I feel someone behind me before the words even come. “Nice crowd. Things are looking up, Bolo.” Chase says, leaning slightly against me. Chase Marquez. People joke with him all the time about his name. Not only is he half Hispanic and half white, he has to have half and half for his name, too. I can appreciate the humor, but I don’t usually share in it.
“Provide a safe place and people will come.” I say, eyes still on the crowd, not looking at him. “I’ve got the FNG on the door, but I’ll keep checking on him.”
Chase leans in a little closer. “I appreciate what you do, Bolo.” He says. “I’ll be in my office. If you need anything, swing by.”
What, is he listening to one of those management training courses? I look back over my shoulder to catch him walking away and catch of glimpse of the girl that’s usually with the Goddess. Pretty enough, but definitely a slut, I think. Some days I want to tell people that we really do watch them and they’re not just a face in the crowd. We see what you do and it sticks. Not that I didn’t play the same games myself, though. I’ll admit it, I’ve had my share; but sometimes you grow up. Sometimes things happen that make you change.
I think of Fiorina and my heart gets heavy. Nothing else in my life has ever been a catalyst for change like she was.
The girl; Anjelica if I remember right, hugs about three different guys before one of them drags her to the bar for a drink. My eyes keep scanning for their real target. I admit to myself that I’ve been looking for her since the crowds started showing up. Nothing as of yet.
A group of guys heads in the direction of the men’s room and unfortunately it rises to the level that I feel I need to at least go over there and make sure nothing is happening. The crowd mostly opens to let me pass. Chalk it up to my size and demeanor. If they see me coming, they usually move. “Attitude is everything.” I remember one of my Drill Sergeants in Basic saying. “Act a size bigger than your fucking ACUs.”
It’s not really an act. That sort of thing has always come naturally. Even in high school, people gave me a wide berth. Combine moody, angst-ridden teen with extreme height and a kid that works out his frustrations at the gym; not that hard to figure out why I never really had any trouble. Not that I was looking for it, but when it found me, it didn’t tend to last long and it discouraged more trouble for at least a semester. For the most part, it was usually the new guy, trying to make his mark by taking a run at the toughest-looking guy in school.
I step in the men’s room past the one guy they left outside to discourage an audience. He apparently would have been willing to stop just about anyone else, but he turns and walks away as I pass.
Typical tableau. Three guys aggressing, pinning a fourth against the wall. I immediately wish I would have brought Cal with me. Not that I need the support; just that I would have liked to have shown him how I want him to deal with situations.
“Hey, that doesn’t look all that comfortable for him. You all right, friend?” I ask, gesturing to the guy with a hand wrapped around his neck, pressed up against the tile wall.
One of the guys on the side looks up. The biggest one. “None of your business, man.” He says casually. I wonder for a moment if he knows that I’m security.
“Not my business. Okay, my bad.” I say, taking a step forward. My hand flies up to the back of Choker’s head, bringing it down with a sickening metallic clang on the hand dryer. His grip falls as he does. “Anyone else want to tell me what my business is?”
Big Guy sizes me up, but glances all around show that they’ve come to an unspoken agreement between them that they should probably take this elsewhere. Fine by me. Beat each other up all you want, just don’t do it in my club. It’s not that I feel the need to be the defender of the weak, though that’s been known to happen sometimes. I’m just the defender of order, at least while I’m on the clock, and at least between these four walls. The guy being choked hustles out without a word a few seconds behind the other four, as if he’s somehow done something to irk me as well. I don’t give him any sign that he’s wrong, but I have a chuckle in the empty restroom after the door closes. There’s a big dent in the hand dryer, and I make a mental note to apologize to Chase. He’ll probably be fine with it.
I go out as a straggler comes in, looking at the floor as I pass. I’m used to it. It’s the persona I have to put on for the job, at least for this one. My other job requires even more, because when I’m dealing with conflict there, it can be a little more dangerous than a couple of thugs in a bathroom.
