Page 52 of Benga's Rise
“I’m sorry. You didn’t lie to me. I told Raid you didn’t and I shouldn’t have yelled at you. But...I don’t have my phone and he said to call if I need him. I just needed to talk to him so I know what’s right.”
Freedom nods. “I should have called him this morning so you could get that. If you would have told me you needed to talk to him, I would have.”
Leo’s tears are endless. “You would?”
She nods. “I know what it’s like to need to hear someone’s voice. I would have given you that, but you never told me. It would have been easier to let you talk to him than you walking to the office.”
He looks miserable. “Yeah. It took a long time.”
“Why didn’t you ask Freedom to call me?”
“She brought my coat and boots, but she didn’t call you last night. I was askin’ and askin’, but no one would listen. My mom wouldn’t give me my bag.”
Freedom laughs. “Is that what you call asking? You were throwing shit around your room and yelling at the top of your lungs. Never once did you ask.”
“I did when mom came in my room, I asked to call Raid before she took my bag with the phone. I even said I’d bring it to her when I was done.”
Freedom looks at me. “I wasn’t in the room, but it was quiet. He started yelling when she came out.”
“Cause she said no I couldn’t bother him. I told her he said I can always call. He always knows what’s right. I just needed to talk to him. I even asked to call Patcher instead, but she wouldn’t let me. She just left and didn’t listen, then I yelled. I should have got the button so someone would call.” He looks at me. “You said I can call you always. I just wanted you to tell me it was gonna be okay. I could still talk to you. No one ever talked to me and she took you away. I just needed to know what was right.” He’s all-out bawling now. Jesus.
I pull him to my lap and hold his head against my shoulder. Freedom is typing on her phone and slides it over to me.
He’s always been alone. You’re his lifeline and it was taken away. He reached for Patcher and that was taken away too. I’ll talk to Lorelei.
I nod. Sammy drops a tray on the table with a box of tissues and walks away. I love the workers here.
“Leo, you can always call me. I may be busy, but I’ll tell you that. I have Enforcer shifts and I can’t always answer the phone, but I’ll call you back. Freedom will explain that you need to call when you need to hear me. Maybe we can get your phone back and you won’t be running away from school.”
He lifts his head and I wipe his face. “Thank you, Freedom. You are a good Brother.” His hitching voice wants me to hug him so I do.
She nods her head with a small smile. “I’ll talk to her, but your mom may say no. She took your bag so you wouldn’t run away. I took your coat and boots for the same reason. What can we do to get you what you need if she says no?”
He looks at me like it’s the end of the world. “You can’t think of one thing you can do?” I ask.
“I can see you at the office.” It sounds like a hopeful question.
I nod. “And you said we could fish together even in the lake.”
I nod again. “And you’ll help with the bike Cort got me.” Now he sounds more sure of himself.
“So thereareways that you can see me that will give you time to talk to me. Patcher and Amos do Little Brothers every week. You’ll get to talk to them and you have a job with the Prospects that you can see them and the other Brothers during the week.” He needs to know we have his back and he’ll see and talk to us regularly.
“Yeah, they all talk to me and I can see everyone. My mom isn’t leaving again, is she? I don’t want to live alone again. I want to stay with the Brothers if she leaves.”
Jesus fuck. Cort sits down. I didn’t see him come in. “I just talked to your mom. She’s not leaving. She likes that you’re in Little Brothers and work at the office when you’re done with school.”
“She does? She wouldn’t let me call Raid or Patcher or anyone.”
Cort nods. “She didn’t understand. I think she does now.”
I sit Leo in his chair and throw chin to Cort. “I’m starving.” Passing food around, I look at Cort and offer him half my sub.
Freedom slides her phone to Cort and he nods. “Sammy will bring mine. Thanks, Brother.” He points up. I nod. He’s got Lorelei watching.
“So, I can still work?” Leo isn’t quite so trusting.
I answer quick. “Yep.”
