Page 94 of Benga's Rise
He’s a good man, Crow and Reed would be proud. “I’ll help you.”
He laughs. “You got it. You can make the call to Paul.”
I laugh giving Paul and Web a salute. Cort rides to the steakhouse. I’m sick of the steakhouse.
~*~
Researching choppers with Banks and Mounty, we decide on the Blackhawks. Mounty has ex-Delta and Green Berets that are pilots so we’ll meet them to see what we need for training. It’s not so bad with help.
I wonder where the hell we’ll put flight crews now and think Paul will be building again. We have three condos, no empty rooms at the office and no houses left in town. He hasn’t finished with the three houses Banks bought and they’re taken by out of state Brothers. I’m glad the Training schedule is packed. We’ll need the money for building.
My phone goes off with an Ops alert. I run out and Cort catches me. “My meeting room. Web is meeting us here.”
The screen has the logo and counter. We have two minutes. Web comes in out of breath. “Get this room offline from the other Clubs.” Cort breathes deep watching the counter. He’s as unsettled as Web right now.
“It’s off. They have it completely cut off.”
Cort nods. “That’s good.”
It feels like forever, but the counter finally gets to one and Web holds the table edge standing beside us. I put my hand on his arm hoping it calms him.
The screen pops on and the same Ops room shows with a smiling group of men. “Ben, Brothers,” Cort says fast.
“Cort, Raid and Web. We do have some good news, but it’s not what we were hoping for at this time.” The President says. His second is watching Web. His knees give way and I hold him up so he’s leaning against the table.
“We have the name of the source and the four heads that are running it, but do not have them in custody. It is a group that are hidden across the globe. We’ll have two by tonight. I have IT working to find the other two. At this time, we cannot say your threat is clear. With the two that will be dealt with, I will tell you, that threat level is lessened. The FBI has all the paperwork from the Lab. They have names and locations of kids experimented on and they will be picked up. You have friends that offered help housing them. Nowhere in that paperwork is David Sanders, Web or Badass.It appears that you were never listed on their radar.”
Cort moves a chair and I sit Web in it. He looks up at the screen and barely gets out, “Thank you.”
The President smiles. “It’s not over, but we’re closer. We won’t stop, Web. We have run Ops that have taken years, but I believe without your name showing, you are safe. I advise caution as such a large group because they are noticeably different, but albinos are not unheard of. Let the Brothers take one or two out to see the world. We have four here that are amazed with life outside of a computer. I’m not sure where they’ll end up, but they’re afraid of anyone that’s not their brothers or...”
“Send them here. I’ll take them. I know what to do and my boys will help. They need a family. We can be that for them. They were so scared when I first got them, but they’re not anymore...”
Cort puts his hand on Web’s shoulder stopping him. “You obviously know he grew up in an orphanage. This means something to him and us. We’d be honored to help kids in need. We have a proven track record, the ability to give them familiar and plenty of Brothers willing to keep them safe while integrating them into a real family.”
The President looks at the men on the side of him. Two nod and one speaks up. “They do good with Web. He understands better than we do.”
The President throws chin. “Thank you, Brother.” When he turns back, he’s smiling again. “It seems we’ll be adding to your family, Web. I thought my Uncle with eleven was a lot. You’ve got him beat, Brother. Congratulations. We offer support if it’s needed. They don’t talk.” He stops when Web nods.
“Not at first, but they will once they learn a new schedule and how a house works.”
The men on screen laugh. “I’ll take your word for it. I’ll have them there tomorrow to meet their new brothers. They are all named with an M.”
Web stands. “Thank you for helping and sending the boys. We’ll take good care of them whether we get clear or not.”
The President’s smile falls. “We’ll hope for that clear sooner rather than later, Brother. If you need anything for them, let us know. Remember, your name wasn’t found at the Lab, but a large group of albinos will be noticeable.”
Web smiles. “I got it. My Brothers will help.”
The President looks at Cort. “His name is still Web. No A names were found anywhere, but M is listed and recent. Ages ten and twelve. I’ll have coverage until they get to you. I need a drop off location.”
Cort barely nods. “We’ll get them from the airport. There’s a municipal forty miles north of us. Do you have the medical paperwork for them? Our As’ had immunization issues, two were thought to be fatal if they got those.”
“Fuckin’ hell, no.” It’s the first time I’ve seen him unsettled.
“Keep them away from babies. We have a genetic scientist through the Masons that helped us out. The As have been immunized this year for what they can handle. I’ll get him back here. Can you let the FBI know so they don’t end up killing them?”
The Brother that spoke up does again. “They fuckin’ would too, Prez.”
