Chapter Twelve

Not tell his family about me? That hurt big time. Pax's eyes narrowed as the biker dude even called his mate by another name. Okay. That could be family issues. But Pax was still worried, and as falling into a heap into his mate's lap wasn't possible, he was going to go with annoying instead.

"That man's not going anywhere except the nearest hospital and then we're heading for the nearest police station." Mincing over to Python, giving the biker dude more of a show than he deserved, Pax added, "Tell him, hot stuff." He leaned on Python's side. "Tell this idiot that thanks to his reckless riding that other useless lump almost hit the car. He could've scratched the paintwork. Worse, we're parked here in the middle of the road, and if another person comes close to hitting that precious metal, I'm going to die, I tell you, just die. I just had it painted."

"Shaz?" The biker dude was trying to see past Python and Pax to where Storm was sitting in the back of the car. "What the fuck, man, do you know these people?"

"Know him?" Pax put his hands on his hips, facing down the biker dude. He wasn't seeing the family resemblance himself, but whatever. "If he knew us, he'd know damn well not to get his fool head anywhere near the paintwork of this pristine machine. If we knew him, do you think we'd be taking him to police station? I'm charging him with reckless damage, do you hear me? Reckless damage. Hot stuff, take that man's plate number. The police are going to want to hear about him, too, driving like he's Steve McQueen with nowhere to run. Take it down and let's get going. I swear, if we get so much as a stone chip..."

"I've made a note of his plate on my phone, rosebud." Python chuckled as he slid his phone back into his impossibly tight pants. "Have to keep my rosebud happy or I won't get my dick sucked tonight, you dig?" He winked at biker dude, whose face was getting redder by the second.

"I want my brother back," he spluttered. "We got family business. Shaz, get out of the car and get over here."

"That man's drooling on the leather upholstery. You didn't see him when he fell. He hit his head so hard he probably dented the asphalt." Pax sneered at the biker dude. "How you going to transport him on the bike with him unconscious? Hog tie him?"

The biker dude was busy looking at the back of the bike, and then trying to see Storm in the car. "He's really unconscious?" Pax noticed he asked Python, not him.

"Flat out, as my rosebud said, making a mess of the leather seats most likely." Python, who'd been lounging against the side of his car, straightened and flexed his shoulders. "I'd say this has been fun, but it hasn't been. Me and rosebud had a date with a hotel bed, and you've fucked that up. But hey, if you want your brother later, check in with the Bozeman police station, all good? Because you'd better believe when my rosebud says they're going to be reporting shit, they're gonna do it."

"If you know what's good for you and your precious paintwork, you'd better forget my plate number. Shaz, you got my number, make sure you use it." Biker dude revved his accelerator and took off with a swerve down the road, heading for Bozeman in a cloud of exhaust smoke.

"How is ‘Shaz'," - yes, Pax used air quotes - "meant to hear the message about the number when he's meant to be unconscious . Geez. Come on, hot stuff. I've got a date with donuts and cakes, and ‘Shaz' won't be getting any of them."

"I really don't like hearing that name," Storm said softly. "I left it behind a long time ago."

"Yeah, well…" Okay, now Pax felt a little bit guilty but only a little bit. "It looks like your long time ago just caught up with you, and for your information, I don't like being run out on within two hours of finding my so-called mate, especially when that same mate didn't buy the donuts he promised, so stick that in your pipe and smoke it." He got in the front passenger seat, staring firmly out of the windshield, his arms folded across his chest.

Python got into the driver's seat, chuckling. "Looks like your mate's a handful, Storm," he said as he started the engine. "This is going to be fun."

"Just be careful driving the car." Pax frowned. "And keep your eyes on the road this time. I'd like to get back to the bakery before I end up as roadkill."

"Honestly, this guy cracks me up." Python put his foot down, spun a U-turn and the car sped down the road.

Storm was quiet on the trip back, but every time Pax's eyes veered just a bit to the left, he could see the man's reflection in the side mirror. The man was watching him, smiling at him the whole way back to the bakery.