Page 33 of Benga's Rise
“Freedom in the house!” Freedom yells and I’m sensing a pattern.
“Does everyone enter like that?”
Her smile is infectious. “At Seren’s, yes. The Brothers always walk in but let her know so they don’t scare the bejesus out of her. Hade’s is the same, but he lives in a condo and it’s all open, so someone walking in is noticed and they’re afraid of Freedom.”
I’m laughing again and her eyes go to the hand on my shoulder. “Oh, Lorelei, Peter has always been a jerk, but this takes the happy right out of my universe.”
I wave her away. “Cort paid him back for me. He’s getting my part of the money from the house and did something with a satellite dish. Raid called it dick in a dish.”
She laughs. “Oh, my Amethyst Gemstone, I would have loved to see that. It sounds as good as the hosing. I’m glad you’ll get something for the house. I know you loved it but you need to be at the condos. The Brothers can watch out for you and Leo.”
“I’m getting that.” They seem hell-bent on making sure we’re safe. Even getting L. out of the gang. I push the thought away quick before I’m crying again.
“Lorelei! Come meet Cowboy!” Freedom yells. I’m not sure if it’s normal, but it makes me smile that yelling isn’t mean here.
We go meet the designer. I nod at all his ideas having no idea what’s okay. Raid is crazy and already approved, so who am I to say no? It’s his house. After seeing L. for twenty whole minutes, Seren takes him to the office and brings Caelan back with her. Cowboy has people in and out. I’m glad to see Prospects here with him.
I help where I can, but mostly watch Seren cut vegetables for lasagna like she was born doing it. The girl is talented as well as beautiful. While she works with some help from Victory, I get to hold her little boy who isn’t so little. L. is right, he’s going to be a giant. He has Seren’s crystal blue eyes and they tell me, Cort’s golden hair. Cort must have dimples. This boy is going to be a heartbreaker when he grows up. Everything about him is beautiful and he’s a newborn, big, but still a beautiful newborn.
Before Freedom and Victory leave, they help me back into bed. I’m tired and sore so it works for me. I take a pain pill and relax on the bed. Every one of them kisses my cheek and I’m so damn happy to be right here connecting and close to my old friends.
Well, Seren babysat for me but wouldn’t come again, unless Victory or Freedom could come with her. The first time Freedom stayed with Seren was the last time Seren babysat. Peter wouldn’t leave her alone, Freedom said. I took her out for coffee and apologized. I never called her again. I never called anyone again. How do you knowingly put someone in a situation like that?
Yawning, I set it all aside. Seren has never held it against me and Freedom and Victory were happy I was protecting her. I wish I didn’t work so much and got to see them more. I smile closing my eyes. I’ll see them more now.
~*~
Raid
I can’t help smiling at the little guy. He loves his room. I think about Lorelei and go to hers. “Come see Leo’s room. He’s still talking and no one is in there.”
When I lift her up, she laughs. “Since you asked and all, okay.”
Shit. “Sorry, he’s excited and I didn’t want you to miss it.”
“Thank you.” Fuck, she has tears in her eyes. I bring her to his room and put her on the bed.
“Mom, look at this. I can see the stars at night and the Badass building.” The kid bounces from the window to his desk then to the bed with his computers. “Anton showed me how to use the laptop and tablet. I can look up everything. Look at this. Raid said I can keep them, but I’m going to work for it. I helped deliver papers with the Prospects today. Patcher said I can go to Little Brothers tomorrow. They’re helping at the hospital. They have kids that are alone and we can talk to them. Can I go too? I can show you Little Brothers on the website.” He’s talking a mile a minute again.
Lorelei’s eyes, with unshed tears and smile, shows her love for him. It’s nice to see. She nods and he’s off again. I watch them smiling. Seren had him brought to the office since Cowboy was working on the room when he got home. I didn’t even know he was there until he brought me reports from Web. I heard all about Anton and his new job. I laugh when he starts telling Lorelei about it.
“I’ll be back in a few. I heard all about the amazing Anton already so I’ll get dinner on the table.”
Lorelei nods mouthing thank you, but Leo doesn’t stop talking. The kid is cute.
Seren made lasagna so I pop the garlic bread in the oven and pour salad out of a bag into a bowl. When I get everything on the table, I go back for Lorelei and Leo. I smile at the names. The Ls like Web’s As. My feet stop. They’re all As, they were injected with shit. Fuck, they were experiments. You read shit and never think, or maybe you just hope that it’s not true. With the As, I know it’s true and wish it weren’t. That’s why Cort had the building built for them. He’s giving them a way to be happy. I’m glad Leo’s happy is easy.
“Dinner is ready. Seren is an awesome cook. She says she’s not a chef, but she’s wrong.”They’re both smiling when I come in. No tears is always good.
Dinner is relaxed and Lorelei is the same as yesterday, telling Leo when he does good. The kids are working on their school projects at Little Brothers tomorrow before the hospital. Amos has all the supplies they need at the Little Brothers shop. It was a repair store before Amos and Patcher renovated it. Right down from the pizzeria means it’s easy for the kids to get to. There are bike racks on the side so they can make it on their own. I can’t say I paid much attention to the building before, but I will from now on. I get reports of what they’re doing and it’s all shit we did as kids. That will keep Leo happy.
He surprises me helping me clean up and store the leftovers. We make a plate for Lorelei’s lunch tomorrow then get her into the sitting room. Leo wants to watch a movie. I start explaining how it works and he’s watching me, but his expression tells me he knows. I stop talking and hand him the controller to Lorelei trying to cover her laugh. I roll my eyes at her.
“He’s ten, TV and gadgets are his life,” she says with a big smile. My dick likes the smile.
I can see that. “Does he like fishing and sports? It’s better than video games.” Any distraction will be good right now.
Her eyes get sad. “He’s not much for video games, but hasn’t been fishing since my family moved to Florida about four years ago. He’s in every club at school, but they don’t teach how to play sports anymore. They have teams, but PE isn’t what it used to be. He watches but doesn’t really play.”
