Page 92 of Benga's Rise
Chapter Twelve
Two days
Raid
I love this. Daniel is laughing as she walks to the sink with no crutches. Really, it’s an I told you so moment for him. I don’t point it out and he’s smart enough not to say it.
She’s like an energizer bunny now that she can move around freely. Everything I heard, everything I thought, it all hits me. She’s that person, as she says, in spades. This morning’s breakfast was just like yesterday. It was all I could do to get Daniel’s juice before she had it on the table. I’m glad she can’t drive yet. She wanted to go to the market so we could have burritos, that was at six in the fucking morning.
When I told Daniel, he smiled.It’s what she does, he said like it’s normal. It’s not normal to me. Everything is fast until she sits, then we’re talking and laughing until it’s clean up time. When it is, we’re back to Speedy Gonzalez until everything is clean. Our walks, talks, even playing ball or the bean bag toss game is all relaxed. This is how she spent so much time with Daniel when she was home. He likes the library and shit. I can’t say I ever liked the library, but I didn’t have a mom that took me and made it memorable. I always think of it as boring. I’m glad he has so many moments like his mom to look back on. I like hearing about them.
Walking up behind her, my hands circle her waist. I’m glad to note it’s not so thin anymore. She’ll give me moments for years. I smile kissing her neck. “Love you, my little ruby.” I smile at that too, I don’t think she’d appreciate onion.
She turns with her hands on my chest. “I love you too, my gentle giant. I have a busy day, but I’ll be done when Daniel is. We’ll go to the market and get what I need for your burritos.” I love the sweet.
“Order it and the Prospects will have it before you get home. I’m on with Cort today so anything could happen.”
She smiles with amusement in her eyes. “I can’t ride or play a game of basketball. According to Daniel, girly stuff is boring. Since he likes shopping still, I’ll take him so we have that time. Soon enough he won’t remember my name unless he needs clothes, food or money.”
I laugh, she’s not wrong. “Will you get the oven pretzels? If nothing crazy happens, I’ll get out on time and go with you.”
“Do you want to go? We may need a second fridge. You tend to go overboard.”
I want to go. “The Prospects didn’t complain. We could go after dinner?” I hope she says yes, I want the jelly things. I don’t know how they have icing, it should melt in the toaster, but they look good.
Her sweet laugh gets me. “If you promise to buy one of whatever you want to try. Feeding the Prospects is nice, but you didn’t like more than half the stuff you bought and Daniel isn’t eating that garbage.”
Damn, putting me in my place gives me a semi. “Yes, ma’am, only one.” I keep everything else to myself and kiss her lips thinking about another fridge.
“I’m gonna miss my bus.” Daniel needs to work on timing. Since he’ll be late, I rethink that, maybe I do.
Lorelei pulls me to the door. Fucking kid. “We’ll drive you to school if you miss the bus. Life will go on and we will live to march another day.”
He laughs. “Movie games. That one’s too easy.”
Between Cort, Seren, Rex and his words - that Daniel already beats me at and their fucking memories like elephants, I spend the walk thinking I should have stayed in school for life. They throw quotes back and forth laughing. It’s one of those moments. Fucking elephants.
~*~
“Relax, Web. It’s only ten, we’ll hear soon. It’s on an island and with FBI involvement. Lab and moving people may equal extra time,” Cort says. I finish typing and look up at Web.
Jesus, fuck, he looks strung out. He’s pale, jittery and has dark circles around his eyes. The Officers come in and his jaw clenches. He’s not opening his mouth. It looks like that’s costing him sleep. Hade sits on the side of him and squeezes his shoulder. Web throws him chin, but still isn’t talking. I can’t even imagine how he’s feeling. I’d think being let out of jail is similar.
It’s a good meeting. Cort has everyone relieved about the Brothers we got rid of yesterday. I talked to Amos right after, letting him know Razor is history. He was surprised when I said to send threats and assholes to me. I told him the same thing I told Beacon, getting a hug from him. The hug concerned me, telling me it was a stress to him. I asked Cort to take that away at today’s meeting. It really was like me with Deacon and Billy. I’m glad he’s got them all relaxed and understanding the power we hold works best together.
Cort gets my attention back fucking quick. “I want helicopters. Banks, make that happen.”
I look up and see he’s serious. I’m never making it home on time. “Helicopters?”
I look at Banks, but he’s typing on his computer. Cort nods, smiling like a little kid with a new bike in his future. “I want four, no six.”
“What the fuck will we do with six choppers?” See, Hade is thinking here.
Cort gives him a look. “I could have leveled Six-Guns and Mexico if we had more than Major’s two. We can use them to get back and forth from Colorado, jobs and the city too. Choppers are good to have.”
I just want to laugh. He’s fucking crazy. “So, we’re changing from bikers riding to gunners flying?” Falcon says and the Officers laugh.
I watch Cort. Fuck, he’s determined here. “Boss, I can do one right away, but we have a shit ton of projects going on and money for the chains tied up right now earning for the next round.” Thank God for Banks. Cort’s shoulders inch down. Shit.
