Colton
Jesus Christ on a sparkly skateboard. What the ever-loving fuck was up with these assholes? “Greg. I was about to escort this man off the premises. He wants to leave.” And that was what was gonna happen.
Greg’s gaze darted about, and praise the Lord he figured out the situation without being told. “That so? I take it these fellers object?” Greg laid on the hayseed. It would be a real mistake to believe Greg was nothing but trouble to a criminal.
“That does seem to be the issue, partner.” He started easing Zach out of the group of folks. The kid was shaking some, trembling against his side.
Greg got between them and the rest of the men. “All of you need to disperse. Now. If I have to ask again, people are getting arrested. Or worse.”
He wasn’t sure exactly what these asshats’ endgame was, but he knew Zach wanted out. That was enough for now. “Come on, honey. One foot in front of the other. Greg’s got our back. We’ll go in my truck.”
If he hadn’t seen the shit that just went down, he might not have believed a word of it. He kept his gun unstrapped. Just in case.
Greg came jogging up next to him, and he let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. His cousin could handle himself, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t get hurt. “What do you wanna bet we get fired from this happy little gig?” Greg said.
He’d have to call his uncle and get replacements to work the fair. Something told him they were going to be unpopular in a few minutes. “That’s a sucker bet, man. What do you bet no one else wants the job?”
Greg snorted. “Fill me in.”
Easing Zach in front of them, he moved the kid nice and quick. Still glancing over his shoulder, he told Greg what he’d observed. Zach never said a word, just moved faster, shoulders up around his ears.
“Damn, son. You pissed in their Wheaties, didn’t you?” Greg shook his head. “You got some balls, kid. Good on you.”
“I didn’t intend it to be a standoff. I thought I’d just run.”
Yeah, with Colton’s help, but that was fair. The kid was scared, and he was a cop, for fuck’s sake. “You’ll have to tell us what’s happening, Zach. We’ll go to the sheriff.”
What Mr. Suit and the other asshole were up to, it was more than trying to steal Zach’s inheritance. Which, if Colton were honest, was confusing as fuck in its own right. He didn’t even know someone could own part of a band like that. Seriously, how the hell did that even work?
“I will. I so will. Can we please get out of here first?”
The kid was shaking like he was buck naked in a blizzard. “Yeah, I think we were supposed to have supper together, right?”
“Uh. Yeah.” Zach shot him a guilty look.
It wasn’t going to be all exciting sexy times like he’d hoped, but he wasn’t going to let this kid twist in the wind and get hurt. No chance. “Don’t. If you need help, I’m on it, okay? We’ll figure it out.” Colton was a lot of things, but a solid gold asshole wasn’t one of them. “Come on. I’ll feed you, hear your story. Greg can bea good deputy and sit at another table and watch the door, right Greg?”
“Don’t make me hurt you, Scrappy. I’ve already lost a side hustle tonight.”
He winked, but he’d have to make it up to Greg. “Yeah, yeah. Dime a dozen.” He pointed toward the staff parking near the entrance. “Head that way Zach.”
“Okay. Thanks.” Zach nodded, ducking his head.
He loaded the kid into his truck, shut the door, then went to Greg. “This isn’t about a booty call, man. Not now.”
“No, I get it. What I walked into was batshit crazy. Never seen anything like it.”
Neither had Colton. Not even as an MP in the army. “Think we can get combat pay?”
“A man can dream.” Greg clapped him on the shoulder. “Where are we heading?”
Colton had two dreams that wouldn’t come true—the money and the guy. “You want to go out to that truck stop on the highway? It’s open, clean, and has only one way in.”
“I’ll meet you there.” Greg gave him a serious look. “Drive safe.”
“Will do.”
He hopped into his truck, settled into his seat and put the key in the ignition. Zach stared straight ahead, not blinking when Colton got in. “Diner food okay with you?”