The Goddess.
She’s sitting at the table she usually favors and I notice her right away. She’s wearing a tight blouse showing a little more cleavage than usual, but I’m far from complaining. I can’t see what she’s wearing below, because of the table, but all-in-all, it’s the most pleasant sight I’ve had all evening. I find a spot against the corner and start scanning as usual, yet my gaze keeps lingering over there. She’s changed up her hair a little bit. Highlights. A little bit of auburn mixed in with the normal dark curls. She’s always immaculate. Perfect hair, perfect makeup. No department store bottle hair; always professional, always beautiful. My eyes dip to that enticing place under the lips that I normally try not to fixate on. The swell of her breasts, pushed together exquisitely. The soft glow of her skin. I’ve never been close enough to her to see if there are any freckles there, but they’re part of my imagination, at least.
The girl she’s always with comes back to the table and I see them talking, trying to keep my scan from lingering too long on her friend. Goddess never looks happy and I wonder if that’s what attracts me to her. I do admit to having a predilection for the broken-wing girls, though I have a hard time accepting that it’s deliberate because I usually don’t know the details until I’m already involved. Hell, I don’t know this one at all; not even her name. I’d probably embarrass myself by slipping up and calling her Goddess even if I did manage to ask her out.
I resolve to tone down the staring, so I head to the front door to check on Cal. I hang back behind him, listening to his interaction with the guests at the ropes as he rations them into the club.
“Lovely ladies, be my guest.” He says, opening the rope to let two youngish girls past him. I step back out of sight as his eyes follow the backsides of their bodies as they enter. I wait till they go back to the front before stopping the pair.
“Can I see some ID, ladies?”
They look up at me, a mix of shock and apprehension on their faces. “We just showed them to the guy at the door.”
I smile and try to give them my most soothing look. “I know. He’s new and we’re just making sure to double-check every now and then.”
Their faces soften and I check the IDs. Both are of age, just barely. “Thanks ladies. I hope you have a great evening.” They stuff the cards back into bras and skirts and I realize I’m checking them out as they pass as well. Not my cup of tea, but cute is cute.
“How’s it going, Cal?” I ask, finally making myself known.
He looks from the ID in his hand back to me. “Easy-peasy, boss. I got this.”
“Remember…” I start as he lets another couple pass.
“I know, I know.” He says. “Don’t be an asshole.”
I smile, though I know I’d probably rather punch him. I’d never let him talk to me like that if he was one of my squad members, but I have to remind myself that I left that world for this one for a reason, whether I always like it or not. Discipline is a little bit different on the outside.
Returning to my spot after a round of the floor, I’m disappointed to find that she’s gone. I scan the crowd, even the dance floor though I know she’s hardly ever out there. Someone bumps into me.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
I look down and there’s the sandy blonde. Her heels put her eyes up to about my chin, so I know she’s a little taller than my mental image reflects. I catalog the thought.
“No worries, love.” I say. It’s an automatic statement, probab
ly due to the time I spent in the UK, but I try to avoid it because here in the states it can give the wrong impression.
She eyes me up and down. “I’ll be your love any day, sugar.”
Shit. I’ve got to stop saying things like that, I tell myself. I turn my eyes back to the crowd but I don’t feel her leaving. Even her type gets bolder with a little liquid courage.
“I mean, I’m sure there’s somewhere we could go with a little privacy.”
She hangs the word in the air like an invitation and I can sense the RSVP that goes along with it. I’m not getting away without explicitly responding or rejecting her.
“Sorry, Doll.” I say, trying to sound disappointed that I couldn’t take her up on her offer. “I’ve got to keep an eye on things. It’s a madhouse tonight.”
The blonde puts on a pouty face and it makes me like her even less. “Aw. Chase doesn’t let you have a break or nothing?”
