Page 53 of Ranger's Rise

“Hermano.”

“Yes, your Brother needs you.” I laugh when he runs.

Juan follows them. “Thanks for getting it, Raid. He responds to French. I’ll learn it.”

The Brother amazes me. I bet he’ll learn it tonight. “It might be that his head isn’t clear. He’s still weak. When he’s healthier, he’ll think better and translating everything may be easier.”

He nods. “He needs someone talking to him now. I’ll learn and he’ll always have that to fall back on.”

“Me, Web. French.” Anton makes me laugh. The kid is cute.

Web nods. “It would be good for you to learn too. We can do it together. Some of the others might want to learn too.”

Anton smiles. “List. I have your back, Web.”

The fucking kid has us all laughing. “Make a list and we’ll learn. We all know different now, French will make us better Brothers.”

We move to the house and the women are by the pool with Patcher, Amos, Banks and Cort. Half the As are in the pool and the others with the Ms. The Js are watching. I get changed and take José and Juan into the shallow end. Akai and Alta take them from me telling me they’re safe and I go back for Jacques. Web has the Ms swimming across the pool on the shallow side. All the As keep checking on their brothers. It’s good to see. I sit on the steps with Jacques half in the water.

“Boss!” Someone yells. Allen is pointing at Daniel. “Boss!”

VP walks their way and Daniel jumps into the deep side. “BOSS!” Allen jumps in and swims to Daniel. Aris, Anton and Asa all move the same way.

VP is laughing.“He can swim.”

Allen pulls Daniel to Web not listening to VP. “Web, test.”

Web laughs. “Watch the Ms and I’ll test Daniel so you know he’s safe. Good job watching out for the Little Brothers. It’s important so they don’t get hurt.”

Jacques is watching all this with me, but not moving. Cort hugs Allen. “Good job, Allen. Lorelei was worried about him swimming with you at your building. You did good showing her you’ll take good care of him.”

“Yeah, Pres. Web test.”

I smile, these kids may not have started out right, but they’re good Brothers and Web is teaching them Brotherhood.

Jacques kicks and I laugh then move down a step. “Veux-tu nager, Jacques?”

His feet go again and Lorelei is laughing on the side of me. “Youdowant to swim. I’m glad you came to the party, Jacques.”

“Naaa.”

I’m laughing when everyone looks over. “Yes,nager, swim.”

“Boss!” Anton swims over.

Web tells Allen to watch Daniel swim with the Ms and comes over. “Nager, Jacques. I’m glad you told us you like to swim.” He looks at me and I hand Jacques to him making sure he has a good hold on the little fish wannabe. His skinny little legs are kicking.

“Naaaga, Web.” The thick voice shocks me, it’s slow like a chant, but he used it. He says it again, but better this time.

I turn away fast. Oh, my fucking God, he’s killing me. Akai hits my arm. “Feel happy too, Boss.” He hits his chest.

I swallow hard. “Yeah. I feel it there too, Akai.” Fuck.

I need to see and turn back.Web is laughing with tears running down his face. He’s so fucking happy. Lorelei is telling him words in French and Jacques is making noise as he says them. Banks is watching with his own tears.

Alta brings Juan to me. I take him and spin him around in the water getting noise. Akai is standing behind José watching. “Boss, José.”

Cort moves over and nods to me. “I got him, Akai.”