Triple Diamonds (Mystic Nights #2)(59)

Lesley must have noticed the scene his sister was making and he came over right away. “Shit, Jewel. We’re sorry. We’re not drinking. Just dancing.”

She turned her blazing eyes on Wesley’s twin. “Well, let me remind you both, you are not old enough to go clubbing. You need to pick up girls elsewhere. Follow me,” and with that she turned on her heel and walked right out of the bar. She ignored Justin completely.

Guests were laughing at the spectacle she had caused, and Joseph and Eve exchanged knowing looks. They had been through this as well. Only it was their mother who had caught them and dragged them from places they shouldn’t have been.

From Jewel’s quick pace and the boys following her with stooped shoulders, all who witnessed the scene knew the boys were in big trouble.

Jewel didn’t stop at the lobby. She walked right out the doors with her brothers in tow. Joseph told Eve to go back to the club. He would handle it and call her later.

Jewel spoke firmly twenty feet ahead of him. “Oh no. I am handling this.” She turned once outside in the parking lot. “Keys!” she demanded.

“I said we weren’t drinking, Jewels.” Wesley dug in his pocket to find the keys and dropped them into her proffered hand.

“I don’t care what you said, Wesley. No truck for two weeks. You big men can take the bus to school for the next two weeks. Now get in the car.”

“Jewels?”

“Lesley, now!” She opened the door for them and they both slid into the cramped back seat. Neither of them dared sit shotgun. They knew she could be an ogre when they screwed up. And they both knew they had screwed up badly.

She slammed the door after them, and turned to Joseph. “I’m so sorry, Joseph. I really can’t believe they did this.”

He smiled apologetically. “No need. They are boys, and sadly I admit, I did that a time or two. Though it doesn’t make it right.” The brothers looked away in shame.

“It’s so hard,” she complained. “But I promise it won’t happen again. They are going on restriction for two weeks. And no truck, no friends. No Justin.” She enunciated each phrase. “And when we get home they are going to watch me burn their fake IDs.” Both boys bemoaned the loss of their coveted IDs.

Joseph suppresses his smile remembering his mother doing the same thing to him. “I know this is your call, but how about you make them do a little volunteer work at the center with me. I’d like to help if I can, and maybe they can help me with the younger kids.”

Her eyes lit up at the thought. “Oo, that would be perfect. They’ll have to get up extra early.” Again, he heard the groans from the backseat.

“And I’ll even pick them up on the way to the youth center. They can catch the bus there to school.”

“That would be perfect.” He heard the anger slipping away from her voice. He saw her frown and knew she was worried about how this incident would affect them.

He leaned down to press a chaste kiss to her lips. And he hugged her whispering in her ear, “I’ll get to see you every morning too. This is not something to worry about. For us.” He heard her shaky intake of breath and knew he had said the right thing. “Go get them home. I’ll call you later.”

“I’d like that,” she stated as he finished opening her door for her and she climbed in.

With a final message to her to not worry about them, Jewel rolled up her window and pulled out. But even through the glass, he could hear her yelling at her brothers. “If either of you so much as opens your mouth before we get home, I’m extending the punishment until graduation. If you think you’re going to . . .” Her voice trailed off and was drowned out by the sounds of traffic pulling into and out of the casino.

It wasn’t exactly how he had hoped his evening would end, but in retrospect, it had tested his fears and he had not jumped to any conclusions. He smiled to himself as he turned back towards Mystic Nights, knowing that he had overcome a big hurdle. One that had been holding him back for a long time. He was learning to have faith again. And it was because of Jewel.

*

Joseph was going to take the elevator back up to his suite, when a flash of dirty blond hair tinged with grey caught his eyes. It was Senator Silver. Across the lobby, the man recognized him and waved. He switched directions and began to cross towards Joseph and met him half way.

“Senator, you’re still here,” he greeted the older man surprised to see him up so late as well.

The older man looked tired. But his eyes were bright. He seemed in good spirits. “Yes, a couple of the delegates decided to stay a few more days, and so since it’s my shindig, I stayed too. You never can tell what kind of support you will need down the road, and this is a big part of politics, networking.”

Joseph understood that since he had begun to campaign for the tribal seat. The elections was just a week away. “Well, I hope you’re getting to enjoy yourself while you’re here.”

Senator Silver smiled. “Oh, yes, yes. I always do when I come to Mystic Nights. Your mom has done a remarkable job with this place. As have all of you.” Joseph noticed the man quickly glance at his watch while he was speaking. He had been about to ask him if he wanted to have a drink.

But instead, he nodded towards him. “If I’m keeping you from something . . .”

“No. No, not at all.” The senator now gave him his full attention looking startled that Joseph had noticed his wayward glance. “Um, would you like to have a drink?” he asked.