Page 47 of Benga's Rise
Chapter Six
Raid
Eating at my desk, I’m surprised when the door opens. No one gets here this early. I roll my eyes when Cort walks in and sits. “Cort.”
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“You know the way to work. I figured you could make it without me at your side.”
He gives me a look. “Don’t be a dick. Seren just told me you’re sleeping at the Club. What happened?”
“Lorelei isn’t interested and I can’t say it would last for me. I’m at the Club until she moves into the condo.”
He’s watching me closely as if I did something and need to get it off my chest. “What?”
“You love her and Leo. What changed?”
I shake my head. “It’s what won’t change.” I stop when Freedom walks in and closes the door.
“I heard your whole conversation last night. I don’t think you want it spread around the building, but when you’re done telling Cort, I have something to say.”
Cort looks at me. “What won’t change?”
Great, I need an audience for this shit. “I explained how I saw some concerns and she needed to admit it and let it go to move on. I gave her me as the example with you and she looked like she understood then said she isn’t interested in someone that thinks she’s at fault. I don’t know what more to do that shows my interest evenwiththe faults, I have plenty of my own. I just hoped she’d let go and move on. She’s not ready and I’m not into causing her grief. She’s had enough.”
He looks pissed. “What do you think is her fault?”
“Don’t look at me like I’m crazy. She spent ten years paying for a house that her name wasn’t on. She’s fucking smart and thought he would give her half as he had women she knew about in and out of it? She slept in the spare room letting him use her. The dick never spoke to Leo, who was home alone since he was seven. She’s been abused her whole fucking life and is looking at everyone but herself for her adult decisions. I was interested, but I want an ol’ lady that stands up to me and doesn’t hide if I’m doing shit wrong. If I didn’t talk to my kid or provide, I’d want someone beating me over the head for it.”
“Fuck, Brother, I’d beat you over the head for it. She didn’t create all those problems, Raid.”
Freedom laughs then looks down. “You think she did too?” He’s surprised.
I shake my head. “Don’t answer because he won’t see it. I think she allowed them. Her son was in a gang and never said a word. He got a bike and never said a word to her or me. She has some responsibility and consequences when it comes to her decisions and I want her to admit and fix it, but I’m willing to walk it with her.”
He shakes his head. “What do you think, Freedom?”
“He’s right. She’s had people willing to help and didn’t ask. We all offered. When Peter was hitting on Seren while she babysat,sheeven offered. Both me and Victory went with her so she wasn’t alone in the house with him. I told Lorelei why and she stopped calling Seren. Because he was an ass doesn’t mean she wasn’t responsible for how she had to live. Quoting Raid, she had the power to change it and didn’t. She’s missing something. Leo is finally happy. He wasn’t exactly alone in town, the ex was there, but he didn’t talk to him. I’ve never seen him so talkative and engaged with people. That’s not all on the ex.”
Cort nods and looks at me. “Why do you think I wouldn’t see it?”
Freedom laughs again. I keep his eyes. “Because of what happened in the city. You said you knew you had some responsibility but told us your lesson was learning Brotherhood. The lesson should have been who you allowed close to you and us. We made the mistake, but you had the power to fix it. You ignored Billy for years and we had to listen to him, stop him and watch him. We didn’t have the power to kick him out. Fighting Deacon and Billy at the same time was fucking exhausting. We fucked up, but it shouldn’t have been left to us. It cost you the Club and us you.”
He sits back with his eyes closed. A rarity for him. “I am so fucking sorry, Brother. You’re right. I ignored him and never paid attention to what he said or did unless it involved me. Falcon even told me about it and it didn’t register. This should be the lesson. It’s one I won’t forget. I could have fixed that, fucking years he was a dickass to everyone but me.”
I nod. “The thing is, when I realized I wasn't the one with the power to change it, I felt better. I made mistakes, big mistakes, but Billy was keeping shit from Hade and me, Falcon was pissed and not talking and Deacon was keeping our attention split. I wasn’t alone and we got back to right. It was a lesson learned and seeing it all made owning it feel more natural, powerful. I don’t know how, it just did. That’s what I was telling Lorelei, but she can’t hear it right now.” I wish she could. There’s something so sweet and special about her, the mistakes don’t hide all that.
“I see it now. She had that power and didn’t use it. Just like I did. I’m glad you’re so fucking smart, maybe we’ll listen and come out of this more enlightened together.”
I laugh. “I think you got it, Cort. I’m not sure Lorelei will.” I sigh at that.
Freedom clears her throat in an exaggerated way. “Lorelei and Leo are seeing the therapist Seren knows. Leo is pissed and may show here. I’m here telling you he needs to be watched. He threw a fit yelling about Lorelei running you off. This was while she was on the phone with the therapist. Those appointments are at seven and eight every night until Leo is calm and Lorelei is mobile.”
“Fuck. I’ll talk to him today.”
Freedom nods. “He learned quite a bit from the gang. He swears worse than me. Another shock for the mother that left her kid alone for six fucking months in a bigger town with gang tags on her fucking building. So, call when you need me. I’ll be at the house every day with Leo teaching martial arts while Lorelei is doing therapy. Be warned, Victory is with Lorelei while Leo is in therapy.”
Jesus fuck. “Thanks, Freedom. You’re a good friend to have. I’ll talk to Leo.”
