Page 12 of The Gentleness of Rage

“Did you find Jaelynn?” she asked.

“Yes. A doctor is with her now.”

“Good.”

Slate walked over to Drake, who stood with Ace and Manny. They were having an intense discussion.

“You don’t run anything,” Drake said as he approached.

“I work,” Slate snapped back defensively.

“Didn’t say that, asshole,” Drake retorted.

“No, I don’t manage anything,” Slate replied. He wondered what was going on, but his mind was also focusing on Jaelynn.

“How about managing a strip club? Rage just came into one,” Drake asked, and Slate’s eyebrows shot up.

“Washington runs the strip clubs around here,” Slate replied.

“Offered him this, Washington refused. Said we can have it. But I ain’t running it like Royce was,” Drake snarled in disgust.

“Pres, I don’t know shit about managing a strip club,” Slate spoke quickly.

“Learn. These girls are now yours. But we’re going to send them home and arrange a meeting for Monday. Get all the dancers and waitresses in, give them some rules, see what they were earning, and so on. And rename this fuckin’ club. Jingle Jangles, is what it says, a cheap strip joint,” Ace stated.

“Rage got the money for this?” Slate asked Manny, who nodded.

“Sure as hell have. And enough to renovate it, make it classy,” Manny said. “Got plenty to sort this shit out. The coffers are rich, and we ain’t bought anything for a while.”

“Great, just what I always wanted to be, a strip joint owner,” Slate complained.

“Suck it up,” Drake replied. “Washington has offered help. Jason is going to send some guys who are proper security. Dancers were forced to have sex with guards and paying customers. You’ve got a lot of shit to deal with.”

“Wonderful,” Slate said, glancing over at the crowd of women.

“We took photos of every man here. The girls will identify who they were forced to have sex with. Those assholes will face consequences. You’ll need to interview the dancers, speak to waitresses. We’re unsure about the bartenders yet, that’ll come out during the interviews. No matter what happens, we now protect them,” Ace added.

“Gonna be a lot of beatdowns in Rage’s future,” Slate drawled.

“It’ll give the prospects something to do,” Drake replied. “Make the announcement, Ace, and let’s get out of here. Tell them to return Monday and to inform the other dancers. Also, inform them they’ll be paid for what they lose while we shut. Ain’t gonna put those women through anymore misery.”

Slate watched carefully as the girls looked up as Ace called for attention. He scanned their faces and saw relief when they were informed Royce was no longer in charge. Sceptical glances were exchanged when they were ordered to stay home until Monday, and they would be paid.

“We gotta find a new joint?” a blonde asked.

“No. You all heard of James Washington?” Ace replied. Most of the women nodded. “He’s going to help us sort this shit out. Washington doesn’t peddle flesh, and neither does Rage.”

“Be nice not to have to spread my legs to get money,” someone said, and Slate felt anger settle in his gut.

Royce and those taken tonight were going to pay.

“Put it this way, we find out you’re doling sex, moving forward, you’ll be fired,” Slate announced.

And that ended that discussion.

Chapter Three.

Jaelynn

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