Page 52 of Crucified By the Dark
“Oh, no disrespect or anything. I just mean that if I could, I would. She is total MILF material.”
“It would be wise not to say such things around here. Unless, of course, you want Morry to kick your ass?” Jeremy stepped close to the bike and pretended to be looking it over. Like he pretended what Stephen said wasn’t making him dream of murder. “You’re late for your group therapy session. You’d better get going, or it will be more vegetable prep.”
Stephen seemed disappointed. His face was shadowed in confusion.
“It’s out that way. Head toward the garden. That’s where they’ll be today.”
Jeremy squatted, effectively dismissing Stephen. As the guy turned and walked away, Jeremy watched him closely. It was like watching a sped-up version of the movieUsual Suspects, where at the end, you realize that the guy with the limp didn’t have a limp and was the leader of the gang the entire time. Stephen’s back straightened, and he pulled his hands out of his pockets. This guy had serious issues, and none of them were related to oxy. Jeremy would bet on that.
* * *
Jeremy was finishing up for the day in the garage when he heard the distant rattle of the gate and the rumbling of vehicles. He stepped up to the door and shaded his eyes from the late day sun to see a large black SUV pull up and Morry stepping outside to greet whoever it was. He took in everything about the tall man in the crisp white uniform.
Whoever this man was, Morry seemed both happy and unhappy to see him, and Jeremy’s curiosity was piqued. Did he really want to be an ass? Jeremy waited until they went inside to her office before closing and locking up. He hadn’t been invited into the meeting, yet he found himself marching to the closest entrance and making his way to the office.
The door was closed when Jeremy arrived. He was going to turn away and be the person who didn’t invade Morry’s privacy but fuck it. He needed to know. Grabbing the handle, Jeremy opened the door.
“Morry, we’re out of….” He looked up and froze. Morry stared at him from behind her desk, and the man before her turned in his seat. Holy fuck, the man was her father. She never talked about him, but he’d seen the family photos. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention, didn’t realize you had company. Are you…Are you Mr. Waters,” he asked, and Morry bit her lip.
“Colonel Waters,” her father said and stood to hold out his hand.
Jeremy took the invite and came into the room, closing the door before gripping the outstretched hand in a hard shake.
“Excellent to meet you, Colonel. Morry talks about you all the time,” he smoothly lied.
“Does she now?” The Colonel pointedly looked at Morry.
Jeremy could see Morry giving him the death stare from the corner of his eye when her father turned back in his direction. If there was one thing he knew how to do well, it was kiss ass, and everything about this man screamed that he was used to everyone kissing his ass. Morry wasn’t going to do it. She would never do it. But something told him that whatever the reason was Morry had called him, it was important. So why not give it to the man?
“Yes, all the time. You and her brothers. She’s always saying how much she misses seeing all of you on a regular basis. This place takes a ton of work, and there is everything with the Righteous.”
“The who?”
Morry stood from her desk. “Jeremy, that’s quite enough.”
“You mean he doesn’t know,” Jeremy asked, knowing he was pushing his luck, but he was genuinely shocked that Morry hadn’t said anything.
“Is that what you’re mixed up in,” Colonel Waters asked as his eyes turned to Morry. Jeremy had never seen Morry look intimidated by anyone, but the harsh stare of her father had him shrinking back and his hackles going up. “Morianna Marie Waters, don’t you dare lie to me. You told me that you were the leader of a motorcycle gang.”
“I am,” she said.
“As a cover?”
She swallowed, and her eyes flicked over to him. Suddenly, Jeremy wished he’d thought before he opened his mouth. The tension in the air was building, and it felt like it would erupt into a full-on war at any moment.
“Shit. Yes, as a cover,” she blurted and stood up straight as she crossed her arms over her chest like she was preparing herself for the ammunition coming her way.
Jeremy started around the desk, but she held up her hand. He stopped moving. Fuck, this was not good. He’d really put his boot in a pile of dog shit this time.
“Why the hell didn’t you tell me this before?” The Colonel leaned on Morry’s desk. He looked intimidating, and Jeremy couldn’t imagine growing up with a man like this for a father.
“I couldn’t tell you. No one is supposed to know. He’s not supposed to know.” Morry held her hand out in Jeremy’s direction. “But he was brought here by another member years ago.”
“So all this time, you never left the desert. It’s like you never came home. You went away for an undercover op, and that is exactly what you came home to. That’s called PTSD, my daughter. It’s called running from your past by staying squarely in it.”
Morry looked away from her father’s eyes, and Jeremy felt compelled to go to her. He took a step in her direction. Shit sometimes he wished he’d think before he spoke. Why hadn’t he showered and waited to see her later once he was gone?
“It’s not like that,” she said, but she didn’t sound convincing, even to him.
