Standing By (Road House) Read Online Free Page B

started to fade as they followed the roads outside of town. Finally, a good twenty minutes later, they stopped at a small diner. She was happy they had made it in time. Most things shut down around here at ten. Half an hour more and they would be hunkered down in some shed.
    “Hop off, kid.” Pan loosened the grip he had on her waist.
    “Where are we?” the boy asked.
    She took her helmet off and shook her long, brown locks.
    “A friend of mine owns the place. We can chill here until things die down.”
    She turned and finally got a good look at the boy. Slightly unkempt black hair framed his tan cherub-like face. His hazel eyes were so wide and expressive she felt just inches away from pulling him into a bear hug. The wonder and awe she found there touched her in ways she hadn’t expected. Quickly, she looked away. Something seemed familiar about him.
    “Let’s go on in.”
    Pan led the way.
    When they had settled into a booth, Anna popped by with a pot of steaming coffee. Pan thought the teen boy’s eyes were going to pop out of his head with how hard he stared at Anna. Not that Pan blamed him. Anna was short and busty. Like pop a button and put an eye out busty. Her long, blond hair was always tied back, and that, for some reason, only seemed to set the guys off more.
    “Well it’s been a while, Pan.” Anna poured her a cup of coffee. The teen quickly flipped his mug over for a cup as well. Anna arched a brow but poured anyways.
    “It has. Just hiding out for a bit.”
    “From the good guys or the bad guys?” Anna stood and planted a hand on her hip.
    Pan laughed loudly. “Bad for now.” She turned to the teen and stared at him pointedly. “But I haven’t gotten the full story yet.”
    “You all going to eat anything?”
    Pan glanced at the counter. Anna’s famous apple pies were proudly on display. She figured nothing could butter the kid up more to talk than warm apple pie a la mode. With the order for two put in, Anna wandered off, leaving the two alone to talk.
    “So,” Pan fiddled with the silverware. “Wanna tell me what the hell was going on back there?”
    The boy’s lips clamped up. This was going to be for more difficult than expected.
    “’Kay, well how about your name?”
    “Nic.”
    “Well hi, Nic. I’m Pan.” Pan stuck out her hand and was thrilled when he shook it. “So I’m just gonna come right out and say it, Max is a bad dude. Whatever you got going with him, I’d quit right now.”
    “Aren’t you worried?” Nic ran a hand through his hair. “You really shouldn’t have gotten involved. Now he’s going to be after you.”
    “Max?” Pan cracked her knuckles. “He and I have some unfinished business.”
    Nic eyebrows shot up, and Pan nearly choked on her coffee. Apparently, he hadn’t expected her to want to pick a fight with Max. Heck, hardly anyone picked a fight with a man like him. He was the go between for a number of unsavory organizations, and some groups that weren’t so organized. People turned to him when they needed a problem to disappear. He made it happen.
    Anna came back with the pies, and they both fell silent eating. When they had finished, Pan continued with her questioning.
    “So. You going to tell me what the hell was going on back there?” She leaned back in her seat and put her arms on either side. One thing she’s learned from years around men was to make yourself as big as possible.
    Nic shook his head. Pan sighed. Whatever it was, he wasn’t talking.
    “Well you have to talk to someone about this. Anyone else know about what’s going on?” She stopped to take a drink of her coffee.
    “Yeah, my brother knows.” He looked down at his fingers and twisted the napkin.
    “So who’s your brother? Maybe I know him.”
    “Emilio Diaz.”
    Pan’s eyes flew to his. Well damn. Now that she thought of it, the kid was the spitting image of Emilio. Another heartbreaker in the making.
    “Well, we had better get you home. I’m betting your