Note: This is why we can't have nice things.
Jericho watched Emily walking away, admiring her ass again. Hell, he couldn't help it. That was his ass, now. No matter what she said about it. He'd earned it, playing up all nice-like, cajoling her to give him another chance. He wasn't gonna be that nice, ever again.
It hurt when she suggested he might be lonely―fucking Christ was he ever, but couldn't tell her that. She might get ideas, ideas like maybe she could manipulate him. Maybe if he hadn't had to fight her, to get her back for fucking with him, he might be willing to be her daddy. But not now. Not now that she thought she could set the rules.
The stupid bitch, thought she was the best fucking pussy in the world. Not like he couldn't get any pussy he wanted, anytime he wanted. Wasn't the point. He knew how to play her little game, and he'd gone slow with her in the beginning. Slow because she was young enough to be his goddamn granddaughter and because he figured she wouldn't want to run after some old fucker unless she was desperate or got a taste of the goods.
She'd had her taste, and she was desperate. Didn't seem like she liked it, on the outside. Hah, but he'd gotten her good. She'd come back, running. Maybe she would beg again. Made him hard, to think about her wanting him like that. She needed someone like him. To keep her stupid slut ass in line.
He watched until she'd gone up the hill and was out of sight, probably going to look for that dumbass sheriff. That was something he was gonna have to be real firm about, no matter what the fucking asshole said. Him and Emily were gonna be just fine, from here on out. She'd get her shapely ass taken care of and he'd get his, whenever he fucking felt like. She could fight it, if she wanted, she liked doing that. He'd heard her arguing with that goddamn zombie, he knew how she was. Starting fights because she like to pick at people.
Jericho's head turned to look at this young man sitting at the counter of the Brass Lantern, eating his food all casual-like. Acting like he hadn't just insulted Emily, like she didn't mean nothing to him. Oh, she meant something. He knew. She didn't act like she was worried or play all polite if she wasn't trying to hide that something had gone on with them two.
He moved to the counter, looked up at Jenny and motioned her over. "You go make sure I get my steak well-done," he said, pointedly, palming her a handful of caps. "You know what I like."
Jenny shot the other a glance and disappeared into the building. Probably would come back out with Andy, after a minute or two. Jericho knew that bastard had no love for anything about this shit heap. Particularly no love for some washed up old ex-raider who'd tried his luck at his little sister and gotten a nutshot and a black eye for his troubles.
Jericho chuckled. Stupid cowboy sheriff was the only thing that saved his life, that night. Kept Andy from killing him when he found him with his hands all over Jenny. The sheriff had it right, left him to his own devices after that. Hadn't spoken to him on a professional level until Emily spent the night in his shack.
Then it was all, "You broke her goddamn nose, you mangy piece of shit" and "If I see Emily with any new bruises after this, you'll be leaving with a hole in your head, and by leaving I mean being buried somewhere no one knows but me".
Jericho snorted. She'd better be fucking telling that asshole that she wasn't sleeping in his fucking house. That shit wouldn't fly. Not with him. Not with that stupid cowboy telling him he was as good as dead if he so much as looked at her.
Two could play at that game. He was too old to miss this chance. Had to protect the investment, like he told the stupid bitch.
Jericho turned to face the black man. What'd she call him, Irving. Fuckin' stupid name. "I ain't gonna tell you more than once," he said, threateningly. "You stay the fuck away from Emily."
"...You do realize that she doesn't want you?" the little shit said, without looking over. "She seemed pretty clear about that."
"Fuck you know what she wants," Jericho said, smacking a hand on the counter. "You stay the fuck away from her. She ain't none of your business."
Irving chuckled, and examined his spoon, looking closely at the things in his soup. "Well," he said, in a knowing tone, "you know how she is. I can't make any promises."
Jericho's hand shot out and knocked the spoon right out of his hands. He grabbed the little shit around the collar and pulled him awkwardly to the side. "I'll make sure she don't go anywhere fuckin' near you. If I catch you around her―" He flicked the man in the nose with a grimy finger, making him blink in surprise. "You won't be so fuckin' pretty once I gouge your goddamn eyes out!"
The idiot just stared at him. Jericho moved his face closer, curling his lip at the man. Irving coughed and gagged a little, then covered his mouth. "No wonder," he muttered, from under his hand. "No wonder she never wanted me." His eyes fell.
Jericho spat a laugh in the man's face. Oh, now he got it. Nothing went on between them two but some idiot boy following her around and making her life difficult. Emily had been nervous because she didn't want this fucking puppy following her. She was all cold heart when dealing with him, took off as soon as she could.
"You ain't fucked her?" Jericho shoved him back onto his stool and slapped the counter top, laughing. "She's about the easiest fuckin' cookies in the world and you ain't even gotten a hand in that jar? Fuck!" He grinned at the revelation. "Guess I don't gotta worry about you, after all." He turned around and leaned backward onto the counter, letting his laughter fade away.
