Page 88 of Benga's Rise
“Always, Brother.” Cort pulls him up and hugs him. “No matter what happens, you’re all ours. Always.”
Web nods when Cort let’s go. “Thanks.” He walks out with Hade right behind him and I watch the door. “Since he’s been shielded, he’s depended on bikers to keep him safe. Was he in a Club before us?”
“No, he didn’t know anything biker. They showed at his house with the kids just off a ship. He was IT and the Club that saved the kids knew they were. The bikers had the kids get past his security and he found them in his house one night. He was terrified.”
I smile. “I bet he was.” Jesus, he had just met them and has been shielded ever since. That’s a fuck of an adjustment. “If he’s clear, I hope he stays.”
Cort smiles. “He will. I need to get Paul to build them a house. A real house with enough room for all of them.”
I laugh. “Cowboy can decorate. I miss the little guy.”
“We should go see them.”
“I need to clear my desk.”
He pulls my arm. “It’s almost lunch, we can stop at the old steakhouse. We’ll take the backroad home and stop at the Sheriff’s. The Club is paying for cameras and giving money for gear and shit.”
“You should offer a discount for guns and ammo. Will the Boys Club get some of that?”
He lets me go at the stairs. “I’ll ask.”
I follow him out. He wants to ride today. I can ask Cowboy about getting a new room at the Club.
~*~
Lorelei
It takes me a minute to adjust my brain. “I’m happily surprised to see you, Seren and Caelan.” I put my arms out and Seren hands him to me. “He’s getting big fast.”
“He is. I came to steal Cort for lunch, but he’s out with Raid. Not that you’re second choice, but are you free?”
I smile. “I can only hope to be second behind Cort, but Caelan is with us so I don’t mind being third and yes. I have a meeting with Banks after lunch, but my lunch hour is yours.”
She gets my crutches from behind me and takes Caelan back. I guess she’s hungry. “I have your clothes for the party. As soon as you walk in, you’re ours.” The look in her eyes is telling me this is non-negotiable.
I smile. “Okay.” I’m not fighting about how it’s done. I have no idea how it’s done. When she tells me what I’m wearing, I just nod. This ought to be interesting. I hope I can walk without the crutches by then...in biker boots.
The cafeteria is packed so we’re put at the Officers’ table. This place is crazy. Everyone is crammed in and the table we’re taking is huge with just us sitting here. “Should we ask if they want to sit at the other end or something?”
“No, Officers grab food when they can. This is left open so they can do that fast.”
Okay. I know they have ongoing training and Ops. Raid said Officers train and always run Ops so this makes a little more sense. As if they’re proving the point, Amos and Falcon come in and sit at the other side of the table. A Prospect runs over and takes their order just as Falcon smiles our way.
“Ladies.” He turns and orders.
“I see why,” I tell Seren.
“So, the music. Cort is willing to give a song for every four of his rock. It will work for what we need.”
I nod. “Raid asked me to explain about the music.” I stop when another Prospect comes for our order.
Mounty sits with another man and introduces him to us as Ranger, he’s an ex-Ranger. I say hi and Brinks and another two men sit. How many Officers do they have? Smiling at the Pres and VP’s ol’ ladies introduction, I tell them it’s nice to meet them and turn back to Seren. She’s gone.
“Sorry. I should have stopped for his seat before coming in.” Seren runs back with Caelan in her arm and I’m smiling again. She’s pretty light on her feet with a baby in one hand against her and the seat in the other. I put a chair in between us for Caelan. “Thanks, I hate putting him on the table. All he sees is the ceiling.”
She’s got everyone at the table laughing. “I can hold him while you eat.” Falcon offers. Everyone wants to hold him making me laugh more. Falcon stands up and walks our way. “Rank, Brothers, it takes rank and you lose.”
Brinks calls next and our Prospect is back with food. At this rate, I’ll never get to the music explanation before I have to meet Banks, who, of course, shows up as I open my mouth then close it.
