Page 30 of Benga's Rise
I laugh. Jesus. Dick in a dish is a name that will be remembered. “He’d never put you in a dish, Brother.”
“I’m not taking any chances. I didn’t tell him no, kept you calm so I didn’t have shit coming from you and hung at the Club making it a good night for all of us.”
“Fucking great, I get roommates and you got laid. I feel cheated, Brother.”
“Not my type but...”
No, he isn’t finishing that.“Keep your fluid gender or bi shit to yourself. I do women.”
He puts a big smile on. “Brothers all say that, but you’d be surprised how many flow with the women and me.”
I shake my head. “No, I wouldn’t, but I don’t need details. I’ve lived in the same Club, Brother. We all get it. We just don’t want to hear about it. It’s not like we’re sharing our shit either, so don’t do the whole homophobe bit.”
He laughs. “I’m just busting your balls, VP. I wasn’t sharing and you’re right, I don’t have to listen to the Officers shit, but the Brothers are loose with the details. They didn’t get what Crow gave you guys. They’re from everywhere.”
I nod pulling up the paperwork for the Credit Union. “Jinx should be here...” I smile as he opens the door. “Now.” This happens a lot with me. It always makes me smile.
“VP, Banks.” He sits swiping on his tablet. “I had some questions.”
Banks nods. “I knew you would, that’s why I sent you everything yesterday.”
I read it all last night. I’m glad Lorelei warned me about sweets and soda. I needed the time to read through the twenty thousand fucking pages he sent. I guess that’s alone time. Women are fucking smart.
We get through all the details and Jinx’s million questions. I send him the sheet of what I need from him and he smiles. “You knew?”
“I know what I’ll need from you weekly. Banks has his part mapped out for us. Now you know what I’ll be looking for so I can get him the numbers or problems. He does projections and investing in the community.”
Banks laughs when Jinx shakes his head. “Why’d you let me ask all those questions?”
Banks is still laughing. “You needed answers you could understand. Did you understand?”
He smiles. “Yeah, Boss. I’m clear about my part here.”
“Good. Go to work.” I got shit to do and no time to listen to more Club gossip.
Banks follows him out but stops at the door. “Lorelei’s money is in the bank. I transferred it this morning. Her car will be here today, but it’s her right leg so she isn’t driving it anytime soon. It will be here in the lot.”
I nod and he turns telling Jinx about the eight tellers from the Masons and Security from here. I get up and close the door. I don’t need those details either.
~*~
Lorelei
This place is unreal. Prospects bring me breakfast and a man dressed as a robot watches from the door. Raid and Freedom weren’t kidding. The doctor is releasing me but said he’ll see me at Raid’s house because I’d be more comfortable without a guard at the door and in a real bed. I guess we’re staying with Raid. I hope the woman with the kids isn’t being stalked too.
I don’t get why Peterexpends so much energy on me. He openly had women the last two years we were married. I slept in the spare room, refusing to leave after working so hard to pay extra on the mortgage every month. He bounced from job to job so it wasn’t always easy, but I needed to make sure L. had a home.
Peter knew how I felt about not having a stable home. My family moved from one place to another while my dad struggled to keep a roof over our heads. The trailer we ended up in was the easiest for my dad to keep. It was tight but we were all together there. There were times when we got sent to other family members. They didn’t want us there and always shipped us back home when my dad found a new place. L. needs to stay in one house without the mean and sometimes abusive people hurting him.
The shit Peter did was just vindictive and played into my worst fears. I’m glad Phoenix gave it back to him. It sounds like that was in spades too. I can’t believe they’re giving me money from the house. The company that bought the mortgage sent a guy to our house, scaring the shit out of me. When Peter said it was sold I wanted to kill him. He walked away, leaving me to clear out the house with no way to do it. For months I was trying to catch up and get in front of the bills. The paycheck loan company that I broke down and used to pay for emergency movers was my worst mistake. No car meant that I had to pay for rides on top of keeping the payments up for it so my credit wouldn’t be shot. Peter said I could take it at any time, but the car wouldn’t run and I had no money to fix it. It’s the only thing in my name besides the utility bills.
I wish my family didn’t move so far away. With everyone in Florida, I had no one to turn to and I couldn’t ask for help at work. They frown on managers with money troubles. According to my boss, it shows a lack of understanding and is a clear alert to future theft. I’m not a thief but felt like one because I hid all the problems Peter created.
I was so glad to get the call from Phoenix. Banks knew about the house and offered me a job and even a house back in town until we got settled. The tears waited until I hung up, but relief poured out of me for a good ten minutes after that call. They gave me a house and promise of help before I even had the job. I should have called them myself before it got so bad.
Not trusting men is a bad habit to get into. My warped view made that worse. L. was being threatened by a gang. I was called to the school because they beat him up as he was leaving. He never told me how bad it was, but the principal did when I signed him out of school to move back to town. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he had a full week of absences that he won’t tell me about.I know I’ll get it sooner or later, but he was so happy being back in town, I decided to wait until he was settled in our new house. Again, Peter took that away.
The door opens and I smile. “My boss’ boss’ boss and new roommate. Hi, Raid, I can go home to a comfortable bed and no guard at the door, according to the doctor. Thank you for the rooms and keeping L.. He sounded happy this morning.”
