Tough Guy: A Hero Club Novel

by Jamie K. Schmidt

“That doesn’t sound like Miles,” Chance said. “He’s clean and hates the stuff. At least he did in ‘Straya.”

  “People change,” I said, drowning my sorrows in the iced coffee.

  “Tell me exactly what you saw.” Chance attacked his burger like he hadn’t eaten in weeks.

  “Miles and some other guy were leaving his office. The other guy was carrying some baggies. I saw pills and weed. He told Miles to call him if he got more of the good stuff.”

  “What was Miles doing?”

  “He was on the phone. I heard him say something along the lines that he had to grovel to someone.”

  “I can see why you thought a drug deal was going down, but there could be another explanation,” Chance said. “What did he say happened?”

  “I don’t know. I ran out of there.”

  “Has he called?”

  “Yeah.” I looked into my purse.

  “You owe it to him to hear him out.”

  “Why?” I said. I didn’t want him to lie, and worse I didn’t want to believe some half-ass story because I still wanted the bastard.

  “In all of the time I’ve known Miles, he’s never dated an exotic dancer. And I’ve seen them throw themselves at him.”

  That didn’t surprise me.

  “I’ve also never seen him come to personally escort a dancer who wasn’t in trouble out of a VIP room, so I’m going to go out on a limb and say I think you’ve gotten under his skin in a good way. And the way you’re feeling makes me think you’re in the same boat.”

  I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

  “He’s a good bloke. Give him a chance to explain what you saw. If you still want me to knock him around after, I’ll give it a go.”

  “That won’t be necessary.” I pulled out my phone. Three missed calls and two texts.

  Where are you? Why did you leave? and Call me.

  I showed them to Chance.

  “He’s a man of few words. Put the poor bastard out of his misery. Tell him you’ll be over after we’ve finished lunch.” He checked his phone. “Can you drop me off at the Rio first though? The boys are hitting the tables and I’m feeling lucky.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Miles Carvello

  Jackie’s text said she’d pick me up in front of Dalton’s in a half hour and then she didn’t pick up the phone or respond to any of my texts. I was trying not to be pissed, but it wasn’t working. Thirty minutes later on the dot, she pulled up in her rental car.

  “We’re taking my car,” I told her.

  She opened her mouth to argue with me, but must have seen the look on my face. “Fine.”

  Backing out of my parking spot, I gave her enough room to pull in and then waited for her to get in the car before ripping into her.

  “What the fuck was that all about?” I had preset the Moondust Cherry Ranch into the GPS, so I didn’t need to think about directions. I pulled into traffic and glared at her out of the corner of my eye.

  “Miles, are you selling drugs?”

  “The fuck?” I whipped a glance at her. “Is that what you think you saw?”

  “What did I see?”

  I shook my head and tried to put a simmer on my temper. Normally I wouldn’t tell anyone about Grier, but Jackie was leaving in less than two weeks. “That was an undercover cop trying to get a hold on the drug trade this side of the Strip. I’d appreciate it if you don’t mention that bit of information to anyone. It could literally cost him his life.”

  “That’s a convenient story,” she said.

  I shook my head. “You can believe me or not. I don’t give a fuck.”

  “I want to believe you,” Jackie said. She placed her hand on my arm. I shook her off, still too pissed at her to want her touch. I knew this was a bad idea. I should have gently tossed her fine ass out of my club instead of letting her shake it on stage and I definitely shouldn’t have fucked her over a desk. I should have taken my time with her in bed. Because that was all I could think about now. How it was all fucked up and it would have been so damn good.

  “You don’t have to take me to Pahrump,” she said quietly.

  I pulled over to the side of the road, amidst the blaring of horns. “Do you want me to go with you or not?”

  “Yes. Yes, I want you to come with me to Pahrump. Yes, I want to believe you’re not a drug dealer. And yes, I still want to fuck your brains out.”

  My lips twitched. “You couldn’t have led off with that last one?” And just like that the anger simmered down to a mild irritation. I got back on the road.

