Page 38 of Benga's Rise
He smiles but doesn’t say a word. I can tell him or keep it. He probably already knows. “She doesn’t trust men.”
He shakes his head. “She trusts you, Banks, Patcher, Doc, Jinx and me.”
“She’s in a wheelchair because of her ex. She doesn’t need a man now, she needs to figure out how to live without one.” There’s something about her that I want, but there’s so much I don’t know.
His fork stops before his mouth. “She’s been on her own for years. She slept in the spare room, worked and spent time with Leo. She stayed because the house wasn’t in her name. She has a thing with keeping Leo in a house.”
“She told me.” We’ve talked about everything from how she grew up to my first bike. The fact that she kept Leo in with a man that wouldn’t talk to him is a concern.
“Raid, what the fuck are you waiting for?”
Since he’s always on me for eating like an animal, I swallow my food first. “Waiting for? She’s in a fucking wheelchair. What would you like me to do?”
“You carried her through the market. You’re with her every fucking night talking on the porch. You haven’t been to the Club since they moved in. You love her kid and he loves you. Why aren’t you telling her how you feel?”
“You’re a nosy bastard. First, I don’t know how I feel. I don’t know her completely, but I know she isn’t versed in biker. She’s guarded with information about men unless it’s general shit. I got time because she’s in a wheelchair and I can take the long way around to figure out what I’m feeling.”
His fork stops again. “The long way around?”
I nod. “She’s always telling Leo when he does right. I like it and like knowing her mom and grandmother were the same. Everything that comes out of her mouth is like a compliment without the words. She does nice things to remember people and places. Her grandparents met in town. He was army and proposed to her in the square on the Fourth of July. Every fourth, she takes Leo to the spot and watches the fireworks. I like knowing shit like that and it tells me the nice is real. She’s learning about our world while I learn about her.”
“She’s comfortable now with bikers. You can learn all that shit later, the chick is pretty and sweet to everyone.”
“You knew Seren was yours because of quotes. She’s beautiful, but the quotes did it. My first look at Lorelei was of pain. She was bent wrong, stuck in between the bed and wall. It’s just this last week that pain isn’t driving her. She’s still in a chair and isn’t getting out of it today. I feel something with her, like she’s a ruby I shouldn’t let go of or something, but she has hurt in her that I don’t think she’s dealing with. I don’t need to rush, but I do need to know what the fuck I’m feeling. I’ve got time and like taking the long way.”
“You love her. You need to tell her.” He’s fucking crazy.
“If I were you, I would. I’m me so I’ll do this my way. Backroads are always more interesting.”
Shaking his head, he mumbles. “The long way. Fucking Brothers.”
“Hade and Freedom good?”
He shakes his head again. Shit. “He’s another fucking idiot. My Brothers are some of the smartest men I know until women show. He’s holding her at arm’s length and you’re cruising the fucking back roads. The women will get tired of waiting and move on and you’ll both be kicking yourselves having to see them with smarter Brothers.”
Not fucking happening. She’s in my house for another two weeks or, if I can convince her, longer. Leo loves it there. He shouldn’t have to leave. Shit, she was worried about him being attached to me, not the other way around. Maybe I’ll talk to her tonight. She’s pretty easy to talk to.I eat in peace and pay, then follow Cort out.
Hade gets me focused. “Pres, we have two Presidents pulling in with twelve Brothers.”
“Fucking Brothers couldn’t give me a heads-up? We’re on our way. Get an Enforcer team on to cover our shift.”
“Roger, Boss.”
It takes six minutes to get to the office from here. The Presidents are looking up at the portico with Brothers milling around them. Cort is pissed. All their bikes are under the portico and I see oil dripping.
He throws chin then asks. “You brought twelve Officers?”
It’s a bit extreme, but it’s two different Clubs. “Cort, it’s great to meet you in person. No, we only have two Officers. One for each of us. The rest are Enforcers.”
Cort nods. He’s still pissed. “Not knowing me, gives understanding as to why there are fourteen bikes under the portico. Now that we’ve met, you’ll understand better. If I say it, I mean it. Unless you are an Officer, if you park your bike under the portico, you are willingly handing it over to me.”
Brothers scramble to the bikes and move them. Cort doesn’t say a word until they’re turning to the lot. The two Presidents look like he punched them. Not a good start. I see why their Brothers don’t listen. “Now, it’s good to meet you. Piston and Needle isn’t it?”
I smile, he knows who they are. “Yeah, we meant no disrespect. We thought the sign was for your Club.”
Cort nods. “It is. Since we trainallClubs, it’s meant for you too, hence the signs. I would not roll into your Club and disregard your very first words. I believe you earned the right to run however the fuck you do and would follow your protocol. I expect the same in my house.”
No disrespect and of courses follow a bunch of shit that is meant to placate him. When the Brothers meander back, Cort introduces me and we get their Officers names. These Enforcers wouldn’t make it here. They left their Presidents with a clearly pissed off President that’s known for shooting people that piss him off and it took them two minutes to stroll from the lot. Now they’re not focused on anything, but still milling around.
