The Enforcer - Kelli Callahan Page 0,47
When the bill comes due, he takes way too much pleasure in breaking fingers.
Turning the key in the ignition and pulling my car out onto the main road. I shake my head. God do I hate having to deal with Denny. Few people make my skin crawl. But then he’s one of them. Not because I feel like he’s particularly dangerous, he’s just kind of unpredictable. He can go in any direction with a drug war or any kind of conflict. He sticks with the winning side most days, liking to bet on himself and his main goal is surviving another day. Well, and appearing to live a successful lifestyle. He’s probably the poorest man I’ve ever seen in Italian shoes.
The street signs fly by me as I race down the road forty miles over the limit. I’m no longer worried about getting pulled over. All they have to do is call Kenton, I’m sure I’ll get a free pass tonight, might as well use it while I can. God knows people like him love to haul me in for everything. But tonight, I’m living large. Shifting down gears, shifting up a gear, I accelerate pushing it to 50 over. Within a matter of moments, I find myself at the edge of town. In front of what appears to be a seedy bar with an illuminated sign of a dancing girl. “Denny’s Girls” The sign flashes, with the S, and I bulbs dead. “Classy,” I mutter to myself.
Climbing out of the car, my boots crunch on the gravel beneath. Kicking aside a cigarette butt, I lock the car and stroll into Denny’s place. Immediately my senses are assaulted by the foul odors of stale cigarette smoke, cheap perfume, and fried food.
“Hey buddy!” Denny calls to me, shouting over the loud music, and the small crowd of people. “How are you doing tonight?” he asks
“Okay,” I say, stepping around a sweaty man, clearly in the middle of a lap dance.
“Can I get you anything?” he asks, handing me his plate of fried mini corn dogs.
“No, I’m fine,” I answer, holding my hand up, declining the offer. “I’ve had my fill of glitter today.”
Denny laughs loudly, too loud, it makes me cringe.
“Come on over here I can get you a private room. My best girl is here tonight, Star. You’re going to love her,” he says.
“No, I’m fine,” I say, moving my shoulder so he has to let go of me.
“So, what are you here for, don’t want no food, no women, drugs you looking for?” he asks, and I stare at him. If I were looking for drugs Denny is the last person that I would go to.
“No,” I say, “I have a couple of questions for you. So that private room would be nice just no girls.” I glance over my shoulder at the leggy brunette on the pole beside me, who gives me a come hither smile.
Denny nods as I turn and follow him back into the room, dusting off the sparkles before sitting down.
“What can I do for you?” Denny asks, looking around the Red Velvet room.
“I’m looking for someone,” I tell him.
“Aren’t we all?” He grins turning to face the blacked-out window.
“Not like that,” I say, “not looking for a girl, looking for a man.”
“Oh,” he smokes, “didn’t figure you were the type. But since you don’t settle down for the girls longer than it takes to hop in and out of bed with them. Well, maybe a man is what you need in your life.”
“Shut up, Denny,” I growl, leaning forward. “Denny, this is serious.”
“Good thing for you I’m a serious man. I’m a businessman you see,” he says, straightening his jacket and crossing his legs, leaning back, and resting his arms around the sofa. “I don’t like the way you talk to me about my business. Telling me how to run it and the like.”
“I’m sorry for offending you Denny. But I’m afraid I don’t have much time.”
“Wow. Never thought I’d meet the day where Jake would tell me he was sorry. Has anyone ever heard an apology from those perfect lips?” Denny asks, grinning at me.
It takes everything within me to resist reaching over and knocking his lights out. “What do you need, Denny? What do you want?” I ask.
“What anyone wants,” he says with a shrug. “I want a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” I ask.
“The kind where you do what I say no questions asked,” replies Denny.
That could be anything, and most definitely,