Page 13

Slate

H e sat waiting for Jaelynn to finish her shower and join him. Slate wasn’t one for cooking, so he’d poured two bowls of cereal and made coffee. Jaelynn entered the kitchen looking pale-faced, but her shoulders were back and she was facing the day head-on.

“Are you okay?”

“Tired. Worn out. Scared. I want to run, but it’s pointless. I’m taking a stand. Damien won’t bully me into going with him,” Jaelynn stated as she cupped her coffee and inhaled.

“We’ve got you a couple of appointments today. Janet, a therapist, and Docs Gibbons and Paul,” Slate explained.

“What the hell for?” Jaelynn exploded, and Slate looked amused.

“What was Damien spouting last night? That you were mentally unstable. So, can he go against two highly respected doctors and an eminent therapist?”

“Oh. Good idea,” Jaelynn said.

“Yes, plus Ramirez and Ben will also be making statements around your demeanour, they certainly do not think you’re crazy,” Slate replied.

He avoided the unpleasant thought that they might be considering her as a serial killer, though. Slate didn’t know for sure, but it was a minor possibility.

“Okay. Guess you don’t need the fake ID now. When we have done that, we’re heading to the strip joint. I gotta check a few things. Until we’ve got Damien off the streets permanently, you gotta stick with me,” Slate said.

“And how you going to get rid of Damien?” Jaelynn asked, and Slate saw her bracing herself.

“You’re gonna have to make a statement,” Slate confirmed.

“And the last few times I called in, the police did nothing, and I was beaten again,” Jaelynn snapped.

“Not this time. A friend, a PI, has managed to get hold of your hospital records. Barclay may have tried to hide them, but Leila is good enough to locate anything. We have every little thing, the photos, reports, and doctor’s statements. Leila recovered the nine-one-one calls you made and police statements. There’s enough evidence to bury Barclay and his captain, who was also involved in covering this shit up.

“As soon as Ramirez has your statement, he’s taking it all to IA and letting them investigate. The entire department where Barclay is based will be under investigation. There’ll be some heads rolling,” Slate promised.

Jaelynn looked at him steadily. “I’ve heard that before. And then the assholes backed Damien. Forgive me if I don’t believe you.”

“I understand, Jaelynn, but I trust Ramirez. I just hope you let us prove you wrong,” Slare responded.

Jaelynn nodded and gazed out of the kitchen window. She seemed lost in her thoughts.

“You have never asked.”

“Huh?” Slate replied.

“You’ve never pushed. Why?”

“Because that wouldn’t have helped you, baby. You need a space to feel safe in. If I’d pushed for answers, you would not have felt safe. It doesn’t matter how curious I am, I needed you to be happy. You’ve grown in confidence and strength, and I fall in love a little more each moment with you. I want you to be mine, that means letting you find your feet while providing a solid base for you to stand on.”

“I’m already in love with you, and each day you continue to surprise me.”

“Good, because you’re going to kill me,” Slate teased as someone knocked. “Stay here, babe.”

Jaelynn frowned as Slate left.

Jaelynn

What was he up to? Slate had looked almost shifty. Had he just betrayed me? I edged towards the kitchen door, ready to make a run for it, when a huge ball of fluff headed towards me at speed.

I was knocked on my ass and licked head to toe.

“Molly-moo!” I squealed as I buried my face in the Silver Sable German Shepherd’s fur. Molly kept licking and kissing. All the while, she made a high-pitched cry as she loved on me.

“Next time, you won’t be gone for so long,” Aunt Elsie stated as she moved around the island.

“Incoming!” Dorothy shrieked as a second, bigger German Shepherd attacked.

“Roscoe!” I cried. “He’s got huge.”

Roscoe’s tail was going nine to the dozen, and Molly had plastered herself across my lap. I wasn’t going anywhere pinned down.

“How’re my babies?” I demanded as I fussed over them.

“Fat and spoiled,” Dorothy answered with a stern look at Aunt Elsie, who shrugged.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as Roscoe spotted Slate and headed towards him. Slate let panic cross his face as Roscoe leapt up, and he flinched back. Instead of biting, Roscoe started licking any part of Slate he could find.

Slate laughed and began fussing my exuberant puppy boy.

