Chapter 3
The last thing Xander and Jesse needed was a run in with the Krypt Crew in a public place like the diner. And what the fuck? Did they want a beat down? What were they doing here? Any crew knew that wandered into Hellraiser territory, including the town proper, was asking for it.
“You got shotguns in the flatbed?” Xander asked, reaching for his Glock and his hunting knife.
“Of course, locked and loaded.”
“I’ve never gone into Sam’s with one before, but I guess there’s a first time for everything.”
Jesse grunted. “I think he’d rather see us than them. But yeah, the chances are pretty high that we’re gonna shoot the place up. I hope Sam has good insurance coverage.”
Xander watched Jesse get his gun ready and fuck if that didn’t turn him on. It was a problem.
The biggest.
The flirting was harmless, but the longer Xander spent around Jesse, the harder his dick got. And fucking with a club member was a hell to the no. Xander preferred randos. And variety. Having different woman and men, every fucking week, was his kind of life. Once he fucked, the randos were gone. There was no talking, except the dirty kind.
But it had been at least a few weeks since he’d had any action so maybe that was the problem. It wasn’t Jesse. Xander was just frustrated.
“You set?” Jesse asked.
Xander glanced up again, at Jesse’s big brown eyes, cut jaw, and blond hair, and suddenly his jeans were far too fucking tight.
He really needed to get laid. Tonight. As soon as possible. Right after they gave the Krypt crew a hard lesson in biker 101. Don’t fuck with a crew’s territory.
Xander checked his Glock one last time and nodded.
“Let’s do it.”
With their cuts on and their weapons loaded, they approached the diner slowly.
“I can see two of them,” Jesse whispered. “Shit. It’s Colt and Golan, the guys we had a run-in with last month. Both have handguns, Glocks. Colt has long black hair and a beard, he’s standing at the last booth near the back of the place, he’s got Sam in his target. Golan is near the register. Shaved head. He’s got a gun pointed at the waitress, Val.”
Xander approached the window.
Sure enough, the bikers were holding up the diner. But no one was opening the register.
That was odd.
If it was quick cash these bikers were after, Sam should just offer it up and let them run. Why was he arguing with them? And why the fuck would a crew need to rob a fucking diner to begin with? That was small change, even for a crew as fledgling as Krypt.
Something was very wrong.
“Looks like it might be more than a robbery. Sam and Colt are arguing.”
Jesse licked his lips and Xander ruthlessly ignored the twitch of his dick.
Not fucking now. But then again, now. Lust and danger were a potent combination.
Xander glanced at Val, her face pale. Golan grabbed her long braid and yanked hard, dragging her close to him.
“It’s starting to escalate, let’s move in,” Xander commanded. “I’ll take Golan, you deal with Colt.”
“On it. I’m going in the back entrance.”
Xander was about to make a smart-ass remark about back entrances but his fight instinct kicked in instead.
This was one of the rare times when Xander and Jesse worked together, without bickering. When it came to club business, and especially fighting for their crew, they were both on the exact same page.
Jesse rounded the corner of the building and disappeared. Xander made his way to the front entrance slowly, taking extra care so he wouldn’t alert their target. Thank fuck Sam left the door open on the warmer days. It gave Xander the perfect element of surprise.
Val still had a gun to her head, and she was shaking hard but there were no tears. She wasn’t screaming or crying out. Xander admired her courage. He’d admired everything about the woman the last time he’d been in here, from her long, chestnut hair to her pouty lips to her big green eyes. But she had no use for his kind. His flirting had no effect on her. Shame.
Xander listened closely, but the only sound he heard was Sam yelling at Colt.
“I told you, I don’t have your money. I won’t have it for another two days!” Sam shouted.
“We ain’t got time to wait, old man. We want our money, and we want it now. Or I’m going to blow your brains out and set fire to this shitty diner.”
“I promise, I’ll have the cash in forty-eight hours. I’m good for it. Take my fucking car if you need collateral.”
“Your car?” Colt spat out. “That piece of shit truck you drive? Fuck off, geezer. Now we looked in the till and there’s only four hundred bucks there. You owe us twenty grand.”
“I cashed in my savings, and I’m gonna sell some stuff, it’s just taking longer than I expected. Please, you’re going to get your money. I swear.”
A dark chuckle from Golan made the hair on Xander’s body stand on end.
“Tell you what, Sam? We’re gonna take this fine lady you got here working for you, with us. Enjoy her for a while. Pass her around. She’ll be your down payment. But if you don’t have that money in two days, you and her are both gonna end up as landfill.”
Time to move in.
Xander snuck in the front entrance and pulled up his weapon.
