by Keira Beck
“Me? What do you mean?”
“I wouldn’t have had to taunt him if you’d been quiet.”
“I’m sorry? You being a smart-ass is my fault?”
“When you defended me, he turned his gun on you. I needed to get his attention back on me.”
“Even if you weren’t just bashed in the temple, I’d say you need to have your head examined. I thought they were going to shoot you.”
“And I was worried about you.” He managed to get upright then wiped his head with his sleeve. Damn thing wouldn’t stop bleeding. “Doesn’t matter now. Help should be here soon, then we’ll all get out of here.”
“What makes you think help is coming? No one knows we’re in here.”
“Come on, Daphne. You work here. You know how secure casinos are. They’ve got cameras everywhere. Security has to know what’s going on. In fact, I’m surprised they haven’t stormed in here already.”
“That’s right. I do know how secure casinos are. And I know their response times.”
He raised his eyebrows. Another stab of pain lanced his head, and he winced.
“If security was coming, they’d have been here already,” she said. “I don’t know how these guys managed it, but they fixed it so no one knows we’re in trouble.”
“That would take a lot of planning and even more luck.”
“See that guy? The one they call Ace?”
“Yeah.”
“Remember the other night, I told you I didn’t get the promotion I expected.”
“What about it?”
“When I was leaving my boss’s office, I saw him. He was in the doorway of the surveillance room, talking to someone.”
“Did you see who?”
“No.”
Shit. That meant they had at least one person on the inside. Noah hadn’t counted on that. Made sense, though. They’d need covert help to pull off a crime at a casino. And even then, their odds were slim. Had to be a big payday for them to take this kind of chance. “What’s going on here today that these guys would risk this?”
“College basketball championship.” The guy seated on the other side of Daphne—one of the players, not an employee—leaned forward. “Hope you don’t mind, but I’ve been listening to you.”
“No. That’s fine.” Kind of hard for Noah to bitch about privacy at a time like this. Besides, any little bit of information might help. “You were saying?”
“Casinos have to hold enough cash onsite to cover any possible payout at any given time. That means every chip on the floor, every possible jackpot from the slots, and any bets made with the sportsbooks. They always have millions on hand. But because today is the championship game, they’ve brought in a lot more to cover the bets. I can’t even begin to guess what’s in the vault right now. Tens of millions. Maybe hundreds.”
“But these guys are nowhere near the vault,” Daphne said.
“I don’t know their plans,” the guy said, “but you asked why today. That’s the only reason that comes to mind. Fewer gamblers mean the rooms are sparsely staffed. And there’s more money to be had. Somewhere.”
Noah took another glance at Ace, Joker, and Deuce. They must have found what they were looking for, because they turned from the table. Ace stuck something in his pocket then pointed at the male-half of the clingy couple. “You. You’re coming with me.”
“I’m not with him,” the woman said. “We just met this weekend.”
Figured. The girlfriend experience.
“You look pretty chummy,” Joker said.
“I’m an escort. I don’t know him from Adam, other than the time we spent here.”
Ace looked her over, and a lecherous smile spread across his face. “Escort, huh? Then I definitely think you need to come with me.”
A strangled sob escaped her, and Ace pointed his gun at her. “None of that, Trixie. Mind if I call you Trixie?”
She shook her head, and tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Great. You two are coming with me and Joker. Deuce, you stay here and keep an eye on the rest. Anybody gets out of line, you know what to do.”
Deuce grinned.
Joker approached Trixie and her John, then leaned down, grabbed her arm, and hauled her up while kicking the guy to motivate him to move.
He scrambled to his feet.
Ace pointed his gun in the John’s face. “No trouble from either of you, or you both get it? Got it?”
Each nodded, eyes wide.
“Good. Now, let’s go.” Ace pocketed his gun, but by the way he held his hand in his jacket, it was clear he was palming the weapon and aiming it at the couple.
Joker mimicked his actions.
They made their way to a door near the corner of the room then slipped out. It would open to the least crowded part of the casino floor.
Deuce took a wad of napkins from the elderly woman’s purse and opened it on the card table. Inside were a half-dozen donut holes, likely taken from the breakfast buffet that morning. He sat on the edge of the table and popped one in his mouth.
While Deuce was distracted, Noah leaned over Daphne to talk to the man beside her. “Hey. I’m Noah. This is Daphne.”
He nodded. “Jack.”
“While this guy’s distracted and the other two are gone, we stand good odds.”
“Of?” Daphne asked.
“Of disarming him, escaping, and getting help to track the other two down.”
“Noah, I don’t think that’s a good idea. You could get hurt. It’s not like you’re a cop or anything. Leave this to the professionals. We should just wait it out.”
“I agree,” Jack said. “I mean, I’d like to help. But he has a gun. We don’t have any weapons or experience.”
Noah sighed. “I do. If you’re not going to help, can you at least try to keep everybody down and out of harm’s way?”
“What do you mean, you do?” Daphne said.
Noah glanced at Deuce. There were only two donut holes left. He was almost out of time. “I work for a private security firm.”
