Mercenary Wolf

Ch 6

The kid had some old fashioned grit, I'll give him that. Patient, calm, even when I pushed a bit. Honest too. I liked that about him. He really thought about keeping the place secret. He was straight up about wanting to learn but not fight. It seemed a bit of a contradiction to me.

He waited, ready to accept my decision to let him stay or send him away. And I mean that. He sat there, heard what I had to say, would have been good with whatever I wanted, no hard feelings.

He felt like some fresh naive innocent and I wanted to send him to the meat grinder. Of course with the way he moved he'd probably just avoid the blades and think someone trying to chop him was an amusement park joyride!

I needed him.

I let him help Doc, not that Doc needed the help. The guys here knew the routine. It gave them a chance to feel the kid out though.

I was ansy waiting for Jimbo to show up. I was snappy and coulda danced a jig when he finally came in. He stayed back, along the edges, avoiding me.

Damn kid starting acting up too. I had to yell at him a few times. I finally called him over and asked what had gotten into him.

He pointed out Jimbo, wanted to fight him.

Wtf, I mean seriously! Yeah I had asked the kid to keep an eye on anyone he thought he might like to fight, but really? The one person he finally points out is Jimbo?

Now I ain't to sure about you, but that was just too much of a damn strange coincidence to me. I was suddenly wondering if this kid had been sent in as a mole or something. He didn't even notice my displeasure. He was as excited as a kid who had ADHD. He looked ready to bounce off the walls.

I tried to blow it off, laughing at the kid, telling him he ain't got the cash to fight.

Just as odd was Jimbo's reaction when he saw us talking. It really had me thinking the kid was a plant from whoever was leaning on Jimbo.

The kid was persistent. Something about Jimbo had him worked up.

"Ask him. A private meet. No fighting. Two minutes alone. Tell him Little Wolf is asking," the kid said.

Now that was confusing too cause the kid had introduced himself as Rick when he first showed up. The kid went back to work, but kept throwing glances toward Jimbo.

So I go over to Jimbo.

"That's the kid I was thinking of recruiting," I told him.

"You tell him something stupid like I got to decide whether he stays or goes? He seems...who is he?"

"Well now that's the thing Jimbo, I didn't think he was anyone, but now I'm wondering. I didn't point you out, he pointed you out to me. I didn't even tell him about you. He wanted to fight you but I laughed him off. He said he wants a meeting, two minutes of your time."

"You were planning on me watching him fight anyway right?"

"Yeah, you watching, not you fighting with someone. He showed up after you brought that other kid by. I'm wondering if he's a plant."

Jimbo watched the kid for a bit.

"No, not from... he isn't hear to spy on me or anything."

"He's a strange one anyway. Too damn friendly. His names Rick but he said to tell you Little Wolf was asking for the meet."

I had put my arm out to steady Jimbo. He started shaking, bad. He went pale, like all at once.

"Shit, come on."

He didn't argue with me. I took him up, set him up in the third bedroom, brought doc in to take a look at him.

Jimbo actually got mad about the doc.

"Bro, you didn't see you almost faint. Let the doc take a look."

Jimbo didn't want anything, but I think just to ease my mind he told doc whatever he did, keep it simple because he had to drive later. Doc gave him something he said would help nerves.

When it was just Jimbo and I again, he tried to convince me he was fine. Like hell he was!

"I'll stay up here, I'll meet the kid after everyone's gone. Go take care of the fights Mac."

"I ain't leaving your side."

He smiled at me then, second one in a damn year. I figure whatever doc gave him was kicking in.

"I said I'll stay, brother. Might go out for a breath of fresh air in a bit, but I'll stay. Go on, you know you need to be out there."

Damn if he wasn't right. I kept checking in on him though. Even with what doc gave him, the shakes didn't totally go away.

And the kid? Rick the Little Wolf? He went around with this happy little smile on his face. I mean the kid was always happy, only got serious if he was fighting, when he concentrated, but now he was like a kid at Christmas.

None of it made any frigging sense to me.