shielded but you know that too. That’s good and you’re right. Alder had them at +30%. Sr does pictures and some other shit that may cause more. I’m glad you know your shit. Jordan has a whole fuckin’ factory and has no clue he’s supplying years of work to a workforce of over a thousand. The Brother is clueless about business.”
I smile. “He can be, Stella knows and makes sure there’s no lag in the schedule. Natalia gives her a heads up so she’s not following the numbers. She hates that shit so she throws new work their way.”
He shakes his head. “The shit I learn. How is the Club doing?”
I explain the new car program and the help I’m getting from Josephine, then Jane having a lot built at Elan.” He’s surprised but recovers quick. “You got the insurance to agree?”
I shake my head. “The Brother was an underwriter. He knows risk shit I’d have to research. When he said underwriter, I told him what I wanted and he made it happen. We tagged for fine, then hauled cars away for free. We’ll fix them up and send them to the buy-here-pay-here Brother to sell with insurance and the repair clause. It’s affordable and Josephine got me three car mechanics.”
“What’s the mechanics cost?” Cost?
“Nothing, Boss. Every car was free. GS and Uncle Danny bought the cars on Josephine’s lot because they like the idea. We supplied her with a carrier of cars because we have over a hundred. She’ll have parts but we had two auto part stores we bought for the land. It will make money right from the start.”
“Jesus, you’re fuckin’ smart. I forgot about the parts places, we should have bought the big-ass junkyard too.”
I shake my head. “It’s a mom and pop. Last kid is working there but will be leaving for school next year or maybe sooner. The old man was using it to put his kids through school. I have first option. He gave Pele a bunch of cars he had outside his fence when Pele told him what we’re doing. I offered a house of his choice in trade when he’s ready. He took it wanting to be closer to friends in town One.”
“Good fuckin’ job, Brother. Send the book to me.”
I laugh with Ajhil. “I will, Boss.”
“Anything I need?”
“Just the buy-here-pay-here. I was waiting for you to call in.”
“The threat to Walker?” He asks.
“Another try. This one at the vet house when Little Brothers were delivering the plant walls. No injuries, the kids and vets were fine. The counselor was there so he could bring the walls to his group home clients or something.” I see his question and answer. “His team and Security.”
He doesn’t look happy. “Keep an Enforcer team with Walker. That’s too fuckin’ close to vets and kids. Get Walker’s second to take the Little Brothers off the compound.”
I nod. “He put Enforcers on when he leaves the Club and isn’t taking the kids off the compound. They’re going with a team and Neema to the Delta tribe. Walker is on a robot the Little Brothers will bring along.”
He nods. “Was that him or you?” He knows Walker.
“He told me before we left the vet house so I didn’t have to say a word.”
“I told you he was a President. Kids aren’t jeopardized.”
I shake my head. “He is adamantly against being a President. He says he can still knock out the Brothers.”
He laughs. “He can shoot them. I don’t give a fuck.”
“I’ll pass it along. I have nothing else but three Bits here with dogs and handlers. The grand’rents are down but staying in Zion and we have a pilot from Princes moved in.”
He whistles, holding his question about my dad. You’re doing a good job, Aylen. Call if you need me. Send the book and video today.”
I look at Merrill. “Kelly sent the book. You need to label the video.”
I turn back to Cort. “I will, Boss.”
He flips us off and I look at Ajhil. “Anything else for me here?”
“No Club shit is left undone once you get the video labeled.”
“Give me a minute and it’s yours.”
It’s a three-minute video so that was a lie. “Done. I named it Labeled Ability. Send it to everyone here, Cort and the other Presidents.”
“Roger, Pres,” Merrill says.
Ajhil types on his phone. “I sent it to everyone in Outreach.”
“Thanks. That’s a good call, Brother.”
“VP missed the whole meeting.” Merrill is amused.
“He’s dealing with the Cowboy. In case you missed it, he’s got a shield from Cort. The words are I need a room. He’ll live in the back section of the building on the second floor so he’s under Security.”
They both nod and roger me. “We’re done, Brothers. Let me know if something comes up for Club shit. I’m starving.”
They follow me out.
“I need to check my casserole then I’ll be at the table with you.”
“What’d ya make?” Ajhil asks Merrill walking out.
“Chicken, spinach and rice casserole. I used the leftover chicken from last night. The cook was shredding spinach so I grabbed a handful. I threw it together and cook says I can reheat it on three hundred for twenty minutes at dinner. It’s like a twenty-minute meal prep.”
They make me smile. Walker will love it.