Page 27 of Paco
“What’s up, dude?” Diablo asked.
Tearing his gaze from the jerk, he looked at Diablo. “Whaddaya mean?”
“You look like you’re ready to beat the shit outta that guy.” Diablo jerked his head to the mustached muscle man. “Did he disrespect you?”
“I just don’t like the fucker’s looks.”
“We gotta play it cool. Unless he disrespected you, we don’t wanna start shit right now. We don’t want these assholes to know that we’re checking them out.”
“I’m not gonna start anything.”
Army came over with an arm around one of the women. “And we’re headed to Pueblo to do a concert. This here is the bass player.” He pointed to Paco.
“I love bass players,” she said.
Paco rolled his eyes and focused back on the stage. “I’m going out for a smoke,” he said to Diablo.
The cold air blew away the shock of seeing Misty on stage. How the hell she ended up on a stripper stage in Silverado was a mystery to him.At least she’s not hauling her ass in a truck stop.
He walked around the back of the building and saw a slatted fence surrounding most of the backside that looked to be a little over five feet. He grabbed the top of it and hoisted himself up, then dropped down on the pavement. The back door to the club was propped open. Pushing it wide with the toe of his boot, he went inside. Several women rushed around, stuffing their tits in tight bras and putting on stilettos. A few of them winked at him, and he lifted his chin in their direction.
A well-endowed brunette in a skimpy purple metallic top and sheer G-string smiled at him, then turned to a redhead. “You’re on next, Reds.”
The redhead adjusted her bra and threw on a long cape. “Hope they’re tipping good tonight,” she said as she waited to go on.
The lights dimmed and he saw Misty coming down the stage steps. She grabbed a robe hanging near the curtain and shrugged it on.
“Here,” one of the women said to her. “You look like you need one.” Paco saw her hand Misty a joint.
“Thanks.” She took it and, with her head bent down, walked right past him and out the back door. Following her out, he watched her light up and take a deep drag.
“I never thought I’d see you in this place,” he said, walking toward her.
She whirled around, suspicion etching her face until recognition danced across it. “Paco!” Her lips turned upward into a wide smile.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
“I work here. Do you live in Silverado now?”
“No… I’m just visiting some friends. I stopped by Moab last week when I was riding through. Some older woman told me you’d left. You hadn’t mentioned you were moving on when we met.”
“Well, things change fast. I live a very transient life.” She pulled her gaze away from him.
He stared at her intently. “You okay?”
“Of course.”
He heard her words, but her eyes, her posture, and her movements told him she was lying. “You being forced to do this shit?”
“Misty! What the fuck are you doing out here?” A tall man came onto the back patio. Under the glow of the glittering white string lights, the man’s face was pockmarked, and Paco saw scratch marks on his bared arms.
“I was just smoking a joint.” She moved closer to the man.
“Who the fuck are you?” he grumbled to Paco.
Paco’s gaze darted to her, and he saw sweat trickling down her face, her body stiffening, and her fingers curling into a fist. He decided not to slam his fist into the asshole’s face, but only because he’d promised his brothers.
“None of your fucking business.” Paco took a step closer to him.
