Sudden Trust
Morgan
The commissary was nothing like I pictured. It was better than any local grocery. Not one person took my photo, but I was greeted with smiles and kindness. It felt weird being able to grocery shop without flashing cameras and rude interruptions. Creed knew everyone and introduced me to several people. All in all, it was a good experience. How sad was it that something as simple as going to the grocery store brought me a little joy? Even in Clarity I was asked for autographs and selfies. People took photos of me doing simple things like trying to enjoy a meal out. I didn’t always mind them, but it was when I couldn’t finish what I was doing and had to leave a place to end the chaos that was annoying.
Creed pushed the shopping cart as I threw one thing after another in it. The place seemed much larger on the inside than on the outside. They had everything and a lot of it came from local farmers. I could tell from the white butchers paper the meat was wrapped in that it was fresh from the farm. The fruit and vegetables had imperfections, and I knew they came from a local orchard and from local gardens. I piled the cart full then Creed parked it, and I filled another.
They even had all the supplies I needed to make my famous pies. I pictured myself taking Addie to the grocery like my mom would take me when I was little. It was too bad I didn’t have a skill Creed needed so I could have lived in the community and raised Addie with all the protections Creed’s Lake offered.
“Are you going to leave anything for anyone else?” Creed chuckled.
“Don’t you understand how amazing this is? I can bring Addie with me to the grocery and not worry about what creep is taking photos of us.” My heart sank and I looked up at Creed. “I don’t want to raise her in the spotlight. I need her to have at least a semi normal childhood filled with friends and people she can trust. How long after quitting acting do you think it will be when we can live normal lives?”
The look he gave me didn’t give me much hope. “I really don’t know.”
I smiled over my temporary haven. “I feel normal right now, so let’s get on with it and I’ll make you the best home-cooked meal you’ve ever had in your life.”
At checkout we argued over who was paying. Once I shut up for a minute and allowed him to explain, I finally understood that I couldn’t pay. They didn’t use cash or bank cards. Everything was charged to the head of households account and paid monthly. Then I threw a fit and demanded my own account, but he wanted to argue about that as well. When we walked outside with our two carts I realized we only had the side by side. But then, Creed led me to a truck where a young man stood next to the drivers side door waiting. He couldn’t have been more than college age, and then I saw it. He had burns all down one side of his face and his arm.
“Morgan, this is Max Gunter, he’s a prospect we recruited about six months ago. He’s still earning privileges and that’s why we call him a prospect. For right now, he runs errands and will be taking our groceries home.”
I stuck my hand out and shook his. “I’m honored to meet you, and thank you for your service to our country.”
He seemed a bit nervous. “Yeah, umm wow. I mean…” He stumbled for words. “Beautiful.” He whispered and Creed didn’t seem too happy.
“What are you waiting for, prospect? Stop daydreaming over her and get these loaded. Take them to my place and we'll meet you there in a few.”
I looked up at Creed and I wasn’t too happy with him. It was obvious the young man had been injured and he deserved more respect. My God, he had probably seen hell, and he was so young. Handsome too, despite the scars. They actually may have added to his looks. Who didn’t adore a brave young man like him?
“Come on, let’s go.” Creed put his hand on my back, and I stepped away from him. I lost some respect for him after the way he spoke to that guy.
Once in the side by side I looked over at Creed. “Why did you talk to him like he’s beneath you? He fought for this country and deserves respect.”
Creed sighed. “He’s a prospect, meaning he’s new back to civilian life. He needs and wants to be treated like everyone else. I don’t do it because I’m an asshole, it’s what he needs. My rank is above him and if I treated him any differently I wouldn’t be doing him any favors. He's a prospect and he needs to be treated as one.”
“So, you can’t talk to him like a normal person?” I still wasn’t happy.
“He is here because he still needs the military structure he once had, and eventually he will go on missions. He wouldn’t be here if he couldn’t handle earning rank. A prospect is like being a private in the army. He has to make rank before he can go on missions. I need him in top mental and physical health. Kissing his ass because he has injuries will make him weak and that could cost him his life. His injuries ended his military career, but we have a use for him. He has a skill we need, so we stick with earning what’s like a military rank and use the time he has as a prospect for training and therapy. They cannot make rank if Bolton doesn’t think they are mentally capable. Gunter is learning that his injuries don’t make him less of a soldier. They don’t make him less of a man either. The process of earning rank is good for his mental health.”
