I drop heavily into my chair and check my Chase-Durer watch. Sarah should be already in the air.
“What’s on your mind, Prez?” Slider asks as he sits on the chair in front of me.
I feel uncomfortable every time he calls mePrez. He’s older than me and used to be my dad’s VP back then, before everything went south.
A story for another time.
Slider is a big, muscular man. His silver hair covers his entire head and the skin on his face shows the aftermath of a severe bout of chicken pox, something he mentioned a few years ago. He told me he couldn’t stop fucking scratching it.
“I need you to take care of things for a couple of days,” I instruct without looking at him. I’m searching online for Sarah’s flight on my cell.
“Done. Anything I need to be aware of?”
No.
Flight departed on time. That’s good.
I look at my VP and start my vague reply, “I have to help a friend, and that will take all my time. I don’t want this to interfere with club affairs. I’ll still be around just in case, but I need you to take point and be ready.”
I am not going to tell him anything about Sarah. That’s too much information for him, and information is power. No. That stays with me and pretty boy.
“You got it.”
I stand up and walk to my personal whiskey cabinet. I don’t have to offer him a glass, he hates whiskey, and I know it is too early for him to start drinking.
Well, I just lost a decent woman, who was perfect for my indecent life, so fuck it. Slider won’t judge me for this. He knows better.
“Oh, one more thing.” I return to my chair with a full glass of the amber liquid. “Remember that guy who caught your attention on the security cameras the other day during the party?”
“What about him?”
“He’s going to be around here more often. His name is Carter.”
“First-name basis? That’s new.” His eyes narrow. I’m just going to pretend I didn’t hear him.
“…and I want you to notify the rest of the guys about him. We’re working on this thing together, and I don’t want anyone wasting my fucking time, so tell everybody to leave him alone.”
“Understood. Anything else?” He nods in acceptance.
“No, we’re good.”
Slider stands up.
“Prez?”
I stop looking at my cellphone and switch to look at him.
“Whatever it is you are doing, is it worth it?”
Shit.
I can’t lie to my VP, but this is too complicated to explain, and I don’t have the time right now.
“Shut the door on your way out, please,” I say.
He nods then
shuts the door.