Well, they weren’t puppies, both Roscoe and Molly were full-grown German Shepherds and now three years old. They’d had to live at Aunt Elsie’s after Roscoe attacked Damien when he hit me. Damien had threatened to have him put down, but it was the one time I created merry hell. Instead, both pups had lived with Aunt Elsie for a year. But they were still my babies.

“Molly, up!” Dorothy said, and Molly offered her a derisive glare, but she got up. “Good girl,” Dorothy praised and flipped her a treat. Seeing Molly having something he didn’t, Roscoe came begging.

“So, you’ve finally found your lady balls?” Dorothy questioned as she perched on a stool.

Aunt Elsie giggled and sat next to her.

Dorothy turned to Slate. “Two cups of tea, with milk and sugar, please. Don’t make it too strong nor too weak.”

“How did you find me?” I asked as I stood up and brushed myself down. Damien had hated the fur, but it never bothered me. Not when you looked in Molly’s and Roscoe’s beautiful brown eyes.

“We didn’t. Slate found us. I must say, dearest, he is such an upgrade. Nice ass, good long thick legs, a trim waist and broad chest. Yes, most certainly an improvement. And look, Dorothy, he even has veins in his arms that pop. Jaelynn should find those lickable,” Aunt Elsie stated, eyeing Slate up.

A hint of red appeared on Slate’s cheeks as he turned around with two cups of tea.

“Cereal for breakfast? That’s not good enough for a hunk like you,” Aunt Elsie said, patting Slate’s arm and squeezing it. “Those muscles are real,” she hissed at me.

Slate glanced at me with a ‘what the fuck’ expression.

Dorothy looked amused as she sipped her tea. While Aunt Elsie went to my fridge, I compared the two most important women in my life. Dorothy, as always, was classy: nice, neat trousers, a silk blouse, and a string of pearls. Her hair was short but feminine and cut into a racy bob.

Aunt Elsie had jeans on, a gypsy flowing blouse cinched at the waist, her greying hair was down and reached halfway down her back. She wore several bangles and had clips to keep her hair from her face. Both women were in their early sixties and were still beautiful.

“I may be a lesbian, but I recognise a handsome man when I see one. Slate, I might not want to bang you, but I understand why Jaelynn would want to,” Aunt Elsie was saying.

Slate’s mouth dropped open, and he glanced at me wide-eyed.

“Aunt Elsie thinks it and says it,” I explained.

“Yes, forty-five years together, and Elsie still can’t filter. She was a nightmare in my early career years,” Dorothy interjected as she watched Slate and me.

“I was not… there it is, bacon and sausage. We taught our girl right,” Aunt Elsie said as she continued to yank eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes and butter from the fridge.

“You were a nightmare at events,” Dorothy retorted.

“Maybe I liked being spanked?” Aunt Elsie replied with a twinkle in her eye.

“I may have encouraged you because I loved spanking you,” Dorothy snapped back with humour in her voice.

“Those were the days. We were younger then and more energetic, young man. We had stamina and did not need boob jobs,” Aunt Elsie informed Slate, who choked on his coffee.

“God, did Elsie bitch after that operation,” Dorothy moaned.

“And you didn’t. ‘ If you’re having perky tits again, then so am I. Oh, the pain! The indignity of having my breasts drawn all over ’,” Aunt Elsie mimicked Dorothy’s tones. “Young man, you’d have thought she’d have had major surgery. But her boobs still look freaking brilliant six years on.”

“Thank you, I’m still pleased with them,” Dorothy said and eyed Aunt Elsie’s boobs.

“Mine are perfectly fine, as you told me this morning when we got dressed,” Aunt Elsie shot back.

“Welcome to my aunts,” I murmured to Slate as he sidled towards me. Roscoe let out a low growl, and he stopped as Molly shoved between us. Okay then. Roscoe had reverted to possessiveness.

“Damn,” Slate complained.

“Now. Listen here, Madam.” Dorothy spoke to me as Aunt Elsie began cooking. I grinned, for as long as I could remember, Dorothy had called me Madam. “Slate provided an update this morning on last night’s events. It’s high time we put that little ingrate in his place. I have contacts, and Damien Barclay is about to start finding life very uncomfortable.”

“How did Slate find you?”

“There aren’t many federal judges with the name Dorothy, it was pretty easy,” Slate replied.

Aunt Dorothy tapped the table for my attention. “Jaelynn. We know what that horrible little twerp did to you, and we know you tried to protect us. I’ve no doubt the insignificant idiot threatened us to force you to behave. But you’re free, and he can’t harm you anymore. You need to make a statement. Slate has explained the plan for this morning, and I quite agree.”