I crossed my arms. “So, you treat him like a lap dog?”
“I study each prospects mental health plan, then treat them according to their individual needs. Gunter needs a confidence boost and that’s what I’m giving him. He’s earning rank fast and someday soon he will ship out and be the man and operative he wants to be, so don’t feel sorry for him. If he didn’t want this, he wouldn’t be here. If I took it easy on him, he would know, and he won’t have a chance to see his potential despite the injuries. Each jump in rank is a confidence boost.”
“What will he do on missions? I noticed he was limping when he walked away.” I was curious.
“He is still recovering from his wounds. He will adjust and eventually be able to do anything the other operatives can do. He sees a physical therapist and works hard to overcome his injuries. I meet with each prospect monthly, and we review their progress and their strengths. I will give him choices as he earns rank. For example, I may suggest recon missions or undercover work to him. He will choose and work toward that goal. We get all kinds of cases. We might support the military in counterterrorism missions, rescue missions, reconnaissance, hostage recovery, covert missions and even provide protection to some important leaders and their families. It’s extremely important that you read over your non disclosure. You may see some shady looking characters that are undercover deep into gangs. They lead us to members of the cartel so we can dismantle slave farms and return the slaves to their families. Most of them are American teenagers that got caught up in things they didn’t understand. That’s why it’s important to keep the structure and discipline of the military. We have to stay in top mental and physical health at all times. Gunter may be offered a position on any of those type of missions.”
I gulped. “You still take missions?”
He glanced at me then back to the road as he drove. “Yes, we have teams for every letter of the alphabet. I’m in Company A, which means I don’t go on as many, but I have skill sets that are useful for all missions. I can’t be gone for too long because I am the President and I’m needed here, but I also have other obligations I can’t discuss.”
I was shocked he had time to spend driving me around and going grocery shopping. I previously saw him out riding around and doing charity work on top of everything he did to run the place. “How do you have time for everything you do?”
“I don’t always have this much down time. I’m sure Stephanie told you about the Originals. We worked together as a team to build this place and all of us have the highest rank. I don’t run every mission, each one of us are assigned to different kinds of missions to oversee. Each of us also have responsibilities to keep the community running. I couldn’t do all of it by myself. I take military missions, where Axton takes missions for government agencies. Mostly for the CIA and the NSA. Drakos takes private cases, and Magnus works with law enforcement agencies all around the world. I am stretched pretty far, but it's important for us to keep good relationships with the citizens around us. Summer time is the best time to build relationships with the communities around us. We go on charity rides, throw fundraisers, and whatever else we can do to gain the trust of the people around us. The last thing we need is for people to suspect us of wrong doings and pester the FBI and other government agencies about us. We serve the outside community and in return they give us the respect and privacy we need. That’s why I have some down time. None of us Originals go on missions in the summer unless something vital needs our attention. We try to keep the work light. It’s also good for Granger because his kids are out of school for the summer, and he can spend time with them.”
“Talk about work life balance, it sounds overwhelming.” I was amazed.
“Its not as bad as you might think. We have a lot of support people in place. It works well because we are all disciplined and well structured individuals. The problems we have are mostly with the prospects. They’re going through countless changes and sometimes they can get out of hand. That’s why it’s important to treat them as soldiers and expect nothing but the best from them. We have a three strike rule. They can visit bars and do whatever they want during their down time, but they can earn strikes for breaking laws which will end their careers. The prospects can need a lot of support because we never know how deep their trauma runs until they’ve been working with Bolton and doing their training. Sometimes they need more help than we can provide, so we find them help and services through the Veterans Administration and wish them well. We cannot risk lives by sending them on missions before they are ready. Unfortunately, some may never be ready. As far as guys like Gunter are concerned, we use rank to help them meet their goals. Think of it as an incentive to work hard and stay out of trouble.”
Everything he said made sense, so maybe his treatment of Max was for his best interest. I decided to change the subject. “I know you said I can order things for Addie, but I think I’d like to go out and hand pick a few things in Louisville. I also need to visit the salon. Do you think Josh could spare the time to take me?”