“You mean, like crowd control at a concert, or something? That’s hardly hand-to-hand combat experience.”
“I got the job because I used to be a SEAL. Now, keep everyone down.” He sprang to his feet, charged across the room, and leaped, taking Deuce to the floor in a flying tackle before the guy registered what was happening. Noah rolled with him, wrestled him into a headlock, and started to apply pressure, intending to knock him out. He looked across the room to make sure Daphne was okay.
Her eyes were wide, and her hand covered her mouth.
Something hard tapped against the uninjured side of Noah’s head. He looked up.
“Let him go, frogman.” Jack stood over him, holding a gun.
Chapter Six
Noah let go of Deuce, who was sprawled on the floor, gasping for breath.
Jack gestured for him to stand.
He rose, then stood toe-to-toe with the gunman. “Jack, huh?”
“I was worried I’d given myself away, but you were none the wiser.” He snorted. “Now, back with the others.”
Noah walked back to Daphne and sat beside her. “Anything else I should be made aware of?”
“All in due time, frogman. All in due time.” He sat on the edge of a table and studied Noah. “You said you worked private security. You here on duty?”
Lie. Always best to lie to the bad guys. Sprinkle in just enough truth that it’s believable. “I was supposed to protect one of the performing acts. I’m already late. My crew will be looking for me. If I were you, I’d get out while I could.”
“Right. You and three other guys, I’m sure.”
Noah smirked. “Exactly.”
“Who are you here to guard? Must be a big name to require a full security detail.”
What the hell was that comedian’s name? It was something stupid. He tried to recall the poster outside and stalled for time. “I’m not supposed to talk about our clientele.”
; Jack pointed his gun at Daphne’s head. “If you can’t even name the act that’s performing here, I’m going to have to assume you’re lying. I don’t think you’ll like what I do to liars.”
“Justin Thyme. We were hired to protect Justin Thyme.”
“Justin Thyme?” Jack lowered the gun. “That knob? He’s not even funny. Most of his work is derivative, and some of it is downright offensive.”
Noah didn’t have a clue if any of that was true, but he went with it. “I don’t think he’s funny, either.”
Jack aimed at Noah’s forehead. “Why are you working for him if you don’t like him?”
“It’s my job.”
“What’s he need extra security for? No one likes him.”
“Maybe that’s why.”
Jack snickered. “You’re pretty funny, frogman. Too bad I don’t believe you about your crew. And I told you what I do to people who lie to me.”
Daphne gasped.
“You really want to risk making all that noise?” Noah asked. “I don’t know how you’ve diverted security so far, but a gunshot will bring everyone running. Including my guys.”
“Thought your guys were with your client?”
“I’m missing, and I’m not answering my phone. Someone’s looking for me.”
Jack stared at him through narrowed eyes.
The door burst open, and Ace and Joker strode in. They were dressed in casino security uniforms—charcoal pants, white shirt, blue blazer, burgundy tie—and they each had little gold name tags like the real guards.
“I see you’ve revealed yourself, Jack,” Ace said.
“Didn’t have a choice. This one,” he pointed his gun at Noah, “rushed Deuce. Almost took him out with a chokehold.”
Ace sighed. “What are we going to do with you, Mr. Crawford?”
“He’s a former SEAL, Ace. Works private security now. Says he has a crew in the building.”
“Is that so?”
“I don’t believe him, but…” Jack shrugged.
“Let’s find out, shall we?” Ace pulled his phone from his pocket then took Noah’s picture. Then he sent a text. “Trey can look through surveillance feeds and see who he came in with.”
“We really have time for that?”
“I’ll make the time. I want to know what I’m dealing with.”
Joker held a bundle of clothes in his hand, and he handed some to Deuce and the rest to Jack. “You’re lucky we prepared for you blowing your cover. Go change.”
Jack jumped off the edge of the table. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch. We always knew it was a possibility.”
“Just go.”
Jack and Deuce disappeared, presumably going somewhere previously scouted and safe for them to change. Ace’s phone rang, and he walked deeper into the poker tables to talk uninterrupted.
Noah only had a few seconds before Ace found out he really did have backup in the building. The hostages were as safe as possible on the floor. It was his only play. He turned to Daphne. “Stay down.”
“Noah—”
But he was on his feet again, charging Joker. They fell to the floor, rolling, wrestling—each trying for the upper hand.
His arm was wrenched, but he gouged at Joker’s eye with his free hand until the guy moaned and released him, dropping his gun and clasping his hand over his eye. Noah flipped over, bridged his legs over Joker’s torso, and squeezed his arm between his knees, the jiu-jitsu arm bar technique forcing a hyperextension to the elbow joint.
Joker screamed, his body trembled.
Ace ran over, bent to try and pull them apart. Started kicking Noah in the ribs.
Noah rolled to his side protecting his torso. He knew they wouldn’t risk gunfire. Not the smart one, anyway.
Ace kicked him in the head. Noah saw stars, struggled to stay conscious.
“Let him go, Crawford.”
