Page 34 of Citiali: Teach
“Oh, my god. What’s in this?”
“Paste and some wine from the fridge, she said. All I saw was cans of tomatoes.” I flip the next batch of chicken.
While making salad, they talk about the sauce and Seren’s mom who was a chef.
Cort comes in as I slice the loaf of Italian bread. “I got it. Fuckin’ gang rode into a new town up north.” He looks around. “I was making the chicken.”
I nod. “It’s done. The spaghetti and bread are what’s left.”
Seren pours the spaghetti boxes in the pan. “Bread. Hurry up, Captain Cort. Caelan’s on his way with the Alpha-Bits and his dogs.”
I look around and see a dog laying on a huge pillow against the wall. The dog is always with him but blends into the background. “What’s your dog’s name?”
“Thrasos. Priam and Blue are Caelan’s.”
I nod remembering the other big dog. “Do they eat on the bench?” I grab a pile of plates knowing Freedom and Ranger are on the ABSZ with Rex and the Ant Irma lady. I haven’t met Rex and the Ant lady.
“Daniel and Lorelei are here tonight, they went shopping early today. Lorelei will set up Dyani’s payroll crap.” Seren has me smiling. It’s a big deal but easy here because Lorelei has it all on one app.
“Raid is at Zion with Banks and Alder. Aylen has something new with choppers and a plant between her and Maverick. Delta is busting at the seams. They took in two more towns.”
Cort has my head shaking. Teller is unbelievable with the business shit.
“Why is Aylen in the chopper business?” Seren has good questions.
“She got Dakota’s plans and José already had a plan with procedures or something for the complete build.” Cort doesn’t sound very interested.
I guess I’m not either as I set plates out in front of seats subtracting for those not here.
***
I throw a wink at Dyani and follow Cort out the back. The pool area is about fifty feet away from their back door. It surprised me but felt good when Raid showed me around my first time here. All the Phoenix Officers gather here and sit with Cort regularly so he always knows what’s happening with his Club and his Brothers. Tonight is no different. The table is full when we get to it. Caelan and the Alpha-Bits are in the pool with other kids. A Prospect is watching over them but the dogs are on the edges of the pool so I don’t think the Prospect is needed.
“Citiali.”
I turn in my seat surprised he’s done talking to the Brothers. “Yeah, Boss.”
“Freaky Protectors?”
I nod. “Hemy has a good four that need to be moved so the younger can go into training.” ‘Between us, Hemy isn’t thrilled with them going up north. They lose something.’
His eyes sharpen or pupils dilate or something. “Got it. I’ll call him tonight. We’ll need as many as we can get trained.” He stops when I shake my head.
“They’re all trained, Boss. Full Protectors with language and everything Brothers coming out of Langley are trained for. Hemy’s even got Flight suit training in them. They’re the trainers but are getting older now. The only way he can keep the kids working is at training. Before they go into the building, they have self-defense, IT and Security mastered. I know he’s got five ready to move but one is IT specialty going to Aaron.”
He’s surprised. “Huh. How old are the kids?”
“We started training young, Boss. By seven, eight we're in IT and surveillance. If we master self-defense, IT and Security we can move to training. That’s usually around ten, twelve. The Brothers waiting to move to the Club completed the tribal challenge and are Warriors. Some do specialty training but three or four years is a long time.” I explain why he should jump on this now.
“So, they’ve been ready for years and they’re not twenty yet?”
I nod. “Yeah, Boss. Kids are different when they have that Indian perspective, everyone has jobs and can contribute. Older we do more.”
He nods. “Teller and Justice said that. I see it in Caelan, saw it in Tyson, Dreng and Daniel.”
“Something about being equal to the elders and valued even if we’re stacking wood hits deep and turns into a need. Abilities weren’t gifted for nothing. Our part in life is depending on us to find where we are needed and fill that need,”
“I can see that. Learn everything is Badass or Indian?”
