Page 85 of Baiting Kong

Scowling, Kong had to think about it for a moment. “Red hair, used to rub lemon juice all over himself trying to erase his freckles?”

“That’s the one.”

“So what’s the issue?”

“Mainly getting people to see past his wheelchair,” Mark explained. “There’s nothing wrong with his mind, his hands, or his creativity. I took a look at his portfolio when he got back to town, and I’d like to have you look at it too and tell me if he shows enough promise that it would be worth me investing in an architectural firm. Obviously you’d be the one to run it and act as a mentor to Seth while he finds his feet in the industry, but eventually the hope is that it would become a partnership, if you think he’s got what it takes to make a real go of it.”

“He gonna be here today?” Kong asked.

“Yeah, and I asked him to bring his portfolio.”

“I’ll take a look when he arrives and let you know,” Kong said. “I did a bit of research before returning from Kill Devil Hills, so I know the area could use architects who have grown up in the coastal region and understand the challenges some of our weather can bring.”

“Perfect. Let me know what you think after you take a look.”

“Will do.”

“You gonna be at the poker table tonight?”

“Creature, the boys and I will all be there,” Kong explained. “He’s going to give them their first taste of what being a service sub is like. Scout was beyond excited.”

“Because he’s a natural.” Mark said. “It isn’t just the praise for him. The task matters. He gets lost in the rhythm and flow of an assignment. Took a few times before I noticed it, but he does things the same way and in the same order every time.”

“Creature mentioned a few ritualistic things at the shop too,” Kong supplied. “Especially when he was filing. With each task,he established steps, and Creature said he never deviated from them, even going back to check the previous steps if he got interrupted by something. He said it never slowed Scout down to take those couple seconds to make sure he didn’t mess anything up.”

“I’ve noticed something similar while teaching him to surf,” Mark said. “At first I thought he was getting better through sheer repetition, then I kept noticing his lips moving and realized that he was repeating my instructions while he executed them, until he’d committed the movements and the words to memory. It dawned on me then that he draws as much comfort from the steps as he does from completing the task. Pretty sure Teddy had already picked up on that when he brought him to work behind the bar.”

“He’s like that when he cooks, too,” Kong said, thinking back to the night he’d helped prep the fried rice. “Guess we both owe Teddy a word of thanks for still looking out, despite what’s been going on with him.”

Mark sighed at that and ran his fingers through his hair, scowling. “Yeah. As much as I was against it at first, Scout’s a good fit for the club, in several capacities.”

“I’m curious to see how he and Axel do tonight,” Kong admitted.

“Want me to lob a few commands their way and see how they respond?”

It was a good question and one Kong hadn’t even considered when they’d started setting up the evening.

“Why not?” Kong said, when no plausible objection came to mind. “At the very least it would be a teaching moment and a chance to school them about the rules and boundaries of different parts of club life.

“Alright, I’ll let you get them settled first, then we’ll see how they react when I toss a monkey wrench their way.”

“Just not too big of one,” Kong said. “They’re still finding their footing.”

“You know I’ll keep that in mind,” Mark said before something on the other side of the door caught his attention and he yanked it open.

“Hey, Seth, get your ass over here and bring your portfolio with you!” he bellowed.

If he’d been standing any closer, Kong’s ears would probably be ringing. At least theywere taking care of this now, before his boys arrived. Kong knew Scout would have gone over the evening with Axel, detailing what they would be in the room to do and where they were to remain throughout the game. He’d already taught Axel a great deal about terms and protocols. Neither was shy about asking if they had questions or needed something expanded on, either, so Kong didn’t expect any issues tonight, as long as stripper boy Roan stayed the hell away from him.

The last thing they needed on Creature’s first night as the new club enforcer was for their boys to try and rearrange the poker room with some kid’s face.

Though damn, what a sight that would be.

Chapter 26

(Scout)

The thick cushions Mahoney and Carl had placed on the floor beside their chairs allowed Axel and Scout to be comfortable as they knelt on them. That they’d arranged Axel and Scout between them, keeping them buffered from other club members so no one could touch them deliberately or accidentally, showed just how protective they were of them already. The waves outside had gotten big right around supper time. Scout could still hear the faint crash of them in the distance when they hit the shore. Like the chips hitting the table, they’d become white noise as he basked under the feel of Mahoney’s fingers stroking his hair, occasionally sliding up the nape of his neck, making him shiver.

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