Ford's Rise - L. Ann Marie Page 0,25
Justice, Mucimi, Aquyá, Lukas and Mase show sitting at the table.
Cort smiles shaking his head. “Get the fuck out. We were here first.”
A table moves making this one longer. They slide down. Justice smiles. “Roger, Boss.”
I shake my head and sit in front of Jordan. “What’s the plan?”
Jinx sits with Beacon. Jordan answers. “You’re taking your ol’ lady. We’re here for you, Brother.”
Shit. I didn’t know it was a public thing. “I’m supposed to ask first.”
Justice leans over. “You are. She told Carmen you were and she’s ready. It’s perfect.”
A picture of me kissing Alexia shows in my head and I shake it out. “Thanks, Brother. I don’t need pictures.”
They laugh. I shrug. Cort watches me. “You’ll get her band in a day or two. You have one in the box that’s for now. Send it back when the new one comes in unless she wants it. If she does, tell Banks and he’ll pay for it.”
I nod. I didn’t see him add anything, so I pull the box and look for it. It’s nice with diamonds around the gold but not like the stone that matches her eyes in the sun. I show Ford the ring.
“It will work for tonight. I like yours. It will match and it’s different. She’ll like the different.”
That makes me smile. “I think so too.” I give it to Cort. “You kept me safe for years without question. You saved my life, saved Anton, Aaron, Asa, Aris and Alder too many times. Today you saved Alexia. I don’t know about this shit, but I think I’m supposed to pick the most influential Brother in my life. You taught us Brotherhood and gave us reasons to believe and go on. I wouldn’t have any of this without you and that Brotherhood. You even got my family here when I didn’t know they existed.”
He takes a deep breath and throws me chin taking the ring. “I’m honored. You have to know we learned just as much from you.”
I nod. “Seeing what we learned from our point of view is how you’ve grown this so big. I know we all help you see what’s possible. It’s you. Crow and your dad knew. We all feel the same, Cort. I’m honored too.” I smile at the surprise on his face. Everyone agrees with smiles.
He throws chin again. Ford squeezes my shoulder. “Good job, Web.”
“Dad! I’m in third grade!” Alejandro runs in with Aris, Dreng and Daniel chasing him. Garren and Michael come in and right to me while Ford talks to an excited Alejandro.
“Did you get the ring? We got the AF ring. Our GF and MF are inside.” Garren hits my arm impatiently.
I nod watching as he pulls the ring from his pocket. I smile when I see it. “It’s nice. Why are you giving her a ring?”
“It’s the sister ring. She knows we’re her family ‘cause we give the sister ring. See.” He holds his hand up showing me his ring. It’s always on him. “Télia gave me the brother’s ring and I gave her the sister ring. Télia has brothers’ rings for you and Michael.”
I look at a smiling Ford. His hands go up. “It happened at my wedding too. I have no idea what they’re planning. Just go along with it.”
I nod thinking this is crazy playing out. I wonder how many rings are exchanged here. Cort laughs so I ask him. “Everyone gets rings? Did I miss that?”
“I think Garren and Michael are noted as part of Alexia and Télia’s life forever, Brother.”
Ford nods seriously and I get it. They probably aren’t getting married and need to feel part of us. I nod and kiss their heads. “She’s going to love it because it came from her new brothers.”
They both nod with big smiles.
The women come in and I’m stunned. Alexia is in a pretty pale blue dress that has gray around the edges. I look at Cort but he’s watching Seren. How the hell did they know?
I go right to her. “We’re getting married and you’re ready?”
She nods. “Télia said biker-married is different. When I agreed to be claimed by you, we were already married. I didn’t know. Seren said the men aren’t good with explaining so they explained.”
I nod. “Good, you can explain it to me.”
Everyone is laughing. I don’t look away from her pretty blue eyes all made up for me. “Are you ready to be Mrs. Web Ford?”
She nods. “And part of the Ford brothers family.”
I smile. “You already