Page 3 of Master's Rise
Chapter One
Cort
Hearing the Security alert has me jogging through the house. Why the hell did I need such a big house? It was the lake that got me. The adobe-style works for me but I need to finish these empty rooms. I’ve lived in the porch, kitchen and bedroom for six months now. Loser comes to mind as I make the kitchen. “Hade, what’s going on?”
“Rex called in saying four Six-Guns are at the café. Brinks and Jinx are on it but I wanted everyone aware.”
“Sheriff alerted?”
“Yeah, they’re letting us handle it. Lieutenant of detectives, Trask McCabe is on. He’s the Nomad from Ohio until we pick him up. Raid told him within a month.”
This is good. “Good. I’m on my way.”
The breath he takes makes me smile. “Cort, you may set them off.”
“I’m counting on it.”
The muffled noise coming from his end makes me laugh. “On my way, Boss.”
Stuffing the phone in my shirt pocket, I start my bike still smiling. The door takes forever to roll up and I think of the list of shit I have to take care of. How I lived wasn’t a priority before. With my Brothers back in my life, it’s been one thing after another. This month was hard but so fucking good. Getting and earning trust back will take time but we made a good start and my days are more relaxed.
Focusing on my destination, I can’t say I’m surprised. It was only a matter of time before Deacon sent scouts to gauge our numbers and patience.
I worked my way up in the Club and our old President, Crow, pushed me into school but kept me working as an Enforcer. My dad was pissed, saying he could teach me about business but never shot it down. No one said no to Crow. Both school and Enforcer training served me well as VP then President. At six-six, with my reputation known, not many challenge me. Six-Guns left the Club alone after they lost all but two on the second run they made on us.
Our charter offered help but Crow never had to take them up on more than some training, so I didn’t take help either. We didn’t really need it with the Enforcer we had on. Badass didn't fuck around with the training for us. I went through it when I was in school. Crow was impressed with the book and ideas for a better Club. Because we learned so much from them, we didn’t need them stepping in like the other Clubs do. Just thinking about it has me smiling. Crow was so proud when we finished training and the Badass trainers complimented every one of us. I miss the crazy bastard more than I’d ever admit. It’s been more than five years now but his advice still plays in my brain.
Pulling up to the back of the café, I replay his ‘cut the snake off at the head’ story. I plan on doing just that. Deacon is not fucking with my new Club or me. Jinx is in the alleyway standing ready. I give him a nod walking by and he throws me chin.
By the time I make the front, Hade is shutting off his bike. “Plan?”
“Explain boundaries and let one relay.”
He rolls his eyes making me smile. “I fucking knew it.”
Shrugging, I turn to the café. “Why do you always ask?”
“Figure new Club, older Cort, different outcome.” He looks at me askance and my smile grows. “Wishful thinking?”
“Never made the Boy Scouts, Brother. I was raised in the Club.”
He laughs as we walk in. “I always forget that part.” He came up with me, Raid and Billy. Hade and Billy went into the military while me and Raid went to school and worked for our Club.
Walking in, we see four dirty Six-Guns watching us warily. Hade isn’t much smaller than I am and he’s recognized too, apparently. I walk to the counter and order a coffee throwing money down. “Any problems?”
The girl looks young shaking her head from side to side. She’s relaxed and smiling, too young to see the danger here. At thirty-five, anyone under thirty looks young to me. The Club must age us. When I turn to the Six-Guns, Hade orders a coffee. He was watching them while I wasn’t. Enforcer training never ends or gets dropped. I love it.
“I don’t recognize any of you. Since you know me and my top Enforcer, I can’t mistake you for travelers just stopping at a watering hole. I have our boundaries ready to send to whoever is looking for them. Once you have them, I get a call or you’re considered a threat.”
The grungiest looking of the bunch stands pissed. His clothes look a week lived in and his beard is tinged orange from desert clay. I almost laugh at his height. “Who the fuck are you to tell us where to ride?”
I nod. “I get it. You want open road and free-range. I do too, but Six-Guns pose a threat to my Club and me. We’ve been dealing with them for years peacefully. I know Badass sent out boundaries to the Six-Gun charter chair. So, why are you here and I didn’t get a call? It’s not like you stopped at a bar off the highway. You're a good twenty miles from a safe travel exit.”
Shorty here looks at another orange-stained bearded midget who stands up. “We show and get the President. You don’t have enough to defend without a personal appearance?”
I have no idea who Hade called in to show a presence, so I look at him and wait. He rolls his eyes and I want to smile but clamp my jaw tight. “You and the fucking snake lesson, I knew you’d throw that one at me so I set it up. Jinx and Brinks have been here since they walked in. Sniper on the roof next door and across the street, three Enforcers ready to shoot or escort, then me, you and Raid.”
I nod smiling away. “Impressive in the five minutes I gave you.” I get another eye roll and smile at the shocked look on three of the four Six-Guns’ faces. Shorty is not happy with Hade’s quick planning. I smile bigger. “I think we’re good. He didn’t know I’d show or it would have been a shit-show of Brothers every-fucking-where. The Sheriff is letting us handle it or they’d be here too.”
