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“That’s exactly what it means when you leave him so uncertain about whether you have his back or not, that he didn’t reach out to anyone for help.”

“I told him that he’d earn my protection when he told the truth,” Kong snarled, batting Creature’s hand off his shirt.

“And then you walked away without giving it, the same as if you were cutting him loose,” Creature declared. “Which makes him mine now. I might share, but only if you earn it.”

“E-earn,” Kong sputtered. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

“His keeper,” Creature said before turning and walking away, certain his club brothers had heard the exchange.

Good.

That meant that they’d spread the word that Scout wasn’t to be fucked with, though something told him most of them were already aware of that, due to the protective feelings Kat had developed for him.

The last thing he heard before he fired up his bike was Mark telling her to meet them at the hospital.

Axel’s presence at his back was the only thing that kept him from breaking speed limits to get there.

He still arrived a few minutes before his club brothers, who came roaring into the parking lot as he and Axel strode towards the emergency room doors, a trek that had become far too frequent over the course of the last two years.

Creature knew the drill. No one would be able to tell them anything for however long it took to assess, treat, and order whatever tests they planned to run. He just wished he knew if Scout was still alert and talking or if he’d passed out.

“He’s gonna be okay,” Axel said as he drew his knees up until his feet were resting on the edge of the chair.

“I know,” Creature said, trying to ease some of the tension from his shoulders.

“Is Scout gonna come and live with us now?” Axel asked.

“I’d like him to,” Creature admitted. “If that’s okay with you. I don’t think bunking with Teddy is good for him, not when he’s still learning who to trust and who’s trouble.”

“Why is Teddy trouble when he was right about Kong?” Axel asked. “He ditched Scout as soon as they hooked up. That’s what Teddy said would happen, and it did.”

Sighing, Creature rubbed the back of his neck.

“I don’t know what the fuck Kong’s issue is, but I think it had to do with the porn shoots,” Creature admitted. “The clubs had issues in the past, with one of our guys being taken advantage of by the guy Scout was working for. It caused a bunch of shit.”

“Does Scout know?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then there’s no reason for Kong to take it out on him, not when Scout was already stuck,” Axel said. “He could have gone with him. Maybe Scout could have gotten Sawyer without getting hurt.”

“I left Danger with Sawyer’s bike and sent Kong back for the flatbed,” Mark declared as he took the seat across from them.

“I’m sure Kat will be tearing into the parking lot any minute now,” he remarked, his words punctuated by the roaring of a bike outside. Glancing up, Creature saw the distinct markings on it as she maneuvered through the parking lot.

“Shocked there’s not a cruiser on her tail,” Mark muttered.

“They’re all headed to South Bluff, couple cars wrecked up there,” Creature murmured. “At least that’s what the dispatch radio said when we sat down.”

“Good,” Mark grumbled. “That should keep ‘em off our asses for a while. Just wish I knew how Scout intended to play this.”

“He’ll come up with something,” Axel said, a note of pride in his voice.

If Creature had any uncertainty left about whether there was a bond forming between them, he was no longer left to wonder.

For a man who’d spent the last few years alone, the thought of having two boys to protect and watch out for was thrilling, though he doubted Kong was going to let the matter drop.

Might be interesting to see how it all played out, considering the way they’d danced around one another for years.

But if the porn was a deal breaker for him, then it was a good thing he’d stepped back.

No one was shaming that kid for what he’d done to help his family.

Not even someone who’d acted like he was interested in claiming him.

“How bad did he look?” Kat asked the moment she’d parked herself on Mark’s lap and hugged him.

“I couldn’t see him,” Mark said. “But his brother was beat to hell.”

“There was blood on his face, and he was dazed,” Creature said. “I’m sure he’s got a concussion. Had a bruise on his cheek too. I’m not sure what else. We had a hard time getting him to stay still. The only thing he cared about was his brother.”

“I called his old man before I left the house,” she said. “He’s on his way.”

“Wait, how the hell did you have contact info for the father?” Mark asked.

“His job application,” she replied, as he hugged her again.

“One of a billion reasons I love you.”

Creature slid a hand beneath Axel’s hair and gently squeezed the back of his neck until he sighed and rested his head on his knees, letting Creature massage the muscles there.

“He was scared that we were there to stop him from getting to the hospital,” Axel muttered, his voice half muffled against his jeans, but when Creature lowered his head, he could just make out what he was saying.

“He said something about getting them money. He promised to get it for them if they’d just let him take Sawyer to the ER. ”

“Yeah, he did say that,” Creature said.

“Oh shit, I need to make that call,” Axel said, sitting up so abruptly they almost cracked heads. “Or, or tell someone about the fighter.”

“I already took care of it, kid,” Mark said. “When we called about Sawyer.”

“Oh shit, thank you, I forgot. I was just focused on Scout.”

“We all were,” Mark said. “You two went through some shit. Trauma bonds people like little else in this world. It’s all good. They’re being looked after, and so are Scout and his brother. Now what did you remember Scout saying?”

“Just, he thought we were there to stop him,” Axel explained. “And he started saying things about getting the money for someone if they’d let him get his brother to the hospital first.”

“My guess is he took on whoever his brother owed,” Mark supplied, looking thoughtful while Kat just looked pissed.

“Well, he’s not taking on anyone else,” Kat declared. “He’s too small. Even Cody’s bigger than him, and that’s our runt compared to his brothers.”

“Just don’t let him hear you call him that,” Mark cautioned. “The last thing Wreck and Bellamy need is that boy running around trying to prove himself again.”

“My lips are as sealed as the night I caught you slinking in with your fly undone.”

“Woman I’ve done told you a million times,” Mark began, only to catch a glimpse of the shit-eating grin on his wife’s face. “Woman, you’re gonna be the death of me.”

“And it’ll be a good death, too,” she promised.

Mark had truly met his equal when he and Kat had collided.

Now, as he sat with one arm around Axel and his other itching to hold Scout, Creature found himself wondering how grey the two of them were going to turn him with the shit that they got into and if he’d need to open the door to Kong if the man offered to tag himself into the little arrangement they had brewing.

One thing was certain if it did play out that way.

Things would never be boring.