  “Here’s the thing,” Jackie said, and I couldn’t wait for what was going to come next. “We missed a few steps in our courtship. I’m not complaining, because I liked what happened. But I know nothing about you that hasn’t come from the Internet. How would I know you weren’t a drug dealer?”

  “Fair enough.” I shrugged. “The Internet has most of it. What holes do you want me to fill in?”

  “Are we still talking about sex? Because all of them.”

  “All?” I drawled. The day was looking up. Another notch of tension eased in my back. Maybe this situation wasn’t completely fucked up.

  “Why did you come back to Las Vegas? You looked like you were living the dream in Ibiza, London, and Mykonos.” Jackie kicked off her shoes and put her feet on my dashboard. “I bet you saw a lot of exotic dancers.”

  I swatted her feet down, avoiding the question. “That’s dangerous. If we get into an accident, your dance career is over.”

  “Danger is my middle name,” she said.

  “Is it?”

  “No it’s Aida. My mom gave us Broadway middle names. Lisa’s middle name is Pippin.”

  “You got lucky.”

  “One of the few perks of being born first.” Jackie eased the seat back. “Have you got a middle name?”

  “No. My parents weren’t too concerned with me. My uncle Johnny raised me for the most part. You would have liked him. He had a weird sense of humor and he loved blondes.”

  She was quiet for a moment. “When did he pass away?”

  “About two years ago. He died in a fire when some assholes burned down his club.”

  “That’s awful.” Jackie gasped and touched my arm again. This time I let her keep it there.

  “I rebuilt over the spot. Dalton was his last name. His place was called Uncle Johnny’s Gentlemen’s Club. Full nude. He didn’t serve alcohol. I worked there as a kid.”

  “Your parents didn’t mind?”

  “If it didn’t involve cards or dice, my parents didn’t care about much. I don’t even know if they’re still alive. I doubt it. They didn’t come to Uncle Johnny’s funeral.”

  “Have you ever tried to find them?”

  “I haven’t seen them in twenty years. I don’t even remember what they look like.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I couldn’t care less about them. It’s my uncle I want justice for. They never caught the people who set the fire. The cops didn’t even know where to start looking. The first thing I did when I got here was research the local gangs. That’s how I met Grier.”

  “Let me guess. You saved him from a beat down too.”

  I gave her a strange look.

  “Chance said you took a bottle in the arm for him.”

  “That was a long time ago.” I shrugged it off. “Anyway, the gangs were in a turf war. The cops figured Uncle Johnny’s was just collateral damage.”

  “What do you think?”

  “I think the bail bondsman and the pawnshop across the street weren’t touched because they paid protection. Uncle Johnny didn’t. I think the other places on the street laundered money or let the gang sell out of their stores. Uncle Johnny didn’t allow any shit in his bar. People were banned for life if they brought in drugs, prostitution or if someone started a fight. He had enemies. It could have been one of them.”

  “Do you have any trouble like that?”

  “Not so much. The local gang c
alls themselves the Rivs after the Riviera Casino that was torn down in 2015. Their leader, Leonidas, and I bumped heads a few years ago but I don’t think he was responsible for burning down my uncle’s bar.”

  “Why?”

  “At the time, he didn’t have the clout to pull it off. Nowadays, it’s not his style. He’s more a bullets and shanking type of guy.”

  “Do you think it was the mob?” Jackie asked.

  “Possibly, but not likely. Uncle Johnny’s had a small local following and he liked it that way. He wouldn’t have attracted the attention of the bigger families.”

  “It must be frustrating for you.”

  “I thought I’d have an answer by now, yeah. But I like my club. It’s nice to have a home of my own. Don’t get me wrong, traveling all over the world for ten years was great. But when I lost Uncle Johnny, all I could think of was that I should have been here. Maybe, if I had been, he wouldn’t have died.”

  “You don’t know that. You might have died with him.” Jackie’s voice caught.

  I gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m a lot tougher than I look. Anyway, I help Grier in his job, and he keeps an ear out. The trail grows colder each day, but I know one day I’ll get Uncle Johnny justice.”

