Page 36 of Vapor
“Mucimi got them the books?” I ask Logan.
“He did, Pres. The SOP from you, a list of what each Club’s specialty training is from Mase and two from him, one is group needs the other is businesses they can open easily.”
I walk toward command Ops. Those are good things to give them while they contemplate life choices. “What are the group needs. We’ll have time to help somewhere.”
“Kid, Indian and vet needs. We have services that can help. I made a list and gave it to Security to pass on with the food order. I ordered for three days.” He sounds unsure.
“That should work. I can order more if they need more time.”
He laughs. “Roger, Boss.”
“How was your day off? Did you really go cave diving?” I want to go cave diving.
We go up three steps before he starts talking. “I went to school with the Princes. It was good to see so many again, butit was different. Some have kids, some are changed in ways I wouldn’t have guessed and some are the same. It felt good to just relax and connect. The crew up there doesn’t do activities anymore. Our crew was more for Club needs than Ops. When Justice left, everything changed, some of it wasn’t good. The problems weren’t with our crew, we didn’t live in the crew house like the Ops crews, ours was like dorms with only five of us.” He doesn’t sound reminiscent, it sounds lonely.
I know the feeling and give him my experience, which is basically none. “We had shipping containers with bunks on a carrier or tents on a base. For leave, I stayed at my mom’s in Pennsylvania or my grandparents when I was discharged.” I was ready to jump out of my skin with the rudeness around me and no friendlies to be seen.
“You never lived alone?”
“For leave, half the team followed me home. When I was discharged, I was alone. It was eye opening. Life is different when you’re alone with no one on your six.”
He smiles and waves for me to go through the door first. “That’s what seeing the Princes was like. We didn’t live together, but whenever shit was going down, Justice, Teller, Mucimi, Aylen, Mikey, Axe, hell, any of them really, but a Prince would show. I missed it in Mass and their two crews were always busy and bonded in a way that didn’t automatically include Brothers like Princes. I tried to plan shit but they were booked for months. I went to Vermont and no one had my back. It sucked. They got new Officers and offered me a job, but I didn’t want to stay up there. It felt isolating. Meeting up with Princes was different but the feel, that safety in knowing they’re the same deep down where it matters felt good.”
I smile. “You needed a Prince fix. I get it. I needed my Stalkers.” I sit at my desk and open the bunker feed on my computer. “Did you get the schedule for Badass done?”
“About that. I’m here temporarily. I have the schedule done for a boot camp we trained the FBI coming into Badass. It’s about six weeks. We can do ride time in there.” He stops without explaining.
I roll my eyes and hand. “Explain.”
He breathes deep. “I’m here for two months. Justice told me yesterday. Julius will step into VP more comfortable after the boot camp and high Officer training. He’s got it but Justice said he’ll be ready so he must be a Brother that needs all the intel before starting a job. We have a lot of Brothers that want it all so they can prepare to adjust for surprises.” He’s convincing me or him?
“You’re shitting me? Cort had planned on Julius being a second here, didn’t he?”
He nods slowly as if I’m going to start shooting.
I smile. “Julius is an IAS JAG. That’s elite and he’s one that took all the boards for everything. Not a nepo-lieutenant. He’s equal to a Ranger that never ran missions with a team. He advised and gave legal for it. He can fly, is closer to a doctor than medic and can plan for everything at Officer level. He just doesn’t do it. I’ve seen him work out, he runs military elite but it’s a pared down version and he spars.” He follows our daily training and run without a problem.
“I like training here too. I got the feeds for a week so I can use it at the new Club. I don’t know where or what the specialty is but I plan on using your training. You’re okay with Julius at VP?” He’s hedging.
I don’t answer yet. “How did Julius react?”
“He’s shocked and won’t be happy until he knows the job. Mucimi dropped VP training and the book for him. He’s probably reading it now. It’s a normal reaction so I’d say he’s fine.”
I turn toward the monitor and see he’s with the kids. “He’s with the kids. Is something wrong?” Why is he in there? They were moving and Julius signed up for time this afternoon with the kids.
He’s up. “I don’t feel Mucimi close. I’m going to check.” His feet stop. “Do you need…”
“Don’t ask that again, just go. I’ll meet you over there.” I run without looking back. I know he’s already gone. The magic is more than I’ve seen from him. I think our seer was magic but we never saw it. Here they don’t even try to hide it. That’s not true. Mucimi and Logan don’t hide it. The others try to walk. That’s what Teller and Aylen said but both just appeared in front of me. Maybe they walk most times but for meetings they just show up.
“Where you running to, Commander?” Donovan asks with Moss at his side.
“Kid bunk house.”
They turn and run with me. “What happened?” Moss asks.
“I don’t know. Julius is there and Logan took off like a shot.”
Donovan laughs slowing down. I keep going.
