“I could kick your ass easily.” Truth to tell, Sam knew how to fight. It would be an interesting match. Axel shifted his jaw and groaned because the action pulled at his cheek. That hurt. He straightened and shook off the arms holding him back from launching at someone. “I’mgut. Danke.” He glanced around. “Where did Daryl go?”
“Coward must have skated,” Earl scoffed. “What a pussy. Too badwemissed the fight though.”
“I bet it was something to see.” Big J sounded wistful.
“Idiots,” Sam muttered and ignored their dark looks. “Ray, I’m gonna take Heller home. Foley, you want to follow so you can bring me back here? Darts rematch, just you and me.”
Foley grinned. “You’re on.”
“Wait.” Ray frowned. “You can’t leave. I need someone to back me if they bring in the cops.”
Big J and Earl volunteered to stand as witnesses.
“Blame it all on Fletcher’s gang,” Axel told Ray. “A lot of racist talk. And donotlet them come back,” he warned.
“Yeah, Ray,” Sam said. “Gotta say that wasn’t cool.”
Ray flushed. “I know. But they threatened to give me problems if I kept them out.”
Big J gave him a dark smile. “Is that right? You should have told me. I know people. I’ll take care of it.”
“But I—”
Earl clapped Ray on the back. “Let him. Trust me, don’t ask questions.”
Foley said, “Maybe just keep it simple. Call in an anonymous tip from one of the burner phones we all know you have stashed in the bar.”
Ray frowned, but Foley continued, “Someone found bodies in the back lot of your bar. No one saw anything. No one knows anything.”
Ray lost his frown. “That’s not a bad idea. I’ll make an announcement.”
Not that he’d have to. Axel knew that no one at Ray’s would say a word to the cops about anything. Not if they wanted to be welcomed back. Or eat without using a straw, something Rabies and Scott wouldn’t be able to do for a while.
Axel took two steps with Sam before he stopped. “Rena. I brought her. I need to—”
“Go home and sleep it off. Trust me. You really don’t want her to see you like this. J.T. can take her home.”
“Ja.I guess.” He sighed, disappointed in himself and in the evening. He’d had a better night planned. He handed Sam a small card from his back pocket. “Can you give her this from me?”
“Sure. Hey, Foley,” Sam said to his buddy. “Give this to Rena from Heller. And tell J.T. to take her home, okay?”
“Sure. Heller, gotta say, man. Nice work.” Foley slapped him on the shoulder, and Axel barely bit back a growl and glared at him.
Foley laughed. “Sorry. Later.”
He left. Sam ordered Axel to stay put, took his keys, and returned driving Axel’s truck. Axel got in on his third attempt, his ribs and leg beginning to really hurt.
“Man, your face is already starting to bruise. Fucker hit you, but at least it’s under the eye. How’s the rest of you?”
“Hands are sore but okay. Shoulder hurts a little. But it’s my leg and ribs that have the most damage.” Annoyed he’d gone all berserker mode and hadn’t protected himself better from Rabies, he huffed his disgust…and told himself not to do that again. Definitely bruised ribs, but he didn’t think them broken. He’d had broken ribs before, and this didn’t feel as bad. “Rabies and his kung fu shit.” He muttered more insults in German.
Sam chuckled. “He won’t be using his hands and feet anytime soon. You fucked him up good.”
“He had it coming.” Now more than ever Rena would need to be careful at work, Axel worried. “Can you have J.T. stay with Rena tonight? Or have her go with him? I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
“Good point. Can you text him?”
Axel managed to get his phone out and called J.T. Unfortunately, Rena answered the phone.
