Page 18 of The Gentleness of Rage

“Very kind of Jaelynn to help a brother out. I’ll send a long-term loaner and Harley, Christian, and Cody over. There shouldn’t be an issue,” Drake said and cut the call.

“What was that about?” Jaelynn inquired suspiciously.

“Drake is loaning you a car,” Slate replied.

“Don’t you think you should have checked if I can afford one? You wasted Drake’s time because I can’t,” Jaelynn responded, offended.

“Good job it’s free. And do not start any bullshit! A lot of Drake’s cars sit there and cost more in maintenance because they’re not being driven regularly. With you driving one, it saves them issues. You can fill up on gas at the garage weekly. Drake will deduct it as a tax break. Just say thanks, Jaelynn, and let’s not argue,” Slate replied.

“This is too much,” Jaelynn insisted.

“You wanna know what I see? I saw a woman who’d already put in a day’s work bust her ass helping strangers out because she noticed they needed it. She didn’t do that once, but twice. Then, she faded away and didn’t demand money, food, or drink. She didn’t even take the tips she’d rightfully earned, and they added up to a fair amount.

“I next see her attacked, bruised, and shocked. You didn’t deserve that. Jaelynn, I know you’re running from something, I get it. And you ain’t ready to talk, fine. But no Rage brother would stand by and allow you to walk alone. You’ve got me, and I’ll be at your back come hell or high water.

“There aren’t many honest women like you around. Truly good ones. When we find one, we cherish and look after them. It’s too soon for you to realise the truth, but I’m the shield between you and those who’d hurt you. I will take down anyone, male or female, who comes at you,” Slate promised.

Jaelynn twisted in her seat and stared at him as he continued driving.

“Fucking unicorn,” she murmured.

Chapter Four.

Jaelynn

Can you believe this man? He made a shitty day look so much brighter, and I didn’t mean by just his looks. Slate was the dream guy, the full monty, but I couldn’t understand why he was bothering with me. He seemed to think that me helping at Hell’s Rage meant something special. It hadn’t. It had been mere manners. The bar had been slammed, and the staff had struggled. The decent thing had been to help, so I had.

“I can’t thank you enough,” I said finally.

Slate made a noise similar to a raspberry before inclining his head and turning on the radio. Yet another surprise as country music blasted from it and not rock or heavy metal, as I would have expected. That’s what stereotyping someone did!

I had never met anyone like Slate. Was he a rarity in men? Well, duh, that was pretty obvious. But his brothers—I guessed Slate meant club brothers—also seemed the same. One wanted me to house-sit, which really helped me out, and another was lending me a car. Furthermore, I had two jobs working for them. A simple act of compassion had led to a bounty I’d not foreseen.

Thank you, Auntie Elsie, for raising me the right way.With kindness and respect.Once I’d settled and sorted something out about Damien, I would send for her. Well, for both Aunt Elsie and Dorothy. Both ladies knew I was fleeing Damien; however, my location remained undisclosed for their safety.

Damien wouldn’t go after Aunt Elsie because of Dorothy. That was worth more than his career to tackle the feisty, gun-toting former federal judge Dorothy was. Dorothy would annihilate anyone who attacked my aunt, who was also Dorothy’s wife. Yeah, she had enough contacts to protect them both. Plus, Damien knew Dorothy was looking for a reason to shoot his ass. She’d made no bones about her dislike of him.

Damien wouldn’t contact them, although he might watch them and tap their phones, which was why I bought a cheap burner when I called. I ensured I stayed under the trace limit. Both ladies were aware of Damien’s true colours and how I had been imprisoned in his home. They hadn’t known at the time because if I let anything slip past the ‘so in love with Damien’ front, he’d beat me black and blue.

I’d told them everything when I’d run, and Dorothy had been ready to throw the book at him; she still held sway in the legal system. But that would leave them open to an attack.

Damien wouldn’t go after them as long as they left him alone. I knew that deep down. So, I urged them to keep out of it and act concerned if Damien turned up looking for me.

The fact Damien hadn’t meant he’d guessed I was in contact with them. Dorothy was perfectly capable of putting a bullet in him and crying he attacked her. Two ladies in their sixties against a virile man in his thirties? Yeah, they’d win in the court of public opinion.

Slate pulled to a stop outside a beautiful chocolate box home, and I stared in surprise.

“Your friend can’t rent this?” I asked, shocked.

“Nope.”

“Are you lying?” I demanded, half amused.

Slate lifted an eyebrow, climbed out, and grabbed my bags from the back. There were vehicles parked on the driveway, and as we entered the house, Slate called out.

Two young men appeared and glanced at me before facing Slate.

“Cupboards are full. I hope she can cook, or there is going to be a lot of wasted food. Car’s gassed up, and I’ve stacked the fridge and freezer,” he explained to Slate in an English accent. It puzzled me. Furthermore, the other guy spoke in the same dialect.

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