Page 8 of Benga's Rise
Freedom nods with the same rage on her face, but her eyes look relieved. She twists out of Hade’s grip like he wasn’t really holding her and walks to a nervous Mounty. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Mounty lets Victory go before Freedom is close enough to hit him and nods. “I’ll have your Enforcers ready.”
She nods with her arm around Victory’s shoulder and walks her out. Everyone is quiet as they leave.
Cort watches them, then looks at the trainees sitting. “Where are they from?”
Mounty stands at attention. “Kansas and Missouri, Sir.”
“I heard VP tell them to sit the fuck down for a second time?” He looks at me and I nod.
“Hade, you told them to stand down?”
Hade nods. “I did, Boss.”
“Mounty, you said it as you had to fight your way through trainees to get close to their trainers?”
Mounty looks pissed. That’s dangerous. “I did, Sir.”
“So, we have a rapist, two that were going to help and a whole class of supposed Security trainees that don’t know how to follow orders and some even helping the fucking rapist by blockingyourway?”
“Yes, Sir,” Mounty says loud enough that the pissed he’s feeling washes through the trainees on the floor. They’re paying attention now.
Cort looks over the trainees. “From what I’ve seen, you’d never make Security for any of the Clubs we’ve trained. You sure as fuck wouldn’t make it intoourSecurity. So, here’s what I’m going to do, Hade, get the Enforcer trainees on the floor with them. When a trainee doesn’t follow or hesitates to take an order, they get shot with the laser. If it happens a second time, it’s with a bullet and they’re sent home. Let Patcher know what’s going on so he has his EMTs ready. Their Club is paying thousands for them to be trained. I don’t do refunds, but I’ll send them back Brothers that learn whatbe fucking Badassmeans. Get cleanup to get these three out of my fucking building. Have them dropped at the airport exit with their wallets. Their bikes will be sold and the money goes to Victory as hazard pay. Make that happen, Falcon.”
Hade and Falcon, “Roger, Boss,” him and pull their phones.
He scans the faces around the room again. “My name is Cort Masters. I don’t issue orders. I give promises. You will be shot with a laser then bullet if you forget to follow orders. I guarantee it. My Brothers and Club know me well enough to know thattheywill be shot if they don’t make sure my promise is kept. You are theonlyclass that I’ve ever spoken to because of a problem. Badass and honor run hand in hand in the other Clubs. I hope you learn that here. I will be watching.
“Pay attention to this last one, trainees. If you touch the women sent to train you, I’ll kill you myself and it won’t be with Krav Maga. My ol’ lady is a trainer here. It’s lucky for you that she’s on maternity leave. She wouldn’t have left the two able to walk away. I’m surprised Freedom held herself in check, but she’s a level five black belt. Seren is only level four, she doesn’t have Freedom’s level of control yet.”
He’s right about that. When Seren gets really pissed, I just walk away.
Patcher and cleanup come in and move the three trainees that are still out. They really look dead. With no reaction from cleanup, the trainees on the floor look nervous.
“Raid, call their Presidents and tell them we’re adding a week of training free of charge because their trainees forgot what Brotherhood, honor and Badass mean.”
“On it, Boss.”
“Mounty, teach them how to take orders.” He starts walking as Enforcers in full gear come in from the back door. They must have been in the outbuildings.
Mounty stands at attention and yells like a drill sergeant. “Enforcers, stand readied! If a trainee hesitates or doesn’t take an order, he is shot with the laser! If it happens twice, he is shot with a bullet!”
The new Enforcer trainees make me proud, standing at attention and yelling right back. “Sir, Yes, Sir!”
The yell makes me smile as I’m scrolling down my list of Club Presidents.“Impressive.” I nod to Mounty and get the fuck out of here before blue flashes and bullets start flying. Mounty doesn’t look happy.
Cort waits outside the door for me. “What the fuck is up with Security trainees that don’t follow orders? That was almost the whole fucking class. I want something going out that says we’re shooting trainees that don’t take orders from trainers so don’t bother sending them to us.”
I smile. “I’ll do it after I talk to the Presidents.”
“Did you eat?”
I shake my head no. “I was calling Banks and going to order a sub.”
“Tell Banks to meet us at the pizzeria. Seren is off with the As. That was fucked up. It’s a good thing Freedom didn’t kill them.” He stops and shakes his head. “Maybe for us, but not for other women. Shit. I’ll talk to the Presidents and send them the feeds.”
So, all I have left is Banks, getting Hade to order a new jacket and getting a memo out. I put it on my phone and hit my mic. “Jinx, we're headed out. Get Banks to meet us at the pizzeria or call me when he’s free.”
