“I’m fine, Hatch,” she said tugging her arm away and facing him. “Darling, what’s your name? No one here will hurt you, but we need to know who you are.”
“And if you tell her to fuck off, even she won’t be able to save you,” I warned.
“Kieran,” he grumbled.
“Hello, Kieran, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Maisie.”
“Jesus,” I hissed. “This isn’t a garden party.”
“I promise, these men will not hurt you. May I please ask, in return, that you promise not tohurt them?” Maisie asked in that way that only Maisie could. Snake charming’s for amateurs. Maisie could charm bikers, gun runners, drunkards, thieves, and rogues of every stripe. This kid never stood a chance. Kieran nodded.
“Thank you, love. Now, did the Spiders send you out to follow us?” she asked.
“I’m not talkin’ to you about my club’s business,” he replied.
Maisie shot me a look and muttered, “Reminds me of someone I know.”
“Shit, boy, that’s the kind of club you run with? The kind that sends little boys out to do their dirty work?” Rooster ground out.
“Or do they even know you’re out here?” I deduced. “I don’t even think the Spiders have prospects as young as you. Is that what it is? You stole that cut to prove to the club you got the balls to be a member?”
Kieren dropped his head, and I knew I’d hit paydirt.
“We should kick this kid’s ass just to show him what club life’s really all about,” Flea said. “We can show him what it’ll be like when he gets jumped in by the Spiders.”
“You will not touch one hair on this boy’s head,” Maisie snapped, smacking Flea’s arm. “What the hell is wrong with you? You have children!”
“Per usual, the lady wife is right. This fish isa little too small, we gotta throw him back. Leave his car here, give him a lift and drop him off in Spider friendly territory.”
“But before you do, take him to get something to eat first,” Maisie added. “The poor thing is rail thin.”
“Just ’cause you’re bein’ nice to me don’t mean my club ain’t gonna kick your ass,” Kieran snapped at Hatch.
“Kid, this ain’t me bein’ nice,” I said with a laugh. “This is me just bein’ decent. Maybe one day, you’ll be a man and know the difference.”
“Iama man,” Kieran countered.
“No, you’re a punk kid in stolen clothes who can barely see over the steering wheel and if the roles were reversed and one of my kids had fallen into the hands of the Spiders, do you think they’d be treating them like we’re treating you?”
“No,” he reluctantly conceded.
“Then how about you think about that while you grow up?” I suggested. “Now, let my guys take you to get somethin’ to eat. I sincerely hope I never see you around in Spiders’ colors again.”
* * *
Rooster
Flea left with Hatch and Maisie, leaving Train and I to babysit ‘Baby Driver.’
“I have to head downtown anyway, so we’llhit the Derby’s over by the clinic,” I suggested.
“You just want an excuse to see Katie,” Train said with an irritated snort as he threw the kid into the backseat of the van and slid in beside him.
I grinned. “Okay, that might be true, but the downtown Derby’s is the best one in town.”
“He’s right,” Kieran said. “They give you extra-large sauce packets without having to ask, and the girls that work there are hot.”
“See, even the kid says so,” I said.
