Callie’s Last Dance

26.

“WELL, THIS IS embarrassing,” Willow says, as she lowers her panties to mid-thigh and turns in a circle.

“Oh please,” Gwen says. “You’re a stripper. Now bend over and spread your cheeks.”

“Really, Gwen? Because I think not.”

Gwen laughs. “I just wanted to see how far you’d go.”

They’re standing in the middle of the restroom at Starbucks. Willow, buck naked, save for the panties at her thighs.

“Can I get dressed now? Because I won’t know what to say if some random customer walks in here with a little girl.”

“Relax. It’s nine-thirty at night.” Gwen turns on both faucets and lets them run. She motions Willow to come closer. Then whispers, “If you want to ask me about the mob, do it now.”

“Why hasn’t Roy tried to take over the business from Carmine?”

“Have you ever heard of a guy named Donovan Creed?”

“No.”

“He’s a hit man for the mob. From what I hear, Roy was about to make a move on Carmine. The night before, Creed showed up in the club and saw Roy disrespecting Carmine. He gave him a lecture about it, and crushed Roy’s hand to show he’s serious. That one action saved Carmine’s life.”

“Who was helping Roy take Carmine’s down?”

“I don’t know. Why do you care?”

“I want to bet on the right horse.”

“And here I thought you wanted to talk me into coming back to the Top Six!”

“I do. But not as a stripper.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I want you to take over Roy’s job.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re a legend in the business, and Carmine loves you. I think he’d pay you a hundred grand to run the girls. Who could possibly handle the girls better than a former stripper?”

“True. But Carmine doesn’t have the guts, or the power to fire Roy.”

“I’ll take care of Roy.”

“How?”

“Can you keep a secret?”

“Of course.”

“I’m going to kill him.”

“You?”

“Uh huh.”

“Personally?”

“I’d prefer to pay someone else to do it, but I’ll do it if I have to.”

“How?”

“I’m not sure yet. But I’ll find a way to make it happen.”

Gwen shakes her head in disbelief. Willow’s obviously crazy. But there’s something about her that fosters confidence.

After a moment of silence, Gwen says “I might know someone.”

“Your girlfriend?”

Gwen says, “Carmine told you about Callie?”

“You’d be amazed how much information I can extract from a single blow job.”

“Eew! Sorry, but…Carmine?”

Willow laughs. “I know, I know.”

“Jesus, Willow. He’s what, seventy-five?”

“Try seventy-eight.”

“Eew.”

“It’s not that bad. You’ve just got to get your head in the game. No pun intended.”

“I couldn’t make myself do it. I’d gag and retch. You know those disgusting things they make you eat on Survivor?”

“Yeah?”

“It would be like that.”

Willow laughs. “Well, I’m certainly no expert on dicks. But in my limited experience they all taste pretty much the same. Blindfolded, I wouldn’t be able to distinguish between Brad Pitt and the Three Stooges.”

“No offense, but you sound pretty experienced to me.”

“I’ve blown a total of four guys if you include Carmine and my step-father.”

“Omigod! Your step-father?”

“Not all blow jobs are by design.”

“Wow. I’m sorry.”

Willow shrugs. “Water under the bridge.”

“You’re pretty stoic about it.”

“They call it a blow job for a reason. It’s a job. A chore. Something no one wants to do on a regular basis. But if you’re selective, it can be one of the highest-paying jobs around. If I’m a painter, welder, school teacher, or waitress, I’m working eight hours a day, on my feet, eyes open. And what’s the reward? A meager salary from which the government takes thirty-five percent. Or I can blow Carmine for ten minutes a day with my eyes closed. In return, he gives me a twelve hundred dollar-a-month apartment, a car, and two hundred fifty bucks a week for living expenses. He’s with his family on Sundays, so I’m on call six days a week. That’s the equivalent of getting a thousand bucks a week for an hour of actual work. Of course, I choose to spend a couple hours a day talking to him, but that’s a separate investment.”

“I never thought of it like that,” Gwen says. “Where do I sign up?”

“Gwen, seriously. If you and I team up there’s no limit to what we can accomplish.”

“I admire your ability to dream big.”

“It all starts with the first step. I’m in with Carmine. Second step, Roy. You think Callie will kill Roy for us?”

