Page 31 of Ranger's Rise

“We did shit like a regular school, but learned different. When I went into boot camp, I realized we weren’t taught a regular curriculum. When the Rangers put me active, I took online classes knowing I didn’t fit with the unit. It gave me something to do on downtime. Rangers did Officer training as I’d finish classes. Like someone was coordinating it or something. They mentioned my training and education wasn’t normal for my age. I didn’t have anything to compare it to, but the guys in Army boot camp and unit. Some shouldn’t have been taken by the Army. The Rangers, they were more like me, but older and knew shit I didn’t about civilians, but didn’t grow up Badass and weren’t always focused on the big picture I was taught to plan for.”

“Was it culture shock?” He makes me laugh.

“No. I wanted to know what they knew, but some were rough and didn’t like me on sight. Rank is important to military. I was shunned by some, but they had to follow orders. The ones that took offense wouldn’t answer my questions during downtime. I had the respect of my officers, so they’d answer, or maybe they had to.” I smile. He laughs.

We pull into the bar and shut off the bikes. “Any drawbacks to how you learned in school?”

“I’m glad I went to the Club school. Even jumping missions on Rangers, I knew background that my Ops officers didn’t know. Living Badass gave me fair, but fierce, as a Lead, it all worked in my favor. I wouldn’t have made some decisions that I followed orders on, but I was brought up to be a soldier and did follow those orders.”

“So, you had no problem coming back...what the fuck?” A shot has us moving to the door fast. I follow him with my gun pointed down.

A good old-fashioned fight greets us. “Stand Down!” Cort yells and points his gun at a huge guy that looks like a TV wrestler.“Rex!” My eyes swing to Cort. He’s controlling an anger I feel in the air.

“He’s over here, Pres. I called for a medic, but if you got the dipshits, I’ll take care of him.”

That anger grows and I see the men are feeling it too. No one moves. “Rex!”

“I’m okay, Cortland. It’s just a graze. Sharp can handle this.”

“Take care of him, Sharp.” He stretches his finger. “What the fuck is going on, Tank?”

“He shot you and is standing here talking shit, Pres. He’s not standing anymore!” These are Brothers? I’ve never seen this Brother. I’d remember him. Cort relaxes some.

I move in two steps and Brothers take a step back. Fucking Hade is on the floor.

“Any medics here?” Cort asks.

A Brother I’ve seen steps up. “I’m not working on him, Pres. He shot Rex, too.”

Cort nods. “Help Sharp with Rex. Tank, drag him out and take his keys.”

Cort holsters his gun and moves to the bar, then behind it. “Tank, get them cleaning this up.” I point to the mess of tables and broken chairs.

“Roger, Boss.”

The little hallway leads to a room. Rex is on a chair and the Sharp guy is cleaning his face. The graze is on his cheek. I feel that anger building again and step closer to Cort.

Sharp looks up at Cort then at me. “VP puts his hand on his arm, Brother.” The other medic sits and gets the kit for sutures like Sharp isn’t talking.

“I’m fine, Cortland,” Rex says looking at me.

I put my hand on Cort’s arm like VP did and he breathes deep. His eyes are unfocused for a few seconds. The anger doesn’t seem so thick in the air and I throw chin to Sharp. I’m going to have to ask VP what the fuck this is all about.

“What happened?”

Sharp swings his head, “I came down when I heard yelling. I just got in the bar when Hade was yelling about you being a fuck-up. Rex asked him to leave and he pulled his gun. Tank tackled him when the gun went off. He’s fucking drunk again and Tank never touched the gun, Pres. He’s got no excuse for this one.”

Cort is vibrating and I tighten my hand on his arm. When he’s calm again, he nods. “Vick, get me two Prospects to drive Hade to the reservation.”

“Roger, Boss. You want Security with them?”

“No. They won’t need it.” His monotone voice worries me.

“Roger, Boss. VP is three out.” Vick has me relieved. Cort is too angry to deal with this and I’m not sure he’d step back and let me handle it.

“Get him on with me.”

“Roger, Boss.”