Page 63 of Ranger's Rise
I take hits from the Brothers just waiting for the last of them to leave. When they start for the stairs, I stand still just feeling the room. My dad and Tito would be proud today. It wouldn’t be for the cut. It would be because I’m in a Club that carries out their beliefs and does it loud and proud. They would love it here.
“Different on this side, huh.”
I nod still feeling like I’m home. “I feel it in the building, but here, here is so much stronger.”
He stands on the side of me. “Yeah. When we walked in the first time, I thought we needed a heart. Something that kept us going and protected us too. I wanted it all in one building. I swear I felt like our new heart started beating the first day it was finished and we walked in. Everyone that passed, all the Brothers of our present and the Badass beliefs for our future are right here with us. Phoenix Rising is a tribute to Badass. We fell but came back stronger because of those beliefs. Badass was with us the whole way and here it came alive. It shines through, holding us up, even when shit hits. Badass is always behind us.” His voice sounds like it’s tinny or something. I look at him. His eyes are focused and sharp, but they’re bright with what he sees.
The feeling of home hits me again, feeling like it settles right in my heart. I need to be right here with Badass behind me and a future filled with spreading that belief. It’s a belief I grew up feeling, the love and acceptance of my new Brothers is good, but knowing they have the same outlook and belief that I do, that is huge. It’s like finally making the top of that mountain we all strive to get to. With the past holding our hand and the future waiting for us to shape it, we can give moreourhand and the Badass vision of a better tomorrow.
“I’m glad you’re here, Ranger. When Crow was alive, he aligned us together. I still feel my Brother and think he’s still working for Badass. Now I just don’t get to see him.”
I laugh. “It sounds crazy, but I feel the same. My dad and Tito have never taken up so much space in my head. It’s like they’re still around showing me what’s right, guiding me, but I don’t see them now, they’re doing it from inside and watching with the weird vibes in here.”
“That’s the lessons, Brother. They'll always be guiding you through those lessons. Whenever I need answers, I swear Crow is answering with one of his lessons. He taught me so many and every fucking one of them comes at me when I need it. He called them the lessons of our fathers.”
I turn and see he’s not fucking with me. “That’s whatTito said too. Believe in the lessons of our fathers and you’ll never be alone. Badass means never alone. When I found out they died, I held onto those words. The new Pres didn’t believe and I gave everything in me to Badass just hoping it would touch him or show me a way to make that difference.Jessie, the Brother on the plane, he came and talked to me after training one night. The Brother isallinand Ben James’ son. Tito loved James and talking to Jessie, I could feel why. He learned our lessons too. He’s SAA and happy to be SAA in his Club and part of the Council. I knew then that I wanted to make that difference, but don’t want to sacrifice my life to running the Club. I’m twenty-eight so that may change, but I feel honored to be here with the Brothers who passed guiding me with and through you.”
He looks down and takes a deep breath.“I said almost those same words to Crow. He died and I became President at twenty-nine. If I fucking die, I’m haunting the fuck out of you.”
VP starts laughing. I didn’t know he was here. “I got your back, Pres. VP would kill me if anything happened to you.”
“Yeah, he probably would. I need knee-pads before we hit the party.”
I just nod. “Did you see the final number for Brothers next week?” VP asks without saying hewouldn’tkill me.
“Where the fuck are they all coming from!?”
I walk beside them smiling. “Word of mouth. I’m telling you, Boss. The Clubs with good Presidents get a ton of Brothers by word of mouth. Nomads ride everywhere and spread it around. You’re on the fucking news making it easy. They see it and show up. Wherever they’re coming from knows their plans and members from there show up too. We’re all bikers at heart, following the wind isn’t a problem for us.”
“Huh.You’re good at the SAA shit. We’re going to double our numbers by the end of the year. Raid, don’t let anything else go on the news. We don’t have enough places to house all these fucking Brothers.”
I lean over and look at VP. “They’d camp out no problem. They love that shit.”
He laughs. I shrug and keep walking. I hope Freedom is here. “Web said he didn’t need help today.”
“The Cowboys are with the kids for a couple of hours. Doc and Moe are there too.”
~*~*~
Bullseye’s Flight Crew Lead, Jester-Jurigen, stops me. “Ranger, how do I get into the Club?”
I love the question. “Why do you want in? You don’t have to be a member to work here, Brother.”
“Those kids. You help kids like that and fight Clubs and gangs. You do that here. I enlisted wanting to make it better here but fought for fucking oil, diamonds and gold. I want to fight for us, the US and our families that need our help. I looked up Badass like the Brinks guy said. I want in. How do I do that?”
“Give me your phone.” He does and I pull the app up. “Fill this out and don’t miss shit or think it isn’t important. We look for Brothers just like you, Jurigen. Brothers that have a reason and believe like we do are fast-tracked in. There’s a bunch of Masons here today, they help with the apps and love the Brothers. I’d be honored to sponsor you. Put my name on there when it asks for your sponsor.”
He hugs me. He’ll fit right in with the Brothers. “Thanks, Boss. The guy that was with you today is a Mason, right?”
“Yeah. He’s got family here today, but he can probably hook you up with help.”
He walks away making me laugh. He’s going to corner the new Brother. “Good job.”
Cort walks by with his fire painted knee-pads on. He’s looking for Seren, so I follow him. Freedom should be close to her, she's never far from her in a crowd like this. I see McCabe standing by the women talking to Jurigen and smile. He’s the right Brother to talk to.
Victory comes at me and swings me around. “Ranger! I need to talk to you.”
Okay. “What’s wrong?”
