Page 22 of Minus

“What’s with Santa’s workshop out there?”

Cutter smiled wide. “At some point last night, one of these kindhearted idiots realized that I might not make it to Christmas, so they brought Christmas to me, presents and all.”

“Hey, speaking of presents,” I began my protest. “About that Fat Boy—”

Cutter cut me off. “I was about to have Warthog drive me down to my favorite coffee place. Why don’t you come with me, so we can talk?” He turned to Clutch. “Do me afavor, will ya? Help get these guys up and outta here. Get some recruits to help you. Minus and I’ll be back in a while.”

Clutch shot me a “what the fuck” look, and I shrugged back in response.

I followed Cutter out to the back lot, where Warthog was waiting by a white Town Car.

“Still got a thing for Lincolns, I see.”

“Minus, the 1996 Town Car is the greatest American sedan ever built. Why would I ever want any other automobile?”

“How can I argue with such sound logic?” I replied.

“You seem a little more agreeable this morning. That’s good, because we have a lot to talk about. Ride in the back with me.”

I did as Cutter asked, and Warthog headed for Front Road, toward the Pearl District.

“Minus, you’re a smart young man. You figured any ofthisout yet?” Cutter asked.

“Which part exactly are you talking about? There are so many fucking crazy things going on right now I can barely keep up. I’m still not even sure what happened last night, let alone why you’d want me to wear your patch.”

“I’m not asking you to wear my patch. In fact, that’s the absolutelastthing I want.”

“Then, what’s all this bullshit talk about me running the club?”

“It’s true that I want you to be the next club’s president, but I want you to wearyourpatch and leaveyourmark. Look, I get that you’re pissed off about me sending you to Savannah, but I had my reasons. Some of those reasons I’m ready to share with you, but first I need to know if you’re with me or not.”

“Cutter, how the fuck can I be with you when you don’t even trust me?”

“You think I sent you away because I didn’t trust you?”

“You certainly didn’t trust me with Cricket!”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“The minute you found out that Cricket and I were serious,I was dead meat.”

“Oh, shit! You think I sent you away because of Cricket?” He and Warthog burst into laughter. “I kept the two of you apart to keep the peace with the Dogs of Fire, which is very important to me, but do you think I actually care about who you’re fucking?”

“You told me to never speak her name again and dangled me over the side of a fucking bridge!” I exclaimed.

“All beneficial in getting you out of town for sure, but I would’ve thought that you’d have figured out by now that your exile had nothing to do with Cricket.”

“Then, why send me to Savannah at all?”

“The same reason I do anything. For the good of the club. For your good, too, as a matter of fuckin’ fact.”

“Mygood? How the fuck do you figure you were doin’ me any favors?” I snapped.

Cutter smiled. “That’s a nice little drawl you’ve got there for a city slicker. I bet everyone around here figures you picked it up in Savannah, but I suspect it’s from spending all that time with Duke.”

“What the fuck do you know about Duke?”

“Who do you think sent you to him? You know he had you pegged within five minutes of meeting you. Looks like he wasn’t wrong.”

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