Page 42 of Seamus: Unconventional
This is a relief. My partners are good but I’d like to know more about what they’re walking into. The Intel we get here is accurate and covered everything for our planned jobs. The spur of the moment jobs aren’t many but even those haven’t been us going in blind. Chemical dumps are going to be protected more fiercely than overweight freight loads so we need accurate and up to date intel. “I’ll see you there. Light is at your Club so I need to get the boys from Honor.”
“Go. I’ll see you there.”
I stop him. “Solaita, you’re Delta?”
“Yeah.” He closes the board down.
I blow out air. Badass has some of the best military I’ve heard of right here. I wonder how they did that. I know it’s comfortable and an easier fit than civilian, but they’re stacked to the gills with first string players. Who the hell is left in the military?
***
Phoenix Rising
Dinner is different once I hear about the original family. Brinks and Jinks grew up with the giant at the reservation, then the Alpha Rising Club that was originally an MCBadass Club. The Club is still standing so it must have been well built. I can imagine all the giants in one Club. The food bill must have been outrageous. Now they grow food, both Falcon and Nova are proud to point out. I bet it’s because the giants cost a fortune to feed, I laugh at myself, or it could be the Indian in them or the influence. Indians taking in refugees is common. They help everyone knowing together we have a better chance and every threat is a threat to all of us. Indian and the global view justis, here in the Badass world. It’s got to be the ancestors.
Shadow pings me with a focus sign. I focus like there’s an optometry eye chart in front of me for three seconds while I get up and walk through my thoughts as if it’s Sunday and I’m in a park taking in the landscaping.
Since so many Brothers started with Cort, I’m relieved I fell in here. I’ve heard of quite a few from the military and admire them for the skill and jobs they pulled off against extreme odds, but knowing the others have been with Cort for years reinforces how good my partners did getting us inside the protection of Badass. Cort told me I owed them nothing and the protection stands because the colonel protected me. Even Colonel Graywolf, who was Green Beret and knew I was Delta before CIA put me in a Green Beret uniform, didn’t expect anything from me or my partners. He was protecting a Brother down and wouldn’t leave me behind.
I love the idea that I can protect someone and a shit ton of Clubs will help me do that. I smile at Vinny racing Caelan and one of Ranger’s triplets. We just had this talk after his reading homework today. According to him, he’s going to protect scores of people just so they’re all safe. The boy probably will. He’s got a plan of making sure the partners are safe if something happens to me.
I’m surprised to see Judge splash into the pool getting two of the three Ross kids screaming, then laughing. Turning to see if Katie is close, I smile. “Brothers, you missed dinner.”
Light sends they ordered and it will be here.
I nod and stand for Katie. “You were at Alpha?”
Her smile tells me she likes that I kept track of her. “Yeah. Stella had Sam’s watch and I checked their dogs so Nagíla could handle a horse emergency at the ABSZ.” She accentuated the Sam.
I know but nod like it is news to me. Saying I know has got to get old after twice but my partners, new boys and Officers all tell me every move Katie and Judge make. They use Judge too so I will.
“I’m going to sit by Seren and Lorelei, Shadow said Freedom has a class.” She knows more than I do.
I walk to her anyway. “I didn’t ask. Ranger is on Ops so I assumed she was working.”
She looks happy to surprise me. I shake my head but I’m smiling as she points behind me.“Sit, your partners are waiting for you.”
I turn and see she’s right, again. Putting a finger up, Shadow sends me a roger so I sit her, push the seat in, then find my own seat again. When I do, I throw Shadow chin because he’s watching me like he’s waiting for it.
Shadow pulls medals out of Light’s gear pockets and drops them between Cort and Raid. “Shadow and Light invest with help from Anton and Banks and bring money to Pres Cort to buy house to all chip K-9,” Amal says smiling.
Shadow pushes medals closer to Cort with his nose and uses a hologram board. ‘Gold.’ The side shows the running gold value. The partners are killing me but they’re cute. They have an outline in the chip to follow.
“Boss Banks say you accept house money. VP Light say guarantee cost more. Zeus show Shadow, Bosses like gold same to Pres Crow, he no let me check it real.” Asa shrugs.
Seren gasps.
“Oh, my Lord, that’s why you went to Alpha,” Katie says softly with tears threatening those pretty brown eyes as Seren and Lorelei burst into tears.
A tear escapes one of Cort’s blinking eyes and rolls down his face as he tries to hide it by standing quickly and walks away.
I mentally brace for this with a deep breath. “We took care of them, Shadow. Keep your medals.” It comes out low. Behind my eyes I see his pictures. He’s honored to help and isn’t leaving a brother behind. “He’s showing more partners,” I tell the table. “They’re covered,Sombra, Luz, keep your medals.” I have no fuckin’ clue what to say.He barks at me and Light huffs. I look for help with Falcon but he’s looking at his hands on the table. “He’s not leaving anyone behind.” I barely get out.
“Seamus is right. You get houses when you retire. You earned those medals, Brothers. Keep them. Whatever you invested will cover any new chip K-9s.” Nova helps me out.
Raid finds his voice. “They’re covered, they work Ops, the pay will cover anything they all would need.”
Light’s board shows, ‘Sarge, wound, no mission.’
