Page 51 of Benga's Rise

Opening the door from the HR stairway, it beeps and the Prospect looks at me. “Why didn’t you call me?”

“When kids show, I call Amos or Patcher. It’s in the book.”

I shake my head. “You took my card to buy him fucking clothes. You call me,thenAmos or Patcher.”

He looks like I kicked him. “Roger, VP.”

I walk away so I don’t shoot him. When I see Leo, I’m calm. He left school. “Where you headed?”

He looks up and runs. “Raid!” I catch him and hold on for his hug. “I was coming to see you and the Prospect called Patcher.”

I nod and thumb text Patcher that I got him. “I canceled Patcher.”

I look for Freedom’s bike but don’t see it. I text her that Leo ditched school and I’m headed to the pizzeria. When I’m done, I put him down.

“Me and Cort were going to your school for lunch. I’m glad I didn’t ride out there for nothing.”

He wipes his eyes and looks at me. “You were?”

“Yeah. He got watches for the twins and got one for you too. He didn’t want them to think it was because they don’t have money so he was making sure they didn’t feel that.”

He nods. “That’s nice. I wanted to find you last night.”

“Why didn’t you call?” I keep my hand on his shoulder and walk him toward the SUVs.

Horn watches me and I point to an SUV. He nods and writes on his clipboard. “I don’t have my phone.” Jesus. With the phone, we could track him.

“You lost it?” I sit him on the seat and wait for that answer.

He’s looking everywhere but at me. “Mom took it.”

“You can explain that on the way to lunch.”

He looks up fast. “You’re taking me to lunch?”

“I did say something about a watch, the twins and lunch, didn’t I?”

He nods with tears. “Yeah. You and the Brothers always tell me right. I won’t forget again.”

Jesus. Going around the truck, I text Cort that I have Leo and I’m taking lunch. As I drive out, I ask, “Your phone?”

“I was going to find you and mom took it and my bag. You said I can’t lose it and she wouldn’t listen. She made you leave and I couldn’t even call you.”

I nod. “Did anything else happen with that?”

“After she said I couldn’t leave, I told her my dad was right, she’s a stupid bitch. She wouldn’t let me call you. You let me call her when I needed to hear her. You always tell me what’s right and she wouldn’t listen. Then Freedom took my coat and boots. She told me she’d bring them back in the morning, but I didn’t believe her. She did. She’s a good Brother too. I told her I’m sorry.”

“She is. She came to see me this morning because you had her worried. Talking to your mom like that is just as bad as putting your hands on girls. It hurts just as much too. Don’t ever use words like that to hurt someone. It goes against the Little Brothers oath you made.”

He looks out the window. “I shouldn’t have yelled at them. I just wanted to talk to you. You always tell me what’s right. I couldn’t even call Patcher. I wish Seren was there. She would have called.”

Shit. Pulling into the lot, I’m so fucking glad to see Freedom is here. “I get that talking to me was important but the way you speak to people is too. I need you to hearmywords so I never hear you hurt someone else with yours. Freedom is meeting us.”

He cleans his face and nods climbing out. “I won’t hurt her again. My dad did that. He wasn’t nice like the Brothers.”

Freedom watches Leo as we walk toward her. “Rough day?” she asks.Leo nods. “Sit, I ordered for us.”

I sit and tell her how I found Leo. She shakes her head. “I told you he’d be by to see you. I’ve got no reason to lie to you.”