“I’m not buying deeper in, Smithie, I’m covering theadjustment to Daisy’s salary.”
“And when I buy you out?Who covers Daisy then?I don’t takea percentage of tips.Those are the girls’.I take a shave off the price of alap dance of all the girls, but Daisy’s elevated pricing goes to her.How do Icover half a million fuckin’ dollars after you’re gone?”
“You won’t have to.”
“How’s that?”
“Because she’ll be gone.”
Smithie’s brows shot up.
“She’ll—” he started to explode.
He shut his mouth and stared at Marcus.
Then he whispered, “Motherfucker.”
He wasn’t calling Marcus that.
It was a muted exclamation.
Such was his shock, a surprisingly quiet one from Smithie,who was not a quiet man.
It took him a moment to compose himself and Marcus gave himthat moment.
When he did, still quiet, he also seemed to brace, nowsurprising Marcus because it looked like he did it with a hint of fear, andMarcus had known Smithie for a long time and he’d never known the man to showfear.
“Don’t go there,” he said.
“I’m sorry?”Marcus asked.
Smithie shook his head.“Again, respect, brother, you gotthat from me, you know it, and I’m stillaskin’ younot to go there.”
There was the reason behind his fear.
Smithie might be a soft touch in some ways, but he was ahardassin all others.
But no one in Denver challenged Marcus Sloan.
Marcus turned fully to him.
Smithie took a small step back before he held his ground.
“Why would you ask that?”Marcus queried.
“She’s a good girl.”
Losing patience and having other things to do, Marcuscrossed his arms on his chest, prompting, “And?”when Smithie said no more.
“She needs…” he started but didn’t finish.
“She needs what?”Marcus pushed.
Smithie’s focus sharpened on him.
“Peace.”
Marcus felt that one word stab through his chest, feeling itand remembering the vision of a beautiful woman with lots of hair and a bigsmile, hiding the fact she had to be tired in order to help out a friend.