Even less. She’s here because she has a thing running with the boss and here she is propositioning one of his own employees while he’s up in his office. Part of me wants to ‘sneak’ her up there and drop her off with him, but I try to suppress those emotions. She’s not worth the headache that might cause. Been there, done that. Tried to tell a buddy his wife was hitting on me once and guess who he blamed for it? Yep. Some things like that are certainly better left unsaid. She’s the Goddess’s roommate, though, so I prefer to tread lightly and not create a hurdle for myself later, if later ever comes.
“Not on Saturday nights.” I say, trying to sound apologetic but probably missing the mark by a mile. “I hope you have a good night. Chase is upstairs in his office, by the way.”
She was already gone when I look down again. Still no Goddess, so I make another round before heading back to the door. The blonde is on the dancefloor already, and her moves make me wonder why I resist that sort of thing. Again, been there, I tell myself.
“No dice, honey.” Cal says as I come up behind him at the edge of the door. I can’t see out or hear the other side of the conversation. He’s telling her that we’re at capacity, but I know that’s not true. I step closer and I’m just about to say something when he becomes the asshole I warned him not to be. I see the mean words land on their target, right as I see the target. The Goddess.
“Chase wants to see you.” I say, tapping him on the shoulder, resisting the red that’s starting to encroach on my vision. “Up in the office.” The last bit sounds harsh, so I know he’ll be heading up with some concern floating around in that douche head of his.
Cal looks at me then takes one final glance out the door. “Okay, you got the door?”
“I got it.” I say, stepping into the opening.
It’s the first time I’ve ever really faced her and I feel slighter than her own height. I want to wipe the pain off her face, but all I manage as she defiantly shows me her hand is a half-hearted welcome back. She disappears into the club and I curse myself, not even allowing myself to follow that vision with my eyes. Welcome back. Dumbass.
I check IDs for a bit, letting people into the club. Like I said, I’m more concerned about what their intentions are and what they might be carrying than selecting for looks or ‘cool factor’, as Chase calls it sometimes. It’s actually mind-numbing work, but it helps to distract me; that is until she comes back out after a few minutes. She’s not happy. She never is, and it makes me want her even more, that uncontrollable need to fix someone.
Different smooth lines pop into my head and I reject each in turn, hoping to settle on a better one. “Will you be returning, Miss?” I ask, kicking myself for not taking this golden opportunity to be more assertive.
She jumps a little, as if distracted. “No, I’m going home, thanks.”
My mind rapidly tries to compare her voice to an actress, but I can’t think of the name and I’m distracted by trying not to just stare into those expressive brown eyes that I’m getting a good look at for the first time. “Thanks for letting me back in earlier.”
“Sorry about that. He’s new.” I say, smiling. Not because of her words, but because those eyes are lifting my spirits. “It takes me a while to knock the asshole out of them sometimes. I hope you have a good evening.” At this point, she is the only thing keeping my thoughts away from knocking the crap out of Cal. I watch her walk away without responding, this time allowing my eyes to follow her down the street as she walks away. I’m not disappointed. Jeez, what I wouldn’t give to wrap that up in my arms and take it home. A dozen paces down, she turns and looks back. I know it’s the memory of those beautiful eyes and not real eye-contact, but I find myself glancing away quickly.
“Chase said he wasn’t looking for me.” Cal says as he comes back to the entrance.
I shrug. “Sorry man, maybe he changed his mind.”
“Whatever.” He says. “Did the whale finally give up?”
I give him a withering look. “Don’t be an asshole.” I turn my back on him and walk back into the club, unclenching the fist I can feel at my side. Further words with Cal right now wouldn’t be a good idea.
There’s really no point to the rest of the night. I see the roommate is still there, alongside her paramours but the main attraction had already left the building.
“You look like you need a drink, Bolo.”
