Page 18 of Ranger's Rise
She nods. “Thanks. There are some concerning issues that I don’t think have to do with me. I’m just an excuse at this point.”
This is not at all comforting. “Did you mention them to Cort?”
Her head swings. “I think he’s a target, but thinking it doesn’t make it true.”
Fucking hell. He’s my President. He needs to be protected by having all the information. “You’re right, but not mentioning it to anyone isn’t going to keep him from being a surprised target.”
She looks at me as I pull in and shut the truck off. I don’t move. With a nod, she agrees. “I’ll talk to Raid. He can look at the feeds and see if I’m making it out to be more before bringing it to Cort.”
Relief flows through me. “That sounds right. He’s a good VP and protective, but fair.”
She smiles. “He’s one of my favorite people. It’s good that you see him that way.”
I get out and round the truck opening her door. “How do I get on that list?”
She laughs getting out with my hand. “You’re already there and getting closer to number one,ifyou help me carry all this shit in.”
I smile taking a box from the back. “Go open the door. I’ve got this.” I grab another and follow her, liking the laugh.
When we’re in, she points and I put the boxes down by the door and follow my shirt when she pulls. “I was starting to worry that your dick was broke. I’m glad to see you following it tonight.” I get a kiss that promises more and she pushes me to the door. “I’ll meet you in my bedroom when you’re done.”
“Fucking woman.” I go for the other two boxes hearing her laugh.
Dropping the boxes, I lock the door and start up the stairs. Her condo is similar to mine in layout, the doors on the first floor are bathroom, pantry and closet. Going down the hall, I pass a room that’s decorated like a smoke shop in Bangladesh. That’s got to be for Victory. I’m glad it’s empty. The next room I hit pay dirt. Freedom is setting two glasses on the table in front of a small couch. I say small because it’s only two seats. All her furniture, except for the Bangladesh room with pillows and shit, is heavy and sized for a man or tall woman, which she is.
“I’m glad you don’t sleep on pillows.”
She laughs. “I outgrew that and demanded a bed when I was twelve. My parents were so disappointed but got me my bed. They didn’t skimp either. I never slept in a twin.”
That’s cool. “So, your parents are like Victory.”
She nods sitting down. “Yeah, Seren thinks they smoked hash while my mom was pregnant. I don’t encourage it, but I think she’s right.”
I laugh before my ass is on the couch. “What are their names?”
She rolls her eyes. “I didn’t know until I was older. They changed them to Moonlight and Marley. They were formerly known as Pat and John. We’ve never called them by mom or dad. It shows an inflated worth based on circumstance, not relevance.”
I stare at her. She’s not laughing. “Holy fuck.”
She nods. “Yeah. Since they’re nudists and spend more time in California than here, I inherited Victory. I think they’ll be moving permanently soon. They lived in a commune until we were born. You got any other family? You’ve only talked about your dad.”
I swing my head no. “Tito was my uncle. My dad’s brother, but I wasn’t really my dad’s. A honey pot had me at their Club and my dad and Tito raised me. When they died, a bunch of Brothers took Nomad and scattered. Mounty hung at the bars and worked for the Club on the choppers, but left when no Ops were running, not long after I got back. He called me here for the training job and said Cort was like Tito.” I smile. “Mounty was known to me as Tank, but Cort changed his name. We had the military in common, he helped me deal with moving back into society.”
“What’s a honey pot? You weren’t in the military for long.” It’s a question the way she says it.
“Honey pot is a teen that hangs with bad boys, usually a gang or Club. I was in for just under eight years. My dad signed for me to go in early. Since I was a Ranger and they had the Club running well, they agreed for me to stay out so age would never be an obstacle for me with the Brothers. I was the youngest Officer on the teams based out of the west coast. There was one younger out of Virginia, but I never worked with him. He was a SEAL.” I’m proud and show her that.
She laughs. “You’ve never told me anything that puts you in front of anyone. I’m happy to see this.”
I shrug feeling like a dick now that she said something. “I’m twenty-eight and have seen a lot of shit, but was raised to turn that into good for my family, club, community and country. Your name drew me to learn more. You work for the same purpose.”
She nods. “We had Masons around us and occasionally bikers from Badass. They were Cort’s old Club Brothers, but I didn’t know anything about bikers. Our neighbors were friendly with them. They never knew, but I’d stay in the back whenever they visited just to hear them talk. I slept outside more than in if they were around. I knew about Cort before I met him. The way he was talked about made him seem like a God. I couldn’t believe he looked like a Norse God when Ididmeet him. I was a teen when the bikers stopped coming so much, but I wanted to work like them and the Masons. Unlike my parents, I believed I needed to earn my name.”She shrugs and I lean in to kiss those lips. She gives honor to her name with the intention behind it.
“From what I’ve seen and heard, you have. Falcon told me about you shielding Seren and the women here. That’s just what the Brothers would have done.”
Her eyes light to the fiery color I like. “Thanks. Seeing the Brothers now, I’d agree, but that’d sound conceited so I can’t.”
I laugh and pull her over to my lap. “Leaving me hanging out there isn’t a good Brother move.”