“Okay,” I said, feeling ashamed.

“Jaelynn!” Dorothy rapped the surface again. “No shame. Damien was very skilled and not even we saw what he was doing until you sent Roscoe and Molly to live with us. That’s when we guessed, but he’d twisted your mind so much you weren’t sure if you were coming or going. You are stronger now and can stand up to Damien’s bullying, and you’re not alone. Hear me?”

“Yes,” I replied, and Dorothy grinned. “I’m proud of you, young lady. Don’t forget that.”

Dorothy turned a beady eye on Slate.

“Uh oh,” Slate murmured as she smiled like a cat toying with prey.

“Let’s get to know you, shall we?” Dorothy said, and Aunt Elsie broke into cackles of laughter. Slate swallowed hard.

◆◆◆

Dorothy and Aunt Elsie had stayed with me while I gave my statement to Ramirez, and they joined me to visit Docs Paul and Gibbons. However, I saw Janet on my own. The medical outcomes stated that I was mentally healthy, and none of what Damien was saying would stick.

I felt a literal weight lift off my shoulders. Slate had explained that he’d spoken to Ezra and Mac, and I was given leave to stay with him until I flew out. He also assured me that places were booked for Dorothy, Aunt Elsie, and the two dogs. After my last appointment, Slate took me for lunch while Dorothy and Aunt Elsie went shopping. They knew I’d been feeling raw and exposed and wanted to give me some time with Slate.

Roscoe and Molly had been left at home, and I hoped they were behaving. It had warmed my heart seeing my puppy babies again. I had missed them so much. And when Damien managed to force me to quit my job, my life had been empty.

Not anymore. Thanks to Slate, I was putting it back together. Things may be up in the air due to the Venomous Fangs, but slowly my life was becoming my own.

Slate pulled into a parking spot near the front doors, and I followed him inside and stopped dead.

“Wow!” I exclaimed, looking around. Everything was so different, and this was just the entrance. “This is much more secure.”

“Yeah, security was a joke in here. Not anymore. Come on, babe, you won’t recognise the main floor,” Slate replied, and I walked with him down the hallway.

I smiled at the frosted glass six-foot mirrors that showed black outlines of women dancing.

“They’re projected films. They run for six hours and reset. Good idea, I thought,” Slate said.

“I like it,” I agreed. You couldn’t see any skin or flesh, just a tantalising shadow figure.

“We’re making the club members-only and instigating a hands-off policy. Break the rules, we’ll break your fingers,” Slate explained, and I laughed.

As we entered, I stopped, amazed. The room had been completely opened, and a security guard could survey the entire room easily.

There were circular booths for large parties and smaller tables with comfortable chairs. The seating area seemed a whole lot bigger. The private walls, which guys could grab and fondle a waitress without being seen, were gone. There’d be no sleezy men masturbating as a waitress approached them.

The stage was larger—and new. Above the bar was a brand-new mezzanine level, and that held what looked like floor-to-ceiling glass.

“One way only,” Slate said. “I can watch the floor but remain unseen myself. Those are mine and the three manager’s offices. Over there is the new VIP area.”

I glanced across and nodded. That was a three-tier system and three pretty large areas. Each tier had its own small bar.

“A guard will be present on each level, and no funny business is permitted. Everything is now out in the open,” Slate explained.

“It feels better in here. The ick factor is gone. This is welcoming but professional,” I commented.

“That is what I was going for. Come see my office,” Slate said and waggled his eyebrows at me.

I was laughing as we headed up the two flights of stairs. Slate stopped at a door and pointed. “That’s the panic room. It’s easily assessable to Cayla and whoever the other two managers will be. The code is the day we met.”

I smiled as I thought about it and then rattled a date off.

“Give the girl a prize,” Slate said, laughing.

As we were about to enter his office, the phone rang. “Hold on, baby. Hello?” Slate asked. Someone spoke on, and Slate’s eyes narrowed. “On it!” he snapped out.

“What’s wrong?”

Slate’s body had tensed, and I sensed he was angry.

“Someone’s lurking outside. Security is watching him. I need to go check what’s happening,” Slate replied, but he looked uncertain.

“I didn’t know you had surveillance up already,” I replied stupidly. What did that matter?