“I don’t fucking think so,” Jesse warned as he popped up from the back of the restaurant and Xander did the same from his position. “Drop your weapons and get gone.”
Xander shoved the butt of his gun against the back of Golan’s head. “Let her go now. Unless you want your brains scattered all over this nice Formica countertop.”
“This ain’t none of your fucking business, freak,” Golan snapped.
“You’re in our goddamn town, you piece of shit, so shut your stupid mouth!” Xander shouted and pressed the gun harder. “Leave your guns, get back on your ugly ass bikes and get out of here. We’re giving you five seconds.”
“Five, four—” Jesse started counting down.
Colt lowered his gun and set it on the table.
“The fuck, Colt?” Golan screamed.
“Do it, Gol. I need that fucking twenty grand.”
Golan slowly set his gun on the counter.
“Let go of her,” Xander growled.
Golan shoved the waitress aside and she ran around the counter to Sam.
“You got seventy-two hours old man,” Colt reminded Sam as he stepped around Xander. “Or we’ll be back to finish what we started.”
The bikers sauntered out of the diner, taking their time. Anyone else would be shitting their pants at this point, running as fast as they could. Not bikers.
Xander followed them out the door and didn’t let his targets of his sight until they got on their bikes and gunned it out of sight.
“I don’t know how to thank you boys for showing up when you did,” Sam announced, still visibly shaken.
His face was pasty, like he was about to puke. The waitress looked pale too, but the way she urged Sam to sit down told Xander she was more concerned about her employer than herself.
Xander turned to him and shook his head. “Taking a loan from guys like that is the worst fucking idea Sam. And that’s coming from me.”
“I didn’t intend for it, but I got myself in a bad way at their underground poker game, and I lost a few hands. More than. But I just needed one more game to turn things around. But I kept losing and next thing I knew I was twenty grand in the hole.”
“And the Krypt runs this gambling ring?” Jesse asked, walking up to stand beside Xander.
A look flashed between them. Any information they could get about this crew was worthwhile. And a gambling ring? That was probably just the tip of the iceberg. Maybe coming in here today would prove to be a good thing, despite the near shoot out.
“Yes, but I didn’t know that until I was already involved. See, I got an invite from Haden Jones, he owns a chain of fast-food places around the province. Said it was an underground place, a fun time, a guy’s night out. After two games, I was hooked,” Sam explained and wiped his sweaty face. “A lot of people from the surrounding towns play, including some of the local police and higher ups. But I couldn’t pay back my debt fast enough.”
“And where do these games take place?” Xander asked.
“Don’t you think he’s been through enough? Can’t your questions wait?” The waitress bit out, her face flushed.
“I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced,” Xander replied as he gave her a long once over. “Xander Layton. This is Jesse Hellion.”
“Val Renn,” she whispered but refused to make eye contact. “And I know who you are. You’re?—”
“Yes?”
“You’re bikers too. Don’t pretend you’re any better than those guys.”
Xander scoffed. “I never said we were. And you might want to reserve your judgement. No one is without sin.”
Val’s head whipped up and her face flushed. Her big green eyes filled with a terror that had Xander locked in place.
“Sam needs to rest.” She looked at the older man and glanced back at them. “And you need to go. Thank you for intervening but you can leave.”
“No one, and I mean no one, dismisses us,” Jesse bit out. “We want details, Sam. Everything you know about this gambling ring, who attends, when, where. And then we talk about working out a deal. If you want us to help keep the Krypt off your back, you work with us.”
Jesse was thinking the same way as Xander. And fuck if Jesse taking charge like that didn’t impress him.
“And if I don’t?” Sam asked wearily.
“Then you better be prepared for the Krypt crew to make good on their promise,” Xander warned. “Except next time, we ain’t charging in here.”
Sam nodded in understand.
“And one other thing,” Jesse added.
“Yes?” Sam replied as he wiped his brow.
“We need our food.”
“Come again?”
“We placed an order. And we ain’t leaving until we get it. We got a sick cook and hangry brothers at home.”
Sam nodded, still dazed and confused. “Oh, right. Val, can you go to the kitchen and?—”
She nodded, glared at Xander and Jesse, and stomped off.
A few minutes later, she returned, pushing a cart with twenty bags on it.
“Can you take it out to our truck, sweetheart?” Xander asked.
“Take it yourself,” Val bit back, left the cart, then turned and walked to stand beside Sam.
Her face was bright red, but she was looking anywhere but at them.
“Sam, drop by the compound tonight, eight sharp,” Jesse demanded. “You got it?”
Sam nodded.
Nothing more needed to be said.