Page 84 of Minus

“When we were on the phone, the night we left for Savannah,” I said.

Her cheeks flushed. “When my brother was there? Youheardthat?”

I smiled. “Of course. That was the end for me.”

She came in for another kiss, and I made sure to savor every moment with her. I couldn’t wait to get out of this fucking bed, and these fucking clothes, and throw her on the back of my bike and ride for miles. With Cricket by my side, and the Burning Saints behind me, I truly felt like there was nothing I couldn’t do. Cutter would be here soon, and we’d have some decisions to make, but for now I wanted to stay focused on Cricket.

“I can’t believe you caught that.” She sighed. “You should have seen the look on Hatch’s face.”

“I’d pay a million dollars to see video of that.”

“Speaking of…,” she looked around before continuing, “… a million dollars.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want to do with my salary money.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“I’m going to start a non-profit organization that takes in street kids and teaches them how to build and repair cars, trucks, and…”

“Motorcycles,” I finished.

“Yes,” she beamed. “And horses. I want to help the other Minuses and Clutches on the streets of Portland. To teach them a trade. Give them goals to strive toward. Teach them how to start their own businesses. How to take care of animals and land. Maybe it starts with fixing up bikes, and later we can add culinary classes, or who knows what else,” she said, waving her arms excitedly.

“I think it’s great, and as much as I hate to admit it once again, Cutter picked the right person to help turn this club around. I love you, Cricket Wallace, and I can’t wait to face the future with you.”

“I can’t wait to get you out of this bed and into yours, or mine, or whoever’s,” she said kissing me again.

“How about our bed?” I asked.

“Ours?”

“Let’s get a place together, of our own. I don’t have a place here in town, and I don’t want to stay at the Sanctuary. You’re just renting anyway—”

“Yes!” she exclaimed, showering my tender tomato of a face with kisses.

“Ow! Careful.”

“Sorry,baby,” she said, just as Cutter and Clutch walked in. Cutter looked much frailer than before we’d left for Savannah. I think the stress of everything was wearing on him and I wondered how much longer he’d be around. I was angry that the two of us couldn’t have figured out a better way to communicate earlier on. I felt like I had so much to learn still from Cutter, and I hoped I still could before it was too late.

“Get a fuckin’ room, you two perverts,” Clutch said, while assisting Cutter, who was now using his cane full-time.

“Thisismy room, dickhead!” I retorted.

“Yeah, well not for long ’cause we gotta get you outta here, pronto,” he said.

“What’s up?”

“Viper’s on the move,” Cutter said, taking a seat.

“A guy that does some jobs for Wolf told him he spotted him in Old Town last night. He was in civilian clothes, buthe had two huge dudes with him,” Clutch explained. “Since La Cuchilla’s failure at the Ranch, Viper had been laying low, and by that, I mean, dropped completely out of sight. Los Psychos club activity around Portland had also slowed to a crawl.”

“What the fuck would Viper be doing in Old Town?” I asked.

“I dunno, man. Maybe that’s the point. Hide out where no one would think to look.”

“Maybe,” I said. “We need to know more about Viper. I don’t like how in the dark we are about this guy’s life here in Portland. Our resources clearly aren’t good enough.”

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