He glanced at me then to the road again. “We’re on lockdown. That means no trips to town and especially no shopping trips. You were able to go out today because it was vital to learn more about how to get Addie and for arranging the funeral. We are putting some safety measures in place for the funeral and any court hearings you may need to attend, but you can’t visit the salon in Louisville or go shopping. It’s not safe, and we don’t need the paparazzi following you back here, but there is a salon at the community center and the families do a closet swap every few months. I think there’s one coming up, so maybe you can swap a few things. Otherwise, I’m sure Stephanie can direct you to the best kids shops online.”
“Wait. Are you saying I can’t even visit my family?” I really needed my mom.
“Darren, Tanner and Patrick have clearance and can visit you any time. I can probably arrange for your mom and sister to also visit, but you cannot take any unnecessary time outside the gates. You’re here for protection. Katherine is one of the wives and she has the salon. I’m sure she can do whatever you need done.”
I wasn’t happy about it, but I understood. “Okay, thank you. I’d really like to see my mom soon though.”
“I will make the arrangements.” He gave me a quick nod as he pulled up to his garage to park the side by side.
Max helped bring the groceries inside, but I said I would put them away. I was hoping Creed would allow me to arrange the kitchen as I liked. I only had to barely glance at him and saw he had an amused smile on his face. “Make yourself at home. Arrange things how you like. I don’t use the kitchen often so have at it. I can help with whatever you need.” He offered.
“No, go do whatever you do when you’re home and I’ll happily make dinner.” I was dying to cook in his gorgeous kitchen.
We brought a lot of food home, but most of it was the staples every kitchen needed. Salt, pepper, garlic, spices, and even ketchup and mustard. I loved organizing and arranged everything according to need. If I was to bake I’d go to the baking shelf in the pantry. If I was making Italian food, I’d go to the Italian shelf. I even made a snack shelf so Creed could easily find some midnight snacks if he did that sort of thing. After I felt that everything had its perfect place I started making dinner. I was actually really hungry, but I knew my stomach couldn’t handle anything very heavy. I decided on a lemon pasta salad and added some salmon for protein. Then I popped in some garlic bread, and it was a simple quick meal. The lemon dressing was my own creation, so I hoped he liked it. I could make some heavier meals later in the week when I thought my stomach could handle it.
“Creed?” I called out for him, but he didn’t answer. That sent me on a hunt for him. I checked every room but finally found him in his library. He quickly clicked out of whatever he was looking at on his laptop. “I’m guessing that was confidential?”
The guilty smile on his face told me he was up to something.
“Sure.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Were you looking at porn or something? Shit, you weren’t looking up my lingerie photoshoot, were you?” I was teasing.
He gulped. “What lingerie photoshoot?”
I walked around his desk, and he didn’t protest when I brought up the Amazon page he was looking at. “Oh my God.” I laughed.
“What’s wrong with it?”
I might have been laughing but my heart was swelling at the same time. “I hate to break the news, but a dirt bike is dangerous and especially dangerous for a six year old.”
“Addie isn’t a prissy girl. When I was trying to calm her I got her talking about things that make her happy, so I know that girl doesn’t need a Barbie.” He defended himself.
I leaned against the desk and crossed my arms. “What exactly did she say?”
One side of his lips turned up and I could tell he might have had a soft spot for Addie. “Punching stupid boys straight in the mouth when they’re mean and the monkey bars at school.”
That sounded about right. “Let me see that shopping cart.” I demanded.
“No.” He tried to move the laptop.
“You’ll eat when you show me.” I threatened.
“Fine.” He let go of the laptop and I hit the tiny shopping cart icon.
“A miniature boxing ring, a punching bag, a karate outfit, a t-ball set, a basketball hoop, and last but not least, puppy supplies. “What the hell, Creed? You’re getting her a dog?”
He shook his head. “Correction, I’m getting myself the dog. Addie can just cuddle with it and let it provide some comfort. I never had one as a kid, so why not?”
“Puppies make messes and tear things up. Do you have time to train a puppy?” I felt like the parent in the house.
He rolled his eyes. “We have dog trainers on site.”
“Okay, and what kind of dog were you thinking? A big scary one?” I wasn’t too fond of the idea of getting a dog. It meant Addie would get attached and it would come live with us. I loved animals, but we already had enough adjustments to make.
