Page 32 of Ranger's Rise

I hear the click surprised he included me. “I’m good, Raid.”

“You are, Boss. I’m checking on Rex. I’ve got Patcher with me.” VP has Cort smiling with the way he doesn’t sound worried. I look at the floor.

“Thanks, Raid.” Cort sounds relieved. I’m glad VP does it for him.

“Roger, Boss.”

Cort moves and I let his arm go. “Thanks, I’m okay.”

I nod and step back. He sits watching the medic. “Patcher is two out.”

The medic puts the needle down on a pad and holds gauze to Rex’s cheek. I’m surprised his ear isn’t hit, but don’t say a word. Rex is talking to Cort like nothing happened here.

“I’m moving the bar. This doesn’t fucking work for me. Don’t try to give me shit on it. You’re moving and I’ll make sure it has Sharp’s rooms,” Cort announces.

Rex takes a minute. “All right, Cortland. Why is Hade drunk here? I’ve never seen him drunk. He shot you when he was drunk and now this.”

Cort looks at Sharp and the medic. Rex nods. “Boss, I’m going to make sure Hade is secure.”

He turns my way and his eyes surprise me. There’s a sharpness to them, making them look cold and dangerous. “Cuff him, but Tank isn’t letting him move, Brother. He’s waiting for me.”

I nod and walk down the hall. VP is moving my way fast. I step aside holding his arm and let Patcher pass. “He’s calm, but not calm enough to deal right now.”

He nods. “You calmed him?” He’s surprised.

“Sharp told me you hold his arm. Ifeltthe anger, he was almost vibrating with it. When he calmed, he sat. He’s not there yet, but he’s not vibrating anymore.”

He nods. “Thanks. I’ll explain later. I need to get in there.”

I walk the other way. He needs to get in there. I’ve never seen Cort so intense or cold and he’s too fucking big to be walking around armed and volatile. He’s in a suit that makes him unstoppable.

Tank is standing guard over Hade. He’s cuffed and in a heap on the side of the bar. “I’m Ranger, Tank. I was just checking on him.”

He gives me a closer look. “He was talking about you. You’re the SAA while Falcon is gone. The Brothers say you’re good. Thanks for keeping Pres’s back.”

I nod. “Thanks for doing the same, Brother. I’m glad to see it.”

He nods. “He’s been here twice, but Rex wasn’t here. I think it was intentioned.”

I nod thinking the word isn’t used right, but I got the point. “Pres will deal when he’s got Rex settled. He’s getting stitches and will be fine. It’s a graze. I’ll let him know that Hade’s been here before.”

“Thanks, Boss.”

I walk back in and the bar looks normal, but the Brothers are quiet. “Are Rex and Pres good, Boss?”

I don’t know this Brother either. “They are, Brother. It was a graze and Patcher is stitching him up.”

He nods. “Hade can’t be near Pres, Boss. He’s lookin’ to hurt him, you and the trainer girls.”

I nod. “He’s not a member and was leaving town. Pres will deal and he’s got us all at his back, Brother.”

“Always,” a couple of Brothers say. I throw chin and keep walking.

This is some shit. There’s got to be more to this than I know. Maybe I don’t need it, but it would be nice to have. Patcher is almost done with Rex. No one is talking right now.

Sharp is standing against a counter looking pissed, the other medic is gone. VP is sitting by Cort with his hand on Cort’s arm. Stepping back, I lean against the wall and wait.

Patcher covers Rex and smiles at him. “I’ll come see you tomorrow and change the bandage. Don’t take the tape off and you can shower, it will keep it dry.”