  “I believe you,” she said, and leaned her head on my shoulder.

  “How did the audition go?” I asked.

  She sat up straight again. “It was awesome. I think I did okay. At least I didn’t embarrass myself. The combo was giving me a hard time, but I think I nailed it when I was up there by myself. Anyway, they’ll call if they’re interested—which means I’ll never hear from them again.”

  “Think positive.”

  “I’m positive I won’t get a callback. But it doesn’t matter. I did it and I’m glad I went.” She leaned over and kissed my cheek.

  “What’s that for?”

  “For putting up with my shit.” She gave me another. “That one’s for giving a shit about the audition.”

  “Like I told you, anytime.” I waited for a stop light, turned her face to mine, and kissed her lips.

  The honking told me the light had changed and I reluctantly pulled back. She seemed as breathless as me. Jackie chattered on about the dance routine and the choreography. It went over my head, but it made the drive go by easier. She helped me stop thinking of how I fucked up by letting my temper get to me when I fired Ginny, instead of playing smart and letting Grier handle it. Being with Jackie reminded me of the good times I had in Ibiza, when the worst problem I had was whether to wear my Bulgari watch or my Rolex. I had hocked both of them to pay rent on Dalton’s a year ago. I didn’t miss them, but I did miss cruising with a beautiful woman at my side.

  “Are you sure this is it?” Jackie asked as we pulled into the Moondust Cherry Ranch parking lot. It didn’t look like much from the outside, basically several double wide trailers linked together into a ring.

  “What were you expecting?”

  “Something a little fancier.”

  “They don’t need to be fancy on the outside.”

  I got out of the car and opened the door for her. I figured taking her to a chicken ranch lost me gentleman points, so I wanted to make up for it.

  “Have you . . . have you ever been here before?” she asked, looking up at me with her big green eyes.

  “No, but what you’re really asking me is if I’ve ever been to a brothel before, right?”

  “More like do you have a frequent fucker card.”

  She surprised a laugh out of me. “No. The last time I frequented a house of ill repute I was eighteen. I had just graduated from high school and that was my Uncle Johnny’s present to me.”

  “How . . . sweet?” Jackie said tentatively as we walked up to the front door. Sounds of loud bass lines and laughter drifted out through the door.

  I snorted. “I would have rather he’d given me the thousand bucks.”

  “A thousand?” She gaped at me. “What the hell did you get for that?”

  I had to think about it. “I got a hand job. A blow job. Body touching privileges and a quick lay.”

  “Did you order that off the menu?”

  “Yes,” I said seriously. “That’s how it goes. It took about an hour.”

  “A thousand bucks an hour sure beats two fifty.” Jackie inhaled a shaky breath.

  “I’m not sure how much the house cut is, but they also pay out to the taxi and limo drivers. I have no idea what the takeaway is. If Broadway didn’t like grinding in the VIP room, your sister would never do what these girls do all day.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Jackie wiped her hands on her skirt. “Dee said just to come in and ask for her.”

  “Don’t be nervous.” I gave her a quick hug. “I’m here. Whatever we find out, we’ll handle it together.”

  She buried her face in my chest and gripped me tightly. “I’ve never had someone say that to me. I’ve always had to handle Lisa’s bullshit on my own. I can’t tell you what it means that you’re here with me.”

  Leaning in to whisper in her ear, I gave her earlobe a quick nibble. “Besides, you might enjoy yourself.”

  “I’m not expensing a grand in a whorehouse. I’m pushing the limit to what my mother is going to reimburse me for, as it is.” With a deep breath, she pushed away. “Okay, let’s find out what fuckery my sister has got herself into now.”

  “That’s the spirit.”

  I rang the doorbell and slung my arm around her. “Don’t leave my side.”

  “You can bet your sweet ass I won’t.”

  The madam opened the door. She had platinum blond hair that was pulled back into a severe bun. She was dressed in a conservative suit and her welcoming smile faded when she saw Jackie. “Couples night out?” she asked.

