Chapter 20

(Night)

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

“This doesn’t concern you!” Teddy hissed. “What are you doing lurking around while they talk to Scout?”

They’d taken the conversation from outside to inside, back at the bar where Night began his food preparations before the place started getting crowded. So far, the addition of Night’s newest twist on traditional bar food had gone over wonderfully, which meant supplies had been steadily dwindling all week. He must have met Scout on one of the trips to the grocery store he’d made at Mark’s request so Night wouldn’t have to pause his work to run down and do the shopping himself.

Rolling his eyes, Night kept mixing the spice blend for the garlic honey wings as he growled out his answer.

“My job, which is more than I can say for you.”

“You don’t know fuck all about what my job entails, so I wouldn’t get an inflated sense of worth if I were you,” Teddy said. “It’s barely been a minute since you got that rocker. If I were you, I’d think twice about walking around here acting like I’m worth more than I really am.”

“How can I when you’ve already cornered the market on that?” Night asked.

“Just because you’re Saint’s newest fuck toy doesn’t give you the right to…” Teddy began.

“Enough, Teddy!” Mark’s voice cracked like a whip, making Night flinch while Teddy’s eyes narrowed, and he clenched his fists.

“Take your ass back up to the house and stay there until I tell you otherwise,” Mark declared. “Bellamy can manage the bar tonight and make sure the kid keeps up with the cleanup. If he needs him to, Scout can jump behind the bar. I ain’t fully sold on his usefulness yet, but I’m not ready to kick him down the road, either.”

Night caught the flash of fear and desperation that creased Scout’s face before he smothered it beneath a fake smile.

“Be back here at seven to help get things set up,” Mark instructed, not even turning around fully to address the newbie.

“I’ll be here,” Scout replied.

Mark only had eyes for Teddy, and they were furiously scowling ones. “Teddy, why haven’t you moved yet?”

“Because I told Scout he could use one of the empty cabins.”

You could have heard a pin drop at that declaration, only the shocking thing was the way Scout’s eyes widened while he shook his head like he was trying to convince Teddy to shut up.

“Excuse me?” Mark growled. “What made you think that was gonna fly?”

“You didn’t give a shit when I did the same thing for Bellamay,” Teddy snapped.

“Maybe because at the time I still trusted your judgement,” Mark replied. “Now, not so much, not after the shit you’ve pulled.”

“He’s been camped out in the park,” Teddy blurted.

“Told you before it was fine,” Scout replied. “No one seems to care or bother me.”

“There you go,” Mark said. “Problem solved. I’m sure it won’t hurt him to stay there a little longer until I can see if he’s going to be a good fit or a giant headache.”

Night watched as Teddy shot a furtive glance Scout’s way only for Scout to give the slightest shake of his head, silencing Teddy, whose shoulders slumped. He looked defeated. It would be interesting to see how Scout panned out tonight or if Bellamy would send him packing.

Bellamy was a beast behind the bar and got a thrill out of entertaining his patrons while he filled their drinks, but he was doubly ferocious about keeping things clean and not allowing the place to look like a pigsty by the end of business, despite the rowdy bunch that frequented the place. He had the whole entertainment aspect of extreme bartending down pat, and while Mark had warned him that any busted bottles would come out of his salary, so far there had been no shattered glass. What was more curious was why Teddy was so invested in someone he claimed to have only met a few hours before.

“What’s on the menu tonight,” Mark asked as he turned away from the pair like they didn’t exist.

Night didn’t miss how relieved Scout looked before he turned and tried to scurry for the door only for Teddy to catch his sleeve and prevent him from leaving.

“Sliders, beer battered mushrooms, and fried pickles,” Night replied. “I’ve got mild, spicy, and ghost pepper planned. Something tells me that last one is going to rekindle the spicy pickle challenge.

“Alright, sounds good, when are you planning on doing those Fajita plates?”

“Any night but Friday,” Night replied. “Saint’s words not mine.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his Dom nodding along with that.

“And we are still doing mini-taco Tuesday, correct?” Mark asked.

“Yeah, but um, I can’t work with that plant-based stuff. I needed a different approach on that for the vegan option, so I went with well-seasoned mushrooms that I ran through the food processor until they were the same consistency as ground beef. Its close enough in flavor profile without the stink.”

