Page 86 of Benga's Rise
He shrugs. “I know she’s a wiz because Banks said it. People like her are focused. That’s why I told Daniel if he learned the Badass rules and followed them, I’d give him a job. He’s learning everything he can, but his focus is Badass. Lorelei is the same. Her focus is on numbers. You didn’t notice that?”
His is on getting shit done. Mine is on making sure it happens. “I didn’t realize the extent.”
He shakes his head. “You got sidelined by her pretty face and didn’t see past that and her sweet voice.”
I laugh. “You were pissed that I was taking the long way around.”
His eyes change to intent. “She’s your other half, Brother. She’s got the sweet words and way about her, but she’s like you with the businesses. Her thing is numbers and what she can squeeze out of them. Yours is managing a lot of things at one time with the best people doing the running of those businesses. If she wasn’t pretty, you’d have seen it sooner and hired her yourself.”
Jinx hired her right away, I would have too, but I was busy.Since he’s offering… “What’s yours?”
The politician smile shows. “Doing. I recall information fast and move. I don’t hesitate, I do. It doesn’t matter what job I’m doing. I just need it done so I can move to the next thing. I’m going to take the offer to paint the dish. It’s from the artist that did the logo.” He’s moving on.
“Yeah. The support page is on the website. Do you want the dick in a dish up there?”
“Yeah. Something that doesn’t show his face so he doesn’t try to sue us.”
“I’ll keep looking, but I think I have one that fits.”
He’s looking at his computer again. “See if Lorelei has spare people to handle Internet shit. If she’s watching labor, she’s bound to have spare bodies.”
I shake my head walking toward the door. “On it, Boss.”
My phone rings with an Ops alert before I’m out the door. I start jogging the hall to get to Ops. Cort is talking to Hade right behind me. “Yeah, Hade.” I push through the door and climb the stairs.
“On our way.” He thumbs in right behind me and walks to Web’s station.
“What the fuck?” The screen is the Badass logo, but it’s in flames. Under it says,Message in: and has a counter rolling back from fifty seconds.
“There’s no IP address. It popped up and I can’t get rid of it.” Web is typing like a madman.
Cort puts his hand on Web’s shoulder. “Relax. It’s the President of Territories.”
Web looks at Cort like he’s crazy. “If they can get in at any time, it’s a threat.”
I shake my head no, but Cort answers him. “Not from them. Anyone else, I’d say level the Club, but they aren’t a threat to us. They’ll neverbea threat to us.”
Hade comes over. The screen pops with the same Ops room as we saw before, but this Brother isn’t the President. “Brothers.”
“Brother,” Cort says and we throw chin.
“I’m Ricky Callahan, VP of the MC and Prez’s second in the BSC. Prez wanted to get a message to you. He’s in a planning meeting and didn’t want this message delayed. First, he loves the dick in a dish and said keep being fucking Badass, it’s good for our image.” He smiles likeheis fucking proud.
We laugh and he waits for us to stop. “The other is why he’s in planning. A Russian ship was stopped off the coast of South Carolina. That ship was manned by a group of IT that had some skillz. This is the second ship that we’ve stopped, but this time we confiscated more than their supplies before we sent them floating away. Because of what’s been confiscated, Prez is in planning for another OP. This will take place at an undisclosed island. We have help with the FBI Ops Center here and will dismantle the Lab that is a threat to the cargo we confiscated and possibly you.”Holy fuck. “We will let you know when we clear that threat.”
Cort smiles. “It is more than our appreciation you’ll have from that. Masons have an interest in that outcome. Can I share that outcome when it happens?”
He’s surprised but recovers quickly. “I’m going to ask you to hold that for now. Is there more that we should be aware of in terms of cargo?”
“Not from us. I cannot speak for Masons. They don’t advertise and I think I’m a little too flashy for their order.”
Ricky smiles. “I can see that. Hold what you have for now. Prez will find out or ask for a contact. Ops is scheduled for two days. If he needs more, he’ll contact you directly, that won’t be in Ops because of details needed. It will most likely be through computer. We can clear the history, but not unsecure phones with the distance we’re at.”
Cort nods. “Roger, Ricky. I have a whole group of Brothers that will be waiting for that outcome.”
Ricky looks surprised. “More than four?”
Cort holds his two hands close to his chest folding one finger down. “I’ll let Prez know. He had four.”