  “Dee told us to come by,” Jackie said, holding on to me for dear life.

  The madam’s face brightened a bit and she stepped away from the door. “Come in then. I’ll check her availability.”

  I think Jackie would have rather waited on the doorstep, but I ushered her inside. In the parlor area women in various state of undress draped themselves over men or burgundy red velvet couches. Jackie was the only nonworking girl there.

  A woman dressed up like an angel came up to us and smiled. “Are you looking for a party?”

  “We’re here for Dee,” I said when Jackie just gawked.

  “I’m Angelique.” She trailed a finger down my shirt. “If you change your mind, I’ll be in the bar.” She gestured behind her. In the bar was a wide-screen television playing a porno. There were men with women on their laps. Others were playing pool, and some were drinking and staring at the movie intently.

  “This is super awkward,” Jackie said.

  The bell rang again, and I pulled Jackie away from the door. “Let’s sit down.” I picked one of the couches that faced away from the bar and hauled her on my lap. She settled in with a dazed expression on her face. Leaning in, she whispered in my ear, “Do they think we’re going to have a threesome with Dee?”

  “Yes. And I’m pretty sure we’re going to have to pay for Dee’s time.”

  “That bitch,” Jackie gasped. “I figured we’d talk to her between shifts.”

  “It doesn’t look that way. Let me negotiate.”

  “Don’t let her screw us.” Jackie snorted when she realized what she’d said.

  The madam had let in a group of men in cowboy hats and boots, wearing rodeo shirts. She pressed a buzzer and the unattached women lined up. More girls came from the back rooms. They were dressed in everything from lingerie to black latex to fetish costumes. The cowboys each picked a girl and went off with them down various hallways. The other ones worked the room.

  Angelique circled back around to us, her wings dragging on the floor and dropping white feathers.

  “I think she’s molting,” Jackie muttered in my ear.

  “Dee’s going to be about another fifteen minutes. I could warm you up if you want. We could have a lot of
fun.”

  “Can we talk?” Jackie said.

  “Oh honey, I’m a great listener. Why don’t we go to my room and see if we can come to an arrangement?”

  Jackie looked at me and I shrugged. “It’s your money.”

  “I like an independent woman.” Angelique smiled and led us out of the parlor.

  “Do you know what you’re doing?” I muttered to her.

  “It’s just like the VIP room. We’re going to get hustled for drinks and I’m going to get some information.”

  “Okay.” I was either the luckiest guy in the world or the biggest idiot for letting her do this.

  Angelique didn’t bring us into her bedroom, like I’d thought she would. It was more of a waiting room with couches and a thick shag rug. There was a coffee table with various plastic wrapped sex toys. Jackie sat next to me on the couch while Angelique sank to the floor at our feet. She handed Jackie a laminated menu and I glanced over. I hid a grin when I saw that it was a list of services and prices. Jackie gently set it on the table and said, “How much to just ask some questions?”

  “A hundred dollars for fifteen minutes. Just talk. No touching.”

  “Deal,” Jackie said and went to shake her hand. “Oh right, no touching.” Pulling her arm back, she dug into her purse and handed Angelique a hundred-dollar bill.

  “Thank you. I’ll be right back. Can I get you something to drink?”

  “A Diet Coke?” Jackie asked.

  “Nothing for me.” I needed to keep my wits about me.

  “Where’s she going?” Jackie asked.

  “To log in the money.”

  Jackie nodded and within five minutes Angelique was back with a Diet Coke. Jackie gulped about half of it down. “Thanks,” she said. “Do you know Lisa Mitchell? She might be going by the name Broadway. She was bartending here a few weeks ago.” Out came Lisa’s headshot.

  “Oh yeah, I remember her. She got pissed off that she wasn’t making what she thought she should in tips. Cheri tossed her out on her ass after a week.”

  “Who’s Cheri?”

  “She’s the madam and no she won’t talk with you. She’s too busy.”

  “Do you know where Lisa went?”