Page 116 of Ranger's Rise

Shaggy turns as Cort, Raid, Falcon and Ranger walk in. Victory is screeching her way over to them. Cort zeros in on the bag Shaggy’s holding and Mounty laughs. “Too late. I got this. Walk the pussy out so he makes it.”

I laugh moving toward Shaggy. He’s frozen watching Victory hug everyone that’s wearing Enforcer gear with MPs on their backs. “Let’s go, Shaggy. I’ll get you out alive if you keep your mouth shut. Open your mouth and I make no promises.”I smile when he trips.

“Leif, come meet my friends!”

“He ate too much and needs to walk it off. He’ll meet them later,” I tell her and aim at the door.

She comes running. “No! I told him about them. He can walk in a minute.”

I let him go. “You’re on your own, Shaggy. Be smart and talk as little as possible.”

Victory drags him to the Brothers about ten feet to the left of the doors. Shaggy is looking at those doors. I’m smiling as I walk behind.

Raid is watching me while Victory introduces Shaggy to Ranger. “Shaggy’s been interesting,” I tell him. He laughs, but stops fast.

“Oh, my God! What happened to you?”

Fuck. I did tell him not to talk. The air changes. “Altercation with a flame thrower. I’m good. So, where’re you staying?”

I laugh. “Shaggy’s on his way to the motel. Victory will be staying with us.”

She’s nodding away. Ranger looks relieved. “Good. I’m glad you’ll have time with her. We can go for dinner?”

Shaggy perks up and I hit his back just at kidney level with a quick finger jab. “We’ll see.”

The Brothers are all smiling, Victory missed it. She looks from Ranger to Shaggy. “Your stomach is really bothering you. I left peppermint in the car that will help. You can meet everyone at the party.”

We watch him stumble to the door. “Maybe I should go with him.”

I take her hand and wait for Ranger to bend for me. Once he gets his kiss, I pull her along. “He’ll be fine, just indigestion and he’s got the cure in his Playschool car.”

The Brothers laugh. I peg them a finger behind my back. I know Raid told them all about Shaggy.

Mounty is happy with the kids and stays with us. Victory stays right by Lorelei, telling her how good she’s doing and I’m happy I get Victory without Shaggy for a while.

~*~*~

Ranger

I walk behind Victory and Freedom, smiling. They’ve been talking and laughing since I got back from work. I’m glad to see Freedom so happy, at least until I hear that Shaggy is meeting us here. I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. The Brothers aren’t taking shit from a limp-dick. From the little I’ve heard, he’s a limp-dick. I wish I knew before. I scratch that. Freedom isn’t here without me and I can’t leave Victory alone here either. We have another wave of military that don’t know the Badass code. Badass is an honor that not everyone believes in. We haven’t weeded out the trainees enough to know who shares in that honor. It doesn’t have to be from a Club, but the way you treat people and how you live. Anyone that’s all for themselves isn’t for us. We get pussies and assholes, but so does everyone. We’re just a little more selective and get rid of them quickly when shit starts showing so it doesn’t carry over.

“Harmony is here with Scraps! Who is Scraps?”

I laugh reaching around Freedom and open the door. The music is loud and the Brothers are every-fucking-where. Holy fuck, it’s packed tonight. I see quite a few trainees and send a text to get two Security Teams here just to keep an eye out. Jinx sends a roger back making me smile. It is an emoticon that salutes and under says roger. Web is a funny Brother.

I bump then steady a trainee. “What the fuck?” he yells.

“He’s an Officer. Watch it, asshole.” TheProspect moves the dick.

“I didn’t see he was an Officer.” The guy walks toward the bar.

The Prospect swings his head. “It shouldn’t matter!”

Good answer. “What’s your name?”

“Miter, Boss.”

“Where’re you headed when you’re patched in.” I like what I’ve seen, he’s got good values.