Page 113 of Ranger's Rise
They laugh. VP nods at me. I’m learning about energy and how to diffuse shit before Brinks leaves. I didn’t tell him I know most of the diffusing shit. I’ve been an SAA since I got out. VP’s proud. I’ll take it.
We eat talking about the Clubs and life in general. It’s a good fucking day and all I’ve done is ride for breakfast.
~*~*~
Freedom
I reach the door, glad that Ranger locked it. When I turn the knob, the door flies toward me. “Surprise!” Victory yells, as I raise my hand and move my foot to stop the door from hitting me. I’m glad I have good reflexes. A bruised face would be some shit to explain at my party.
“I’m glad you made it.” I move to the side and open the door wider to hug her. A little guy stands behind her watching. He doesn’t look too happy to see me. Lorelei waves with a serious look on her face as she walks Daniel to the bus stop. Daniel is looking the other way. While all this takes a quick look to register, Victory is screeching without words.
I use words. “I missed you too, sista. Let’s move inside and you can introduce me while I make some coffee.” I have a feeling I’m going to need coffee.
“Ranger left a little while ago, he had an Ops alert.” She’s not letting me go and not saying any words yet. I step back and disengage me from her, but keep her hand. “Come to the kitchen and tell me who you brought with you.”
“Oh, oh, this is Leif, he spells it different. Not L-E-A-F it’sL-E-I-F.” She spells it like I’m slow.
I smile and walk for that coffee. “Nice to meet you, L-E-I-F.” I spell it out.Victory laughs. “How do you take your coffee, Leif?” I get another hug then Victory sits.
“Not from the hands of children or any place that it’s not paid properly for.”
This will be fun. “So, sugar and cream?” I’m so fucking glad Ranger set the timer and coffee is waiting.
“Where do you buy from?” The little shit is going to love the Brothers.
I hold my smile. “The market not far from here.”
He rolls his eyes at me. I smile. “The coffee is from Columbia and a little more expensive because we do pay the living wage prices. Jump off your soapbox and sit. How do you take your coffee?”
“Where do you get sugar and is the cream organic, soy or coconut milk?”
I put Victory’s coffee down and get him a glass of water. Sitting with my cup, I breathe in the steam, then take a sip making an appreciative noise. Victory is watching, but not talking.
“I was raised in a house with Victory, Marley and Moonlight. I’m not judging you based on your lifestyle or choices. You came tomyhouse. Don’t judge me for how I live. If you want coffee, help yourself.” I give him a smile and Victory laughs.
“I told you she doesn’t take shit from anyone. She gets the same coffee I do, but she drinks real cream and whatever sugar the Prospects bring.”
The dick looks away from me. “What does that mean?”
Victory tells him about Prospects while I check him out. He’s skinny and from when we were standing, I’d say about five-eight. Home-cut, light brown hair, but it’s stringy like the Shaggy guy from the movie. I guess the little hair under his bottom lip reminds me of that Shaggy guy too. A goatee that doesn’t have enough hair to be a goatee is trying to sprout. His eyes are brown and I’m wondering what the hell Victory sees in him. Since she’s got happy eyes riveted to his, that’s something he hasn’t shown to me.
“Do these Prospects get paid?” What the fuck?
My body freezes. I could snap his neck in a second. Right from here would be no problem. “The Brothers pay everyone and that’s well. They keep people safe and do that on a large scale. Women and kids are respected. Everyone is respected until they show a reason not to be. Don’t give that reason, Leif, so you’ll never find out.” I watch his eyes glad to see he took the warning.
Victory laughs. “She’s right, the Brothers made it so much better, but don’t piss them off. I told you about Cort hanging the bullies from the buildings. You should see the dish. It’s painted with the logo. The Brothers did good cleaning up the town.”
“Being a stronger bully doesn’t make it right.”
I stand. “I’m eating at the cafeteria and have an early class with Lorelei and the Alpha-Bits.”
“Oh, they must be so cute. We’ll go with you. Raid left so fast and Lorelei said she’d get breakfast at work too. I want to see how she’s doing. I can help while I’m there.”
Leif makes a snort sound and I’m thinking about the dish. “That sounds good. I missed you, Victory. I’m glad you made it for the party. Why were you at Raid’s?”
I get the whole story in the minute it takes to get to the office. She didn’t write my new address down and went to Lorelei’s which is a wooded lot away from here. When we get out of the car Leif is shaking his head. “Don’t you make enough for an environmentally friendly car?”
Victory laughs. “She makes a ton of money, but she likes her classic. Not leaving it to sit in a junkyard is environmentally friendly if you ask me.” Thank fuck.
