Ford's Rise - L. Ann Marie Page 0,75
what the As pick too. They’re not big on the added shit.”
“Alder.” I smile turning toward Anton. “Opie no Alpha-Bit supply. Web put cream.”
Alder nods. “Chopper have Alpha-Bit medic bag.” His hands wave around his head. “Busy, I no send out.”
“I send to Alpha-Bits so all know. Nova call Doc. Bag to Opie tomorrow.”
We walk out listening to them talk. Eight is happy and shows his little bag of chips to the other Alpha-Bits. Emilio smiles at him and points down the road. We follow to the museum, watch the ice cream shop hand out Bit cones and see Freedom and Ranger getting soaked in the water spouts with the Rs, Carmen with the little Bs and Anton who ran as soon as he spotted them all.
Alder laughs.
“Did you like the rides?” I ask my smiling Lexi.
“Two until the Tilt a Whirl. I saw the little one crying and knew it was hurting him. He was squished against the side as we were spinning around. What’s his name? He didn’t answer and Anton doesn’t know it.”
“We don’t use numbers. He’s Eight. We call him buddy, little man, friend but never the number.”
“I’ll remember. I didn’t like the numbers on the kids we flew down with.”
“I hate them. I hate anything that reminds them of the labs. They’re so special, they deserve names.”
She wipes her eyes before she pulls me down and kisses my lips. “I can help find the names.”
I nod. “Alder could use it. He has his hologram working on the files now.”
She stops and looks at me. Fuck. “It’s a virtual Alder. He can work while Alder is doing something else.”
She doesn’t say a word. I start us walking again. Seren calls her from a table women are sitting around. Alexia looks at me. “You work hard, spend time relaxing, have fun, baby.”
I get a smile and kiss. At the table I wait for her to sit.
Alder comes over. “Boss Alexia, Pres Cort feel threat. Colorado, you be readied.”
Shit. Alexia looks at me and I see the fear. “It’s a precaution. Be alert is all he’s saying.”
She nods then turns to Alder. “I’ll stay alert. Thanks, Alder.”
At the table with the men, I sit giving him a look. “I would have said it.”
He nods. “Too many words. She know and be alert.”
Raid laughs. Cort watches smiling. Fucking Brothers.
Chapter Ten
Alexia
I’m so excited. I’m going to see so much while we’re away. I’ve never been away. With a laugh that I think is excitement, I look for a suitcase. There is nothing in the closet. I go to the garage. Web has a lot of bikes, a truck and tools. Donna had boxes in a corner of house stuff in her garage. Web doesn’t have anything extra. I text him. People should have suitcases. Web goes to the Colorado house so he’s been away before. He said they take trips to getaways regularly.
Maybe the suitcase is in the spare room. My phone rings while I’m walking toward it. “There are two bags in the closet. You just need your tech bag and anything special that you want. Favorite shoes or coat. Your clothes are already there.”
“My clothes are there? I’m not missing anything.” My feet turn me toward our room. I know all my clothes are here.
He laughs. “I ordered clothes from what Commander Miguel had sent. They may not be the same colors but it’s your size and brands. You have the same shoes there and I ordered hiking boots like we have. We all wear the same.”
That’s so nice. “Thank you. So, I use the bag and pack panties and shampoo?”
“Baby, I’d never forget your panties. Brothers have no problem looking at panties and imagining them on their women. Shampoo and soap are the same in Colorado so no shampoo needs to travel. Pack perfume and whatever I might have missed.”
“It’s like the house?”
“Yeah, I don’t pack. Everything I need is there including a shaving kit. The clothes there have sweaters, sweatshirts and coats added. The same is there for you.”
I’m always treated the same. That’s a nice thought. “Thank you. I’ll just bring my backpack.”
“Love you, sexy Lexi. Now your panties are in my head.”
I laugh. “Love you too. I have black on today. They’re new. You have to stop ripping them. You’ll go bankrupt buying panties.”
He laughs at me. I smile while he does. “Not a chance of either but it would be worth every penny I spend on panties. I have to go. Brantley just