Page 28 of The Gentleness of Rage

I finished clearing the tables and made sure everything was tidy.

Banshee watched Alexa and I hit our cars and waited until we drove off. I liked that because even once inside your car, nobody was quite safe. You could still be attacked.

Once I got home, I locked the doors and headed for bed. I was tired but in a good way. And like Ariel had pointed out, I’d no bruises to show either.

Slate

“Ariel shoved Jaelynn?” Slate growled angrily.

He leaned against the bar in the clubhouse as Jared poured coffees for the brothers in attendance.

“Jaelynn pushed her right back,” Rock added with a yawn.

“Good for her. Ariel always thought her shit didn’t stink, and I’m sure she was looking to hook up with a brother,” Slate replied, silently proud of Jaelynn.

“Ah, a wannabe,” Lindsey said, popping up at his elbow and reaching for his mug. Slate handed it over. Lindsey was an asshole until she was caffeinated. The quicker they filled her up, the better for them.

Lowrider grinned at him as Jared made Slate another coffee, and clearly, Jared had encountered asshole Lindsey because he slid a second cup in front of her too.

“When is Aaron trying out?” Slate asked Jared.

“Next week. We think he’s got a place, but Aaron won’t count his chickens,” Jared replied.

“Nice. Drake and Phoe going?” Lowrider inquired.

“Yeah. Ain’t every day your kid gets a tryout for the NFL.” Jared looked proud of his younger brother.

“And you? When’s the next fight? I wouldn’t mind coming along,” Slate said.

“Next week. Mum still won’t come.” Jared grinned.

“I can understand that. I couldn’t watch EJ in a cage match,” Lindsey interrupted.

“It’s not cage fighting, it is mixed martial arts, MMA,” Jared explained.

Lindsey eyed him. “Do you fight in a cage? Yes? It’s cage fighting.”

And that ended that argument.

Slate turned his attention back to Rock. “Did you throw Ariel out?”

“Yup. And put the word out, she’s blacklisted. She’ll notget a job in this town,” Rock replied.

“Mac had already done that, but you reinforcing it will get the message across,” Slate said, satisfied. Nobody put their hands on Jaelynn and walked away. Not while he was around.

Chapter Six.

Slate

Slate walked into the strip club and nodded approval. The red walls and tacky leopard skin shit had all been ripped out.

Cayla stood in the middle of the chaos, giving commands as guys carried out the old, beaten tables and seating. He’d quickly grown to depend on her; she was honest, organised and creative. Cayla had interviews planned for door guards and on-floor security. She was also looking for some surveillance officers.

James Washington had sent six of his men over who used to work clubs and now sat twiddling their fingers at his home. Slate had hired them instantly. If they worked for Washington, then they were safe.

“Is the bar being demolished, ma’am?” a worker inquired.

“Yes, tear it all down. We’ve bought new stuff. I want a huge empty room when we’re done. Morning, Slate,” she called on seeing him.

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