Page 20 of Benga's Rise
The woman takes his hand with some pain showing. “I’m sore, but the man is right, I’ll be okay, L. The faster they can see what’s wrong is the faster it can be fixed.” Her voice wavers and comes out soft and slow, but she’s thinking clearly. That’s pretty smart. The kid is good with that so I look around.
Cort isn’t in here. “Where’s Cort?” I ask Banks while Patcher does his patching thing.
“Out back on the phone. This is our new HR manager.” He looks worried.
“Fuck. Is there somewhere closer to the office they can stay?” She was just interviewed today.
With a smile, he pulls his phone. “I’ll find out, VP. She’s got references and all kinds of endorsements from Masons and the hospital. I don’t want to lose her.”
Shit. “We need to keep our staff close so we can keep them safe.”
He stops his scrolling and looks up. “We should. I have another that’s in the same boat, but she has three kids. I’ll get her closer too.”
I nod and walk out the front door. I am not going through that obstacle course of a kitchen again. Coming around the side, I start laughing. Cort has the dick sitting in the satellite dish that’s braced to a landscape timber about four feet off the ground.
He’s rifling in his pockets for something when he looks my way. “Just in time, I need more cuffs.”
I laugh giving him what I have. “Glad I can be useful.”
“Always, Brother. He’s pissed the woman bought a house. He sold the other before Reynolds got it. Kept every penny thinking she’d have nowhere to go. Doesn’t give a shit about the kid because she spends time and money doing for the kid and not him. His temper tantrum in there was payback according to him.” While he talks, he’s pulling the wire ties tight on the dick’s arm just above the wrists. No circulation will keep him from moving much. I smile when he connects two and does his legs just under the knee.
His words hit me, he’s jealous of his kid? “He was hosed on one of the buildings last year.” She hasn’t bought the house according to Banks, but I’m not asking with the dick right here. We were just coming to look at the houses that were set aside for Brothers coming in. It was a quick way to get some of the families that moved out back into town.
He nods. “Banks said she’s been in C for more than six months. He cleaned her out, took the car and left her taking a bus to work.”
That’s fucking sick. “She’s our new HR manager. Got good reports from some Masons and endorsements from the hospital. Jinx hired her today. She must have just got back and found him here. Banks is looking for somewhere close to the office for anyone working for us. He said he’s got another in the same boat, but with three kids. This one has a broken leg and shoulder problem. Patcher is working on her now.”
He reaches over and punches the dick again getting nothing but a moan back. “He said boy. How old?”
“The sentinel I talked to from town C. Looks about ten.”
“Sonofabitch. You’re a bigger dicktwat than I thought. You put your ten-year-old in the middle of a gang so you can feel powerful.” He hits him so hard the satellite dish falls off the timber. We stand looking at it for a couple of seconds, then he says, “Huh, I like it. Hade, send someone with a chain so we can transport this dickass.”
I start laughing. He’s going to drag him around on a satellite dish. I love my Brother.
“No!” We turn toward the front seeing Leo running our way. “You jerk! You hit her!”
I put my arm out to stop him and the little shit ducks lower making it past me then Cort.
“You hit her! You took everything then hit her!” He’s kicking his father before I can lift him up.
“Good job,” Cort says and I’m shaking my head. “No man should put hands on a woman like that. I’ve got no problem with teaching him this lesson. I wouldn’t mind the help, but he isn’t my father. I think it would be better if you let me handle this for you. You can take the next one. Deal?”
Thank fuck he’s thinking. Leo relaxes in my arm. “Deal. She’s got a broken leg. The man sent me out so they could put her shoulder back. He hurt her bad.” His little voice is shaking.
I turn him so he’s against my chest. “We’ll get her fixed up and back to good for you, Leo. Your name fits you, little guy. Keep that lion heart close and we’ll have your back to help keep her safe.”
Cort nods with his eyes telling me to get him out of here. I walk my little buddy back to the front. Patcher and Banks are getting the woman into his truck. It’s like an ambulance tricked out with our colors on it. “VP.”
I nod so he’ll go on. “It would be better to keep her overnight. I’ll get her casted and comfortable, but she has a knot on her head that we’ll need to keep an eye on. Doc is waiting to check her out.” He looks at Leo then back to me.“Can you keep Leo? We’re not really set up for visitors and shit.” He needs time?
“Yeah. I’ll bring him to see her when I head back.”
He looks relieved and gives Leo a smile. “Dinnertime would be good. He can eat with her.”
I nod. “Sound good, Leo? I’ll bring you to eat dinner with your mom.”
He twists trying to get down. “Yeah, can I see her first?”
