Page 60 of Baiting Kong

“Our boys are the same way, and they drive me right up the fucking wall with that shit,” Ms. Kat declared. “At least they’re in good company.”

Now, he’d never been a true hellraiser, but hanging out with him had usually involved hide-and-seek in the scrapyard, which had put an end to several friendships once their parents had found out. Scout preened a little, especially when she turned that soft look back on him and started to gently smooth his hair back into place.

“Didn’t need a day off,” Scout said, trying to laugh but that was the exact moment his side decided to ache from the kicks he’d received. “Was excited to start working at the garage with Creature.”

Scout hadn’t gotten a look at the bruises there, either, but he’d have wagered some pretty good odds that they were as bad, if not worse than the ones on his face.

“The job’s not going anywhere, though we may have some overtime ahead of us if we’re gonna keep to the deadlines we set,” Creature said.

Thank fuck for that.

“That job is why we we’re hoping to catch your old man here,” Mark said.

“I swear I’ll make up every shred of the time we lost,” Scout blurted. “I’m good; they’re gonna let me out of here tomorrow. I keep trying to tell Creature that he doesn’t have to sit here wasting time with me when he’s got so much shit to do.”

“And I’ve done told you that it’s my time to waste, so don’t start off arguing with your boss when it’s not even your first day yet.”

“Understood,” Scout said, snapping his mouth shut.

Something about that pointed stare Creature gave him, his smile gone again, made Scout shiver and slow the fear that had been rolling through his head since he’d woken up and discovered he was stuck here until someone in a white lab coat decided he was allowed to leave.

Against medical advicewas a suggestion he’d immediately floated only to have Creature and his old man shoot it down before he’d even finished making his case.

“Ohh, I think this new job is going to be the perfect place for you,” Pops said as he dropped back down in the seat beside the bed. “You listen to him the way you used to listen to me when you were a kid.”

“Sorry, Pops,” Scout muttered.

“Nuthin’ to be sorry for,” his old man said. “All kids rebel. Some of them even make a bigger mess of it than you have. At least you came to it from a place of caring, but I swear to you, Scout, if you ever get yourself into shit like this in some misguided attempt to help me, I’ll find that belt I retired and remind you of what it feels like on your backside, kid.”

Oh, ouch.

Just the thought made him cringe.

It had never been something Pops had broken out often, and never if Scout or Sawyer had fucked themselves up in the middle of whatever foolishness they’d gotten into, but if someone else got hurt ‘cause they were being reckless, then yeah, they got a few licks with that belt and a reminder every time they sat down to be smarter about the way they went about things.

“He won’t be the only one reddening your ass, either,” Creature threatened, that intense stare of his having grown to one of smoldering heat and wicked promises that guaranteed Scout wouldn’t get any enjoyment out of the punishment he administered. “You scared a few years off my life when we couldn’t find you right away.”

“Sorry. Just didn’t know what else to do after one of the guys on set showed me what had happened to Sawyer.”

“Yeah, I get it,” Creature said. “Which is why that was your one freebie. From here on out, if something goes wrong or you get jammed up in any way, I expect to be the first to find out what the fuck is happening.”

Scout nodded. “You will.”

“Then we’re good as long as you don’t forget how serious I am when I say it.”

“I won’t.”

“So, what was it about his job that you wanted to talk to me about?” Pops asked.

“Creature and I have been discussing the situation with the scrapyard and the lien on it and your house,” Mark explained. “We’d like to partner up on a grander scale, with a buy-in that would allow you to get out from under the bank and make the renovations Scout said the house needs after an issue with some old pipes bursting.”

“It’s a damned mess, especially in the basement washroom and first-floor bathroom and kitchen,” Pops said. “I can do the work myself, but material prices have skyrocketed, and I just can’t afford new pipes, flooring, fixtures, or cabinets right now. Been cooking on the grill out back just to avoid going in that kitchen with the old boards threatening to rot out from beneath my feet.”

“Then it’s a good thing Scout’s already proved to us just how many valuable parts and machines are lurking among a twisted mess of old vehicles,” Mark said.

“It is, isn’t it?” Pops said, looking thoughtful as he peered down at Scout. “You good with that, kid? Me partnering up with your new friends.”

“Shouldn’t you be asking Sawyer?” Scout asked, not wanting to say anything until he knew how his brother felt about it.

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