Page 154 of Still Bruised
“Then I’ll meet you outside,” Rick said to Foster.
“No, you’re not doing it there, either,” the guy said to Rick.
“Butt the fuck out,” Rick roared.
The assistant chief wasn’t having it. “I think you’ve said all you need to say on this matter. Let it go.”
“And I’m supposed to listen to you, why?” Rick asked him.
“Had I been in town back then, I would’ve served you your ass for what you did. By all means, give me a chance to do it now.”
Rick laughed. “I didn’t do anything to anybody.”
The man eyed his firefighters. “And for youse who were there when it went down and did nothing? I’m ashamed of you all.” He looked back at Rick. “You might’ve had them scared of you back in high school, but lemme tell you something. No one’s afraid anymore. Not of an unemployed wife beater.”
“I didn’ttouchher,” Rick snapped.
“And you’re not gonna touch her anymore. Or anyone else. Not without dealing with me,” the assistant chief said. “So what’ll it be? We playing tonight or are you going to march your ass home to daddy?”
Rick lunged at the assistant chief—who didn’t budge. Rick looked a bit confused by that. He was likely accustomed to folks backing off. Instead, he was the one backing off. He changed course, charging Jude next, but Foster tackled him to the ground first.
Foster snagged him by the hair, shoving his face into the floor. “You touch Jude, you die.”
Rick chuckled. “Awww… isn’t that sweet? Are you protecting your little boyfriend?”
“Something I should’ve done a long time ago,” Foster said. “Leave him be, Rick. It’s time to drop this bullshit.”
“Fine… fine,” Rick said, his body going slack. “I know when I’m beat.”
Foster jumped to his feet, watching Rick close. He knew Rick was an idiot who would refuse to give up—not before he got the last word. As expected, he went after Jude again.
Foster leapt to stop him.
But Jude took his shot instead. He used that left hook of his and knocked Rick on his ass. Not just on his ass—but out cold.
“Fucking asshole,” Jude growled, shaking his hand.
Aaron ran over and checked Rick.
Foster moved closer to Jude. “Ready to go?”
“No,” Jude said. “I’m not running away this time. He’s going to stop, or I’m going to stop him.”
Smelling salts were brought out to rouse Rick. When he came to, he freaked and roared to his feet.
“You crossed the line, Margulies!”
The entire fire team—except for Aaron—stepped between Rick and Jude.
“It’s over,” the assistant chief said.
“He assaulted me!”Rick screamed. He pulled out his phone. “I’m calling the cops. I’ve got a roomful of witnesses.”
“I didn’t see shit,” the assistant chief said. He looked around him. “Did anyone else see Jude assault Rick?”
A chorus of nos sounded around them.
Rick spun to Aaron.“Yousaw it.”
