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“I have a feeling it’s too late for that, Crash,” I said.
He swore under his breath, scrubbing a hand over his buzzed hair in distress.
“The two dumbasses playing pool are Credence and Hot Shot,” I continued. “I wouldn’t recommend getting roped into a game with either of them if you want to keep your money. They cheat.”
“We have never cheated a day in our lives,” Hot Shot protested.
“They’re liars, too,” I said.
“And Big G is a sore loser,” Credence said. “He won’t admit that he sucks at pool.”
Liss chuckled as she tore off a corner from one of the brownies. Her plate was nearly polished clean by now, despite the amount of food that had been piled on it before. Except for the bag of chips. She stowed that in her lap, clearly saving it for later. Lifting her chin, she indicated the table where I’d been playing cards when she arrived.
“What about them? They seem pretty important over there.”
“The one with the tattooed knuckles is Blackbeard, our Vice President. The one smoking like a chimney is the big boss man himself, Kingpin.”
She nodded as her gaze shifted around the room, taking in the faces surrounding her. She slipped the remaining brownies into her napkin, and tucked it into her lap. Then her gaze returned to me.
“What about you?” Liss pressed one fingertip into the patch on my shoulder, declaring my rank. “What does it mean to be a Road Captain?”
“He looks after us on the road when we ride,” Kingpin said. “Makes sure we’re safe, protected, and no one falls behind.”
“Kind of like God in a way,” Crash said.
“So, is that why everyone calls you Big G?” she asked.
“That’s the family-friendly version, yeah,” Baby Doll said. “With all the testosterone floating around this place, you’ll get used to the dick-measuring contests. They happen at least once a day.”
I sighed and scratched at my beard.
“I wish I could say we were a little more civilized than that, but she’s not wrong.”
“Since we haven’t scared you off by now,” Baby Doll said. “We talked it over and we have a proposition for you.”
She gestured at me to elaborate.
“How would you like to stick around for a week or two?” I suggested. “Tend bar for some cash. It’s not much, but it includes free room and board.”
Liss blinked in surprise. Then she shook her head and pushed off her stool.
“No, I can’t. I really need to get out of town.”
“You don’t have a penny to your name, do you?”
She stopped, chewing the inside of her cheek.
“You’ve been desperate to leave since the moment we met,” I added. “Which means if you had the money, you would have bought a bus ticket out of here as soon as possible. But you didn’t. You chose to hotwire my bike instead.”
Liss fiddled with a corner of her napkin, not meeting my gaze.
“I’m not taking charity.”
“Oh, sweetie,” Baby Doll said. “You will work for every penny you earn around here. These boys drink like it’s the end of the world. They will run you ragged when you’re behind the bar. It won’t be easy. We’re taking turns slinging drinks right now, but it sure would be nice to have a proper bartender.”
Liss shifted in place, hesitant.
“What’s the catch?”
