“She’s not a human being,” Cutter countered. “She’s a genetic splice. She has human DNA, but she’s half-animal, too. You have to remember that. From what I understand, she was made and sold illegally. She doesn’t even have rights under the AIR Act. She technically isn’t even supposed to be breathing our fine Alabama air this evening.”
“Well, she is, and she will continue to as long I’m breathing it too!” Tiger felt his face flush as he drew himself, posturing defensively.
“See, now there you go!” Cutter pointed at him. “You’re getting all worked up and ready to take on the whole damned world just cuz I pointed out the obvious. Frosty, my brother, frosty!”
“You don’t know her!” he shot back. “She’s not an animal!” Still, he suddenly felt foolish for letting Cutter get him riled up so easily.
“No, I don’t know her,” Cutter switched to a more placating tone. “I’m not even doubting what you’re telling me. I’m sure she’s a real charmer, but the truth of the matter, my old friend, is that there are people in town who have come to kill her. It’s what they do. Eventually, they will succeed. And more than likely, Mister Hero, if you stay the course you’re on now, they’ll kill you too. The odds are in their favor, and you know it. They came close last night. They may’ve already killed Jocko. How long before you run out of luck? Hmmm?”
Tiger looked away but said nothing. What could he say? As bad as he hated to admit it, his criminal friend was right. It was a no-win situation.
Cutter continued, “You need to think about what’s best for everyone involved. The people that want her, they’re powerful, they can protect her from the likes of these bounty hunters. They can keep her alive a lot better than you can. And have you thought of what these people would do to Lulah, or God forbid, her kids, if they found out they could get to you through her?”
Tiger sighed wearily. “Yes, Cutter, I have. I’m not a complete fool.”
“Then do the smart thing for once in your life. Take the money, become a rich man, hang up your spurs, and ride off into the sunset with the woman you love.”
“Oh yeah, happily ever after,” Tiger smirked. “You forgot one thing … I’m now a fugitive. Gonna be hard to spend all that money when I can’t show my face in public.”
“You hurt me, man, hurt me bad.” Cutter’s shoulders drooped as he clutched his chest, feigning great heartache. “Y’know … I didn’t get where I am today by leaving loose ends.” A sly smile crept back onto his face. “Like I said, these folks carry a lot of clout. I have their assurances that if you deliver the vixen, not only will you be a wealthy man, but they’ll see to it that any and all charges against you will be dropped. You won’t even have a parking ticket on your record when they’re done.”
Tiger rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “You sure do make a guy an offer he can’t refuse.”
“Yeah, and I won’t make it again.” Tiger could tell he meant it. “So whaddaya say? Wanna start a new life or not?”
Tiger turned away from Cutter’s image. On his shoulders, angels and demons now waged full-scale war. To do this would go against everything he believed, but it also would allow him the opportunity he’d so desperately desired for the last ten years: a second chance with Lulah.
He turned his head to talk over his shoulder to Cutter. “Gimme a couple of hours. I wanna think this through.”
“Tiger, liste—” Cutter started to protest but was cut off by Tiger.
“Two hours! I just wanna know I’ve thought this through, and I’m doing the right thing. I think that’s fair enough!”
Cutter knew it was going to be a waste of time to argue anymore about it. And time was of the essence. “Ok. Two hours.”
“I’ll call you.” With that, Tiger hung up on the man. He exhaled deeply and felt his legs suddenly go wobbly. He couldn’t remember a time when he had a tougher decision to make. He knew he needed that money, but deep down, he just didn’t trust that Cutter was on the up and up. The man could care less about what happened to Amber once he got his money. For all Tiger knew it could be a trap, a setup to deliver her right into the hands of her assassins. Was Cutter capable of that? For a million-plus points? Of course, he was.
He needed to sit. He felt sick. Staggering, he made his way over to the small sofa and plopped down on it. Shielding his eyes from the light, trying desperately to lessen the intensity of the headache that he now had, he didn’t even bother to look up.
“How long you been standing there?” he asked.
“Long enough,” Lulah replied. It was that tone of voice she always had when he disappointed her.
***
Miles away, atop Monte Sano, in a large, palatial estate that would’ve made Ollie’s mansion look like Uncle Mud’s old modular home, Cutter hung up. He turned back to the small group of people that had been observing the conversation just out of frame.
“So?” asked a well-dressed man lounging on a leather sofa, his legs crossed, a crystal tumbler filled with scotch and water dangling from his long, slender fingertips. “You think he’ll bite?”
Cutter shrugged. “Hard to say. Tiger’s never been the mercenary type.” He looked to Frost, who stood nearby, peering out the large picture window that offered a panoramic view of the city. “No offense to present company.”
“None taken,” Frost replied politely, letting the barbed remark slide. He detested having to deal with low-lives like Cutter Hawkins, but in his line of work, it was sometimes a necessary evil.
“I bet he’s never been offered that kind of money,” Cee
