Colt's Game : A Playing for Keeps Story

And Then Came The Bikers

Colt

"What the fuck is this?"

"Colt, Who are they?" my mother asks as I help her sit down on the steps in front of our home.

"It's okay, Mom, I have to go talk to them."

I make my way over to where the three men are walking, but none of them are interested in me. They are all looking at my mother and her face. "I wasn't running. I know what you told me, Shyne. I was just trying to take care of her before you got here."

"What the hell happened to her?" he asks.

"She fell," I replied, giving the excuse that I've heard her say a million times over.

"Who the fuck are you lying to? Don't play me for stupid, kid."

"I know you ain't stupid, that's the answer. The only one I got." I kept my eyes locked on Shyne and prayed that he understood that I wasn't trying to be a hardass. I didn't have the energy to start shit with them. I didn't know much about the Wings of Diablo MC, but I knew they could make people disappear if they had to.

"Whatever, man, you taking her to the hospital?" the one on the side of him said. Bones, his patch said.

"Yeah, the bus stop is down the block."

"Nah, get in." The larger one, Pirate, walks over to the truck that he drove here while the other two hop on their bikes.

The last thing that I wanted right now is to owe them anything else. "That's okay. I can get her there."

"Colt, you don't really have a say in shit right now. If I told you to walk to Texas, that's what the fuck you will do. Now, you owe us a pretty penny, but it seems as if your mother needs some medical assistance. That takes priority, so we're going to take the both of you to the hospital. Your mother is going to get checked out, and then we will decide if we have to break your legs in the parking lot. First things first, though." Shyne clapped me on the shoulder and pointed to my mother. 

When I turn back in her direction, Bones is already leaning down, trying to help her up. The motion of him lifting her arm enough to make her cry out. I rush over to them and get in between the two of them.

"Shh, okay. Hold on." Bones moves back, and I go over to the side that she wasn't protecting. I pick her up and hold her in my arms and walk with her over to the truck that Pirate is waiting for us at.

"Colt, who are these people? What are you doing?" Fear blossoms in her one eye, and it kills me to lie to her, but I know if I tell her that I've been placing bets with a motorcycle club, she is going to flip out. It's the only way I knew how to keep us alive. My only skill, and it just backfired.

"It's okay, Mom. Just relax. I promise." I slide her in and get in on the other side. I have to find a way to make it okay. There is no other option.