Tough Guy: A Hero Club Novel

by Jamie K. Schmidt

  “You’ve got nothing to worry about. The assault charges against you will be dropped and Leonidas and his boys won’t be around to bother you once the district attorney gets ahold of them.”

  I hadn’t been concerned about the assault charges. I had a good lawyer. As for Leonidas and the Rivs, well I guess that depended on how good their lawyer was.

  “Go get ‘em,” I said and turned away to look at the ruins of my bar again. When Grier had left the area, I closed my eyes. “I did it,” I said, wondering if Uncle Johnny was listening.

  Sitting down on a pile of rubble, I poked through the twisted metal hoping to find something that had survived. I wasn’t sure how long I sat there, but it was getting dark. I needed to get my head out of my ass and get a hotel room for the night. My back popped as I stretched. A car skidded to a stop and I immediately tensed for a fight. If they had a gun, I was toast, but if they only had knives, I was looking forward to getting out some aggression.

  “Miles,” Jackie said, coming around the car and running over to me.

  I met her halfway and hauled her up and out of the wreckage. “Are you out of your mind? I told you it wasn’t safe here. Get in the car.”

  Once we were driving away from Dalton’s, I didn’t know whether to yell at her or kiss her.

  “Don’t you yell at me about safe,” she said. “You didn’t tell me that you were a target too.”

  “Arrogance,” I said. Grabbing her hand, I put it up to my mouth. “I’m glad you didn’t go home.”

  “Actually, I did. And then Chance told me what happened, and I came back.”

  “Your jet lag must have jet lag,” I said.

  “I’m running on energy drinks and sugar. We’re going to have our week together, even if we have to leave the state to do it.”

  “I think I can find the time.” I leaned my head back on the headrest, content to let her drive us wherever she wanted to go. I didn’t care as long as I was with her.

  “Oh, Miles, your poor club.”

  Yeah, I was sorry to see it go too. “If it brings Uncle Johnny’s murderers to justice, it will all have been worth it. I have no idea what the hell I’m going to do now. I’m a little old to be jetting all over Europe to beat people up.”

  “You don’t have to think about that now,” she said. “We’re together and that’s all that matters.”

  It was a small bright spot that she and I seemed to be on the same page about that. “Jackie, I know we’ve only known each other a week and my life is a complete shitstorm right now, but I’m falling for you.”

  She gave a watery chuckle. “That’s good because I’m head over heels for you too.”

  “I don’t suppose you still have your reservation at the Wynn?”

  “As a matter of fact, I do. I wanted to make sure I’d be able to pay someone to go to my room and pack my things I left behind and mail them to New York for me.”

  “I could use a shower and to spend the rest of the night making love to you.”

  “That’s the best offer I’ve had all day.” At the next stoplight, she leaned over and kissed me. “However, we have to make a stop first. Have you eaten yet?”

  Now that she mentioned it, I was starving and not just for her delicious body. “I could eat.”

  “Do you like drag queens?

  Jackie Mitchell

  Chance was serenading Marilyn Monroe with his rendition of “Don’t Be Cruel” when we walked in. He saw us and did a final Elvis hip pivot for the crowd and waved us over to a booth.

  “Miles, how are you holding up?” They did the dude bro hug and we sat down.

  “I’m not sure.” Miles slung his arm over me, and I cuddled into him. “But I’m better because she’s here.”

  “I can see that.”

  The waitress came and we ordered a mountain of food. I made sure to order a pot of coffee. “And keep it coming.” There was no way in hell I was falling asleep before I got the full Miles Carvello treatment in my nice big bed in the Wynn.

  “Where’s the rest of the blokes?” Miles asked.

  “They’ve gone back home to ‘Straya,” he said. “I’m heading back to California. My sister Adele and my Mom need me.”

  “Is there anything I can do?” I asked.

  “Nah, it’s a family thing. You know how it is.”

  I did. “If you ever need anything, call me.”

  “I’ve got your number. I’m not going to lose it. Besides, I think me and your man here might be doing some business.”

  Miles looked up from his coffee. “Are you looking to hire a bouncer? I’ve got impeccable references.”

  “I’m looking to invest in some Las Vegas property.”

  Miles put his cup down.

  “I really liked Lisa’s show. Don’t get me wrong. I love strippers.”

  Strip-pahs.

  I loved his accent.

  “But the burlesque seemed so classy. It was sexy, sensual, and alluring. I think a club like that would make a killing where Dalton’s used to be.”

  “You want me to rebuild. Again.”

  “And this time, you’re not going to do it all by yourself,” I butted in. “You’re going to have Highway and the rest of the Dalton’s crew to help out. And me.”

