Page 12 of Minus

“Cutter’s dying.”

Hatch took a deep breath. “Yeah, I know.”

I met his eyes in surprise. “You do?”

He nodded. “Come on, let’s talk inside.”

I followed him into the family room where his wife, Maisie, was curled up on the sofa with my niece, Poppy, watching a movie.

“Aunty Cricket!” Poppy said, jumping up. “Oh my gosh, you look so cute.”

I grinned. She always said that. It didn’t matter what I was wearing… case in point, tonight I wore jeans and a T-shirt, with my favorite Converse Hi-Tops. Nothing special at all. “Thanks, honey. What are you watching?”

“Princess Diaries.”

“Good choice.”

Poppy nodded. “It’s Mum’s favorite.”

I adored Poppy. She was, without a doubt, my favorite human being on the planet. Despite being a teenager, she didn’t have that angsty bitch thing goin’ on. She was genuinely sweet and had a knack for seeing the best qualities in people.

“How are you, love?” Maisie asked. “How’s work?”

“I’m good. Work’s great.” Maisie was the former owner of Mann Industries, the company I currently worked for. She got me the job before selling it and I had been promoted to the position of marketing manager. As happy as I was to be finally using the degree I’d earned, I can’t say I found too much satisfaction in my current day-to-day work life. Mostly, I was trying to parlay the experience gained through my current position to launch my own business. I just wasn’t exactly sure what market I wanted to focus on. I was profoundly grateful for my job, but there was an itch for adventure left unscratched in my life that was becoming harder for me to ignore.

“Cricket and I are gonna talk a bit,” Hatch said. “You beautiful ladies finish your movie.”

“Okay, darling,” Maisie said, kissing him.

“Say goodbye before you go, okay Aunty Cricket?” Poppy said.

“Of course,” I said, and followed Hatch downstairs to the swanky finished basement. It was an expertly designed space, decorated with antique mid-century modern furniture and artwork.

“You want a beer?” Hatch asked.

“Maybe later.”

“How did you find out about Cutter?” Hatch asked as we flopped onto the sofa.

“He summoned me.”

Hatch raised an eyebrow. “Summoned you?”

“What else do you call it when you’re called to see the king?”

“Called to see him? As in, at the Saints’ compound?” he growled. “And you went?”

I nodded.

He scowled. “Which Dog did you take with you, so I know whose ass to chew?”

“I went alone,” I said plainly.

“Alone?”he asked, angrily.

I raised my hand and shook my head. “Grown woman here, big brother. I can handle myself and I don’t need a chaperone. Besides, none of the Saints would ever lay a finger on me, and you know it.”

“Goddammit, Cricket. The compound’s off-limits. I’ve made that perfectly fucking clear.”

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