“It’s only partial at the moment. It’s still being fitted, but we’ve got someone acting suspiciously out there. Can you wait here?”

“Sure,” I agreed. This was the safest place for me.

Slate disappeared, and I began wandering around the floor. It was most definitely classier. There’d be no more fat, groping fingers for the waitresses. This would become a safe business for women to work in.

The doors opened, and then I heard them close.

“Did you find them?” I asked and turned.

Wade Winslow stood in the doorway, staring at me. “Nice to see you, Jaelynn. Damien’s been searching everywhere for you.”

I didn’t hesitate, even as fear built inside me. I took to my heels and headed for the staff stairway.

“Hey, what’s going on?” a woman demanded, coming towards me from a corridor.

“Run!” I screamed as I raced for the stairs and started running up them.

“Jaelynn!” Wade roared, and he caught hold of me. I struggled and shoved him, and he fell down a few steps. I began moving again when he reached up and grabbed my leg.

Wade yanked hard, and I hit my knees on the next step.

Half twisting, I turned and kicked him in the head.

Wade yowled, and I scrambled to my feet and headed for the panic room. I kept running the numbers through my head, and I reached the security panel and punched them in. The door opened instantly, and I yanked it open and, raced inside and started closing it. Wade shoved his hand in just as it was nearly closed, and I screamed as he began pulling it back open.

Acting on instinct, I let Wade open it a little and then pushed hard. That caught Wade off guard, and he stumbled backwards, loosening his grip. Without another thought and not caring, his hand was still there, I slammed the door shut and spun the wheel, locking the bars in place.

A primal scream erupted for a brief second. I gazed in horror at the patch of blood on the doorframe, and then I scrambled back and sat down heavily on a bed.

Slade

He rushed in as security alerted him somebody was in the building. Whoever had been outside had been a decoy, and Jaelynn was alone. Slate hurried inside and saw blood on a wall near the stairs. Screams came from the dancers’ changing room, and Slate drew his gun and barrelled down the corridor.

“Slate! Someone just took Sindy hostage and escaped out the back!” Cayla shouted as he approached. She had her own weapon drawn, shocking him, but Slate kept running past her.

“Secure the girls!” he yelled over his shoulders. He burst through the fire exit and saw a black truck skidding off. Two people fought in the backseats, and somebody was driving. The door swung open, and there was a loud bang, and someone fell out of the truck.

It pulled into traffic and disappeared as Slate ran forward. He could see a mass of brunette hair, and his heart was in his throat. Slate crashed to his knees, turned the body over, and sighed as he saw Sindy’s face.

“Slate,” she slurred. He looked down and noticed she’d been shot in her shoulder.

“Sindy, we gotta move, we’re too exposed here,” he said, picking her up and racing back. Where the hell was Jaelynn? “Did they have Jaelynn?”

“No, Jaelynn screamed at me to run and ran upstairs,” Sindy answered, trying to focus.

Slate slammed the fire door shut and headed for the changing room. Cayla held a gun in his face until she recognised him.

“Sindy’s been shot. Stay with her, and don’t let anyone in unless they are Rage,” Slate ordered.

“Got it. Silky, get that first aid box, we need to stop Sindy’s bleeding,” Cayla demanded as Slate ran out.

He sprinted up the stairs, alarmed at the blood on the walls. Someone had been hurt badly. As he hit the landing, he walked towards the panic room and saw the door was slammed shut and the panel was blinking red.

Somebody was in there. But there was a problem. Slate couldn’t speak to whoever was inside, and they couldn’t talk back. Hell, the cameras weren’t hooked up yet.

It had to be Jaelynn inside because Cayla was downstairs, and she was the only other one with the code. How the hell was he going to get Jaelynn out? It was pointless banging on the door, she’d not hear it.

Slate scratched his head. The second problem was that interior locking mechanisms meant only the occupants could open the panic room once the lock was engaged. It stopped anyone from being held hostage and forced to open the panic room.

Slate sighed and sat down against the wall. His brothers were riding, and the strip club had been locked down. He’d have to wait for Jaelynn to open the door. That was all he could think of. Fuckin’ typical! This wasn’t meant to happen.

Slate’s gaze fixed on the blood smeared on the door. As frantic as he was to get to Jaelynn, he couldn’t, and he felt he was going to bust out of his skin.

Slate prayed that it wasn’t Jaelynn who was hurt.