Page 10 of Lion's Legacy of Flame

People don’t like to feel like charity cases. This is why I have so many volunteer positions here, to give everyone a chance to work. And, of course, it’s why I always hire people to help with the deliveries and such. Giving people dignity is an important part of what I do.

Sure, some people would rather I spend the few thousand a month that goes out for payroll on food and such. You know who the loudest people are, the ones who bitch most about stuff like that? They’re the ones who don’t ever do a damned thing for others. They love to criticize but not to make changes. They’re the ones who tear down others because they know they’re not doing a damned thing. It’s easier to feel okay with ignoring starving kids if you put down the people trying to help them.

Wow.

Okay, now you know my pet peeve.

And I need to say many people don’t think it’s good, what I do. I mean, I disagree with them but they believe safety nets like mine keep people impoverished. They’re far more likely to admire me but think I’m not helping more than others. We learn from each other. I listen to their criticisms and make adjustments so people not only get food from me but also get tools to eventually no longer need my help.

The guys leave and I start up with the things I’ll need to do when I open to the public tomorrow morning. There are food trucks that will come to stock up for meal deliveries and their routes. We have two food trucks that run through neighborhoods and take pledge IOUs as payment. In other words, a person pledges to volunteer for an hour at anything. Babysit your neighbor’s kids. Clean up a park. Whatever, with a charity or just by yourself.

I’m in the back checking inventories and, honestly, I’m just amazed at how we’ve managed to get things back up and running. I certainly couldn't have done it alone. For some reason, my mind flashes to Brady and I get a wonderful warm feeling.

Wow, I’m being an idiot about that whole situation. I should just ...

My thought stops as I hear a door open and close up front. Our doors are like a lot of shops, and a bell rings when they’re opened. It rings now.

I start walking towards the front, wondering if someone forgot something or, even better, if Brady is coming by to say hello.

I stop dead and any warmth I felt earlier is gone.

Danton Steele is standing there with two larger men flanking him. It’s like a cliché with the short, tiny man and his big goons. I would almost laugh to see this guy with actual goons, but it’s clear they’re not here to be nice.

“What are you doing here? I told you I would never sell, Steele.”

He smiles and moves closer. “It’s a shame, you know? I thought you were a smart enough girl to figure out when to listen.” He gets even closer and his goons follow right along.

“I’m much smarter than you, Steele. I don’t show up with the clown posse and expect to get anywhere.”

His smile dissolves and he moves faster than I’d think possible. My heart jumps into my throat as the three of them close in on me. Steele steps right up to me and sneers. “You’re a fucking idiot, little girl. You should’ve learned your lesson.”

I’m shaking but, thank God, my voice stays steady. “Hmmmm, and what lesson would that be? How to be a complete asshole and tell myself that my dick isn’t that small even if I have to push women to feel good about myself?”

His face turns red as a beet. He motions to his two guys and they walk casually over to the nearest shelf, where there are some jams and jellies and such in glass jars. They each take a shelf and run an arm through it, knocking everything to the floor.I notice then that there are a few other men with him as well. They step through the door.

My mind tries to wrap around the evil I’m seeing in the flesh. How is it possible for someone to be so Goddamn heartless?

“Let me tell you something, darling. I will have them break more than this if you don’t sign the agreement. You are going to...”

The bell on the door rings again and Brady steps in. “Hey, how did your first day back go? I...”

It takes him just seconds to assess what’s happening. Now that he’s here, I feel some freedom to let my fear and anger free. I start to shake harder and tears well up.

Brady takes one look in my direction and then, he stares at Steele and sighs. “You have five seconds to get out of here with these rejects from a cheap mob movie.”

Steele is not in any way a strong man, but his guys come up behind him and bolster his bravado. “I’m not going anywhere. We’re conducting business that you’re interrupting. Keep it up and someone’s bound to get hurt.”

“If you men stand with Steele,” Brady says, “you’ll die. It’s that simple. Five. Four. Three.” The men look at each other. “Two. One.” I try to wrap my head around this. It’s insane.

Brady shakes his head and then, holy fuck…

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

The place where he stands seems to blur out of focus and then out of nowhere I see what looks like a cloud of shreds and dust. I finally figured it out. His clothing has exploded off his body. I stare along with Steele and his men. Standing where Brady stood is a giant lion. That’s right, a giant, straight from the African Savannah except bigger, actual animal, freaking lion.

Chapter Nine

Brady

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