My head immediately snapped to where their section was. He was right. There was chaos happening in their section but that wasn’t unusual. I sent Bishop a text anyway.
Me: Shit good up there?
BB: Yea. Rook.
I locked my phone and shoved it in my pocket. Rook. That was enough of an explanation right there.
I exhaled and made my way back to the bar to check in with the bartenders before heading back to my office.
I’d determined a few ways to cut down on cost and I wanted to implement them as soon as possible so I locked in and started getting it done, making sure I updated my spreadsheets as I went.
I didn’t take a break until Bishop’s name popped up on my phone’s screen and it started blaring.
“What’s up?” I answered immediately.
“Rook is blitzed. I’m going to get him home.”
“Alright. Just leave your car in the lot. I’ll get it taken care of.”
“Alright.” Bishop cleared his throat. “I’ll wait up for you.”
“Where?”
“My home base.”
“Your home base?” I repeated.
“It makes sense for you to spend the night here when we have that brunch in the morning.”
“Yeah. Alright. You’re right. I’ll get some stuff and be on my way.”
“Alright. See you then.”
“Be careful.”
“Be careful,” Bishop echoed.
“Love you.”
“I love you.”
I sat on the phone for another moment before hanging up and getting back to work.
It took me longer than I would have hoped but Layla stayed behind to help me with some last minute stock and I stood in the back doorway of the club and watched her walk to her car, my gun in hand.
“Be careful!” I called after her.
“Yes sir.” Layla saluted as she walked backwards a few steps before spinning around.
I watched her make her way to her car before going back inside and locking the door behind me.
The club closed at two the way it always did.
Layla had stayed behind to help me out when it came to cleaning and making sure stock was properly taken care of so it was about three now. The parking lot had cleared out quickly once the Barrons had headed out a little bit after one.
I sat in my office for about an hour before I gave up, yanked open my desk drawer and grabbed a cigarette. I lit up and took a long draft. I let my eyes flutter shut.
Now that I was alone the weight of everything that was going on settled on me so heavy it threatened to make it hard to breathe.
