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“No doubt.” He hesitantly let me go, and I took a deep breath and walked inside.
Immediately, I knew I was in my haven. A welcome back banner was hanging up, and a cake was waiting at my counter. Crissy stood next to it happily, and a few of my regulars were here, including Ward. I hugged them all and tried not to mess up my mascara too badly. It was the start of a great shift. We had new books in, and I couldn’t wait to get caught up on the inventory.
We had coffee and cake around midnight and closed everything down at three a.m. Then it was time to clean up and put stuff away. I avoided the trash until everything else was done and there was nothing else to do. I grabbed it, went out the front door, and a man I’d seen before greeted me. He worked at Smoothe.
“Everything alright?” I asked.
“Yup, just here to handle my extra responsibilities.”
“What’s that?” I asked as I walked down the alleyway to put the trash inside. He followed, helped to lift the top trap so I could throw it in, and then walked back to the steps with me.
“Make sure you’re safe. I’ll be back in an hour to walk you down to Smoothe.” He waved before he turned around and walked away.
“They’re in big trouble later,” I mumbled to myself as I walked inside.
We finished up, and just like he said, he was outside waiting for me.
“What’s your name?” I asked him as we walked.
“Ronnie.”
“Well, Ronnie, what’s your actual job?”
“Security. I make sure that nothing happens that shouldn’t.”
When we walked inside, there was a man slumped down in the club's front room. Someone had beat him to shit, and Tavi and Caesar were on their cell phones talking to what I assumed were different people. Noticing me, they looked at each other and then back to me. Both men told the callers they’d call back and hung up the phone. The spookiest thing I’d seen them do. Almost like they choreographed it.
“Uh, Ronnie, can we talk?” Caesar asked.
“Yup.” He looked at me before he followed him out of the room.
“Do I want to know what’s going on here?” I looked around the club, and it was empty. The sun shined through, alerting me to its rise.
“No. That’s not exactly ideal. Then you’d know more than you should. Can’t have you in jeopardy in that way.”
“Tavi!” Caesar yelled out. “Need you in here.”
“How about the two of you walk back out here, and she can go into the office."
Caesar and Ronnie walked out, and Tavi walked me to the back.
Tavi pulled out a gun from his back. “Do you know how to shoot?”
“Yes, my father taught me.” And occasionally, I went to the shooting range to blow off steam, but he didn’t need to know all my secrets just yet.
“Don’t hesitate. That’s the first rule. If anybody comes through that door that isn’t us, you shoot to kill.”
“Who else would come in?”
“If you’re not comfortable with this….”
“I’ve got it.” Confident in my skills, I had it.
When the door closed, I focused on listening for footsteps. I could hear raised voices though I didn’t know what they were saying. They were out there for a while. Tired, I looked around the room to give myself something to do. It was neat in here. Accounting books that lined the shelves, a fancy computer system, and even a wet bar. Bourbon filled the fancy glass bottle, and glasses were set neatly on the mini shelf above it. Though the office had a relaxing feel, everything still had its place. Contemporary with clear-cut lines, very similar to their home. Was that because of Tavi, Caesar, or both?
I jumped at the sounds of shots, catching me off guard. Soon after, I heard lots of shuffling outside the door, and more men were present. As I waited, I made sure the gun was ready to fire as I focused on the door. I was alone for hours, nothing ever came through that door, it remained eerily quiet on the other side which made me relax. Being sore won, so I took my medication, lay on the couch, and passed out.
Strokes to my hair woke me. I jumped, but Caesar’s face calmed me immediately. “I could have killed you,” I mumbled, drowsily.
