Page 55 of Angel

As Labor Day neared, Angel tried to spend as much time with Bree as possible. She would be starting high school the Wednesday following the holiday. The two of them went back-to-school shopping twice—once with the ol’ ladies and once just the two of them. Harper brought Bree and Angel to the high school on one of her teacher prep days so Bree could get a feel for where her classes were without fighting the halls full of students. She even got to meet one of her teachers who happened to drop by.

Being a small-town high school in an old historic building, the necessity for certain accessibilities were not required prior to Bree being enrolled. The school did not have stairs or a second story, so no ramps or elevators were needed. However, none of their doors were automatic that would give Bree easy access to open. They did not have any wheelchair accessible lunch tables or desks. The library had books even Angel couldn’t reach.

Bree kept stating that she did not want to be a burden, but both Harper and Angel pushed the issue until the school provided her the necessary tools for her to be as independent as any other student.

Bree was very nervous about having to self-cath at school to keep herself on her bathroom schedule. The task would not be a fast one and the public bathroom, like the rest of the school, was small and only had one handicap stall. Bree would need to carry supplies with her too, in addition to her schoolbooks.

Angel knew that Bree didn’t want to be different from the other students or be given exceptions, but the fact of the matter was that she was different and she did need exceptions. After a conversation with the school nurse, Mrs. Beales, it was decided that Bree would keep an emergency catheter system in her backpack and the rest in the nurse’s office. She would go to the nurse’s office for her standard bathroom schedule and would only use the public bathroom in an emergency. This way, Mrs. Beales could be around to help if Bree needed assistance.

Bree was quiet upon leaving the nurse’s office. Angel indicated for Harper to go on ahead. She squatted down in front of her daughter.

“What’s up, Bree?”

She shrugged. “It just makes me more different, you know.” She gestured to the empty halls around them. “No one else here has to track their daily urine output or has to carry extra clothes in case they accidentally drip pee on their pants while cleaning up.”

Angel knew sympathy would not help Bree in this moment, nor would simple placations like “it’ll be okay” or “you do you”. Bree needed to be reminded of her own self-worth. “Hey.” Angel nudged her legs. Bree couldn’t feel the contact on her knee but she could feel the movement in her hips. “Who’s the biggest badass kid I know who took on two Pythons and rescued her own mom?”

Bree looked up. Her lips were pursed to the side, like she was trying to keep herself from smiling. “Me.”

“Who survived and fought to literally come back from death’s door? Who looked a reaper right in the eye and said that they weren’t taking her today?”

Her lips twitched. “Me.”

“And who has a crowd of grumpy alpha bikers at her beck and call that will annihilate anyone who says shit about her?”

Bree smiled. “Me.”

“With all that going for you, are you really worried about what happens in the privacy of the bathroom? It’s not like you have to go up on stage and do it with an audience watching.”

Bree’s eyes widened in horror. “Ugh, no!”

Angel smiled. She patted Bree’s thigh. It was thin in comparison to the rest of her body due to lack of muscle tissue. “You roll your way into this school next week with your head held high. You survived what none of these others will—thank God—ever have to. You have strength they will never know. Who gives a fuck that your legs don’t work? They have a problem with it, you remind them that your punches hit directly at groin height.”

Bree laughed and opened her arms. Angel, never one to turn down a hug, shifted her position around Bree’s legs so she could reach her. Bree squeezed her tightly. “Thanks, Mom,” she murmured.

Angel turned her head and pressed a kiss to Bree’s temple. “Anytime. I’ve gotten pretty good at these rallying speeches, huh.”

Bree snorted and sat back. “Oh, I’m not thanking you for that. You basically paid for my college education with that speech. Plus, you gave me permission to dick-punch any bully who comes near me.” She rolled herself back and around Angel. “High school’s going to be fun!” she called over her shoulder.

Angel’s jaw dropped as she stared after her daughter—but honestly, she couldn’t be prouder.

The club’s annual Labor Day barbecue was an open affair to the community. They held a potluck with a whole pig roast. Jenna outdid herself as usual. Somehow, she organized the whole thing in addition to getting Ollie situated, Melanie off to college, and helping around with the other club kids. Angel watched her juggle five things at once, all with a smile on her face, and got tired just from watching Jenna. As much as Angel, the club, and the ol’ ladies tried to pitch in, there was no taking credit from where it rightfully belonged.

Steel actually had to force her to sit down and drink a glass of her own homemade lemonade so she didn’t get dehydrated during the party. He even ordered all three prospects to do her bidding so she didn’t have to leave that seat.

This was also Bree’s first Labor Day celebration with the club. She’d still been in the hospital recovering from her trauma and kidney surgery last year. The club had nearly cancelled the celebration the year before, but Jenna had managed to pull off a minor miracle and still have it ready in time for the community.

Carlos and his deputies were helping with parking and crowd control. The club had roped off their homes and the patched members were keeping watch to ensure that no one wandered where they shouldn’t.

Tensions were high within the club. While the town was celebrating the federal holiday, they were mentally preparing themselves for their mission that night. With the fireworks and festivities that came with the holiday, the club planned on using the extra commotion as cover for their upcoming siege.

By dawn, the Pittsburgh chapter of the Black Pythons MC would be no more.

They had had their final meeting the day before under the guise of verifying security for the Labor Day celebration. Angel was pretty sure there wasn’t an ol’ lady among them that was fooled into believing that storyline. But they only knew enough to know that their men were going to be disappearing for a while tonight and, if ever asked, their man was home with them and their kids all night.

The women were planning a sleepover for the club kids as a distraction. Since Bulldog’s house was the biggest, that was where the sleepover was going to be held. Jumper, Bones, and Demo were staying behind with the prospects to guard the property. Due to Jumper’s PTSD and Bones’s previous leg injuries, those two were always left behind to guard the families. However, since getting shot last month, Demo had been having trouble with the nerves in his left arm. Not wanting to risk his or anyone else’s safety, Bulldog ordered Demo to remain behind too. Pirate, who had a prosthetic leg, would be coming, but as a driver only.

After what was supposed to be a simple surveillance mission in Ohiopyle that had gone tits up fast, Keys had updated the club’s gear. Very similar to when they were in the military, each member now had black camo fatigues, boots, balaclava, belt knife, AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, handgun of their preferred choice, and a Kevlar vest. Earwigs and radios were also provided along with their new tracking devices in the shape of dog tags.

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