Page 133 of Ranger's Rise
I smile andreply,Front of office waiting for you.I hear a bike coming from the back and turn, then smile.
He’s got his hat on. He was waiting for me.“Mylo’u alofa, will you come for a ride?”
“Where to?”
He shrugs. “You tell me.”
I laugh and take my helmet from the Prospect. Ranger gives him his hat and we’re off. “Go northeast this time.”
“The highway?” He hates the highway.
“No, at the crossroads stay straight. It takes you through some small towns, but there’s a place we can eat up there.”
“I love your plans, baby.”
I know what he likes and always give him that. I used to live to drive. Now I love riding and visiting my favorites. I just don’t tell him. He tells me about his day. I can’t believe the shit they get into. At Rex’s, they removed a drunk. I’m laughing when he says Sharp was on so he hung him on the building for being a dick to Ant Irma and Shelly. The Brothers are crazy.
“Sharp is moving to Falcon’s Club so Rex is looking for a tenant.”
“I thought Sharp was moving up?”
His pause means something. I’m waiting. “Did you ever hear him laugh?”
I laugh. “So, you know. He was slated to be my second, but Falcon needs Security to train. When I heard him laugh, I gave him to Falcon. I laugh all fucking day. The Brother is good, but he’ll die.”
“You lost your second.” I can see him wanting to stop the laugh. Sharp is a nice enough Brother, but when he laughs it sounds like a walrus.
Another pause. “Cort gave me Anton.” I feel the emotion in his voice. He’s surprised and touched.
Anton. “Can he do it?”
He laughs. “He can do every fucking job. Cort’s taking Amal. Akai is Web’s second now. They deserve it and work fucking hard.”
I give him a squeeze. “I’m glad you have a second and he’s that good. What about the others.”
As he tells me the kids that are spread throughout the Officers, I’m smiling and point out roads for him. He stops in front of the old house turned restaurant. It’s close to eight and we get seated right away.
“How the hell did you find this place?” He’s looking around the big living room with tables scattered around it.
I smile. “Word of mouth. It took a good month of tries to find it. The food is good, portions are huge and the staff is all one family. They had a thing with food and times got tough so they started cooking for the neighbors and church friends. Word got out and they opened the house. It’s hidden and never been advertised. They were afraid of inspectors and having to pay for licenses. For twenty years now, they’ve never been shut down.”
He laughs. “I like that. What’s good?”
I’m smiling. “They give you two choices. Beef and chicken or pork and pasta depending on the day. Today is beef and chicken.”
“Okay. Do I get a choice of how it’s cooked?” He’s looking nervous.
“If it’s steak, they’ll ask. Everything else they just bring out. They’ll have sides to go with what they’re cooking. Like a family dinner, but out.” I point to the tables on the side of us. The people are passing bowls. “If you don’t want or like something, you can share.”
“That’s cool.” He watches as the couples laugh and pass a plate of biscuits to the other table.
I think so too. “Beef or chicken?”
“Chicken,” I tell the waiter. Ranger says beef. The guy walks away and a waitress brings sweet tea and water.
A couple sit at the table closest to us. I say hi and we do the round of names. They pick one of each and Ranger offers the guy his tea. They trade and Ranger takes his water.He smiles at me proud of his new friend and water.
I laugh. The waitress brings bowls of rice, potatoes and macaroni and cheese. These aren’t huge bowls, but it’s more than we’ll eat. She’s back with collard greens, green beans and a bowl of fried mushrooms and onions. When the waiter puts ribs and baked chicken down, Ranger smiles at me. “I love this place.”
