Ford's Rise - L. Ann Marie Page 0,72
proud of you, Brother.”
His eyes have tears in them. “I feel it, Web. I always equal. Feels good.”
He’s so fucking smart. “Yeah. Let’s get them loaded before they start rioting.”
“Asa talk two want mohawk. Next one, I start riot.”
I laugh.
~*~*~
Anton has Alexia, Télia and Faith going on rides with him. The little Brother is so fucking cute playing it up so they’d go. Four Alpha-Bits come to the table about the circuit. I look at Alder when one from Finland walks away. “You had it on the chat?”
He nods. “I need list. I post to Alpha-Bits. Some not finish training. Some ready.”
“I didn’t get the list.”
He rolls his eyes. “Email, Web. I send link to Alpha-Bit board. Sheet added there. More to medical.”
I shrug. “I didn’t open it. I was working until dinner. I’ll look when I get home.”
He nods. “Brantley excited. He lead-monitor to circuit Alpha-Bits there.”
I nod. He’s a good Brother and worries over the kids. Justice sits. “He is.”
I shake my head. “You doing okay?”
He nods not looking okay. “Prez is taking Aquyá back. I’m free from training until the MC Brothers show next month.”
I look at him playing that out in my head. “You think you let him down not training Phoenix and Aquyá.” I’m not a reader but can guess why he looks unsettled.
Alder shakes his head before Justice can comment. “No, Phoenix, Aquyá learn same to you. You work, they lazy. Phoenix like IT not President. They good. Like Alpha-Bit, no choice is no free, no good.”
“He’s right. Maybe they aren’t the three in a way that was obvious when it was all decided. Maybe they didn’t get a choice and resent the job they were given.”
He’s surprised. “I didn’t. It’s always felt like I’m in the right place.”
I nod. “To you. I can see you as a Lead in any job. Maybe their jobs aren’t the same. Have they ever been Leads like you and Teller?”
He shakes his head. Ben laughs from behind us. Alder smiles when he walks around the table and sits. He knew he was there. I shake my head at my little Brother. He may be right.
This is a conversation Ben should be part of. “You can answer, Justice.”
“I was one that was always helping them. I see Phoenix as an IT Ops lead. I’ve never seen Aquyá as anything other than my younger brother. He’s always been a pain in the ass.”
I laugh. “Can you imagine how he feels with a Brother like you? You’re fucking freaky on top of good at every job you do.”
He shrugs then nods. “He’s always given me a hard time about working. Why wouldn’t I read it?”
Ben shakes his head. “Jeremy told me. I didn’t read it. Phoenix never wanted to be the Lead. Aquyá knew and knew he’d never make another you. I pushed them into the job and expected the same reactions and work that you gave. They both will choose the jobs they want without my interference. I was coming to ask if this is the job you want.”
Justice smiles. “You know it is. I feel like I fell perfect. Everything I trained for and lesson you gave me led to right here, Prez.”
Ben smiles. “Teller said almost the exact same words. I’m glad I didn’t fuck you all up.”
“You didn’t fuck any of us up. Why didn’t they say anything to anyone? We have the best families in the fuckin’ world. Everyone would get it if they had said something.”
Ben shrugs. “Pleasing me showed in Phoenix. Aquyá didn’t show anything.”
Justice shakes his head. “They’re both old enough that it shouldn’t be an obstacle.”
I shake my head. “Again, to you it’s not. If you feel less, you’re never going to see you matter to someone like Ben.”
“I need lessons from you, Web. Even Alexia is more confident. Aquyá blows me off and Phoenix takes everything like criticism. I tried everything to show they are equal. I see them as equal. I just wished they put more work into the crew. They’re so fuckin’ good at the jobs.”
“Lead is a job they didn’t want and knew they couldn’t do as good as you. It’s not what you did or didn’t do. You take the reading thing too far. Maybe talking to them about how they feel would have gotten you more than reading whatever and glossing over the real problem.”
They both look at me. Alder explains. “Help to Phoenix years. Why you help no ask?”
Ben smiles. “I need BSC West