Page 11 of Master's Rise
“Web wants to stay in the hospital with his albinos. Jinx and Brinks like the little gatehouse thing and Hade and Falcon haven’t said. My idea to Banks is building a condo-like building for them. They’re more city.”
“You and Banks?”
“Condo for Amos and me too.” Banks is happy.
“You’re sure you can get enough for all this?”
Amos laughs. “It’s done, Boss. He even got renovation money set aside. We’ll need housing until the condos are done, but we can use the hospital land for that condo unit.”
What a relief. “This is good. I’m heading into a meeting about the Hardware store. I needed to make sure I’d have the money without it hurting. Rent what you need for now. The Club will cover it.” If I’m not paying for the Club, I’m good.
“Boss, you’re fine with funds. The Club will pay for what we take over like we did in the city. You wanted out of print and liquor first, we deposited last week for the first eight liquor, your problem stores and the three print with whiny managers. You want hardware in there too?” Amos knows I have no fucking idea what’s been deposited. I look monthly. Any more than that is migraine-inducing.
“I have no fucking clue what the hell is going on in town, but it doesn’t look good. I’ll let you know on the store when I get a clearer picture. Raid is getting me Brothers close and someone on surveillance. Falcon has three printers running cuts for us so we’ll have Brothers to spread out. My biggest concern is housing right now.”
“We can help with that, who is on it right now?” Banks is a good Brother to have. We met in college and he took to Badass like white on rice.
“Web and Raid as of ten minutes ago.”
“We’ll go see Web. It sounds like Raid is busy,” Amos tells me.
“He’s looking for vacancies in town, he may get with Web for it when he gets in.”
Banks makes me smile. “On our way now, Boss.”
They’re gone and I turn to see Rex leaning against the Hardware store door watching me. “You’re moving fast. You need to. The town needs help.”
I nod. I got that with the sledgehammer wielding dickass. “He threatened you when?”
“Last week, when I left a message for you to come see Seren. Her father was a friend. Died suspiciously on the lake while fishing. Seems he fell overboard and drowned. He was navy. He didn’t drown, Cortland.”
Sonofabitch! “You want me somewhere, tell me. Don’t leave me a message through anyone else. Call me, email it or show at the office. Why am I just hearing all this now?” I’ve been at the bar and seen him.
He looks away. “You’ve been busy. You’re still busy, but this boiled over. The town is overrun by bullies. The hospital closed then the Doctors moved. The HP annex left for Nevada taking the chip manufacturer with it. People are leaving and businesses closing. Some because of bullies like Greg. Less people is less police presence. They get away with it and are getting meaner. I wasn’t worried about the bar because there are always Brothers in it. I rented the space above to Sharp until you work out lodging.”
Sharp is a sniper that loves being outside. Heat and cold never seem to affect him. I don’t imagine he’d be good for Security on his downtime. “He isn’t going to be around much.”
He nods. “I just wanted overnight presence and he heard me telling Shelly about the threat.”
It’s smart, but he should have told me about it. “What’s with the store?”
Disgust shows on his face. “She’s too pretty to run it. She can and is better than her father at it, but men won’t buy from her or are threatening her. I came in on one trying to back her behind the wood display. She told me about another that’s been following her. He shows in the store and won’t leave. She has a friend come over from the store down there,” he points down the road, “that looks out for her, but it’s only a matter of time. She’s not safe alone and can’t make the money to hire help. She’ll end up raped. Closing the store down is her only option at this point.”
“Fuck, she’s tooprettyto run a store?” What the fuck is happening in our world? I shake my head trying to clear the thought of that angel hurt. “Does she want to keep running it? I can put a Brother here.”
He points over my shoulder. “She’s going to open a pizza place. They closed when the annex left. She’s smart and realized with you opening the Club here, pizza would be a good bet. She used to manage that when she was going to school so it’s a business she knows. She’ll want to tell you about it.”
“Why didn’t she work here?”
“She did until her father cut his hours. That’s how she took it over so easily. Customers would walk out and wait until he was on. It didn’t pay to keep her on with no sales. Byron tried, he talked about retiring next year, then the annex left so she came back. Men screwed with her enough that they filed three harassment reports but it just made it worse. He died on the lake last June.”
Jesus. “Where’s her mother?”
“Cancer took her when Seren was ten.”
Fucking hell. “What does she need for pizza?” I can swing the Hardware and Pizza. I’ve got eight liquor stores going to the Club soon. Thank God my father had insurance and left me his half of the businesses.
He smiles. “Nothing. She’s like you with money. Byron was insured and she’s no fool.”