Amber. She’s working the crowd as usual, her short skirt and heels advertising what is actually a pretty nice little body. I’ll admit that I consider it for a moment, her, not just the drink. I haven’t been much of a drinker for years, but I guess I haven’t been much of anything since I got out. The thought of the Goddess has sparked something in me, and Amber would be more than willing to play second fiddle. I push it away.
“No thanks, Amber.” I say as politely as I can muster. “I’ve got some shit to do after close and I need to keep clear.”
Amber gives me a seductive wink. “I’ve got some shit you can do after close if you ever want.” She says, her hand trailing down my arm as she turns and walks away. I wonder if she notices the sandy blonde heading up to Chase’s office. Probably not, I think. Most people really don’t pay much attention to what is going around them. Narcissist blinders.
For the rest of the night my mind replays each brief interaction with the Goddess. Hell, you didn’t even ask her name, Bolo…
“I think Cal’s got this, Chase.” I say, coming into the office a few minutes after I watched the blonde leave.
Chase is sitting at his desk with a smile on his face. I don’t fall for the bait. “If I can get out of here a little early, I’d appreciate it.”
He looks up at the clock, seemingly disappointed that I’m not asking about the blonde. “Yeah, it’s close enough to close. You think he’s doing okay?”
I give a SITREP just like I always did in the military. “He’s got a good enough presence, but we’ll have to work on the attitude a little bit. I know we try to keep a certain image in the club, but I like the guys not to be dicks about it.”
Chase frowned. “You want me to talk to him?”
I stiffen a little. “No, I’ve got it. My circus, my monkeys when it comes to the security staff.”
“That’s why you’re the best. You coming in early tomorrow?”
“I doubt I’ll have anything better to do.” I say, smiling.
Chase looks back. Sometimes I see the decent guy in his face; this is one of those times. “I don’t think I’ll ever figure you out, Bolo. But that’s probably because you’ll never let me.”
“Gotta keep ‘em guessing.” I smile as I turn to leave.
Chapter Five: Avery
The roar of the engine makes me smile. Since getting out of the Army, the car is perhaps the one thing that truly makes me happy. It’s not much to look at on the outside, seeing as I’ve focused my restoration only on the engine as of yet. A little body work and a fresh coat of paint once I’ve found the right original parts it will be a thing of beauty, both inside and out.
I pull the Charger down t
he strip in front of the club, not gunning it, but making her be heard. I see Cal just as he’s closing the doors and look at my watch. Last call, I think. Time to start herding the drunks out the door. I’ve got a little time before my meeting with Devin, so I stop at a diner for a bite.
“What can I get you, sugar?”
The waitress is on the younger side, maybe a little younger than the Goddess, but nicely put together, cute and always smiling. I do like her, which is why I have sort of become a regular. I’ve been stopping by after hours for most of my tenure at the club, and she’s never anything but nice. A little flirtation here and there, and I pay her back in kind, but nothing too forward.
“Black coffee and a burger would be great.” I say, not even looking at a menu.
“Creative as always.” She says, grinning. “I think I’d check your pulse if you ordered anything else.”
I give her a weak smile, trying to reflect the mood she’s in. I don’t think it’s working. I keep thinking about her. The long dark curls, the curve of her cheek and now those eyes. They were haunting me already. The voice is a new addition to my thoughts, and it’s helping to flesh out the fantasy.
“I’ll get this in for you.” Carla says, gesturing with the pad she hasn’t written anything on. I thank her, hoping my mood didn’t offend her. She’s nice enough, and I’ve even given thoughts to asking her out in the past, but those thoughts aren’t here tonight. I can feel myself getting closer and closer to what it is that I truly want and any distraction, no matter how pleasant, is unwelcome at this point. I need to focus on what it will take for me to win the girl of my dreams. Idle chit-chat at the door is going to have to be exchanged for something more direct. Sure, I really don’t know her, but yet somehow I do. Sitting there alone, I have the time to go over every detail that I do know; each glance at her covering a different part, all adding up to a mosaic that brings her to life in my head.
Bolo Page 4