Page 103 of Benga's Rise

“Raid.”

I shake my head no. “I’d do anything for you, Cort, but watching you die isn’t on that list. It ranks right up there with sitting in the dish.”

The rage in his eyes clears and he smiles. “Fuck, Brother.”

“How did you get shot?”

He rolls his eyes. “Ranger hit the gun away and I knew he hit the switch. The bullet was out before I could move.”

“Hade was going to shoot Ranger?”

He laughs then moans. “Fuck. That’s not fun. He’s an ass. He said he’d show Freedom how well Ranger dances. He was hitting him with the laser, but Ranger changed that. Hade’s fucking drunk and knows he lost her.”

Okay, so it was laser shit. We do shit like that all the time. “What do you want me to do or say to him?”

“Let him sleep it off in holding. I’ll talk to him tomorrow. Because I’m not in this fucking bed longer than overnight!” He glares at Doc.

Doc smiles. “I thought I’d have to get Raid to keep you overnight so I’m good.”

“Fucking Brothers.”

“Glad you’ll live. Seren is waiting. I need to let her in before she hurts Nova.”

He laughs and moans. “Get out before I need pain shit.”

I do.

Seren is standing in front of Nova and she’s pissed. I smile at her. “Do not make him laugh. He won’t take anything for pain. He’s here overnight but will be up and moving tomorrow. I’m sure it has to do with not taking anything for pain.”

She nods blowing by me. “Thanks, Raid.”

Freedom is watching me. “Is he really okay?”

I nod. “It was a nick. It’s fixed, but he wouldn’t go under or take anything. He’s calm and was laughing, but that hurts so he threw me out.”

She smiles and steps back, Falcon laughs. I catch his eye and turn to Lorelei. “I need to go to holding. Can you wait for Seren? Rex is going to be pissed and she may be able to help with that.”

Her sweet smile shows. “I’ll be here or tell the other giant where I’m going.”

I laugh kissing her lips and move down the hall. Falcon walks with me. Freedom steps in front of me. “It was a graze on Ranger’s wrist. He hit the switch.”

I nod. “Cort told me. Are you okay?”

She shakes her head and smiles. “A little confused, but Hade is afraid of me so I’m fine.”

Falcon laughs. “You’re a good Brother, Freedom.”

“I’ll let them know at the Club what’s going on.”

“Thanks, Freedom.” I turn for the stairs going down to holding.

Halfway down Falcons says what I’m thinking. “She’s going to Ranger.”

“Yeah.”

Hade is sitting on a bunk with his head in his hands. “You sleeping sitting up?”

His body jumps. “Cort?” He works to stand up. He is drunk.