The arrangement worked out, so Shooter wanted to keep Marcus and his boys as permanent bouncers, but Marcus had other ideas. With his mind always being on new ways to generate income, he immediately saw what Shooter wasn’t seeing. They were in a prime spot to open a gentlemen’s club. With the garment district a few blocks away and easy access to New Jersey, they couldn’t lose. Approaching Shooter with an idea and fifty thousand dollars of his own money, Marcus and Shooter soon became partners and completely redid the place. Thanks to Marcus, Shooter now had one of the hottest spots in New York City.

“How was the barbecue?” Shooter asked, lighting a Winston.

Marcus shrugged. “It was cool; too many homos, though.”

“Shit, you knew that before you left.” Shooter blew a ring of smoke out. “One of them sissies try to grab your ass?” Shooter teased.

“Never that,” Marcus assured him. “But I met a girl.”

“Boy, what kind of girl you meet in a room full of faggots? You ain’t got nothing she can use.”

“She’s straight, Shooter.”

“That’s what they all say, until you find ’em trying to get their fingers in your ass to see if you’re open to it. I knew this young bitch back in ’53—”

“I get the point, Shooter.”

“What I tell you about cutting me off?” Shooter waved his blade. “So is this a nice young gal or what?”

“She seems to be.”

“Last girl you went after seemed to be, too. I told you not to plant roots with that skank, but you wouldn’t listen to old Shooter. Your head is as hard as a bowling ball.”

“I know, Shooter, that’s why I’m not trying to jump out the window with this one. I mean, I ain’t in love or nothing, but I do like her.”

“I sure hope not. It was no easy task, picking up the pieces of your broken heart,” Shooter said.

“I wanna see where her head is at first. I think she’s a nice girl, but only time will tell that. You ain’t gotta worry about me falling victim again.”

Shooter sat on the edge of the desk and said seriously, “You’re a good kid, Marcus, so don’t go laying around with trash and letting that pecker of yours convince you that you’re in love. If she’s a good girl, then you make sure you do right by her. But if she’s a dog, treat her like the tramp bitch she is, and when you’re done with the pussy, let old Shooter have a taste.” Shooter and Marcus both bust out laughing.