Chapter 4: A New Pawn

(Anthony's POV)

The nervous girl helps her friend into the back of the car as I lean into the passenger seat window. “Harry, take these girls back home. Here’s the address.” I instruct, slipping him a piece of paper with an address scrawled onto it. I step back and wait for him to drive off before walking back into the club.

A few women greet me with drunken smiles, and I kiss them on the cheek before I usher them back to the dance floor and continue to my private area in the back. Normally, I would dance or drink with them but tonight is a bit different and I have a lot to do.

Griffin is already waiting for me by my office door with a raised eyebrow. “Any particular reason you have three slimy slugs sulking in your office?”

Slimy slugs? Could he not think of any better titles for them? "At least slugs have taste and more respect than these idiots. Dumbf*cks don't know how to act in civilized environments." I remark.

Sidestepping his question, I direct one back at him, “What was the name of the girl you hired for me?”

“How can you forget? I’ve told you three times, Anthony.” Griffin groans and glares at me.

“I’m sorry. I was a bit preoccupied with a d*ck in my *ss at the time, thanks to you.” I sneer back at him. Did he have to be such a pompous moron? I'm surrounded by idiots. This is my life. Yay...

Griffin smirks and wiggles his eyebrows at me suggestively, “Her name is Bethany Anne Gale. She’s twenty-six and lives in an apartment off Ferry Ave with her best friend, Clara Beverly Harrison. Bethany is unemployed and Clara works as an RN in the trauma department at the hospital on Main Street. Also, they are the two girls you just instructed Harold to drive home. Anything else? I’m assuming you got the address from Clara’s ID?”

My jaw drops as Griffin pushes himself off from the wall he’d been haphazardly leaning against. I could never figure out how he can be so thorough. Probably why he is my right-hand man.

Griffin forces my jaw closed and pats me on the cheek. “Go deal with the delinquents in your office. Try not to kill them. If you need help, I’ll be at the bar experimenting on drinks.” Griffin disappears from the room leaving me stunned.

She is my new assistant? How in the f*ck am I supposed to pay attention when that is my new assistant? How would I keep her safe? She would more than likely be exposed to the mafia. That would put her in danger. I'm going to have to change her job description. She’s not leaving my side. She’ll be safer there.

Mentally, my eyes are still doing the teenage boy thing of undressing her. How could one woman distract me so badly? I was exposed to prostitutes and women of all ventures and ethnicities. How could one woman with pale skin and freckles affect me so?

Stealing myself, I thrust open my office door glaring at the three men huddled in the corner. Good. They are afraid. Smiling slightly, I shut the door and sit silently at my desk. While violence is thoroughly fun to partake in, so is passive-aggressive silence.

The men squirm, looking at the floor but don’t say anything. Finally, after fifteen minutes of boredom, I spoke. “I don’t give a d*mn who started the fight. I don’t care why. You can figure that out yourself and deal with it outside of my club.” They immediately try to stand and make a break for the door. No. That isn’t happening just yet.

“I did not excuse you. SIT!” Adjusting myself in the chair, I lean forward, placing my elbows on the desk. “What I do have a problem with is you threatening and harming innocent women who are simply trying to have a good time.”

They sit back down and finally look me in the eye. Cowards. Expendable idiots. Great for sending out to do as I command but f*cking morons the rest of the time.

“Boss, sir. We didn’t mean anything by it. It was the heat of the moment. Ya know? Promise we won’t do it again. Please have mercy on us!” The large man begs. Nice to know that I still put fear in the hearts of others.

“You’re lucky I’m in a forgiving mood tonight, boys. One more f*ck up and you’ll be digging your own graves. Am I understood?” I declare, leaning back in my chair. Loosening my tie, I wait for their response. In all honestly, I’d love to drown their *sses in Lake Michigan. Still might… But that would mean clean-up for Griffin, and he requested the night off. So, I’ll respect it this once.

“Yes, boss. Thank you, boss. We won’t make that mistake again. We swear.” One of the smaller men blubbers as the other two race from the room before I can say anything further.

Once they are out of my sight, I relax back into my chair further. I was just thinking about hunting Griffin down when he strolls through the door with two cocktails. “Bless you,” I thank him, taking one of the drinks.

“Don’t mention it. I see you didn’t lose your temper for once. I’m shocked.” Griffin mocks playfully, dropping into a chair as well. “By the way, what do you plan on doing with your new assistant anyway? It’s not like you need help. Why did you want one?”

Of course, Griffin would ask that. Did he have to put me in a vulnerable place every time? “Because I’m lonely, Griffin. I thought maybe having a woman around would bring a sense of happiness back into my life.” It wasn’t a lie. I wouldn’t admit it to anyone else. However, I knew Griffin wouldn’t say anything. He respected me as much as I respected him.

“Oh, so you’re saying I’m not good enough, huh?” Griffin laughs at me.

“No, you are, and you know that. I just want something else in my life. Some spice. You understand, right?” I sigh, tipping the drink back.

“I get it. Anyway. What are you going to do for the rest of the night?” Griffin asks curiously.

“I don’t know. I’m thinking about actually taking a break and getting some sleep. I have a migraine coming on. The club can run itself. Feel free to join me.” I offer, standing with a sigh. The thought of that girl made my heart race in a way I’ve not truly experienced despite the number of women and men I’ve been with.

“Sure. Sounds like a date. We can watch a movie too.” Griffin agrees and follows me out the back to my car.