Page 39 of Baiting Kong
“No. I believe you when you say that you didn’t do anything wrong,” Creature said. “I’m not even going to chastise you for not telling the cops about Scout’s brother.”
“Are you pissed at Scout?”
Sighing, Creature shook his head. “Naw, he did what most of us would have done. It’s a shitty situation, which is why we need to put our heads together to figure out a way out that will keep you both clean and off the cop’s radar.”
“He’ll never agree to give up his brother.”
“And I would never ask him to.”
“Will Mark?”
A solid knock on the door cut off the answer Creature had intended to give. Instead, he stood and let Mark in.
“Why not ask him yourself?” Creature said as he locked the door behind him.
Axel’s face visibly paled as Mark pulled out the chair Creature had vacated and stared across the table at him, much as Creature had done less than a half hour before. Creature pulled out the chair to Mark’s right, while Axel sputtered and started fidgeting with his sleeve again before telling the story he’d previously told Creature. When he finished, Mark let out a long, low whistle.
“You called Kong, correct?” Mark asked.
“Yeah, he said he was going to track down Scout.”
“Are you gonna make him give up his brother to the cops?” Axel asked.
Drumming his fingers on the table, Mark cocked his head, fished out a cigarette, and took his time lighting it. One drag turned into two, three, and then four of utter silence, until he stroked his chin and blew out a plume of smoke.
“I doubt I could even if I were of a mind to,” Mark admitted. “He’d just take off and go who knows where and probably get in more trouble along the way. That wouldn’t do him or the club any favors. If he’s as handy with bikes as he is in the clubhouse, I’d like to offer him a different job, but only if he’s willing to be completely honest with me.”
“And if he’s not?” Axel asked, hesitation in his voice.
Creature could tell Mark was impressed, though he’d have to caution Axel against pushing the Prez too often. At the moment, he was merely indulging the young man’s questions, probably because of what Axel had done for Saint. But that goodwill would run out eventually, and the last place Creature wanted to see Axel was on the wrong side of his club president’s legendary temper. People who crossed him were rarely stupid enough totry it a second time, and if they did, well, third chances were never given.
“Then the boys and I will escort him to the edge of town and send him on his way,” Mark declared. “I won’t have people around who I can’t trust.”
“I-I guess that’s fair,” Axel said softly.
“I want to help him,” Mark declared. “He’s a hard worker and clearly loyal, judging from the extent he’s gone to protect his brother. I just need to know that he’s willing to give that same kind of loyalty to me and the Jokers.”
Axel nodded and fell silent, tracing his fingertips along the smooth tabletop while Creature shot a text to Kong. Several minutes later his phone pinged, announcing Kong’s reply.
“He found him at the pool hall,” Creature said. “They’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Nodding, Mark lit another cigarette, while Axel fished in his pocket and pulled out a vape. A short time later, there was a rap on the door, which Creature quickly answered to see Kong standing there, gripping Scout by the arm. He all but dragged him inside and over to the table, where he balked the moment he saw Axel.
“I’m sorry,” Axel blurted before Scout could say anything. “Lying to the cops was way easier than lying to Creature. I couldn’t do it.”
Sighing, Scout jerked his arm free of Kong’s hold and winced, because it had clearly hurt him to do so. “It’s not your fault, it’s mine. I should have taken off as soon as the cops turned me loose.”
“Why didn’t you?” Mark asked.
Scout shrugged and shuffled from one foot to the other. “I kinda like having a real job.”
Mark nodded at that and gestured to the chair across from him. As soon as he sat, Kong took up the position directly behindthe chair. Something told Creature it was deliberately done to make it easier to keep Scout from bolting if he got it in his head to take off.
“Do you want to keep that job?” Mark asked.
“Not if it means turning in my brother.”
“Have I asked you to turn him in?”
