Page 83 of Ranger's Rise

The bitch gives me a look. The Enforcer pulls his gun and she moves away. “Thanks, Pablo. Anton, have you been waiting outside this whole time?”

He looks so small and scared. He has tears in his little pinkish eyes. “Boss?”

“Come in, you can stay with Doc and watch them put the stuff you found for him on.” I walk him back in and Doc says he can stay and puts a mask on him. He stands by the bed just looking at Ranger. Since he’s on Ranger’s good side, I move his hand to Ranger’s. “I can’t be here while they put the medicine on. Can you make sure he knows he’s not alone?”

He looks at me and I want to hug his sad little face. “I got his back, Boss.” Tears fall wetting the mask that’s too big.

I kiss his head and take a second to breathe. “Thank you, Anton. I’ll be in the hall when they’re done.”

He nods and turns back to Ranger. Doc motions me to go, so I go. In the hall I lean against the wall. Fucking kids.

“Let’s get some food in you.” Seren is pulling again.Like Anton needing a job, she does too.

I walk with her to the cafeteria. “I’m getting a sandwich and eating it outside his room.”

She nods.

We walk back and I sit. I’m not hungry, but I eat half the chicken salad sandwich without tasting it. Cort and Raid walk toward us looking like they have something to say. Since I’m on the floor, they bend when they get close.

“Raid, get someone to move some chairs over here.”

“On it, Cort.” He walks away.

“I called his old Club. He doesn’t have family. The President was sorry to hear he got hurt but didn’t sound like he particularly cared.”

I shake my head. “No, he wouldn’t. From what Ranger said, Mounty was the closest person to him when he got home. His father and uncle had died and a bunch of Brothers scattered. He was on a job so he didn’t know until he came back to the states. They gave him an honorable discharge early. He’s the last of the line or something.”

He must understand that better than me. He nods. “Did he mention close Brothers at all?”

“No, Falcon was close to him and Brinks. He felt close to you and Raid too. No one from before that he mentioned besides Mounty.”

“Fucking hell. He’s been alone since his father and uncle died?”

I shrug. “He talked about the Ops guys, but it was funny shit. Nothing like he hung out with them. He liked some trainer, I got the feeling he was in awe of the guy, but I don’t think he talked to him much.”

He looks down the hall then back at me. “Jessie?”

I nod. “Yeah. He can’t be from his Club, maybe someone in one of his Council’s Clubs. He was an SAA too. He thought like Ranger and it struck a chord with him.”

He nods not looking happy. “He’s a Badass trainer that Ranger called for before he left. So, here was Mounty, Brinks, Falcon, Raid and me. I’ll get with the Flight Crews. He knows most of them and needs Brothers around him.”

I’m shaking my head again. “He’s always been a loner, Cort. He has a million stories about growing up, but he joined at seventeen and the military had him in a job he was young for. He didn’t relate or hang out with the men because they didn’t understand him. Going back to his Club left him with Brothers that didn’t know him, only of him. He was gone for eight years. Whoever he did know, didn’t stick around. If they did, they didn’t get even a mention from him.”

“Fuck. I’ll get Brinks and Raid checking in with him. He keeps saying this feels like home. He means that literally. We live Badass beliefs like his dad and old President did. We’ll make sure he feels that.”

I nod but think he’s worried where he doesn’t need to be. Of course, he notices everything. “You don’t agree?”

“It’s good that he feels like this is home. He isn’t going to worry about his skin or how people see it. Everyone living how he’s comfortable, in this Badass lifestyle, is going to be what’s important. Money, his looks, titles, they all don’t mean much to him. He’s going to fight to go to work tomorrow. He’ll want to be present and helping like he always is.”

He looks at Seren and she nods. “I caused this. Maybe I need it, but we’ll get him out and back to helping.” He moves to stand and I put my hand on his arm.

“He isn’t going to blame you. He’ll think it’s on him.” Men are fucking tough when it comes to shit like this.

He nods. “He will, but I know that he wouldn’t have turned away if I didn’t say your name. He still shot the dickass, but he wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for me. I’ll be here for him and make sure he knows he’s not alone.”

Seren laughs. “He’ll like that, Badass doesn’t allow for alone.”

I shake my head and Cort stands. “He’s been alone long enough. I’m glad he has you, Freedom.” He walks away and I have tears in my eyes.

I take a breath and drink some water.

“Men are idiots.”

I laugh but don’t disagree.

~*~