Since Roger runs the show, he knows all the ins and outs of our members. He was like a cheerleader in high school when it came to gossip. He made it his business to be. When asking him about Nick Kennedy he rolled his eyes and said, “He’s a bitch.”
To which I said, “He’s married to Mercy.”
“Come again?”
“She’s been looking to divorce him for over two years but he keeps dodging her.”
“Mercy married that tool? On purpose?”
“She claims she was drunk and incapable of rational thought. She also said when her buzz wore off, so did the honeymoon phase.”
“Does she know he cheated?”
“As of yesterday, yes.”
“Oh,” he mumbles. “That had to sting.”
“She holds no love for him, she just wants him to sign the papers.”
“That’s why he’s prancing around here telling everyone he’s got a private meeting with you. You’re going to call him out in front of the other members.”
“Actually,” I say looking at my watch. “Mercy is.”
“And I get a front row seat,” he grins. “You really are my best friend.”
“I need you there to make sure I don’t kill him.”
“Besides cheat, what else did he do?”
“A lot of shit,” I ground out. “But I stopped listening after stole money from me.”
“So, he’s a cheater and a thief,” Roger nods. “Just so you know, if you don’t kill him, I will.”
Yes, some of our members were married and open about their tastes. But most of the men who had wives came to the club for one purpose. To belong to a brotherhood. However, how our members chose to conduct themselves behind closed doors was none of my business. Unless, that business was Mercy Mohr.
I saw the sadness in her eyes when she did the math. She knew her husband had been cheating.
Cheating, stealing and lying… This asshole had Mercy and purposely hurt her.
No way was I letting that stand.
I requested Nick meet me in the cigar lounge for a drink. Because this was not something I made a habit of, he felt honored to be extended an invitation. Now, I could have ordered the room be cleared out for privacy reasons but I wanted his peers to see him for the asshole he was. With Mercy due here any minute, I made my way downstairs leaving security with instructions to bring her to me.
I wasn’t in the prick’s line of sight a full thirty seconds before he started running his mouth.
This was one of the reasons I stayed away. I couldn’t stand douchebags. The other reason being I didn’t care to see a woman offering herself for money. While it was her choice and she was treated with respect inside these walls, it never sat with me. But I understood it was the sole reason we made as much money as we did. Our employees didn’t strip or dance for cash, they provided upscale services safely and discreetly. Over the years, I’ve learned to look past it and spent my time working from the shadows.
Handing me a drink and sporting a cunning smile, Roger settled in for the show.
The man loved a good spectacle.
Pressing his finger to his ear piece, he nods letting me know she’s arrived. Say what you will about my partner, but he was one hell of a business man. He was a thousand times more committed to this den than I was or ever will be. I liked the money. Roger liked the politics of it.
A moment later, Mercy entered the lounge and every set of eyes turned to her, including my own.
Wearing her hair on top of her head, distressed jeans and a tank top that said shut your mouth or I’m gonna fuck it, Mercy stole my breath.
“Hi boys,” she pinky waves to the group. Because women off the street aren’t allowed inside, the men were naturally curious about the bombshell headed straight for me. While Mercy has been a regular lately, she’s never come to the lounge. Since I don’t engage our members much and when I did wasn’t exactly friendly, to say they were interested in what was happening was an understatement. So, a woman smiling in my direction confused the fuck out of everyone here. As for me, I had never been more proud.
She was closing in when Nick stepped in front of me. Taking a step toward her, he says anxiously, “Mercy?”
“Hi Nick,” she says with bite. “It’s been a minute. Miss me?”
“What are you doing here? Who let you in?”
“He did,” she points at me. “Wow, Nick, you don’t look very happy to see your wife.”
“Remove her,” he orders me at which I just raised an eyebrow.
“You might want to try that again,” I advise him.
“She’s crazy,” he insists. “I’m serious, call the police.”
“Didn’t she used to be the police?” Roger asks.
“Yes,” I nod. “She even made Detective.”
“Impressive,” Roger smiles.
“You want to throw me out?” she pouts. “And after I came all this way to see you.”
“You know what?” he says licking his lips. “I’ll toss her myself.” He may have said it but he sure as shit didn’t look eager to do it. Taking him by the neck, I remind him, “When you’re inside my walls, you will show respect to every woman here.”
“She doesn’t count! Why would you let her in here!”
Getting in his face, I tell him, “Because she’s mine,” and watch him pale. “And she has some papers for you to sign.” Ready to end this, I call for her and when she takes my side asks me to, “Let him go, please.”
Reluctantly, I did and that’s when it got interesting.
“Easy now,” he says to Mercy even going so far as to put his hands up in surrender. “You don’t want to hurt me.”
“Why are you acting like an abused spouse right now, Nick? Do you think anyone in this room buys that I beat you?”
A chorus of laughs and insults flew Nick’s way as Mercy pointed and said, “You are going to sign these papers, Nick. It’s either going to happen with you standing upright with what little dignity you have left or,” she says stepping closer. “From the floor where you’ll be writhing in pain caused by the fist I’m going to bury in your stomach.”
“Wait,” he says quickly. “I’ll sign, alright? Hand me the papers.”
Extending her hand, he snags the papers and actually takes off running.
Roger looks at me, I look at her and she says, “I blame his mother.” But, I saw the embarrassment in her eyes. Nick would pay for putting it there.
So, when she tossed me her bag and said, “Time me,” I did.