Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36646 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“You think people in the government know about the Brotherhood?”
“Not sure. My gut says no, but there’s always that possibility. At least, anyone who knows of them doesn’t know the full extent of what they do and how much power they really have. If we’re aware of them, there have to be more who know. How much they know is anyone’s guess. I’m guessing anyone in the government knows just enough to think they can control the Brotherhood. They can’t.”
“Which, again, might be the whole point. The Brotherhood wants to recruit you. Get you to go back. Then you either join them or disappear.”
She shook her head immediately. “No. If they know me at all, the Brotherhood knows I’m not the kind of person they want in their ranks. I think too freely and I’m not too great at taking orders. Especially if I don’t agree with them. If they’re trying to get me there, it’s to take me out.”
“You think Taz will tell them about you?”
Mama gave me a hard stare. Yeah. She would make sure Taz never said a word.
“Understood.” I grinned at her. I might have been mistaken, but I was pretty sure I saw her lips twitch before she finished straightening her clothing, then stormed outside to face the “recruits.”
Yeah. I was looking forward to this.
Chapter Eight
Mama
I’ll admit, I didn’t expect the club to be lined up outside the garage like Pops had told them to be. And when the fuck had I embraced these stupid names everyone had started calling us? I wasn’t anyone’s mama. Wasn’t ever gonna be.
Heavy sigh… Except I was. Started with Alex. Then Gracie and her unborn child. Now this whole fucking club. I was getting soft. Which pissed me off to no end. Sure enough, when I got out to the garage, there they were. Every single one of them was at attention like it was the second day of basic training and they were determined not to give the sergeant any reason to get all up in their shit.
Pops stalked past me, his game face firmly in place. “Gonna be some fuckin’ changes around here. Startin’ this very fuckin’ second.” A couple of them glanced at each other, and Pops jumped all over that shit.
He moved quickly, like he was expecting this very thing and was ready to shut it down. Getting in the faces of the two in question, he yelled as effectively as anyone I’d ever met in the Army.
“You two got a fuckin’ problem?” When one of them opened his mouth, Pops continued, his voice carrying all over the compound. Almost made me wince. Almost made me smile, too. “No one cares if you’ve got a fuckin’ problem! It’s my way or the highway. Hell. Ain’t even no highway option. You will do what the fuck I say and you’ll fuckin’ like it! You clear?”
“Sir, loud and clear, sir,” he yelled back, staring straight ahead.
“Don’t fuckin’ call me sir.”
The guy faltered, looking up at Pops instead of staring straight ahead. “Uh… Pops?”
Pops was silent for a long while, staring both those fuckers down like they really were back in the service. These two were Marines. Most of the others were Army, but there were a smattering of Navy and Air Force. And why the fuck had I made it my business to know that shit? Christ.
“Good. Listen up because I’m only gonna go over this once.”
Taz chose that moment to enter the yard. He stood beside me and nudged my shoulder. When I looked up at him, he appeared to be struggling to keep the amusement off his face. Which made me scowl all the harder at him.
Pops continued. “Taz has a situation he has to deal with. He’ll be gone for a while. Ain’t sure how long. He’s leavin’ me and Mama in charge.” Surprisingly, no one gave any side looks or showed any surprise, their training kicking in as I’d hoped it would. This was, after all, basic stuff. “He let you be laid back and adjust for a while, but I’m done with that. We got shit to do around here to make this place livable and we’re gonna get it done. Anyone who ain’t on board, get the fuck out.”
No one moved. Taz cleared his throat and stepped forward. “Not sure how long I’ll be gone, but there is no negotiation. You do what Mama and Pops say or you’re out. I don’t care why, or how unfair you think it is; if they say you’re gone, you’re gone. Even if I don’t agree with them, they’re still in charge. I will not override their decisions.” He glared at each of them for a long moment before continuing. “A word of advice to all of you, and I suggest you pass it on to anyone and everyone who comes to this place looking for a home. Of the two of ‘em, y’all might think Pops is the bigger threat. He’s not. Mama will have your balls sliced clean from your body before you even know she’s near you. Don’t fuck with either of them, but especially don’t fuck with Mama.”