Page 107 of Master's Rise
I nod, I knew what he meant. “Are they all named with A?” Seren asks.
He smiles. “Yeah, Akai and Alta are the oldest then Amal, Aris, Allen, Aaron, Alder, Asa and Anton.”
“Do you or they need anything?” I ask, wanting to give them a better life.
With a shake of his head, he opens his mouth, but Seren stops him. “I think he is asking what they or you wouldwantnot need.”
“We’re good. They’re happy and talking to the Brothers more. It took a while, but I think it’s good. I grew up at St. Vincent’s. I think I did good and they don’t ever ask for anything.” He shrugs but looks unsure.
“I think you’ve done a great job, Brother. I want to do something for them but need a minute to figure what that is. I was hoping for an idea.”
He nods. “I wanted to show them the world but they can’t do shit like that and stay safe. They understand more than I do and are nervous about new people and being seen. Even the runs they do are just our Club and close. To them, that’s an adventure.” He laughs. “Church is an adventure.”
That’s cute. Seren smiles giving me a look. She has an idea. After getting the Enforcer’s meal, we head back. My head is full of the words and feelings I saw on Web’s face. He grew up in an orphanage and took in nine kids having no clue what a family was. Irony is our word of the day. My Brother floors me.
They were experimented on. All named with an A. I wonder if there is a whole alphabet of lab kids being injected with shit to make them robots. Fucking people are ruthless.
He throws respect as we turn into our driveway. He’s going home to his unconventional family.
~*~*~
Seren
Everything is flitting through my head. First is Chris. She mentioned the albinos remind her of her little brothers. Next is Cort and Paul, a swimming pool is a must, with that, some kind of activity center, maybe the ultimate man-room. They’re kind of old now for a mom but maybe Ant Irma can share some motherly love and advice with the help of her kids. Kids are best at teaching kids. Ajhil will love this.
We pull in and I don’t really know where I’m supposed to park, so I stay at Cort’s side and shut off the bike. “Do you want me to park this somewhere else?”
He smiles. “It belongs right there on the side of mine. I’m proud of you, Seren. You busted your ass to learn how to ride, then how to ride the bigger bike safely. You earned the spot with hard work. The Brothers are in awe of you.”
He’s so sweet. “Thank you. They’ve all been so good about teaching me. Falcon and Hade made schedules. It felt good, like I matter to them too. I never had a brother, now I have a ton of them.”
He kisses my head and walks me in. “You matter to all of them. I don’t really think it’s because of the cookies. You’re smart and funny and I heard it mentioned that you’re cool.”
Oh my god! “Really? They think I’m cool?” I blink to clear my eyes so I can see him.
“That’s what I heard.” He kisses my head and sits at the table pulling me on his lap. “I think you’re cool, smart, funny and perfect. It’s no surprise the Brothers see it.”
“I’ve never been cool, I’m always the girl no one talks to.” This is so far from that, I love my life.
He laughs. “Now, you’re the girl everyonewantsto talk to.”
I kiss his chest. “Thank you.”
“What do you think about the albinos?”
I shake my head. “First, we need to stop thinking of them like that and learn their names. They need to see they’re individual people, not an extension of a group. Second, an activity center or ultimate man-room with an indoor pool. Third, Ant Irma sharing motherly love and advice. Fourth, the teenagers, like Ajhil, interacting with them under supervision in their new space. What do you have?”
He laughs. “Nothing. I spent the ride replaying Web’s words. He loves those kids and is doing a good job but he doesn’t know family either.” He always focuses on people like that. That’s why I love him.
“So, the activity center and pool?”
He laughs. “Go for it. Send it to Amos as personal. Don’t go into...”
I squeeze him. “All the people I named don’t need a reason to put their hands out. They’ll do it because I ask and they’ll see the need. Like you, the reason isn’t important.”
“Did I mention smart?” He unzips my jacket kissing the hell out of me. I nod a little dazed and get kissed again, this time it’s the no-oxygen-my-brain-can’t-function kiss. “Sexy?”
My shirt is off and I shake my head no after I replay his word three times trying to remember what he asked first. We were talking about the albinos, I think.
“Incredibly beautiful?” His low moan vibrates down my back.
With a bite to my nippleImoan.“Thank you.”
He laughs kissing my lips and standing me up. “The hot tub is calling us, Kram.”
I nod not real sure what the hell is going on. I liked where we were. He takes my hand and walks toward the back doors. Men are so weird.
