“Why don’t you point me in the direction of this owner, and I’ll handle it,” Gabe suggested.
“I’m not letting you fight my battles for me,” Jodie said. “You should both leave so I don’t get in trouble.”
Reyna pinched the bridge of her nose. “This is a disaster.” She glanced at Jodie. “I know that you want to find your cousin. I want to find June too. But what happens if Visage finds out that you’re here? What happens if the owner finds out that they’re looking for you?”
“The owner doesn’t know shit, Reyna,” Jodie shot back.
Reyna held up her hands. “Fine. Okay. I get it. This is a shittysituation.”
“It’s not just a shitty situation. It’s my cousin is missing and she is the only family that I have left in the entire world,” Jodie argued. “What would you do if it was Drew or Brian? Or Beckham?”
Reyna jerked at his name and Gabe winced.
“What? I know exactly what you would do. You’d burn the world down and between Elle and Visage. I have never made a decision of my own, so forgive me that I’m going to stay here until I find June.”
Reyna’s cleared her throat. Now wasn’t the time to mention what had happened to Beckham. All that mattered was that Jodie was right. Her life had been controlled since nearly day one. She deserved her own independence. Reyna wished she could give it to her, but if Jodie stayed here, she would die. Everything caught up to them eventually.
“We want to find June, too, but Jodie, this isn’t where you belong. You’re not safe here, and we can still help you.”
Jodie turned half away from her. “I wanted to do this on my own. I thought I could…”
Reyna took a step toward her and held her hand out. “Why should you have to when you have me? When you have all of us who would stand behind you when you need it?”
Jodie glanced between them with a sigh. “Y’all are really annoying. You know that, right?”
Gabe snorted. “Pretty much.”
Jodie reluctantly dropped her hand into Reyna’s. “We’re going to find her?”
“Yes,” Reyna said, tugging Jodie in for a hug. Having Jodie back felt like a win. And any win was something they needed at this point.
When they separated, Jodie agreed to lead Gabe to the owner of the strip club. They left the private room and headed downa side hallway to an office at the back of the building. No sign announced the room, as if the owner was used to unwanted attention.
Jodie held her hand up and knocked on the door. “Ricky?” Jodie said, using an uncanny, submissive voice. “It’s Jodie. I got some cash for you from my performance tonight.”
A series of locks released before the door cracked open. “Hurry up and get in here. I don’t have a lot of time.”
Jodie arched an eyebrow at Gabe and Reyna before walking into the office.
“Where’s my money?” Ricky demanded.
Gabe and Reyna followed behind Jodie. Ricky’s eyes widened in surprise, then he dashed to his desk.
“Wouldn’t do that,” Gabe said, holding his gun leveled at Ricky’s chest.
Ricky stopped moving as if he were a mouse caught in a trap. “What the hell do you want? I’m running an honest business here.”
Reyna shut the door and bolted it back up. Jodie crossed her arms over her chest in disgust. “Psh, honest.”
“You work. You get paid,” he spat. “I don’t care if you’re a whore or a snitch. I’m still honest.”
“You’re exploiting her,” Gabe said roughly. “Now divulge what you know about June Gardner or else things will be less than pleasant for you.”
“I can have the cops here in seconds. I have the whole place wired. They’ll know you were here.”
“You can’t have the cops here before I shoot you,” Gabe reasoned.
“You wouldn’t…”
