Page 14 of Crucified By the Dark
“What’s up, Judd? I was kind of busy here.”
“Yeah, I can see that. I thought it was only me you turned to,” he said, and crossed his arms like a pouting child.
“Guess you were wrong. Now, what do you want?” Morry said smoothly.
It was total bullshit. This was the only time it had ever happened, but Jeremy had no intention of correcting it. The more Judd thought he was out, the better.
“The doc is looking for you. Wolf had a seizure.”
Morry was gone like a fucking magic trick as she took off at a dead run around the Hummer toward the back door of the building. That fact she could stand and walk after down a half bottle of tequila was impressive. To see her run like she was in a marathon? He had to give mad props for that. Jeremy went to walk around the Hummer to follow her, but Judd stuck his arm out.
“I wouldn’t get too comfortable, pup.” Judd leaned in a little closer, and Jeremy’s fist clenched tight. “She may be giving you a little bit of attention out of pity, but it’s me she will always come back to.”
“With you pissing all over everything, Judd, I would say you’re insecure,” he pushed Judd’s arm out of the way. “Morry can make her own choice, and from where I’m standing, it’s not you.”
“You’re getting pretty fucking cocky there, Jeremy. Watch your back.”
Jeremy standing at six-four, turned around to face Judd and stared up at the man. Judd was taller by a couple of inches, but had no more muscle on him. Jeremy didn’t know if he could take him for sure, but it didn’t matter. He would take the blows to wipe that sneering grin off his face.
“You threatenin’ me?” Jeremy took a step closer.
“Just reminding you that there’s a pecking order, and you, boot licker, are at the bottom,” Judd said and laughed as he walked past.
Everything pent up inside of him erupted, and Jeremy felt his control snap like a brittle twig.
“Hey, asshole,” he growled and stomped after Judd.
The guy barely got turned around when he let his fist fly. The punch took Judd off his feet, and he landed hard on his ass.
“No one threatens me. Not anymore. I think it’s time we decided who the real number two around here is,” Jeremy said as Judd rubbed at the red mark on his jaw.
“You’re going to fucking pay for that, kid.”
Judd moved fast. Jumping to his feet, he took the cheap shot and dove for Jeremy’s waist. They crashed to the ground hard, and the force pushed all the air out of Jeremy’s lungs. That meaty left hook found his face, but he managed enough of a block that it was only a glancing blow. Jeremy bucked up with his body, tossing Judd forward and off balance. He landed a double blow to Judd’s right side before pushing him off.
They rolled around on the ground, and Judd found a way to get an elbow across the left side of his face. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. Jeremy was vaguely aware that they’d drawn a crowd as they continued to exchange blows. There was hooting and hollering, and people yelled about bets, but no one interfered. This was the order of things in a biker gang. If you wanted something, you fucking took it, and you needed to earn it with your blood.
Swinging his leg back, he brought his knee into Judd’s side, and the guy groaned with the impact. All he saw was Judd poking at him from the day he arrived, how he was forced to do the worst jobs, no matter what the schedule said unless Morry was around. The derogatory names bounced around in his skull with each impact of his fist. Judd, his anger, the pain, and the blood were all a blur.
There was no telling when Judd’s face got all bloody or that he barely fought back until a shrill whistle cut through the angry haze. He froze with his fist in the air as he was yanked out of the murky waters of his rage. He didn’t think that even a knife blade put to his throat could have stopped him faster. Panting hard, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and pushed himself away from Judd.
Judd groaned and rolled onto his side. Jeremy felt utterly satisfied until he turned around and caught sight of Morry’s pissed-off eyes. All the satisfaction was flushed down the toilet with the steely look she gave him and then Judd.
She didn’t say anything but didn’t need to for him to know she would rip him a new one.
“Get him up and make sure the doctor looks him over,” Morry said as she nodded at Butch. Butch was in charge of security for the Legion, and Jeremy couldn’t remember the guy saying more than five words in the five years he’d been around the group.
“I don’t need a doc,” Judd said as he held his side and pushed himself onto unsteady legs.
“Shut. The. Fuck. Up.” Morry said, and Judd snapped his mouth closed. “You’ll do as I say, or I’ll slit your throat right now.” Judd’s eyes widened as Morry placed her hand on the long blade strapped to her leg.
“But he fucking started it.” Judd pointed a finger in Jeremy’s direction like the piece of shit tattletale he was. It had been a long time since he felt like a whelp, but as Morry’s eyes found him again, he was worried about what she would say next. Was this what got him kicked out, or worse, in a shallow desert grave?
“You and I need to have a serious fucking talk.” She turned and marched away but looked over her shoulder when he didn’t budge. He thought for sure Morry was going to dress him down in front of everyone, but it was worse than that. She wanted to talk to him in private. “Now.”
Oh fuck. This wasn’t going to be good.
Four Years and Six Months Ago