“Not even.”

“Why not? It’s how she makes her living.”

“She wouldn’t want me working there. But can I tell you something?”

“Sure.”

“I’m not gay. And although it’s a great lifestyle, the handwriting’s on the wall.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m a kept woman, we’re drifting apart. I can tell she’s going to dump me soon.”

“Why?”

“I begged her to take me with her this weekend to a big party in Cincinnati. She refused.”

“Bad sign.”

“I know, right?” Gwen says.

“A hundred grand would make you an independent woman of means.”

Gwen laughs. “’Woman of means?’ Who talks like that?”

She laughs again. Then says, “Anyway, I’d need more than a hundred grand to leave Callie.”

“What if I gave you a piece of the club?”

“Excuse me? No offense, Willow, but you’re still at square one. You may have big plans, but at the moment, if we’re keeping it real, you’re a cocksucker. You might be blowing the boss, but he owns the club, not you.”

For a split second Willow’s jaw clenches in anger. But she works through the insult and says, “A year from now you won’t remember how I started.”

“Meaning?”

“I’m going to leverage my sexual skills into an ownership position.”

“You’re crazy. He’d never give you his club.”

Willow waves her hand dismissively. “No. But under the right circumstances he’ll sell me forty-five percent.”

“Math was never my best subject,” Gwen says, “but I’m pretty sure it takes fifty-one percent ownership to have control.”

“In the real world it only takes fifty and the hyphen to control a fifty-fifty deal. I’ll own forty-five percent, you’ll own five, which gives us fifty.”

“And the hyphen?”

“You and the girls.”

“Tell me why.”

“Working together, you and I will double the value of his business. We’ll be running all the day-to-day leaving him to wonder when to take his next dump. If he doesn’t like something I’ve planned, you’ll stick up for me. And I’ll do the same for you. I’ll work the books, you’ll work the girls, and Carmine will get fatter, older, and richer. At some point I give him papers to sign, allowing me to legally make all the business decisions. At that point he can either sign the papers, or watch us go down the road and start our own club.”

“Wow.”

“Trust me, Gwen. For all intents and purposes we’ll control that piss ant club in the space of six months. But that’s just the first step.”

“What do you mean?”

“I want it all.”

“There’s only one club, Willow.”

“Carmine’s ripe for the plucking. I want to take over his other businesses.”

“Excuse me?”

“I want to run the entire west coast.”

Gwen laughs. “You’re not even Italian!”

“It’s a different era, Gwen. It’s all about making money, moving product. Mob guys are like all other guys, meaning they want two things. Money and power. Those who want money will get more. Those who want power will get killed. Are you with me or not?”

“You’re eighteen fucking years old! They’ll squash you like a bug!”

“When the transition’s complete, I’ll give you fifty percent of the club. And five percent of everything else.”

“You’re truly insane.”

“Pretend I can do it. Would you run the girls?”

“For five percent ownership?”

“And a hundred grand off the top.”

“I don’t believe for a minute you can pull this off.”

“But if I can?”

“If you can somehow manage to get legal control of the club, yes, I’ll run the girls.”

Willow smiles. “If you agree to run the girls, I’ll get control of the club.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a process. I’ve known Carmine a few hours and already got his name on an apartment lease. But I have to show him I can deliver. Killing Roy and bringing you back to the club is a hell of a coup.”

“Okay, I get that. But I don’t understand how you plan to take control.”

“Baby steps. First? Lover. Second? Confidante. Third? Business advisor. Fourth? Accountant. Fifth? Well, that depends on what I discover along the way. I’ll help you get your hundred grand immediately. And later on, you’ll help me gain control. But of course, none of this can happen until-”

“Roy’s out of the picture.”

“Exactly. So I need to take him out, or find someone who does this sort of thing for a living. It would be nice to have a hit man in my pocket. You think this Donovan Creed guy would do it?”

“No. But I know someone who will.”

“Who?”

“Donovan Creed’s daughter.”

“Seriously?”

Gwen laughs. “You’ll have to be careful. She’s not playing with a full deck.”

“She sounds perfect.”

Gwen laughs. “You’re a piece of work.”

“Can you set up a meeting? First thing tomorrow morning?”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Great.”

“Anything else?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“Can I get dressed now?”