Page 10 of Hell Yes
“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.”