Triple Diamonds (Mystic Nights #2)(66)

A commotion behind him caught his attention and his finger slipped off the button. He stepped back in shock at the sight that met his eyes. Four men, all in uniform, were barreling down the hall from the stairway in his direction. He turned around.

Too late, the elevator doors had slid shut before he could step inside. A fist came out of nowhere and it connected as his finger dialed a button.

*

“It’s a sting. We’ve been . . .” Justin heard his panicked cousin say before he heard thumping and grunting. Then the line went dead.

We’ve been . . . We’ve been, what? Justin was about to run out into the night when he saw four policemen heading towards him from the front doors. That exit was blocked. He turned and saw more security pouring out of the elevators. He was trapped. Set up.

We’ve been . . . Played! He knew in an instant who had been behind this. That f*cking bitch, Jewel! She had never liked him. He ducked into the casino and tore through the crowds ignoring the yells and complaints as he stormed through the crowds. The bitch was going to pay was his sole thought as he yanked the gun from the back of his pants. It had been hidden underneath his shirt. If she thought she was getting away with this, taking him and his cousin down, then she really didn’t know him at all.

As he flew through the casino as fast as his legs could carry him, he was totally unaware of the panic he was causing and the dozen men following his every move and blocking his escape routes. He only had one thing on his mind. Get Jewel, and then get away.





Chapter 26




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Panic struck as Joseph watched the monitors.

“Andreas, Justin’s gotten away. It looks like he is heading in your direction,” Nikko barked into his headpiece.

The moment he said the words, Joseph’s stomach plummeted like he had swallowed a lead weight. He exchanged a look with his brother, and of like minds, they both jumped and ran towards the door. Tawny was right on their heels, and so were the police chief and Nikko. Tom stayed to man the wall of monitors picking up Nikko’s dropped head set.

Instead of taking the elevator, Joseph and Jonathan chose the stairwell running down the two flights to the ground floor in less than a minute. Joseph led the way to the kitchens. There was another entrance from which they could gain access to the kitchens more quickly than passing through the crowded lobby.

*

Andreas acted without a moment’s hesitation. As soon as he heard his brother’s words, he ran towards Jewel. He wasn’t letting this man get to Jewel. As he approached her, her eyes went round in fright. “What happened?”

Ignoring her question, he told her to stay behind him. He was wearing a bullet proof vest. No sooner had she done that, then the doors from the dining room flew open and all hell broke loose. Plates clattered to the floor and there were several startled reactions from the staff. “Everyone down,” Andreas yelled as soon as he saw the man crash through the doors.

Most of the kitchen staff heard the command and obeyed instantly. Coupled with the man waving a gun at the doors, they immediately hit the tile floor. All, except one waitress who was carrying a massive tray laden with food to be carried out. She was a just a few feet from Justin when he came barreling in.

Seeing he was in big trouble, Justin grabbed the girl’s arm. Her tray clattered to the floor, glass and food flying in all directions. The girl screamed in pain and fear. “I want Jewel and I let this girl go.”

“Let her go,” threatened Andreas keeping Jewel securely out of his view while pointing his gun at the perp. His eyes scanned the room looking for a possibility, a way to get Jewel out safely while also trying to figure out a way to retrieve the girl Justin had grabbed. Just then from the recesses of the kitchen Joseph and his brother, Nikko and the chief of police stormed through the kitchen towards their location.

“Yes, let her go,” repeated Tawny forcefully. She stepped in front of her son even though he tried to hold her back. She wrestled herself form his grip. No one was getting hurt in her casino, she vowed to herself.

“Mother,” Joseph tried to reason with her. He saw Jewel was behind Andreas, and safe for now. His immediate concern was his mother. What was she thinking?

“Justin,” she spoke firmly making eye contact with the panic stricken man. His back was now to the wall a few feet away from the double doors. He held his gun up against the crying server’s head. The girl’s name was Adele, Tawny remembered. “The girl you are holding is Adele. She is a single mother. She has a two year old son. Please let her go. You can take me instead,” she offered taking a small step forward.

“Don’t do that, Mom,” Jonathan whispered sharply. From the corner of his eye he saw Andreas moving slightly with Jewel still behind him.

“I have to,” she whispered back. Then louder for Justin, “I have my car parked out back. I’ll be able to get you further.”

Justin looked around the expansive kitchen. He really wanted Jewel, but his chance for escape was slim. Having Mrs. Sassacus would give him more leverage. He was trapped otherwise. There were more men than he could count with their guns trained on him. And he couldn’t go the route he had come from. He was sure there were men waiting on the other side of the door. But surely no one would risk Tawny Sassacus’s life. He made his decision. “Everyone put your guns down,” he ordered.