Page 30 of Baiting Kong

As he reached the gas station, luck finally smiled on him. Axel stood outside, hitting his vape, so Scout wandered over, leaned against the wall between them and pulled a cigarette from his pocket.

“Hey,” Scout said.

“Hey.”

“Are they still asking questions about the robbery?” Scout asked, keeping his voice low.

“The Martinezes aren’t, but I’ve been staying with Creature since that night, and he’s nosy as hell.”

“Yeah, Kong grilled me too. Those club brothers don’t seem to miss a lot.”

“Tell me about it.”

“You didn’t tell him anything, did you?”

“No, not about, you know,” Axel said. “And I won’t. It’s none of anyone’s business, but I would like to know who I’m protecting.”

Scout hesitated for a moment before deciding that the man deserved the truth for keeping his secret. “My brother.”

Axel nodded. “Gotcha.”

“Thanks, you know, for backing my bullshit.”

“It was inspired bullshit.”

“I think well in a pinch.”

“Clearly,” Axel replied.

“Do you, um, know how the lady is? The one that got shot?”

“Ms. Esperanza? Yeah, she’s gonna be okay, thanks to you.”

Relief left him sagging against the brick and instantly regretting it. He jerked away with a hiss, drawing immediate scrutiny from Axel.

“Did you wreck your bike?” Axel asked.

“Huh? No, what made you ask that?”

“Seems like you’re banged up and you’re walking,” Axel admitted. “I’ve never seen a biker on foot unless they were pushing their ride to the shop for repairs.”

“Mine needs some work I haven’t had the chance to do,” Scout said, because there was a kernel of truth there; it did need a tune-up.

“Creature fixes bikes,” Axel blurted.

“No one works on my bike but me,” Scout replied, bristling a little. “Besides, I can’t afford to pay him.”

“Don’t you work for the club?”

“Yeah, and I need every dime I make to help out my old man,” Scout replied.

“Does he live around here too?”

“No.”

“Can I ask you something?” Axel ventured after Scout had fallen silent and sucked in a drag.

“Even if I say no, something tells me that you’ll ask anyway.”