“Just a tad.”

The door opens and Rock finally steps back outside. “Jesus Christ, I forgot all the petty bullshit that goes on here.”

“What’s wrong?”

“My ears are still bleeding. Jasmine stole Pepper—”

“Poppy?”

“Whatever. Someone stole some expensive eyeliner from someone, so someone else flushed another girl’s shit down the toilet. Kill me.”

Hope giggles into her hands. “I’ve told you guys, you really need a female manager or something to handle this stuff before it gets out of hand. Someone who will understand their concerns without belittling them, but also lay down the law.”

“I laid down the law,” Rock says. “I told them to both go the fuck home.”

“Jesus, Rock, it’s Thursday night,” I remind him.

He shrugs. “Willow said Swan’s coming down later. She needs the extra money.”

“Did you ever think of having Swan manage the girls?” Hope asks.

“I have,” I answer. “She’s gotten better at sticking up for herself, but I don’t think she wants to dance much longer.”

“Yeah, she’s trying to get her yoga teaching going.” Hope shrugs. “Well, I guess the place has been successful this long the way it is. Ignore my advice.”

“No, it’s good advice, Hope. I’ve just never found the right person.”

Rock finally seems to shake off his annoyance and he slides his arms around Hope, pulling her against him. “What’d you bring for dinner?”

“It’s in my car.”

“Why don’t you two go out for dinner? I’ll watch things til you get back.”

“You don’t have to do that, Z. Don’t you need to get—”

Rock cuts off Hope’s protest. “Thanks, brother.” He plucks Hope’s car keys out of her hand and tugs her toward her car. “Be back in an hour,” he calls out over his shoulder.

“Bye, Z!”

Laughing, I duck inside.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Z

Since things are calmer downstate, now that I’m not looking over my shoulder constantly, another trip to Empire shouldn’t hurt.

Asking Loco for a favor isn’t exactly high on my list of favorite activities. Hell, I’d avoid it for the rest of my life if I could.

Rock gave our favorite eccentric pimp a head’s up that I’d be stopping by. Not the smartest idea to roll up on Loco without warning him.

Malik opens the front door to the brothel or whatever you want to call it. Usually one of the girls answer, so that’s a sign something’s off.

Malik holds out his hand and pulls me in for a quick slap on the back. “How you been, brother?”

Here, I’ll call him brother. When he’s at our place wearing his prospect cut, then he’s only prospect.

“Not bad. Not bad. Headed to CB in a few. You’re missed, Z. Missed a lot. When you coming back, Z?”

“No clue yet.”