Chapter 4

"Hey Mama! Henko stood behind the bar as he watched the guest take a drink from his cup. The man had been coming to the bar for quite some times. It was very rare for the man to ever speak of his personal life. He was not much older than Henko. He had short brown hair and what Henko called, gorgeous brown eyes. Even though the man didn't speak too much, it didn't stop Henko from falling into the eyes the man used to look at him with.

"What is it?" Henko questioned the man. He had yet to learn his name either. Again, it was something that Henko understood. Not everyone wants to be known for coming into a gay bar, especially one like this. He was there just to listen to the customers, not interfere with their personal life. If a customer didn't want to say their name, or even give Henko a fake one, it wasn't something Henko would judge in the slightest.

"I have heard that there is some type of gang territory going on around these parts." Henko stopped what he was doing and looked at the man.

"What do you mean?" The man took another sip of his scotch before speaking again.

"I have heard that there was a Russian man that is looking to expand his territories. I hear that he is going around demanding owners to pay him a protection fee. If they don't, he destroys the business for being defiant." That information was a shock to Henko. He normally hears things, but that wasn't one of them.

"When did this start? And how do you know that it's true?" Henko questioned. "Do you think that they would even come to this side of town?" The man looked up at Henko after finishing his glass and setting it back down.

"One of my friends who frequents another shop saw the whole thing. There were suddenly several men with guns that entered the establishment. When the owner asked what they were doing there. They said that they were there to get a protection fee. The owner laughed at the men at first. Thinking it was some kind of joke and threatened to call the cops. That was when one of the men started spraying bullets all over the glasses and pictures that hung above. It was a warning shot. The owner than knew what was going on. He quickly paid them whatever they asked. It wasn't later till they found out that they were part of the Russian Mafia." Henko listened to the man. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Have you heard to how far they want to expand, like; are they coming this way? Do you know?" Henko asked the man. He gave the man another scotch. The man took a sip of his drink before speaking.

"That I am not sure of. I can only give you this warning, so it doesn't spring on you all of a sudden." The man downed the rest of scotch. "Mama, I want to thank you for your services. I also hope that nothing happens to you or this store." The man picked up his jacket and gave Henko a toothy smile. "I want to keep coming back here and see you." The man made his way out of the bar. Henko was unsure if the last part was the man hitting on him, or what. However, the information that the man gave him, he knew he would have to be careful. The last thing that he needed was to be harassed especially by the Mafia. Henko could only prepare and that was all. He looked around at the girls and the clients sitting with them on the couches and tables. He looked at the few men that were sitting at the bar. He didn't want to lose any of this.

"Mama, are you okay." Henko looked up to see one of his girls looking at him with worry in her eyes. Her name was Sandra. She was really beautiful with her long silky black hair. She wore a baby pink dress that pushed up her chest and then fanned out. The outfit worked with her knee-high baby pink boots. Henko wasn't fond of the color, but it worked with the girl in front of her. The makeup was done perfectly. If you saw her, you wouldn't think twice about her gender. She was one of the top most requested girls at the bar, and Henko understood why.

"No, my dear. I was just told something sad from a customer. You know the usual conversation about life." Henko responded. The young girl placed her head sideways on the bar and looked up at Henko.

"Are you sure mama?" She asked again. Henko just smiled.

"It's really nothing to worry about." The look on the girls face never changed. Henko was thinking that Sandra was going to keep pushing, and Henko knew he didn't want to explain what was going on. The young girl finally stood up.

"Okay, mama, if you say you are okay. I guess then you are okay." Right when Henko was about to respond, a client walked up to Sandra.

"Are you free, I would like to sit with you and get some drinks?" Sandra looked at the man then at Henko." He just smiled at Sandra.

"Yes, sir. I am free. I will show you to our seat. What would you like to order for a drink?" Henko watched as the two wondered off to their destination. He really didn't want to lose any of this.