Page 27 of Master's Rise
“She can take care of herself, but Cort’s got her back and every Officer threw her protection.” Jinx stops me from opening my mouth.
Freedom watches me as if sizing me up. “Men in groups tend to change their intent on a dime. Experience has taught us to stay close until we are comfortable. I know of you but can’t say I’m there yet.”
Fuck that’s honest and pisses me off. “You’re right and knowing this is learned from experience pisses me right the fuck off. Our intent shouldn’t be questioned, but your need to be comfortable tempers that. Safety is the reason all the Officers threw protection. Every Brother here is charged with keeping her safe, or they won’t be. If you know of me, you know that is a promise, not an order to be disregarded.”
“I like you, Cort Masters. Lead and Enforce are your strong suits. I can trust in that.”
I smile. “Badass is not new to you.”
She shakes her head and Seren laughs. “No one is new to her and Victory.”
The Brothers are eating it up. The day gets better as it goes on. Victory shows with Brinks and everyone gives him shit. Seren is happy talking but she listens intently to everything said.
When they tire of the Brothers, she pulls her friends, a Club chick and a chick that latched on to Trask away to talk to Ant Irma. I stand, ready for another beer but don’t go to the trough by the women. Rex is happy as a pig in shit over his pig in the fire. While he pours shit on the pig, he tells me of the hole in the bar getting covered. He’s happy only two tables got broke and a few chairs. Tomorrow he’s got a crew from the city coming to make it all new. He has the money to get shit done quick, I’m glad he does because we’re flat out with construction crews from every fucking where and they’re all busy.
My eyes are on the women as we talk. Freedom noted my position as I moved. She’s also noted a few Nomads watching them. I watch them too. Whatever they’re talking about has Ant Irma smiling, crying, then laughing.
“Boss,” Raid says from my side.
“Yeah, Raid.”
“Nomads were warned.”
I nod. “I saw Hade.”
“We’re ready, Cortland,” Rex says and I know he’s smiling. He loves showing where he came from and we have a shit-load of new people for him to explain our culture to.
I whistle and Prospects look, then run toward us. Moving from right here seems like a good idea, so I do. The women are watching the new activity with smiles. Heading toward them, I’m stopped four fucking times. Our new Brothers are excited.
By the time I make it to Seren, Raid is standing beside Ant Irma waiting.“Food is ready. Let’s eat,” he says like he just got there.
I put out my hand and guide Seren to the food tables while Raid walks with Ant Irma. We walk the back where no one but servers are so she can see all the options. The pig is in the middle, the place of honor, she mentions making me laugh. I explain the fruit and vegetable-heavy menu and Polynesian tradition. She likes that based on her smile.
Finally, we sit. The Officers mix in with Brothers surprising Seren. The fox and her sister Victory watch but look happy from down at the end of the table. For some reason, Sharp is across from me. The way the Officers are watching, I bet Raid put him there.
Seren is funny, so I keep up conversation with the new Brothers. If Sharp starts laughing, I’m shooting him. I do note that he’s not stunned stupid by Seren anymore. That’s something.
~*~*~
Seren
These Brothers are smart. The tattoos had me thinking differently. The Officers aren’t tattooed all over. I see some peeks but nothing on their necks, lower arms or faces. The colorful IT guy knows way more than I ever will. I shouldn’t have assumed that intelligence ran only with the Officers and feel like an idiot for thinking it.
Cort talks to everyone and seems to know everyone’s job and history. This is a lot of Brothers to know.
His arm tightens around my back and I look up. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. You know all of them?” I ask thinking I’m never going to remember all this.
He chuckles and I find that cute. “About them. I have a database the Brothers are on. We’ll have more coming in testing my memory.”
Smiling I let him know he wins. “I’ve already forgotten names I learned ten minutes ago.”
“It’s a lot to meet but you remember the Officers. There are Brothers that show at times like today that we keep tabs on. Security, Enforcers and Officers are all people you can trust, no question. Prospects that you meet will be moving to one of those sections. Anyone else, we will keep out of your path or they’re watched if they make it close to you. Raid stood by you and Ant Irma making sure protection was noticed by those that we watch.” His serious look sends a shiver of apprehension through me.
“Is that a warning?”
He smiles. “Not at all, just letting you know that we are controlling who and what we can around you. You’re always hyper-aware of your surroundings. You can relax but not so much that you’re vulnerable to a dickass that thinks he has a shot.”
