Brian’s POV: Two Months Later:
I don’t think life could get any better. Got a beautiful woman by my side, business is good, the club is doing great, yep nothing could ruin my constant high. “There’s nobody here. Maybe we should go somewhere else.” Tammy suggested next to me. We were hustling by ourselves to kill time till she had to go play. The place was pretty empty, and we have been here for about an hour now. “Maybe you’re right.” I sighed gathering our things. “Orrr,” she said with a smirk, “we could hustle the hustlers.” she said motioning with her head to a couple in the corner. “How do you know they’re hustling?” I asked watching the couple. “Cause she’s having a hard time fucking up. Watch.” she said turning her attention to the woman. She wasn’t much shorter than Tammy. Still taller than short-shit. She was cute, kind of the girl next door look. Well except for the blue tips in her brunette hair.
I watched for a moment. I saw the frustration come across her face when a ball would go in, or she would try to scratch, and it would stop right on the edge of the pocket. “It takes about as much practice to make it look like you really suck as it does to be good at actually playing.” she explained. “She hasn’t practiced enough.” she added with a smirk. I couldn’t help but smirk. Since we’ve been together, she’s let me see a naughty, dirty side of her that came as quite a surprise, and I’ve been loving every second of it. She’s been getting bolder, more confident in herself. We’ve all noticed. Matt’s especially noticed the money he’s been bringing in with her. We’ve been able to triple our collections, and she’s been brought in playing victim for some of our justice jobs. Six months with us and she’s whittled her dad’s debt down to almost $100,000. A few more jobs, and she would be free, if Corey hadn’t doubled it that is.
We made our way to the couple in the corner. They were an odd couple. She looked like she liked to break the rules, and he seemed like a preppy momma’s boy. I guess they say opposites attract, maybe he fucks her good. “Hey, up for a game?” Tammy asked the girl with a sweet smile. So good at playing innocent. The girl returned her smile. “Sure.” she said having a hard time holding in her enthusiasm. They were a young couple. At least 21 they were drinking. Must be their first time hustling. He seemed slightly nervous watching as the girls put money on the game. “You alright man?” I asked nudging him a bit. His eyes shot to me with a hint of fear then back to the girls. “Y-yea I’m good.” he stammered out.
To my surprise Tammy let the other girl break first. Normally she would since she was suppose to be the sucker. We watched as the girl broke sending 3 balls right off the bat into pockets. Tammy stood to the side a small smile on her face as she watched the girl sink ball after ball. “U-umm are you Synyster Gates?” I heard the boy ask next to me. You could tell he really didn’t want to ask, but it must have just kept bugging him. No wonder he’s so nervous. I chuckled slightly, “No I’m not,” I lied, “but you’re not the first person to ask me that.” I told him watching as he relaxed more. It’s not like people don’t know who we are or what we look like. Not everyone, but word does get around, mostly from one civilian to another.
I turned my attention back to the game, and got slightly nervous myself when I noticed the girl only had 3 balls left including the 8 ball. I looked to Tammy, her smile had gotten wider. She must see something I don’t. I looked back to the girl noticing the same frustration on her face from before. She doesn’t have a shot. She tried instead to land the queue ball somewhere so Tammy wouldn’t have a shot, but judging from the smile on Tammy’s face and the frown on the girl’s, she failed at that.
Tammy took her place at the table, and with in a few minutes she was sinking the 8 ball in the left side pocket. “You should practice more at being bad before you try this again.” she said to the girl tossing her stick on the table. Scooping up the money off the edge of the table, she walked over to the girl. She seemed sightly surprised that we knew what they were doing. “And another thing,” she said, “always let the challenger break. They will know right away they’re getting hustled if you start out like that.” she said with a friendly smile. I snickered a little as she laced her fingers with mine, and we walked away leaving the two a little stunned.
We left the pool hall deciding to just go home. She still hangs out with Slipknot, but there’s not a lot I can do about it. She’s made it perfectly clear I wasn’t going to take away friends. I’m living with it. Corey doesn’t advance on her anymore now that we are together, it’s just friendly, and I do enjoy the smile that’s always on her face when she’s happy. I know if I want her to trust me then I need to trust her.
