The naive boy

Scorpion looked reluctant.

"It's okay. You don't have to keep your face like that." Kon chuckled at the expression on his face. "You don't have to tell your boss anything. I will be back before you notice my absence."

"And what of Toto? Do you think she will keep her mouth shut?" He furrowed his brows.

"Take her to get some ice cream. And should she ask of me, tell her I went to school to get a textbook I forgot." He pouted. "Please, Scorpion. Lin is my best friend; I need to help him."

"Can't he go on his own? Doesn't he know you are dating my boss?" Scorpion folded his arms in displeasure.

His words caused Kon to roll his eyes. "He's my best friend, Scorpion. You don't have to act as if I'm cheating on Osy behind his back. Besides, it's not as if I'm dating him."

"Let him not hear those words from your mouth," Scorpion grumbled under his breath, looking a bit like a grumpy grandfather.

"So, am I free to go?" He blinked as cutely as he could. "Am I?" He pursed his lips. "Uncle Scorpion, can I go?"

Scorpion turned his gaze to the side to hide the blush on his face. "You can go." He placed a palm on his mouth to hide the blush. "But don't tell the boss I was the one who let you go, should he catch you. You have to say you sneaked out when I took Toto out to get ice cream, okay?"

"Aye, aye, captain!" Kon saluted him. "I won't involve you; I promise."

Scorpion nodded. Though he didn't trust Lin, he knew he had to do this for Kon. If not for anything, but to make up for the time he tricked Kon.

Kon exited the car. "Thank you once more, Scorpion. You are the best right-hand man in the entire world."

"If you want to thank me, you can ask the boss to promote me." Scorpion beamed.

"Promote?" Kon furrowed his brows. "Aren't you at the highest level? Do you want to be a boss?" Kon pursed his lips.

"I'm just joking," Scorpion grinned. "Remember, don't waste any time, or I'm going to call the boss."

"No, I won't."

Kon waved at Scorpion before heading towards the fast food where Lin had asked him to meet.

Two days ago, during the ice cream outing he had with Toto, Lin begged Kon to escort him to meet his mother. Lin claimed it had been a long time since he saw his mother and wanted a familiar face to go with him. Kon agreed, and that was why he was there to meet Lin so they could go.

Scorpion stayed in the car and watched Kon until he crossed the road. He made sure Kon was safely on the other side before he turned his vehicle and headed home to meet the mistress of the house.

It was a weekend, so Toto didn't go to school. She was supposed to go to the park with Kon, but that was until Lin asked Kon for a favour.

Kon headed towards the fast-food door, but a man blocked him. Dressed in all-black attire, the man looked like one of the goons Osy had. His signature sunglasses and stern expression made Kon take a step back.

"Are you Kon?" The man asked in a cold voice that sent shivers down Kon's spine.

"Who are you?" He narrowed his eyes at the man.

As it was obvious the man came alone, Kon wasn't afraid. He knew he could take the man on any time, should he care for that. It wouldn't be difficult to show the man who the boss was among them.

"Are you Kon?" The man asked once more, instead of answering Kon's questions.

"And I'm asking who the bloody hell you are." He folded his arms and glared at the man.

"If you would rather not say who you are, then I have no business whatsoever with you."

"Wait." The man stopped Kon before he could leave.

He thought it would be easy to manipulate Kon should he use a stern voice, but it wasn't so, seeing how bold Kon was.

"What is it?"

"Bo—Lin asked me to get you. You are going over to his mother's house, right?"

"What?" Kon blinked. He was surprised by the man's words. "How did you know about that?" He inquired, looking at the man as if he had somehow grown another pair of heads.

"Lin sent me. He said I should tell you that he went with his father."

"Oh." Kon sighed, disappointed that he wasn't the one who went with Lin.

"I'm here to get you," the man added when he saw the expression on Kon's face.

"What?"

"Lin asked me to get you. Since he couldn't go with you because he went with his dad, he asked me to get you." The man pointed at a car parked along the street. "That's my car over there."

"How will I know you are telling the truth and not some kind of fraudster?" Kon narrowed his eyes at the man.

Before he met Osy, Kon wouldn't have been this inquisitive because he believed no one would try to hurt him.

However, after his near-death experience with the soothing killer, he wasn't about to take any chances.

"Here." The man dialled a number and gave the phone to Kon. "He said you would be suspicious, but I never thought that was true."

The phone was picked up at the first ring.

"Hello?"

"Kon!" Lin cheerfully called out.

"Lin? Are you the one?" Kon asked, to be certain they weren't playing tricks on him.

"Yes, I'm the one," Lin assured him. "My dad surprised me this morning, so I wasn't able to meet you. Follow him; he will bring you to this place."

"Isn't it better I stay back? It's a family reunion; I—"

"You are family, Kon. My mum loves you, and I know my dad will, too, when he meets you. Don't think you will bail on me, Kon. I'm waiting for you," he said before he disconnected.

"So?" The man standing next to Kon raised his brows. "Are you going with me?"

"Let's go." Kon nodded.

The man turned and headed for the car, while Kon followed.

Luckily, Scorpion was long gone by that time. If not, he wouldn't have allowed Kon to leave with a stranger.

The man opened the door for him, and he entered before the man shut the door and walked over to the driver's side.

"Do you work for Lin's father?" Kon asked, curious to know about Lin's father.

"You can say that." The man shrugged. "I work for the boss."

"Oh, okay." Kon nodded, though he didn't understand why the man emphasised the boss instead of properly answering the first question.

Kon relaxed as the man began to drive. He closed his eyes and decided to have a nap.

The man driving the car glanced back at the boy sleeping peacefully in the back seat.

He scoffed. Although bold, Kon was naive.