Page 105 of Animal's Reformation
“Asshole,” Bones grumbled.
“For Saturday, we have morning and afternoon openings, which do you prefer?” the saleslady asked.
“After 10:00 a.m. is good,” Animal replied.
“I’ll put it down for the ten-to-noon spot.”
“I never thought I’d see you go all mushy and shit about a chick. Buying fuckin’ curtains for her? Fuck.” Bones shoved his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket.
“Olivia’s not just a chick,” Animal said.
“It’s just that you never wanted to go out with citizens that much. What the fuck? Aren’t you missing the club girls and all that easy pussy?”
One long, loud choking cough drew Animal’s attention back to the saleswoman, who was grabbing for a bottle of water on a table behind her. He turned away and shook his head at Bones.
“I can’t explain it.” He laughed. “I guess she reformed me. It just happened, dude.”
Bones scrunched up his face. “I never fuckin’ thought you’d be the next to fall.”
Animal clasped his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You talk like it’s a fucking death sentence.”
“For me, giving up easy pussy is worse than death.”
Animal guffawed, then looked back at the woman. “You got that set up yet?” She nodded and brought the water bottle to her mouth. “How much do I owe you for all of it?”
After Animal finished the transaction, he and Bones left the store and headed down the sidewalk, talking about the newest motorcycle that Bones was aiming to buy at the end of the month. Out of his peripheral vision, Animal caught sight of Skeet across the street. Animal looked over with more intent, noticing the fucker walking down the sidewalk in Insurgents’ territory wearing his cut with the Rising Order patch.
“Fuckthat!” Animal yelled and ran across the road.
“What the hell?” Bones’s voice floated behind him.
“You fuckin’ asshole,” Animal said to Skeet.
The ex-member didn’t respond, and just stood there staring into Animal’s eyes. Thea tugged on Skeet’s hand, seeming to sense the building tension.
“Let’s go,” she said, her gaze darting from Animal to Skeet then back to Animal.
Bones sidled beside Animal. “We got a fuckin’ traitor in our territory.”
“Yeah,” Animal gritted, his muscles growing tight.
“Come on,” Thea pleaded, her lips trembling slightly.
“Okay, babe,” Skeet said, turning away from them. When he did, his shoulder collided with Animal’s. Hard. Too hard for it to be an accident.
Animal just looked over at him and didn’t say a word nor changed his stony expression.
“Watch where you’re going, honey. Animal’s gonna think you did that on purpose.” A nervous giggle spilled from her lips. Thea glanced over at Animal. “We’re going.” Another tug on Skeet’s hand.
Skeet flicked a cursory glance at Bones, then settled his blue eyes on Animal. He stood still: feet spread, hands at waist level.
Animal rocked back on his heels, his gaze never leaving Skeet’s face. Bones muttered obscenities under his breath and took a couple of steps toward the biker. Tension crackled in the air, and Thea kept pleading with Skeet to move on.
The ex-Insurgent threw the first punch, but Animal was already coming at him and knocked Skeet off balance so that he missed Bones’s face. Animal slammed Skeet against the brick wall of a novelty shop, then leaned back far enough to throw a punch at the asshole’s jaw. Before he made contact, the fucker landed a kick in Animal’s groin, and pain shot through him, sizzling every fucking nerve in his body. He stumbled backward, almost losing his balance, and lowered his head, avoiding Skeet’s fist to his face.
“You good, bro?” Bones asked.
Rage burned through Animal, and he kicked out his leg and slammed the tip of one of his steel-toed boots against Skeet’s shin. The traitor groaned and bowled over, and Animal landed an uppercut flush on the jerk’s nose.
