Page 118 of Riding the Pine

“They picked the wrong family to mess with.”

I take another drink. “They did. The de la Peña’s are worthy adversaries.”

She squeezes my hand just as the door opens and Apollo walks in, there’s an element of panic etched on his fake-smiling face as he scans the room looking for me.

“I meant the Raccoon family, Scott. We’re not one to be messed with. Take care of yourself, okay? And remember, we’re all here for you as well.”

She leaves and it’s a few minutes before Apollo comes to the table with a tray, there’s two drinks, and a plate of pastries. I can’t say I’m surprised; he can’t come here without leaving with a sugar high.

“’Sup?’

I swallow, my mouth suddenly drying up. This is awkward as fuck, and now I’m regretting asking for a face-to-face with him at all, never mind in public.

As he places the cups and plates on the table, I don’t meet his questioning stare. I look around the café. “Is that a new bike?”

It’s not. It’s the same pink bike that’s been hung in this place since its inception.

“Scott. What’s wrong?” The panic in his tone makes me look at him.

I hold up a hand. “Nothing. Nothing’s wrong. It’s just… awkward.”

“Well, we can deal with awkward.” He takes a long drink of whatever glittery concoction is in his mug and slides my mug closer to me. “Spit it out, Scottie.”

“I need your help.”

He leans forward, eyes lighting up. “Is it a gift for Athena? I fucking love trying to surprise her. She’s always so good at giving gifts to everyone else.”

My face heats, in fact, my entire body heats, and I shift in my chair.

“It is. Kind of.”

His eyes rapidly bounce back and forward between mine. “I’m lost here, Scott. Help a guy out.”

“You and Artemis… You have…” I swallow. “Connections.”

He nods. “You need a body taken care of?” His voice is low, but his eyes are still bright with excitement. “Not my kind of gift, but if it’s the right body, she’ll be elated.”

A snort bursts from me. “No, not a body. I don’t mean clean-up connections. I mean kink connections. I need a woman.”

He sits back in his chair, his face suddenly passive, accusatory. “You have a woman, Scott.”

“I do.” I wring my hands in my lap, suddenly regretting every life choice that’s led me to this moment. “And before you try to sever my head from my body with a pastry, it’s important you know that the woman wouldn’t be for me. She’d be for your sister.”

He drops the sweet treat that was halfway to his mouth onto his lap. “Wait.” He holds up his free hand, the one not fishing in his crotch for his snack. “You’re asking me to help you find a woman for my sister to have sex with?”

I swallow again, trying to encourage moisture back into my mouth. “Y-yes?”

“And you asked me because if Artemis took it badly, you’d have a broken nose.”

“N-no. That’s not why?—”

He raises an eyebrow.

“Fine. Yes. It’s a weird thing to ask someone, okay? I wasn’t sure he was in a level enough place not to react with his fist when I asked.”

Apollo shakes his head, chuckling. “It is a very strange request, Scottie, I’ll give you that. But at the same time, it’s probably the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”

“She’s not ready. Probably not even close. But when she is, I’d like to have someone, you know, safe and up for it…”

---