“No,” he stated firmly as he grabbed a bar on the merry-go-round. He stepped onto it, trying to cross to get away from them.
One of the guys laughed as he spun Keata around. “You look like a girl. I should fuck you like one.”
“If you want to have your cock cut off afterward.” Storm growled at the guy taunting Keata.
“Who the hell are you?” The one who had offered his services to Keata asked. So these punks had no fear. Well, Storm would change that. He stood to his full height, Gunnar and Tank coming out to stand at his flanks. The punk swallowed hard, his eyes darting to all three men.
“I’m his brother-in-law. Mess with him again and I’ll make sure the cops haul you in for drug possession. And if that doesn’t scare you…” Storm’s eyes turned crimson, and a wet mark appeared on the front of the punk’s jeans.
They scattered to the wind, and Storm stopped the merry-go-round from spinning Keata around. “Come on, buddy.” Storm pulled him off. He had to carry the young man because Keata was too dizzy to walk on his own.
“What’s going on?” Loco asked as he pulled Keata from Storm’s arms.
“Some punks tried to get Keata to use drugs.”
“No!” Drew shouted, “No, Keata. Don’t ever do that. It will destroy your life.” Drew pulled at Keata, pulling him from Loco’s arms as he hugged the small man.
“ Tell Drew I’m not stupid. I know drugs are bad .” Keata hugged Drew against him.
“He’s says he’s too smart for that.” Kyoshi smiled at his cousin.
Storm was proud of him for resisting peer pressure. He grumbled. “I swear I’m going to get a cowbell to put around his neck.”
“Come one, men. Time to grab a bite to eat.” The warriors ushered them out of the rec center and into the vehicles, driving further into town to the local diner.
* * * *
Storm led his mate over to a booth by the window. He tossed his leather on the back of the booth as Kyoshi took a seat.
“Why can’t he sit with us?” Kyoshi whined.
Storm chuckled at his mate. Keata had run over to Loco’s booth and scooted in next to the warrior. He knew Kyoshi was trying. “Because he chooses to sit with Loco.”
Kyoshi crossed his arms over his chest and stuck his bottom lip out. Storm leaned over and nipped it as he slid into the booth. Kyoshi picked at his nails as he stared over at the other table.
“Leave him in peace.” Storm grinned at his mate. “Room, remember?”
“I remember.” Storm leaned down and kissed the pouting bottom lip.
Storm grabbed a menu, flipping it open as he read the selections. He watched Kyoshi watching Keata from the corner of his eye. His mate had the motherly strings bad.
“Have you decided?” the waitress asked after grabbing her pad and pen from her half apron.
“I’ll have the steak with baby carrots and a salad.” Storm replaced the menu into the chrome holder.
“And you?” She turned to Kyoshi.
“I’ll have a set of balls on a platter,” Kyoshi mumbled as he glared at Loco.
“Excuse me?”
Storm gaped at Kyoshi. Did his mate really just say that?
Kyoshi blinked at them as if he just remembered he wasn’t alone. “I, uh, said I’ll have a hamburger and fries.” His face turned a deep crimson as he looked away.
The waitress left them to take the other table’s orders. Storm stared at Kyoshi for a moment. “Are you okay?”
Kyoshi shrugged his shoulders. “Fine, why?”
“Maybe because you tried to order testicles.”
Kyoshi narrowed his eyes and pointed secretly to the other table. “I know what men want. If they try to get it from Keata, I’ll be ordering all their testicles.”
“What the hell is wrong, Kyoshi?” He had never seen his mate this diabolical before. It was frightening.
“I–I don’t know. I feel funny.” Storm watched as a shaky hand reached up and wiped dots of perspiration from Kyoshi’s brow. “I don’t feel right.”
“I’m going to get that order to go.” Storm raised his hand
Steve 'Nipper' Ellis; Bernard O'Mahoney