My big brother smiled at me.
Then he let me go and got up, muttering, “Shit to do.”
I had shit to do too. I had to run and get sweaty and come home and get laid by my man.
I did not share this.
I walked Hank to the door.
He opened it. I followed and stopped in the jamb.
It was then I remembered to ask, “What did you and Lee decide about Jane?”
He turned and answered, “He’s gonna tell the men. He’s gonna tell Indy. I’m gonna tell Roxie. And we’re gonna keep our eye on shit but let the chips fall.”
Time to scratch a conversation with Jane on my list, and I decided to give her a heads up before I ran.
The good news was, neither Hank nor Lee had gone ballistic. That might make Jane fret less.
Still, I’d have to keep an eye on things, too.
Hank leaned into me and I thought he was going to kiss my cheek.
He didn’t.
He put his lips to my ear and said, “He hurts you, I’ll fuck him up.”
Loved my big brother.
“That won’t happen,” I replied.
He pulled away, saying, “It better not.”
I rolled my eyes, and when I rolled them back, I saw him smiling.
I stuck my tongue out at him.
He smiled bigger.
Then he was gone.
* * * * *
I rushed offstage at Smithie’s after my final dance, keen to get the hell out of there and get home to bed.
And Ren.
It was another bust of a night at Smithie’s. Even though I’d approached a couple of the girls and had a chat with Tanya, one of the waitresses, there was no thawing of the informational freeze-out.
I’d also had a chat with Smithie about what he knew about Gibbons. I wasn’t telling him our progress on the case because I didn’t want him to lose it and screw the pooch if what Steiner and Gibbons were doing went deeper.
But Smithie paid attention in his club. So he knew exactly who I was talking about.
And his response was, “He’s an asshole. Shit vibe. But good customer. He drinks. Tips the girls good. Gets a lap dance every night. Don’t love every one of my regulars. But I don’t bitch when they buy drinks and take care of the girls.”
Gibbons would tip the girls “good” since he’d see a return of that money, and not in the normal way.
“Why you ask?” Smithie finished.
“Just keeping my eye on things and he gives me the heebie-jeebies,” I told him.
“Yeah,” he replied. “Asshole written all over him. Then again, that’s every other guy who walks through my fuckin’ door.”
He was right. But not that brand of asshole.
I left it at that.
Then I went about my business, hoping that Bobby and Darius would turn up something or one of the girls would suck up the courage to give me a lead.
And soon.
But now the night was over and the workday was done for me. The girls had half an hour of dancing before they were finished, but there was no reason for me to stay. Therefore, if I did, it might be noticed and wondered about.
So I headed to the dressing room as the girls headed toward the stage to take over once Lottie was done.
“Have fun,” I said on a big smile.
“Mm-hmm,” JoJo replied on a forced one.