He was fucked. If he protected his head, Joker would get free. But if he didn’t—
A loud thunk broke his train of thought. Ace collapsed beside him. Noah looked up to find Daphne standing over them, a lockbox in her hand. The corner was bloody, and she was wide-eyed and breathless.
Noah pulled harder on Joker’s arm, making sure he was subdued. “Daphne, I need you to get their guns.”
She just stood there.
“Daphne! We have to secure them before Jack and Deuce get back. Take their guns.”
Joker struggled harder to get free, and Noah pulled tighter. There was a pop, and Joker screamed.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” But Daphne retrieved both weapons.
Noah released Joker and clambered to his feet. The room spun, and he shook his head to clear his vision. His ribs hurt like hell, and taking a deep breath was out of the question. He took one of the guns from her and trained it on the two men on the floor.
“We need rope. Zip ties. Something.”
“How about a tie and a belt?” the pit boss said.
“Perfect.” Noah looked at Ace and Joker. Ace was still out, so he tipped his head toward Joker. “Secure him first.”
The pit boss went to work, tying Joker’s hands behind his back. The guy screamed when his arm was pulled around. Served the fucker right.
Noah reached for Daphne’s hand. Her fingers felt cold, and she still looked dazed. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles and shook her arm. “I need you to get a cellphone and call 9-1-1, okay?”
She stood there, quiet, pale.
“Daphne! One more job, then it’s all over. Call the police.”
“Where are you going?” she whispered.
“Deuce and Jack will be coming back any second. I’m going to greet them.”
“But it’s two against one!”
“So was this.”
“And you’d be dead if it wasn’t for me!”
He didn’t have time to argue. “So call the police and get me some help.”
She nodded and fled to the pile of phones on the table.
“I can help you,” the pit boss said.
Noah studied him. He probably wasn’t involved, but Jack had hidden in plain sight.
“I know what you’re thinking. That I might be one of them. I’m not.”
“That’s exactly what one of them would say.”
He raised his hands and backed up. “I get it.”
Noah looked at the tie and belt. He tugged on each. The bindings were tight. He turned toward the pit boss and passed him a gun.
“Where do you want me?”
“What’s your name?”
“Jim.”
“Jim what?”
Jim cleared his throat. “I don’t want to tell you.”
Noah pointed the gun at him. “Name?”
Jim raised his hands, tipping the gun so Noah could see his finger wasn’t on the trigger. “It’s Hoyle. Jim Hoyle. It’s a playing card brand, and I didn’t want you to think I was part of their crew just because of the association.”
Damn, shit, son of a bitch. Noah sighed. Time was not on his side. He called across the room, “Daphne.”
She looked at him, but she was still talking on the phone.
“What’s his name?”
Daphne covered the mouthpiece and said, “Jim Hoyle.”
“How long has he been working here?”
She shrugged. “Long. Longer than me.”
“Honestly,” Jim said. “It’s just an unfortunate coincidence. If you don’t want my help, I get it. I’ll just join the others.”
The rest of the hostages were still huddled on the floor, right where he’d left them. Probably the best place for them, so he left them alone.
Daphne started talking into the phone. Her voice was low, but she seemed calm enough.
Noah took his place by the door in the corner.
“Try anything funny and I’ll put a bullet in you. I’m not worried about the noise.”
“Understood.”
“Stand there. Only shoot if they go to shoot first.”<
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Jim nodded.
Noah’s trigger finger was itchy and his arms were getting sore. His whole damn body hurt. But the worst feeling was the niggling tickle in his brain telling him he missed something. Jack and Deuce should have been back already. Hell, they should have walked in before Daphne brained Ace with the lockbox. So where the fuck were they?
Then a door on the far side of the room burst open.
Chapter Seven
Noah sighed and lowered his weapon. Danny, Ethan, and Mac had exploded into the room with several security guards. After looking at each one, he was satisfied none of them was Jack or Deuce.
He was also sure those two weren’t coming back.
Noah took the gun away from Jim and approached the group. Several guards shouted at him at once. Only after Danny identified Noah as one of them did security ease off.
Some of them went to the hostages. The rest circled around him. His friends joined them.
“We started to get worried when you didn’t come back,” Ethan said.
“I came here looking for you,” Danny said, “but the guards posted outside said the room was closed. Some bullshit story about a deep cleaning while the traffic was light.”
“We traveled the whole casino looking for you,” Mac said. “Even hit the bars. That’s what took so long. They’re all packed like sardines.”
“By the time we decided something was wrong,” Ethan said, “the guards outside the door were gone.”
“All the doors were locked,” Danny added.
“We tracked down security in another section of the casino,” Mac said, “and you know the rest of our story. What the hell happened in here?”
Noah filled them in on the playing card gang—God, he hoped the news didn’t call them that—but the entire time he kept his gaze on Daphne. She ended the call as police burst through the door.
“Well, well,” Danny muttered.
Noah shot him a look, then he walked away and joined Daphne at her original table. “You okay?”
“I seem to keep having monumentally bad days.” She was trembling, but her voice didn’t waver.
“I consider this a good day. No one got shot and we caught two of the guys. So far.”
