Soul Serenade

4

When Miranda walked backstage Tucker was snorting with a few other guys. While a man stood nearby.

"There's my girl. Fellas didn't I tell you she was nice"

"This Church mouse" A man approached her and moved some strands of hair out of her face. He looked over her and looked at Tucker. " Tucker do me a favor, leave your hands off her"

"What do you mean"

"I'm not stupid. It's in her eyes. She flinched when I approached her"

"No one puts a hand on her" Tucker flagged the man off

"You sound real pretty girl" The man smiled showing a diamond grill. Dollar signs went up in Miranda's head. " I'm a fan of the rhythm and blues"

"Thank you" She smiled

"Names Mister" He smiled "Just Mister"

"Nice to meet you"

"It sure is. I'm going to be investing some money in you. Tucker owes some of my acquaintances some money. So he told me to come see you perform. I can do better than these run-down clubs, Tucker has you in" He chuckled "You like that idea"

Miranda nodded and just stared at the man without saying a word.

"Good. So here's the deal we made, you sing for me. You'll sing in bigger venues and that means more money. So I take my cash and you take yours"

"What's the catch" She asked

"Mandy" Tucker looked at her

"Tucker shut the hell up, let her ask questions" Mister snapped at Tucker "No catch like I said Tucker owes my associates money. Not you. The deal is I make money, you make money and he sits back and lets the real businessman work"

"That's it," She asked

"That's it" He smiled

"This real" She toyed with his chain. It was diamond cuban link chain with a M pendant. 

"Want it, it's yours" He took it off and put it on her. " I take care of you now" He smiled brushing his hand along her cheek.

"I didn't say anything about flirting with her" Tucker spoke up

"Shut the hell up Tucker. You do realize you basically sold her to me, right? You owe money and you offered up your girl. So shut the hell up. You weak excuse of a man" Mister snapped

"You're going to make him mad" Miranda laughed

"Think I give a damn about him being mad" Mister laughed

"We got a deal or not," Tucker asked

"Tucker don't talk to me like you're in charge around here" Mister walked over to him "I'm talking to Mandy"

"I'm the manager you talk to me" He stepped to him

"Tucker Jones when will you learn" Mister laughed and pushed him back down. "Sit there and shut up"

"What exactly is going on here" Miranda asked

"Tucker owes people money"

"And he sold me to you," She asked " Tucker what the hell"

"He pissed off some drug dealers as you probably guessed. See he is broke. But I'm not so broke. So I offered to pay his debt because I didn't want him to be murdered. Now that means he owes me though, right? So he offers up you in ways I'm sure you can imagine. But you're better than that. You're not a common whore. You are destined for greatness.  So I said no but she'll sing for me. I'll take you to that greatness."