Page 102 of Benga's Rise
Just as my lips hit hers, I hear a shot. “Stay here.” Pulling my gun, I’m out the door. “My room, Seren.” She pushes the door open and Victory and Juanita inside.
At the stairs, I see Freedom in between Hade and Ranger. Four Brothers are holding Cort against the wall. What the fuck? I run, making it to Cort hearing a Brother say Hade shot Pres. I put my gun to Mounty’s head. “Stand down.”
“He was shot, VP. Patcher is on his way.”
I look at Cort’s eyes. “Hold that in so Mounty can get Hade out of here.”
His head jerks in a nod. “Stand down, or I’m shooting you.”
Mounty steps back and Cort sags against the wall. Falcon has his shoulder under Cort’s. “Mounty, get Hade out. Hold him until I get there. Get me a chair.”
The Connecticut Brother does. We lower Cort into it. My hands are pulling his shirt up. “Get me clean towels.”
“Got it, Boss.” Moe is pulling shit from a case.
I grab the pads and hold them to the side of his chest. I’m glad it’s to the side. He’s going to feel it, but it’s not fatal. “You breathing okay?”
His eyes tell me no before his head moves. “Where the fuck is Patcher?”
“Here! Oh fuck. Pres. Let’s get him on the gurney.”
I look at Falcon. Cort’s pulling breath. “Ranger, help us get him up.”
I look and Ranger moves to Cort’s other side. I get his legs and we get him on the gurney. My brain jumps to its too small for him, but Patcher talking to him focuses me.
Brinks moves me. “Brother, let me take care of your hand.”
Ranger nods and sits in the chair Cort was in. I feel like I’m in a fucking tunnel here.
“Moe, get Doc in. Nicked his lung, but he’s losing air. I need help getting the gurney in the ambulance.” Patcher has a Prospect squeezing a bag. Fuck. Once he has an IV hooked up, he looks at me. “I need to sedate him. He needs to stay still and calm.”
Cort tries to get up.“Fuck. If you move, I’ll hold you down while he sticks you. Don’t fucking move!” I yell.
He relaxes and Patcher nods. His face lost color and his hands are shaking. “Patcher! What are we doing?”
He snaps out of it and moves. “Get him in the ambulance. Doc can fix this in the medic room.”
The Brothers help get him in the ambulance and I look for Brinks. “Get Hade to the office. He’s in holding until I see him. When that’s done go to my room and get the women to the office.”
“Roger, Boss.” He moves quickly. I sit in the ambulance with Falcon.
The ride is less than a minute and Brothers are waiting. Beacon and Nova help us get the gurney out and into the medic room. A tent is up and Doc is in it and covered. He tells Patcher to scrub in and us to wait outside.
Freedom comes down the hall holding Seren at her side. “It was high but nicked his lung. Doc is fixing it now. He tried to get up and walk away. He’s going to be okay.”
She hugs me and holds on. Lorelei makes it to us and rubs her back. I look at Freedom. She moves Seren to a chair and bends in front of her. Lorelei hugs me, then goes to Nova. “We need more chairs here. Can you get a Prospect to do that, Please?”
I should have thought of that.
He nods. “Yes, ma’am.”
It’s more than an hour before Doc comes out. “Seren, he’s going to be fine. Patcher had it sealed before he left the Club. With no fluid and his lung still functioning, the biggest concern was his oxygen level, but he was bagged right away, so it never dropped. He’ll take a few weeks to heal, but I’ll keep watch to make sure the sutures are holding and it doesn’t turn into anything more serious. Four stitches and the bullet missed everything but muscle. He’d be out here, but he agreed to be restrained if I didn’t put him under anesthesia or sedation.”
I laugh, my fucking Brother. Doc smiles my way. “He asked to see you first, VP. Do not let him loose. He needs to stay still and he won’t let me give him anything to relax. He’s angry, I can almost feel it in there with him.”
I nod. As soon as he sees me, he yells. “Get me the fuck out!”
Doc steps in the tent behind me. “If the stitches get torn and you’re too stubborn to see me, your lung will collapse and a hospital stay, without the choice of sedation is your next step. If you keep fighting it, I’ll have no choice but to transfer you there tonight.” Doc isn’t taking any shit from Cort.