  “You’re going to help all the way from New York?” Miles asked.

  “No. I’m moving to Las Vegas. I figure even if I don’t get a job being a showgirl, I can always try my hand at being an agent down here. And it’s not like I’m going to stop auditioning.” I’d get a part eventually and I would do it while helping Miles. I bit my lip. “That is, if you don’t think I’d get in the way.”

  “I have nothing to offer you. I’m homeless.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” I said.

  “I’m loaded,” Chance said. “Or at least well off enough to front you some money. We can do a fifty-fifty split. And if the place is successful, we can open one up in California. Or if you don’t want to be partners, you can buy me out.”

  “This feels like charity,” Miles said, scowling into his coffee.

  “It’s capitalism, you lunkhead.”

  Miles smirked. “Are you going to get up on stage and do a routine?”

  “I might. I might even make that a term of our agreement.”

  “I need a picture of this auspicious occasion.” Sliding out of my seat, I stepped back to get a shot of them.

  “Now you two,” Chance said, grabbing my phone.

  I wrapped my arms around Miles’s chest and let all my happiness show. New York Jackie was no more. Make way for Las Vegas Jackie.

  “You got a voice mail message, luv.” Chance handed me back my phone.

  “I hope it’s not your mother,” Miles groaned.

  “Oh, it’s that call from this morning.” I had completely forgotten about it. “Excuse me while I check it.”

  Miles and Chance lowered their voices and started to hammer out the details as I dialed into my voice mail.

  “Hi, this message is for Jackie Mitchell. This is Simi Pierce from the Odyssey casino. We were very impressed with your audition and we’d like to offer you a position in our show Travesty. Please call me at your earliest convenience.”

  I clamped my hand on Miles’s arm and squeezed tight. He broke off what he was saying. “Jackie, what’s wrong?”

  “I got the job. I’m going to dance in Travesty at the Odyssey.”

  Epilogue – One year later

  I was going to puke. “Lisa, where the fuck are my fans?”

  “Behind the sofa where you left them.”

  Lisa was in red and I was in black. We were dressed like flappers from the roaring twenties. I had a night off from Travesty and my sister and I were going to do the first number at Miles and Chance’s newly opened club, Uncle Johnny’s Burlesque Show. With Chance’s money and Miles’ connections, rebuilding had been a breeze. Of course, not having the pressure of the Rivs or any other gang activity might have helped as well. Shortly after I moved
in with Miles, Leonidas had been killed while out on bail. And after a few more strategic arrests, the Rivs faded into Las Vegas history like the casino they had named themselves after.

  “I can’t believe Mom isn’t backstage nagging us,” Lisa said.

  “I told Highway and Mav that it was their asses if she got past them.”

  Lisa and I had practiced this act for over a month in our spare time. She had choreographed it, and it was amazing. Because our father was also in the audience, Lisa and I wouldn’t be doing anything erotic. We were going to do a fan dance to some swinging jazz to warm up the crowd. Then there would be a comedian and more dancing. The good stuff didn’t happen until after midnight and I was hoping my parents would go back to the hotel long before that.

  “How are we doing, ladies?” Parker said, coming into the dressing room. He gave Lisa a kiss on the cheek and smiled at me. “You both look beautiful.”

  Lisa dragged him into a private corner to canoodle a bit and I gave them some privacy. Leaving my fans behind, I walked out into the club where the band was playing something slow and hypnotic. My parents were on the dance floor. I waved at my father and he gave me a thumbs-up.

  “Hey gorgeous.” Miles pulled me in for a kiss. “Nervous?”

  “No. You?”

  “It’s all good.”

  “I just wish Chance were here to celebrate. It’s not fair,” I said.

  “I know.” Miles hugged me. “He’d be here if he could. He said to tell you congratulations.”

  “For what? Not killing Lisa?”

  “I told him that congratulations might be premature, but he didn’t think so.” Miles handed me a small velvet box.

  “What’s this? Something to go with my flapper costume?”

  “If you want.”

  I opened it, expecting earrings. Or a hairclip. I hadn’t been expecting a diamond ring.

  “It’s . . . it’s . . .”

  “Jacqueline Aida Mitchell, I love you. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?”

  Miles slipped the marquis-cut diamond on my finger. It flashed in the soft light of the club and with the sequins of my dress. “Yes. Oh, Miles. Yes.”

  “Don’t cry. You’ll look like a raccoon.”

  I threw my arms around his neck. “I love you.”

  “You’re going to knock them dead tonight. Everyone is going to see you for the star that you are.”

  “How long until the show starts?” I asked, threading my fingers through his and leading him back to his office.

  “Long enough,” he said, huskily and locked the door behind him.

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