Page 115 of Ranger's Rise

Dick. Lorelei gives me a look. I reach in my pocket and pull out the twenty I put in there. I’m smiling when I hand it to him, but my eyes aren’t and I know he sees it. “Since I got breakfast and apparently lunch, I’ll cover your dinner too.”

He smiles taking it. “Thanks.” Without another word, he leans over and starts shoveling food in his mouth.

I watch Victory. When she stops looking at the pussy-leech her eyes find mine. “Where are you staying? He is not in the same house as Ranger.”

She nods. “Leif can stay at the motel. I’m with you at your new house. I never got to tell you, it’s beautiful. I’m so happy for you too, Freedom.”

“I’m staying there. The motel is too much or you can stay with me there.”

I eat and let this play out. I’ll kill him before letting him back in my house after I said he isn’t staying.

“It’s twenty-nine dollars a night.” Lorelei tries to help.

“No, I’m staying with Freedom. I’ve missed her. You’d be happier in the motel than with Ranger. He was military and carries guns with him everywhere.”

Shaggy shuts up and eats.

Lorelei leaves us to get changed. “I’m with you and Seren for lunch.” She waves walking out. I bet Shaggy getting lost is her hope.

“She’s doing so much better. When does the brace come off? That looks like a new brace too.”

I nod. “I think three weeks. She got the new brace a couple of weeks ago. She likes that it’s smaller. The other one was bulky and limited her movement.”

“Waste. Everyone wants the perfect everything and wastes the perfectly good just to get the newest gadgets.”

I’ve had enough. “Shaggy, I’m going to give you some advice. It’s free so you’ll like that. If you keep this up, the Brothers will not only string you up, they’ll probably kill you.”

His face is priceless. He’s pissed and scared, but he doesn’t open his mouth.

I look back to Victory. “So, now she can move stretching all her muscles and doesn’t have the weight putting pressure on the bone. Her range of motion is opening up to.”

Victory smiles. I love her. “That’s so good! I can’t wait to see her moving again.”

I have less than ten minutes. “That’s in five minutes. Eat up.”

Shaggy is having trouble finishing his first plate. I stand while Victory drinks her juice. “The Brothers don’t believe in wasting shit. They don’t do bags and containers that can’t be recycled. Everything goes out on plates with metal covers. You’ll need to find something to put your food in. I know how you hate waste.”

Victory digs in her purse. She pulls a little ball and shakes it out. I can smell perfumed something from here and smile. “I have a bag. We need to hurry or Freedom will be late.” She dumps both plates into the bag and Shaggy is shocked then pissed but takes it.

We swipe in the Training Center with Shaggy mumbling. The kids are already here smiling at us as we walk in. “Boss Freedom!”

I smile at the way they say it all together.

“Oh, my God! What did you do to them!?” Shaggy marches toward me and Mounty pulls his gun moving to my side and pointing it right at Shaggy’s head. I’m hoping he pulls the trigger and Shaggy is bouncing on the floor, but the leech stops in his tracks.

“One inch and you’re flopping like a fish out of water,” Mounty growls. He gives me a look. “What the fuck? Why is he here?”

“He drove me here from California. We’ve had the best ride, but I can see he doesn’t fit in here. Leif, go back to Lorelei’s and get your car. You saw the motel. I’ll call you there at two.” Victory gives me hope.Shaggy doesn’t move. “Mounty, put your gun down, he’s scared of guns.”

Mounty laughs then the kids do. “I hope you’re not with this pussy. You can do a hell of a lot better than that.” He hugs Victory. “Glad you made it. Your sister loves you, girl. Don’t make her wait so long next time.”

Victory laughs. “I won’t. I was setting up my new house and the store.” She looks over at Shaggy. “He’ll point his gun at you again if you don’t move.”

“What happened to them?” He points to the kids.

Amal stands and Mounty lets him answer. “They saved us and gave us a home and pool and Brothers that take us out and love us.”

Oh shit. I’m blinking like crazy. “Thank you, Amal. Shaggy, go to the motel before Cort and the Officers come in. Your questions are insulting to them and us. Beware, they won’t warn you before they pull the trigger.”