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“Leo’s old place?”

“That’s the place! I swear that’s all I know. It was supposed to be a simple job. Snatch the Caddy and bring it back here for the pickup. I didn’t know anything about Cutter’s money being in the trunk, or that you were involved Minus.” Phil’s attention turned to me. “Last I heard you moved to Texas or something.”

“I’m not involved, so leave me the fuck out of this,” I said.

I’d always hated Phil. He was a piece of shit and I couldn’t wait to get out of his garage. Besides being a car thief, a profession I detested, Phil was also a loan shark and a meth dealer. The exact sort of bottom feeder I’d tried to protect my club from years ago.

Phil continued, “I know Cutter and I have had our disagreements lately… and that mistakes have been made. Like I said, I didn’t know it was his money and I willpersonallyapologize to Cutter myself.”

“Don’t worry, Phil, I’ll let him know how sorry you were.”

The sound of Clutch’s silenced .45 was still loud enough to startle me. Phil’s body, now two holes greater, lie on his office floor in a heap, a pool of blood rapidly forming underneath his lumpy frame.

Clutch simply holstered his gun and shrugged.

“What the fuck, man?” I shouted

“Cutter wanted him gone,” Clutch said flatly. “He’s got plans for this place, and Phil was getting sloppier and sloppier.”

“You didn’t want to clue me in? What the fuck are we gonna do with the body?”

“You worry too much Minus, you always have. I’ve got a cleaning crew on standby. Cutter wants this all taken care of right away. We’ve got to get to the Sanctuary. Plus, now we’ve gotta find out who this Viper prick is.”

“No,youneed to find out more about Viper,” I snapped back. “I’m here for a meeting with Cutter and that’s it. Twenty-four hours and then I’m headed back to Savannah. In fact, as far as anyone else is concerned. I’m not even here.”

“Yeah, well your plans may have just changed,” he said, bringing his phone to his ear.

“Yes, I called earlier about a bad stain in my carpet,” Clutch said. “That’s correct, the one located in my hallway. I’d like to have a crew come out right away please. Thank you.”

He hung up and we made our way out through the back entrance, to his Barracuda parked in the rear lot. As we got in, Clutch said, “Ya know, you still haven’t told me exactly why you’re back in town.”

“Yes, I did. Cutter called me and asked me to meet with him, so here I am.”

“I understand that, butwhy?” he asked as we peeled off into the night. “Everyone here thought you were swallowed up by some swamp, as the late great Phil so astutely pointed out.”

“Astutely?” I choked out, surprised by his word choice.

“Hey, motherfucker, I read some of those books you sent me when I was in the joint. Anyways, don’t change the subject. Why the fuck are you here?”

“I told you I have no idea, and I wouldn’t lie to you. Now, slow down, will ya? The last thing we need is for your dumb ass to get pulled over for speeding while fleeing a murder scene.”

Clutch, ignoring my request, continued his interrogation, “Don’t get cute with me, bro. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems a little odd that you’re so casual about meeting with aguy you haven’t spoken to directly in eight years, who exiled you to Hicksville USA, and that… Oh yeah, once tried to kill you!”

“Look, you know Cutter as well as I do,” I said. “He never makes a move without good reason.”

“Still doesn’t make a damn bit of sense.”

“Look, Cutter has his reasons for asking me here, and I have my reasons for saying yes.”

“Is one of those reasonsher?” Clutch challenged.

“Who?” I asked, knowing damn well who he meant.

Clutch laughed. “So, sheisone of the reasons.”

“Fuck you, Nicky.”

“That’s not a no.”

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