Elan. They’re using Mase to fuck with the local one percenters. They call them the milk duds. I haven’t heard a real name yet.
Cort comes in throwing chin to our acknowledgments. “Your fucking Brother is an idiot. He’s on the boards today. The dickass thought you claimed Stella because Mase sent her over to you with Chaps.”
The whole fucking table yells, “What?” or laughs. Aaron and Brody run in and push their chairs to the end of the table by the women. Stella is going off but they don’t seem to care.
“He’s not talking to me because he thinks I claimed Stella?” He’s such a dick.
Pres sits and shakes his head. Cort nods. “I just finished reminding him how Brotherhood works.”
Pres laughs. “We may need to meet in my meeting room. Techs are putting the new screen up now. I don’t know how long it takes. Raid is supervising so it could be a while.”
I hold my laugh thinking it’s not really funny that Cort lost it. Raid is funny. “He didn’t focus you?”
Cort laughs. That’s what I was hoping for. “Not quick enough, Brother. We’ll have a family meeting sometime this week. I missed something somewhere.”
Falcon sits on the side of Cort. “I’m in.” My Brothers, my family will get the dick straight.
“I don’t think you missed a fuckin’ thing, Brother. Look at this.” Ben hands him the book. Falcon and Pres read along. I’m nervous about what Cort will think with so much of Crow and him in it. “He’s going to be honored, Brother. Can you add to that for me?”
He’s fucking serious. “Anything you want, Boss.”
“Thanks. There are places with no lessons listed. I’d like to add lessons we’ve learned there, then use that as the new bible with the procedures we put in place for new Clubs. You have everything spelled out so they can’t fuck it up.”
I look at Jack. “I didn’t do it alone, Boss. Jack had the Bible with the added explanations of how we do it. I added ours with the lessons and business shit to his.”
Ben looks at Jack and smiles. “I told you that you were a tool for Cort to use. I think this shows him what I meant better than I could explain at the time. The same thing can be said for you, Jinx. Age is not a factor when it comes to Badass. You prove it with the lessons and quotes showing Indian heritage, Badass and Mason. You didn’t just listen to the lessons, you memorized and live them. It’s an honor to see it, feel it and I’ll be just as honored to pass it along to new Clubs that are struggling to understand it.” Holy fuck. “You did a great fuckin’ job. Cort already agrees, breathe, Brothers.”
The table laughs. “Thanks, Boss.” My mind is spinning so nothing else comes up.
Jack makes me laugh. “The honor is choking us. We’ll need a minute.”
I watch Cort. He smiles while he reads. That’s a good sign. Ben laughs and orders his breakfast. I look down the table. Debra is watching me with a smile. She throws me chin and I laugh. Fucking woman. I throw it back. It’s already a great day.
Aiyana’s words play in my head, ‘The ancestors are smiling down on Jinx today. I am happy for him and you for accepting that your story is different than what you each had planned. It is a day to celebrate all that will be.’ I think I understand those words better today.
Ben smiles at me. “You do.”
I move for my plate smiling. It’s good enough for me.
He laughs.
~*~*~
We’re still waiting on Major, his new VP, Jordan, Hitch, Mag with Justice and Alder. Cort is still reading.
“Ops, Pres Cort!” Mucimi is here and gone so fast I barely got a look at him. I stand and wait for Champ while Cort, Pres and Falcon run. Debra waves and I notice Mase and Hannah are gone. I get to Ops as fast as I can.
Scanning in I hear Cort growling. It must be the growl day.
Cort: “Get Red and White up. Shoot that fuck as soon as he’s over desert.”
Ranger: “Roger, Boss.”
I get in and stand behind everyone watching the screens. Mag has two choppers coming from behind. Major is coming into a fight. Jordan is just getting clear of one. Fuck this is bad. Falcon is on his phone. Jack comes in and stands by Cort. “I’ll take either.” He puts his glasses on and looks