Page 7 of Master's Rise
Chapter Two
Four days
Cort
Jogging through the house, I hit a stool at the edge of the counter and hop around answering the Security alert. While it looks nice, my thoughts are on how much a fucking stool hurt my toes. I think I just broke two. Getting shot didn’t hurt this much.
“What’s going on, Hade?”
“Six-Guns pulled off the exit from the north and south. Web counted fourteen south, eight north. We don’t have video of west yet, but east is clear.”
“Coordinate for Ops. Keep a set of eyes on east and west. Where’s Falcon?” I ask while hobbling back to my room. Fucking furniture.
“Coming for you.” I can hear that smile.
“Get Security with MPs.” Automatic and light will work here.
“You got your gear? I should have asked before they hit.” Concern laces his words. Kevlar suits, that look like futuristic battle gear, in our size are custom made.
“Full gear, I’m pulling it out now.”
He’s gone with, “See you on the sunny side.”
The first time I wore the new gear, I was a little embarrassed. It really is like futuristic Stephen Spielberg movie shit. The zip on the pants is set at an angle. Since it’s got a thicker guard to keep my balls covered, it works for me. The chest, shoulders, back and thighs have a thicker shield too, with an angled zipper to hold an added layer of light plating on the chest. In them, my frame looks bigger than what I am. My dad was huge, I come close to matching his build when I’m dressed but not his height. He was a fierce Enforcer for Crow back in the day.
Completely covered in Kevlar, I walk out cinching my belt on. I lost some weight but feel the familiar stretch of fabric and shields against my shoulders and chest. I’m glad I didn’t lose it where it matters. In the safe room, I pull an MP and ammo, close it down, then hit the door. It rolls up slow reminding me to get the fucking thing fixed.Falcon watches it go up from outside.
“Cort.” He waits for me to acknowledge him.
I do with a nod, hating that the Officers do it, but understanding the need. I was VP and did it myself for years.
“Hade has an ammo mule readied.”
Another nod and I’m flipping my visor down. Falcon reaches over and pulls the fabric loose to flatten it so my neck is covered. If I’m hit, a bullet won’t go through. It will hurt like a bastard but probably not as bad as my toes ramming a stool. Normally I wouldn’t stand for this, but they told me about waiting outside my hospital room for a week when I was shot. I never even knew they were there. I left order’s that no one was to be let in. When I realized they knew about Courtney, I thought they knew everything. Being cheated on is humiliating. It never happened before, so it being public hurt my pride more than I’d ever say. I should have trusted them. Letting him cover me, hopefully, shows him that trust now.
Hade is directing us to the south. A truck and Officer rockers show there. Web must have some good video. Our suits, bikes and helmets are all black with our logo across our back in black. Since we have a shit load of mixed Samoans, I’m not easily identifiable.
“Two Officers behind the truck. They’re readied. This is not a meet and greet, Boss.”
Falcon laughs. “He’s been right alongside us for years. Why do you keep thinking he’s going to change that? Every fucking Op you’re warning him and every fucking Op, he ignores you.”
I give Falcon a nod of thanks then laugh. “Thenyoushould too. We do this every time. If I didn’t, he’d wonder why. What’s your fucking problem?” Hade makes me laugh more. I knew it was habit.
Falcon laughs. “Not a fucking thing, Brother, thanks for keeping him clear.”
“You're coming up to Jinx and Brinks in a half-mile. They slowed it down to wait for you.”
“Roger. Was waiting on the Boss.” Falcon looks over at me.
“Stubbed my toes on the new furniture when I was running for the phone.”
Everyone’s laughing but Falcon. “You good? I broke my middle one a couple months back. Toes fucking hurt like hell.”
Since they’re still laughing in my helmet, I nod. “I thought it was worse than getting shot when it happened. I hit a stool with two, since they’re working, I’m going with they’re fine.” They still hurt but I’m not telling them that.
Jinx and Brinks fall in behind us. When Crow died, they tried to shield me from the front. I shot Brinks’ tire just before we met up with the Six-Guns making a run and they never tried to shield me again. Sometimes words are not needed.
The Six-Gunsthinking we’d be distracted by grief were wrong. We were so fueled by Crow’s death, we decimated the crew that showed. We didn’t have the space-aged suits we do now. Everyone knew I wasn’t playing and I’d take my place, standing first to defend the Club.
