Page 28 of Axton
We had a nice home cooked meal for dinner. They called it a cheesesteak casserole and it was very good. I glanced at Michael several times because he was avoiding me, and it hurt. I didn’t think I did anything wrong, but maybe he was uncomfortable around me. I could have admitted what I felt when I touched him was intense, but he had no idea what was causing it. I did, and his birthmark only confirmed that at least one of my papa’s prophecies were true. That was something that may have surprised people to learn. My papa never had a prophecy about marriage. Girls were gifted to men as they earned them, and the practice had been done since our very first prophet. My marriage was the only one he ever predicted. He couldn’t predict other marriages, but he could predict who a snake would bite. He knew he would never be bit, and he never was in his whole life.He predicted the deaths of his wives and mourned heavily for them. He did not predict the deaths of my siblings, but he took those deaths the hardest. My grandpapa and all of his wives were gone long before my life began, but my mama’s parents were in New Mexico where she grew up, and they would visit at times. My papa was far older than my mama’s parents. Her mama was fifty two last year, and her papa was sixty five. He had seven wives and twenty nine children, my mother being their favorite since she was married to the bishop. My thoughts were because Jeremy had too many places to search for us. We had family in New Mexico, Utah, California, Nevada, and even Canada. We also had shunned family out there, but I didn’t know where they were, but Jeremy would probably look under every stone. Koty and I had no ties to Indiana, so I had hope our travel plans would be safe.
My anxieties grew the closer it got time to leave. I was scared and in pain, so when it was time to leave, Michael carried me into that motorhome and tucked me into its bed. He promised to keep me safe no matter what happened, then gave me a dose of both liquid medications so I would get some rest overnight.
Chapter Fifteen
Axton
We took around 0100 hours off for Creed’s Lake. Val was my copilot as we merged quite easily onto the dark interstate with only a few other cars. It was going to be a very long two days, since Val and I would be the only drivers for the next twenty five or more hours. Koty came up front and let us know that Belle was peacefully sleeping then sat on a sofa to watch television.
“This is nice. It’s not too big or too small. We should get a few for Creed's Lake.” Val suggested.
“We have busses.” I reminded her.
“Yeah, but nothing like this and they would be great for the DV cases.”
I sighed. “We already spend too much on the DV cases. If you want a few of these motorhomes, then raise the money.”
“It’s not like most of our DV victims can fly. They can’t leave a trace like that, and they would be very nice for long trips. Especially for the kids, and the operatives could take turns sleeping in the back. Hell, maybe we can save on hotel stays.”
I rolled my eyes. “Again, if you want some of these, find donations or write a grant. We cannot keep funneling money into that program, or into Morgan’s demands. You need to talk to her about her insecurities by the way. I get she wants Creed’s Lake to work like her own personal city, but it was never meant to be that way. It was just supposed to be a safe community for our operatives, their families, the people we rescued on foreign missions, and our undercover operatives. Yes, we wanted the community center to help build a community type feel, and of course we wanted the medical center, but it’s getting out of hand. The kids need to be socialized outside Creed’s Lake. The next thing she will want is a Catholic Church and a retirement home.”
“You’re right, and we have talked, but she is traumatized by the things the paparazzi did to her family and friends. She doesn’t want that for her children, but a lot of kids survive just fine with famous parents. We are working on it, and if you remember correctly, it’s the reason she stayed out of relationships and didn’t make friends. She is very protective of the ones she loves. It’s also the fans, the dangerous ones that used to try to break into her house. She just wants to keep her kids safe. And as far as getting some of these little motorhomes, I’ll find the funds or ask Creed.”
I groaned. “Right, go over my head and to the man that’s spending money like it grows on trees. It’s December, the slowest month of the year. You would think he would control the spending at least a little, but Morgan has turned Creed’s Lake into the North Pole. Before the kids Christmas party, I stepped outside my house and heard Mariah Carey on the loud speakers. The speakers meant for emergencies! I wanted to cut my ears out, so I didn’t have to hear that shit. Imagine one of the General’s visiting. We would be the laughingstock of the pentagon.”
She scoffed. “Wow, Grinch much? There you go reminding me exactly why your framed photo hangs on the wall at the command center for being the biggest asshole on Creed’s Lake. Are you going to try and have the airspace closed down on Christmas Eve above Creed’s Lake to reindeer traffic as well?”
“I’m serious, Bolton. You might have a medical degree to fall back on if Creed’s Lake fails. Most of us only have high school educations and very little family. What do you suggest I do if we lose everything?”
She laughed a little. “You have made your first few millions, just like the rest of us. Go retire, maybe find a wife and raise a few kids. You could even go to college. It’s been seven years now, and we are at a point where we can start to relax a little. The guys are having families, the children on the lake are thriving, and security is better than ever. We take a break in December and part of January because we can afford it. Our missions are dangerous, and the reason we take a break is to keep our operatives safe and home for their families. The goal is for not one child to grow up and think back at Christmas and remember losing a parent. We are at a point now where we have a waiting list and can’t fulfill all the requests we receive. If we fail, it won’t be because of the money thrown into our non-prophets. It’ll be because of our lack of operatives to meet the demand.”
We made it almost to the New Mexico border when I noticed two motorcycles hanging far back. I watched then switched lanes after I passed a car, and the motorcycles also switched lanes. I sped up to pass a car and the motorcycles sped up. “I think we have company.”
Valerie hit the touch screen and looked from the camera on the back of the motorhome. “I see them.”
“Call the command center and find out if we have any available allies in the area. If not, we will try to lead them as far as we can until we are close to one.”
She made the call and learned our closest allies were three hours away.
“Have them call the club president and tell them to mobilize and head west on I-40. We may need them for cleanup.” I instructed.
Val turned in her seat. “Koty, we have company. I need you to go wake Belle up and bring her up here so she can be belted in, then when we stop, the two of you are to go to the bedroom and lock the door. Make sure all the shades are still pulled, and I’ll give you a gun to protect her if we are distracted.”
“They found us?” Koty was alarmed.
“Possibly, now please do as I ask.” She said.
She then turned and opened the console where she stowed the weapons given to us by Crock. “How are there two rogue members? The Raid was supposed to be successful this morning. Satan’s Disciples told our men everything and they’re still being handled by our men.” She checked the magazines then looked at me. “What if Jeremiah wasn’t just working with them, but another MC as well?”
I glanced at her then back to the road. “The fucking cartel.”
The MC that was mobilizing wasn’t like us. They were a true MC that owed Creed and the Fallen Angels a few favors. They were the Knights of Darkness, a very large and dangerous gang, but the President’s son was one of the soldiers we rescued on the first mission we had to save Creed a few years back when our military abandoned them. Then when they were at war with anequally dangerous gang, the Fallen Angels hid their women and children. They were loyal to us and forever in our debt.
“She’s out cold.”
I glanced into my visor mirror and saw Koty struggling to carry his sister. Dammit, she was peaceful, and we had to disturb her. He buckled her in then wiped his brow, like she weighed a ton, but the girl was far from heavy. I knew because I carried her myself. Val unbuckled then walked back to give Koty a gun.
“You need to work on waking her up. We are eventually going to stop, and you may end up being the only thing between her and one of those men on their motorcycles. Do you know how to use a gun?” She asked.
