action. Next thing I know, she’s pushing $100k in the hole. I tell her I’m gonna need her to pay up at $100k, just standard protocol—cuz she’s a first-timer at the Glamazon backroom. Gotta make sure she’s liquid.”
I nod, remaining silent.
“Well…” He throws his hands up in despair. “That’s when the shit hit the fan.”
“I can imagine.” I smile.
“And then next thing I know, you’re struttin’ in here with her body double and some beefcake. How’d you get involved with these lunatic twins anyway?”
“Her sister is a close friend of mine.”
“A close friend huh? Well, that explains it. So you wanna pay off the sister’s debt for your new girlfriend?” Antony gives me a knowing smile, his teeth flashing white.
“It’s not that,” I say, annoyed at his familiar tone. “It’s pure business. Fact is, this girl is already into me for 1.3 mil. If she has unpaid debts to you and you then choose to make an example of her…”
“You’re up shit creek,” Antony says.
I nod. Although the words aren’t the ones I would have chosen, he obviously gets the idea.
“Well the way it stands, we’re both up shit creek. That crazy bitch doesn’t have a cent. I’d bet you 1.3 mil on that, easy.”
“True. She’s broke.”
“So what are ya proposing?” Antony eyes me with suspicion.
“How about I just give you a hundred grand and I’ll take her off your hands.”
“She owes a hundred and ten.” Antony is immediately defensive and on guard, crossing his arms.
“I know, I know. But look. We both know she doesn’t have the fucking money. And she’s not gonna get it, either. You’re gonna try and chase her on it for a week because that’s what guys like us do. Those are the rules we play by. You can’t just make an example of her without giving her the one week and sending her a gentle reminder or two within that timeframe.”
“Yeah.” Antony uncrosses his arms and suddenly looks less sure of himself.
“That’s gonna cost you manpower. It’s gonna cost you money. It’s gonna cost you some fucking stress.”
“Yep.”
“You’re a busy man. Like me. You’ve got a fucking casino to run. You don’t want that added headache, that extra shit, on top of all the day-to-day you’ve got here. Trying to keep drugs out, catching cheaters, keeping an eye on any working girls, making sure they’re not too obvious...”
“Ain’t that the truth.” Antony nods vigorously. “Running a casino ain’t a gig for a lazy man.”
“Agreed. Then, like I said, after you’ve put in all that time and effort, you won’t get squat from her by week’s end. And then what? You’ll have to put in even more time, effort, manpower, and money to make a goddamned example of her.”
“For fuck’s sake. Yeah. And my boys are busy enough as is.” Antony balls his fists in annoyance.
“So let me take her off your hands. You’ll get $100k, all cash, free and clear, delivered to you today. Within the hour. I’ll have a couple of my guys personally deliver it. Then you get 100k, minus the headache.” It’s only ten grand, but if I don’t negotiate, it would look weak.
“Yeah alright.” He pauses, his brow furrowed in thought. “I guess all that’s worth $10k down.”
“Good.” I extend my hand and, after a moment’s further thought, he takes it in his, shaking my hand vigorously.
“Good doing business with you, Milner,” he says with a winning grin.
“I’ll have my guys here within the hour with the cash,” I say. And with that, I head out the door.
As I walk out, I hear Antony call after me, “Take care those twins don’t drag you into too much more trouble, Milner.”
I ignore him and continue out into the hall where Mike is waiting with Deanna and Lilly.
“What happened?” Lilly immediately trots towards me, her face full of concern.
Deanna hangs back. She’s carrying her heels in one hand and standing with all her weight on one foot, hip cocked as if she doesn’t have a care in the world.
“I took care of it,” I tell Lilly.
“Oh my god.” She throws her arms around my neck. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
“There are some conditions.” I stop her and carefully remove her thin arms from around my neck. Public displays of affection are not good for a man in my position.
“Great,” Deanna rolls her eyes. “What are they?”
I don’t bother to mince words. “It might be time for you to consider rehab, Deanna.”
“It might be time for you to mind your own fucking