“Stink?”

“You ever smell that plant-based shit?”

“No, not sure I want to, but I guess I’d better if I’m going to have to explain to Corey and her girl why we’re not serving it.”

“Come on to the back and you can smell for yourself what the issue is.”

Night turned and made it two steps before he heard Mark snarl a curse, then bark Teddy’s name with the kind of intensity usually reserved for those they were at war with, not family and especially not with someone he’d claimed.

“Why haven’t you moved yet? Get your ass to the house, don’t make me say it again.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

It was like the whole world had frozen. Night could scarcely breathe for fear that it would be too loud in the hollow silence that followed Teddy’s refusal.

“You’ve been treating me like shit for over a week now and I’m sick of it. If you’re gonna be a dick to me then I’ve got no reason to do as you say.”

When Night dared to glance over his shoulder, it was to see Mark standing crimson-faced and furious and Teddy just as red in the face, with tears streaming down his cheeks. Scout looked conflicted, like he wanted to help but didn’t know what to say or even do about the situation or the fact that Teddy hadn’t let go of him yet.

“Know what I’m sick of? Mark asked, his voice having taken on a low, serious tone that was about as frosty as a glacier. “I’m sick of discovering some new low you’ve sunk to, and this last one may prove to be unforgiveable.”

“If that’s the case, then there is no point in me going to the house now is there?” Teddy remarked. “If you’re cutting me loose, then I can do as I please and I think what would please me right now would be to take a ride on Scout’s bike and find something to eat.”

Scout’s mouth opened, then closed, no sound coming out as he stood looking shell shocked and who could blame him when there was a literal shitstorm brewing around him and Teddy looked determined to drag Scout right into the center of it with him.

“If that’s your choice, then you do what you feel you gotta do and I’ll let Kat know you chose to walk away instead of changing your behavior.”

The stare down that followed was brief, then Teddy reached into his pocket, pulled out his keys and slapped them on the counter.

“Scout, I hope you’ve got room in your tent,” Teddy declared as he stalked past Mark and headed out the door. When Scout moved to follow, still looking perplexed and hesitant, Mark grabbed his arm and reached beneath the bar, snagging one of the spare cabin keys he kept there.

“Four is on the left of the laundry room,” Mark declared. “Let him cool off, then bring his ass back here. You can both sleep in that one if he’s hell bent on being stubborn.”

“Should I um, still show up at seven?” Scout asked.

“Only if you can get him to come back with you, otherwise, your job right now is to shadow him and try not to let him get into too much trouble.”

“I umm….yeah, okay,” Scout said, which gave some measure of proof at how willing he was to do whatever assignment he was given.

He took the key and tore off after Teddy.

“That’s probably going to come back to bite me on the ass later,” Mark muttered, heaving a large sigh as he freed his hair from the elastic that held it back.

“Which part?” Night asked. “Scout or Teddy.”

“Both, but after seeing that rat bike of his, I’m curious as to how much more about those machines he knows. The shop might be a better fit for him then behind the bar, but I gotta admit, he did good, despite the way we put him on the spot.”

“Yeah, there’s no denying that,” Night said. “As long as Teddy doesn’t corrupt him.”

The grim smile on the president’s face said he’d already considered that and more.

As Mark stood staring off in the direction of his errant sub, Night retreated to the kitchen, returning with a platter that he sat in front of his club president, whose eyes widen at the sight.

“Kat said the only Chinese place in twenty miles went out of business last year,” Night said. “When I asked about favorites, beef and broccoli were at the top of the list, along with crab Rangoon, teriyaki chicken on a stick and General Tso’s chicken. I’ve got chicken stock simmering for hot and sour soup and Kat asked if I could manage shrimp with lobster sauce. I’ve never had it, but I’ve got a few videos cued up. I’ll get it worked out for her. Rabbit is in the back making fried rice if you want me to bring some out when it’s ready.”

“Please,” Mark said, leaning over to inhale the steam wafting off his food.

“Damn, that smells delicious.”

“Good for ulcer flare ups too,” Night replied as he set a cranberry juice on the counter beside Mark’s food.

Mark chuckled at that and shook his head. “Thanks.”

“No problem, Prez, enjoy, there’s plenty where that came from.”

“I’ll just bet there is.”