Page 51 of Minus
“I’m aware,” he said, as he slipped out of me and headed to the bathroom.
“I can’t just run off to Savannah, Jase. I have a job.”
I heard the toilet flush, then he walked back into the room. “It’ll only be for three or four days. In fact, why not take the whole week off, we can spend some time getting to know each other while I take care of wrapping up some loose ends back home.”
I watched him walk toward me, my body wanting him all over again. “Idohave a shit ton of vacation and no critical meetings next week.”
He climbed back onto the bed, hovering over me, running his tongue over a nipple, before kissing the sensitive spot just above my collarbone. I reached up to run my hands over his beard.
“So?” he prompted.
“Yes, Jase, I’ll go to Savannah with you.”
He grinned, kissing me deeply. “I’ll make all the arrangements.”
“I like that.”
He chuckled and kissed me again, then he showed me just how much he appreciated my answer.
Minus
The Portland SaturdayMarket was started in the seventies, right around the time many of the area’s biggest clubs were just beginning to get organized. The Burning Saints were among these “early settlers,” and still put a high value on the people and places that continue to make Portland what it is.
The market was a maze of vendors and artisans that was set up and torn down every Saturday during the spring and summer months. Families could easily mix in with the hippies and freaks of Portland and enjoy live music, as well as demonstrations aboutorganic, free-range, non-GMO, artisanal Christmas tree farming, or whatever the local college kids were currently fired up about. All the area clubs viewedthe market as neutral territory. A safe public place where parties could meet openly without hassle.
Cutter and I arrived at Ankeny Square ten minutes early to find Viper and Crush waiting.
“Well, at least he showed up,” I said as we approached the designated meeting spot. More importantly, I noticed two black canvas duffle bags at Crush’s feet. I hoped this meant the money was here, and the meeting would be smooth sailing. However, if the bags didn’t contain our money, I wasn’t sure if the market was going to remain a blood-free zone for much longer.
Viper smiled wide and extended his arms as we approached. “Mr. Cutter, it’s so nice to finally meet you. My name is—”
“I know who the fuck you are,” Cutter snapped. “Now give me my money and tell me why we’re here.”
“You are a man who gets straight to the point. I like that,” Viper said.
“And, from what I’ve seen,youaren’t, so let’s cut the shit,” I said.
He focused on me. “Mr. Minus, it’s so nice to see you again. I was hoping it would be you that accompanied Mr. Cutter today. I found you so…amusinglast time we spoke.”
“Yeah. I’m a real laugh fuckin’ riot.” I raised an eyebrow. “You said you wanted five minutes of Cutter’s time, so how ’bout you hand over those bags and we can start the clock.”
“Right down to business it is, then.” Viper motioned to Crush, who picked up the bags and dropped them clumsily at my feet. His eyes remained locked on me the entire time.
“You keep those eyeballs pinned on me like that, and I’ll roll ’em to the back of your head for you,” I said.
“Try me,” Crush ground out, before rejoining Viper.
“You’ll find that all your money is there,” Viper said. “As promised, I didn’t touch a single dollar. You can look it’s all there.”
Cutter carefully unzipped one of the bags.
“It’s alright, there are no tricks or tracking devices.”Viper held his hands up in surrender. “I’m returning your money, just as I found it.”
“‘Found it’ is a funny way to put it. Personally, I thinksteal’sa bit more accurate, don’t you? So, tell me why you stole my money, only to give it back?” Cutter asked.
“To show you that I could, Mr. Cutter. To prove to you that whatever you possess, can be mine if I so desire.”
“You hired a crew to steal a fucking Cadillac that had my money in the trunk. That doesn’t make you a criminal mastermind,” Cutter replied.
