Page 35 of Sling’s Awakening

“Okay…” I answer slowly, trailing off as I grow more and more confused by the minute.

He told me his wife had been laid off from her job a couple of months ago and is having trouble finding a new one that pays the same, but I don’t understand what that has to do with him, whatever he’s about to tell me.

“Shit.” Big Jack sighs as he shakes his head. “I don’t know how to say this, especially to you of all people, but I need to escort you off the property.”

I freeze as I stare at him, dumbfounded. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand up as an eerie feeling settles over my body. “What?”

“Russ wants you out of here. Didn’t say why, but it’s not like I would be able to understand his drunk ass if he did. All I could make out was that you’re not on the clock and can’t be here fraternizing.”

That fucking motherfucker.

I made the employee handbook because he didn’t have one and claimed he didn’t have time to make one. There was an incident with a girl a while back who was using the champagne room off the clock to turn tricks. Russ lost his ever-loving mind and forced me to include a clause stating that if you’re an employee, you aren’t allowed to entertain customers if you aren’t on the clock. He also made me add that you will be removed from the property if you’re found doing that.

But I’m not fraternizing with anyone. I’m trying to help the girls out of the mess he’s creating.

Now he has the audacity to twist the rule and use it against me?

All after I got myself ready and rushed to come in after working almost eighty hours this week to fix his fuck-ups?

I squeeze my eyes shut and inhale through my nose, trying to calm myself enough to respond without taking it out on Big Jack. This isn’t his fault. He’s just doing the job he’s paid to do. I get it. I really do. But that doesn’t mean I’m not pissed as all get out.

“Alright.” I exhale as I open my eyes. The rage I’m feeling isn’t going anywhere as I open them back up to see Big Jack looking like he would rather be doing anything else right now. “I’ll leave. I don’t want to cause any problems for you,” I say, even though it pains me to know I have to leave my girls on their own. “You’ll watch out for them?” I ask.

Big Jack nods, knowing what I’m talking about without me having to verbally say it. “Always.”

“Thanks.” I swallow.

I give Big Jack one last glance before I step around him, walking toward the bar. I wave in Crystal’s direction to get her attention. Once I have it, I mouth, “I’m out of here.”

Her eyes widen and her mouth drops open as she looks behind me. I can feel Big Jack following me out. He doesn’t touch me, though. He knows I’m not going to cause a scene over something like this.

I have a feeling it’s coming, though.

Chapter

Ten

BLAKE

It’s almost two in the morning by the time I pull into my driveway.

I’m fucking exhausted. Physically and emotionally. I don’t remember the drive home. My mind was on autopilot the entire way. I couldn’t stop replaying the exchange with Russ in the office and Big Jack telling me I needed to leave.

All of it had me in such a state that my mind drove me to the gas station on the corner down from my neighborhood. I may have quit smoking cigarettes, but who am I to tell my body no when it’s obviously giving me signs of what it wants? You’re playing with fire if you mess with fate.

So what did I do?

I marched my ass inside and bought a pack of Camel Crushes and a tall boy of Mike’s Hard Lemonade to go with it.

If how I was feeling before today wasn’t clear enough that I need to start looking for a new job, it became crystal clear tonight.

Fuck him.

I should have marched my ass back to the office and quit on the spot.

But I can’t bring myself to leave my girls high and dry with that piece of shit. And my bills aren’t going to pay themselves.

As I get out of my car, I look over at Sling’s house before I can stop myself.