The man stared at him, blankly. "I wouldn't worry, if I were you. About Emily." His voice grew more and more dangerous as he spoke. "You should be worried, though. About me."
"Bullshit ain't gonna get you very far, kid," Jericho said, shaking his head.
"We'll see." Irving stood up and moved away from the counter.
"You better fuckin' listen to me, you little shit! Stay the fuck away from her!" Jericho called out, as he left. Fuckin' idiot. Jericho kept shaking his head. Retarded little asshat!
About an hour later, Jericho woke up from a nap and left house to go find Emily. His knees popped when he got out of bed, anymore. It was fucking annoying, knowing how old he was getting. Fucking annoying to think he couldn't keep himself from getting that way. To keep himself from needing a stupid nap because he was so fucking old.
He remembered being young. He was a ruthless little shit, a lot like Emily, whoring it up and being unrepentant about killing bastards. Except everyone else had been a bastard and he was only out for the money that kept him in booze and pussy. Didn't give a shit about the girls, they were just there for the ride. Something he learned to appreciate, now that he was older and couldn't run half as fast as he used to. Or stand as straight, even. He was tough, but he was fucking old.
And hell, it was in his name. Who cared what his name had been, before. Goddamn bible thumpers up in the church gave him a new one when he got his ass into town and tried to make himself behave. Mother Maya said he was as enduring as the fucking walls of Jericho, whatever the fuck that meant. He didn't go back, after they'd helped get him his house. Gave him a place to sleep until he had another, and he didn't even fucking care about them after that.
Didn't fucking need 'em. He had what he wanted, now. Now needed to get that, and bring her home. Bring her home and lay into her across the table again, make her behave.
The sun was starting to set and the town losing color as the light failed, and he walked 'round the sheriff's place. Simms wasn't out running around, so he must be at home, and chances were Emily was in there with him. Jericho stood outside the house for a few minutes, trying to figure out what to say so he didn't get that stupid cowboy all riled up.
He knocked on the door and Simms answered it. "Something going on?" the man asked, crossing his arms and staring at him. "Or is this a social call."
Aw, hell, he already had his hackles up. Jericho breathed out, slowly, trying not to get uppity. "She told you we made up, right," Jericho said. "So, I'm behavin'. Gimme a minute with her."
"I was made aware that an agreement was reached," Simms said, blandly. "You want to talk to my deputy, Jericho? We're eating dinner."
"Yeah, I fuckin' wanna talk to her," he said, getting testy. "It's important."
Simms shut the door slowly, and it was a few minutes before Emily stepped outside, staring at him.
"What do you want?" she asked, angrily. "I'm in the middle of an awkward dinner and I'd rather get it over with as quickly as possible."
"Don't you pull that shit with me," Jericho said, grabbing her elbow and pulling her away from the door. Simms might be listening through the holes in the walls, for all he knew. Probably was watching, at any rate. "Did you tell the cowboy that you ain't stayin' here?"
"I―" She sighed and rolled her eyes. "No."
"Don't you fuckin' listen?" Jericho growled. "I told you―"
Emily pulled her elbow out of his grip, staring at him. "I haven't been able to talk to Simms about it, yet," she said, sullenly. "Look, if I tell him you want me to―whatever it is, you want―I can kiss any hope of keeping this job. I really need this, Jericho."
"You don't need nothin' but me," he said, moving his hand down to her ass and grabbing a handful of flesh, pulling her closer. "You go and tell him you quit that fuckin' deputy shit."
"No," she said. She moved away from him, putting a hand on his chest. "No, I want to do this. Besides, I promised―"
"What, you think you're gonna be hotter shit if you got some power?" Jericho snorted, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her closer. "Nah. Nah, this is bullshit, you're comin' to my place, you know you are."
"Jer―" Emily narrowed her eyes at him and looked at his hand on her wrist. "You think it's a good idea to start that shit again? We'll both be out on our asses if you don't knock it off."
"Fine," Jericho said, releasing her. "But you tell that asshole that you're not sleepin' here, and you won't be, ever. I ain't havin' it."
"When the hell did I say we were a couple?" Emily put her hands on her hips. "You said we could have something, but I didn't agree. I just told you I'd give you a chance! I didn't say I'd move into that dump you call home!"
"You wanna go over this again? I fuckin' told y―" Jericho's head jerked around as the door to Sheriff Simms' house opened.
"Emily," Simms said, leaning in the doorway. "You going to be much longer?"
"I'm done here," she said, coldly, and moved back toward the house. "Good night, Jericho. I'll see you around."
They went into the house and left him out in the dark.
Oh, she was fucking playing with him, again. Jericho's eyes lowered into angry slits and he ground his teeth. She was fucking with him, again, and this time―
This time, when he got her alone in his shack, she wasn't gonna be leaving alive.
He stomped off without another thought.