Walking into the house, we were nearly trampled over by Johnny. “Hide me.” he pleaded with a smile ducking behind us. “What did you do?” I asked looking back at him with a chuckle. He didn’t get a chance to answer when Jimmy came flying down the stairs looking for him. “Where’s the fucking leprechaun.” he asked breathless. “You’ll never catch me!” Johnny said high pitched taking off from behind us. We couldn’t hold in our laughs as Jimmy took off after him, catching him in no time and flinging him over his shoulder. “Thought that was real fucking funny didn’t you short-shit?” Jimmy asked heading for the back door. Tammy and I followed to see what was coming. “Hilarious!” Johnny laughed as Jimmy opened the back door. Matt heard the commotion from his office, and was now standing next to us outside a wide smile on his face. The Berry’s and Zack were already outside and looked over surprised when Jimmy stormed out with Johnny over his shoulder. “Please don’t. I’m sorry.” Johnny tried pleading, but not holding back his laughter. “Yea keep laughing fucker.” Jimmy said tossing him fully clothed into the pool. Laughter erupted as he hit the water with a large splash. “Damn it Jimmy my phone was in my pocket!” Johnny yelled coming to the surface. “Well maybe you should have thought about that before you so rudely woke me up.” Jimmy said with a smug look pushing Johnny with his foot back in the pool as he tried to climb out.
“Oh my God. You guys are too much.” Tammy said with a slight chuckle as she walked over to help Johnny out of the pool. “Don’t help him!” Jimmy yelled. She ignored him and helped pull Johnny out of the pool. “I warned you.” Jimmy said scooping her up like he did Johnny. “Don’t do it! I swear you’ll come with me!” she warned as Jimmy got ready to throw her in. Jimmy just laughed at her as he lifted her up off his shoulder by her waist to toss her in. His laughter stopped when her legs wrapped around his waist in mid toss, and he went in with her. “I warned you fucker.” she said splashing Jimmy in the face as they resurfaced. Laughter emitted all around when the two got into a splashing fight, and started pushing each other under water.
She didn’t resurface right away the third time he pushed her under. “What the fuck!” Jimmy yelled as he started to squirm around trying to push her away. I couldn’t see what she was doing through the water, it was too distorted from the commotion. She launched herself away from him, swimming to the edge under the water before she quickly climbed out. Taking a few steps, she turned to face Jimmy who was glaring at her from the pool. “Loose something?” she asked with a smug smile waving his shorts in the air. Laughter erupted as she dangled the shorts. She knew as well as the rest of us that he free balls it. He doesn’t keep it a secret. “Can I have those back please.” Jimmy asked calmly a small smile on his face. “Yea sure.” she said walking to a near by table, and picking up a towel. “Come get’em.” she said placing them on the table, and sitting in the chair next to it. A smile panted on her face as she dried most of the water waiting for Jimmy to come get his shorts.
Of course she also knew that Jimmy has no shame, and he didn’t hesitate to get out of the pool. Taking the long way to her, he climbed the steps and walked around the pool in all his glory, head high, and smile wide. We chuckled as he strolled over to her, stopping and picking up his shorts. “Cold?” she smirked cocking a brow. “Nope. Just really small.” he joked pulling his shorts back on. We hung outside for a few hours before Tammy excused herself to shower before we had to head to the club. The place has been such a big hit I’ve been thinking of expanding. I left room to grow if needed, and I think it might be needed. I’m going to give it some more time to make sure things don’t die down, and business isn’t good just because it’s new.
Zack wasn’t going to be here tonight. He had a hit to do, and Jimmy will be by later. He’s at home hacking the security system for Zacky, looping security cameras, and all that other shit. Only 3 of them tonight, Jim, Corey, and Sid. He’s the youngest, but Corey made him his right hand man. Probably cause he’s just as cold and heartless. I guess that’s not really fair for me to say. I’ve personally never taken the time to get to know them. It’s strictly business when we deal with them.
Two hours open and there’s still a line around the block. I’m fucking loving this. The band was just coming back from a 15 minute intermission, and Jimmy just got here. Zack must not need him anymore. I didn’t think anything could ruin the night. Until I heard the last voice I wanted to hear.

Notes

Just a little filler to set off the next few chapters.....