Page 37 of Crucified By the Dark
Marrying someone just because you got them pregnant was destined to fail, even if it seemed right. Jeremy had seen it so many times with his friends at high school. Every other day, it seemed like one of them came to school saying that their parents were splitting. The one thing most of them had in common? They’d gotten married too young or got pregnant and married to do the right thing for the child.
They never seemed to ask how good that decision was when it all fell apart, and the kids were reeling from a separation that could’ve been avoided.
“Yeah, you guessed it. I knew that was why Andrew proposed, but I was desperate not to feel alone in the decision to keep Kyle. My father and all my brothers were overseas, and none of them were married at that time. I would’ve been barely twenty when he was born and alone. Stupid reason to marry someone, but Andrew wasn’t a bad guy, or at least I didn’t think so. I don’t know anymore.”
“That piece of shit cheated on you and then tried to steal your child from you. He had no idea what he was letting go of, and he certainly has no idea who he’s dealing with.”
Morry lifted her head and laid her chin on the back of her hand on his chest. Their eyes locked, and he could see the softer side of Morry shining out. The side that, as far as he knew, no one ever saw. It made him feel warm all over and more protective of her.
“The problem is, he’s not entirely wrong. I’m a damn good mother, and I love my son with every breath. I would kill anyone who tried to hurt him, but I’m the leader of a notorious gun-running motorcycle club. Although I only sell to those doing good, and the crew and I also do jobs for the Righteous and I have the rehab clinic for vets. All Andrew can see is a bunch of criminals hanging around his son, and of course, Kyle loves the bikes and leather, and he's at the age where everything about my world and what I do is cool. Andrew is a banker and has a cubicle in an office. He lives a very different lifestyle of golf and chardonnay. Kyle detests golf.”
“But you weren’t that person when he cheated,” Jeremy said.
“I can’t argue with that.”
“So if you never loved Andrew, have you ever loved anyone?” He couldn’t believe he had asked that question and held his breath to see if she would respond. What answer was he hoping for, he had no idea, but he needed to know.
“Yeah, I did once. His name was Tyler, but we all called him TK. I didn’t even notice myself falling in love with him. One day we were friends and then friends with benefits, and the next, bam, I realized my feelings had shifted. He’d always liked me, but I was married and coming off a very painful and embarrassing breakup, so I apparently took longer to come around.”
Jeremy bit his lip but smiled. There was a sliver of hope for him yet.
“So what happened? You said it was your fault he died. I don’t believe that.”
“I stood up,” she said and then stopped. She was quiet for so long that Jeremy didn’t think she would explain.
The lack of water and long, hot days of physical exertion were beginning to take its toll on everyone. They ran out of water two days ago, and although Wolf was incredible at finding spots to dig and find pockets of water buried under the hot sand, there was never enough for more than a handful or two for each of them.
Her legs were screaming, the muscles seizing and aching so badly she couldn’t hold still. After hours of steadily jogging under the sun, they met up with Trev and were surprised to see smoke coming from the small camp. Trev hated for them to have a fire for very long. There was a ring of boulders that he’d tucked everyone behind. She dropped to her knees and wanted to cry at the sight of the food. Rodents larger than rats but smaller than rabbits were on multiple spits set up over the open fire. There was enough cooking for them to have almost one each.
“Here, drink this, just not too fast,” TK said, holding a canister.
Taking it, Morry thought she was dreaming about the weight. Staring inside, she could see the liquid sloshing around.
“Where did you get this,” Morry asked, thinking she must be having some sort of delusion.
TK sat down beside her. “Take a small sip, and I’ll explain.”
“Always with the negotiations,” she teased.
Hand shaking, she lifted it to her lips which felt like moving a mountain on her own, and she moaned as a bit of water touched her dry tongue. She didn’t even care that her lips were cracked and hurt with the touch. The water tasted that sweet.
“That’s enough for now,” TK said and took the canister from her. She wanted to growl at him and fight over the water, which told her exactly how dehydrated she was. She knew she needed to listen to him, or she would throw all that preciousness back up.
Shifting around, she sat on her ass and leaned her head against his shoulder as she took in the ragtag group that had managed to survive the race with death. The screams of those who died echoed in her head, and she jerked when a hand touched her shoulder. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but the fire was out, and everyone around them was quietly eating.
She couldn’t help wondering if they would ever talk or laugh again. It was always ‘remain as quiet as possible,’and everything was done or said in hushed tones.
Trev was kneeling in front of her, and TK held out one of the perfectly charred food offerings. She didn’t want to know what they were eating, and her stomach growled with the same understanding. It didn’t matter. You eat it, or you die.
“How much farther?” She hadn’t asked the question before, terrified to hear the answer.
Trev looked over his shoulder at the injured and then at the handful of civilians before shaking his head.
“Hard to say for certain, but I have enough fuel to move the civilians another half day, maybe, and then we are all back to our feet. I’m thinking someone else can drive tomorrow. I managed to rest my legs driving.” She nodded. “My best estimation, at the rate we are traveling, is three hundred and thirty-six hours. Make sure to drink more water and give me the canisters. I found a spot inside a narrow cave not far from here. Once it’s dark, I’ll sneak off and fill all the empty ones.”
“Thanks, Trev,” TK said as he popped a piece of meat into his mouth. “I know you don’t think we’ll get out of here alive.”
She turned her head to look at TK as he pulled the food apart and offered her pieces to eat.