“Nope, I thought Addie would like to choose.”
“So, you’re really getting Addie a puppy? Creed, they take a lot of attention, and we already have a lot of adjustments to make. Plus, we may not be here long enough to complete the training. I like things clean and well kept, so if you’re going to do this against my protest, why not a rescue dog that’s already trained and has the manners needed to live inside a house?”
He shut his laptop and stood. “Because she should grow up with the dog, not have it for two or three years and watch it die. She already lost too much.” He stepped around me and walked to the kitchen.
I followed him. “Shouldn’t I have some say in this since I’m going to be her parent?”
He stopped and turned to look at me. “The dog can live with me, and she could come for visits.”
“Right, and visits are what she would want once she’s attached to it. What will you do with it when you’re off on missions?”
He snapped his fingers after thinking about it. “If Auntie Morgan decides to be a stick in the mud I’ll just build a doggie daycare right here at Creed’s Lake.”
I laughed. “You think I’m the spoiled brat here? Not even I would build something frivolous just so I have services at my fingertips. Let’s just get Addie out of foster care and make decisions as we go.” I suggested.
He lifted a brow. “We?”
“Well, you’re making decisions already!” He was so damn irritating.
“I’m uncle Creed and I get to spoil her, then you can do all the crappy stuff like discipline and baths and shit.”
I burst out in laughter. “Baths and shit?”
“Yeah, what kid likes baths? Plus, no six year old wants some old man to give her baths. I think there might be laws against it. That’s a mommy job.” He looked panicked for a moment then relaxed. “She is definitely out of diapers, right?”
I stepped around him. “You’re unbelievable.”
It was his turn to follow me. “Why am I unbelievable?”
“You were looking to buy a dirt bike for a child when you didn’t even know of she still wore diapers?”
“Okay fine, that’s a good point, but I think you should let me buy the fun stuff and you can get the boring stuff like a crib and a rocking chair or whatever.” He suggested.
“Crib and rocking chair?” I asked as I pulled two plates down from the cupboard.
“Yeah, I mean how else do moms put them to sleep and where do you put them to sleep?” He asked.
I paused and looked up at him. “Typically, parents tuck them into their own regular bed at night and read to them. They may even tell them stories or whatever. I guess it depends on Addie and what she needs. She’s six, Creed. She’s not in diapers and she’s not a baby. The girl even goes to a public school.”
“Okay fine. You can shop for the boring things and then help me shop for age appropriate fun stuff. Either that or I ask Granger for help.”
I began putting the salad on our plates. “I have an idea. Why not let Addie help you find the fun stuff?”
He snapped his fingers, and I looked up at him. “That’s an even better idea.” He then looked down at the plates of salad. “What the hell is this shit?”
“It’s a salad with salmon.” I answered.
He shut his eyes and shook his head. “I will contact Stephanie.” He opened his eyes and looked at the plate again. “She can train you in mom cooking. Like…where’s the roast beef and mashed potatoes? Shouldn’t there be a dark gravy and where’s the roasted carrots? I think maybe I should have Stephanie organize a mom boot camp for newbies. I don’t think moms cook this way.”
I laughed. “I know how to cook those things, but my stomach can’t handle anything heavy tonight. It’s still a bit upset.” I tilted my head. “What happened to you between the time we unloaded the groceries where you were General Hardass and now you’re suddenly fun Uncle Creed?”
He shrugged. “I had a moment of downtime and remembered what it was like when they took her from me. I’m so damn worried about her. They took her and gave her to strangers when she could have went home with someone who cares about her. I can’t imagine how scared she is right now, and I don’t like how they won’t let you see her yet.”
My eyes caught his and my heart skipped a beat. I didn’t know what to say. He was always such an asshole, then he turned out to be kind, but definitely not sensitive and I was seeing him in a new light. Creed was the most confusing man in history, but it added to his hotness.
“Alistair?” I changed the subject, and he rolled his eyes before he took his plate and walked toward the kitchen table. I giggled. “You said your first name to the funeral director, and it bothered me all day because someone else mentioned that name. So, how are you related to Jake?”
I set my plate down and took a seat. “I doubt there are very many Alistair’s in this area and you’re super sensitive about Hollywood. My best guess is you’re the missing son of Nicole Powers.”