just another night, [open]

[raymondkentler]

Murphy's strip club had always been a rather high-end place. Now maybe it's wasn't the best quality, but it definitely wasn't run down by any means. Raymond James Kentler had moved to River City a little over a year ago and had wandered in here one night. That night resulted in the beginning of a lot of things, the beginning of his life as a part of the Irish mafia, and the beginning of his job at Murphy's. He hadn't exactly been looking for a job, or to join the mafia but things had just happened to work out that way. It seemed like a lot of Ray's life went on like that.

The night had started off pretty busy, lots of excited men coming in to see the show. Ray was tending the bar, and keeping a close eye on the men when he could, sometimes they'd get a little too excited and do something stupid. Tonight he had two different cases in which he had to call security to escort the gentlemen out. If there was one thing Ray would make sure of, it would be that his girls were safe; and they weren't even really his girls. The fact that he watched over them so well definitely had earned him their trust though, which was nice. Mostly because that trust had earned him a lot of tail, and Ray liked his tail.

The night had slowed down considerably, which was surprising and Ray was running out of things to do. It was only around midnight and all he was doing was cleaning glasses and tending after the one or two men who were there. Most of the girls were dancing, though occasionally he'd talk to one who wasn't on stage. He hated nights like this, the nights when he had nothing to do. It left him alone with his thoughts, which was never a good thing. He'd start thinking about his parents, or his sister Paula; then his entire mood would change and he'd be royally pissed off for the rest of the night, and quite a few times, into the next day.

He felt the phone in his pocket, vibrating against his leg. It was very likely that someone higher up in the mob was calling to tell him of an assignment for him. Quickly pulling it out to see who it was, he sighed. It wasn't the bosses, but he answered anyone. "Mandy, I told you never to call me. To always let me call you," It was his younger sister, and now Ray was pissed that she hadn't listened to something that was very important. Even though he assumed she had called for something important, it still royally ticked him off.

Ray didn't think anyone in New York was looking for him, but that didn't mean that they weren't. And if they were, Mandy or Chain would be the first two people they'd go to asking questions. He listened to her soft voice on the other line, it was cracking and she had been crying, he could tell. With good reason too. "What do you mean he's dead?" he asked his little sister. There was no way. "He's dead Ray, like half the other god damn people you've known." She was shouting now, angry at Ray. He assumed she probably blamed him in some way. After Ray had left, Chain wouldn't of had much protection. "God dammit," Ray muttered. "Well thanks for calling Mand, but don't do it again." He quickly hung up the phone and slipped it back inside his pocket.

He couldn't believe it, Chain was dead. His best friend, his right hand man, was dead. Swallowing hard he returned to work, he wouldn't be emotional about it. He couldn't change it, and he certainly wasn't going back anytime soon. He refilled a drink for one of the men and stood, watching the girls, waiting for business to pick up or someone to walk in the door.