the den, her whole body shaking. Picking up the phone on the nearby table—Jasmine’s phone was some place back in Vegas—she called him blindly.
Maxwell answered on the second ring.
“What have you done?” Jasmine whispered.
“
Jasmine…”
“Bombs, Max? Dear God, there were people in there!”
“You found my plans…naughty girl.”
She’d found blueprints. She hadn’t realized just how important they were, not until that moment in Drake’s bedroom. A robbery was one thing. A bombing was another. “I’m going to the cops.” She’d tell them everything she knew about Max.
“The cops won’t save you.”
Goosebumps rose on her arms.
“You know how I deal with betrayal, Jazz.”
Jazz…
a nickname that had followed her for so long that it had become her codename in the business.
You wanted information retrieved from a rival…call Jazz.
You needed a computer hacked…call Jazz.
You need a life destroyed…
A sob rose in her throat. “I’m telling them everything. You’re done. You should just…you should get on a plane and get the hell out of the country. Run, while you still can.”
His low laughter slipped over the line. “My, but you must be upset…because you didn’t even try to block this number when you called me. Such an amateur mistake. But then, I already knew you were with him in New Orleans.”
The sob choked her. No, she hadn’t tried to block the call. What would have been the point? When she’d been on Maxwell’s computer, she’d seen the file he had on Drake…a file that had contained the addresses and telephone numbers for all of Drake’s homes. This place in the Quarter, the estate in Vegas, the—
“I know where you are, Jazz, and I’m coming for you.”
No.
No!
“Stay away from me. Stay away from Drake!”
“I’ll be seeing you in the Big Easy, love. I’ll find you, and then I’ll finish my business with Drake.”
He hated Drake. She didn’t even know why. Surely this wasn’t just about business?
“I’ll show you just how beautiful I can make the flames,” Maxwell promised her. “They’ll be nearly as beautiful as you.”
He’s coming to kill me.
“Stay away from Drake,” she repeated as she swiped at the stupid tears on her cheeks. “And you need—you need to run. You think he was the only one that I hacked? I was in your office, too, Max. I’ve got your files. I’ve got your business. I’ve got your life.”
Silence, then… “You’re playing out of your league.”
“I didn’t want to be in this nightmare at all. You forced my hand.” Now…
turnabout, asshole.
“Stay away from him.”
He hung up on her.
Her gaze flew around the house.
Then Jasmine did the only thing she could…she ran. It was a good thing that she’d had plenty of practice at running.
I ran away for the first time when I was fifteen. I wasn’t going to let her use me…wasn’t going to let those men touch me.
I ran then.
And she would keep running, for as long as it took. She’d run until she was safe.
***
Drake stared down at the crowd in his casino, the Masquerade. The New Orleans place was his crown jewel. Right on the riverfront, perfect for the tourists. Perfect for those looking to live on the edge.
The floor was mostly empty below him. Dawn had come, and in a few hours, the place would begin to fill.
Coins would fall into the slot machines. The tables would be surrounded. Roulette, Black Jack, Craps…
They’d come for the thrill. The thrill drew them back again and again.
Like moths to the flame…they’d all get burned sooner or later.
“We all do,” he muttered as he turned away from them.
He’d been burned.
Jasmine.
She was so tangled up with Maxwell. A lying, deceiving, murderous—
“Mr. Archer? There’s a…a federal agent here to see you.”
He turned at his assistant’s hesitant voice. Janet stood in the doorway, her hair pulled back in its usual elegant twist. Her hands hovered nervously in
Maxwell answered on the second ring.
“What have you done?” Jasmine whispered.
“
Jasmine…”
“Bombs, Max? Dear God, there were people in there!”
“You found my plans…naughty girl.”
She’d found blueprints. She hadn’t realized just how important they were, not until that moment in Drake’s bedroom. A robbery was one thing. A bombing was another. “I’m going to the cops.” She’d tell them everything she knew about Max.
“The cops won’t save you.”
Goosebumps rose on her arms.
“You know how I deal with betrayal, Jazz.”
Jazz…
a nickname that had followed her for so long that it had become her codename in the business.
You wanted information retrieved from a rival…call Jazz.
You needed a computer hacked…call Jazz.
You need a life destroyed…
A sob rose in her throat. “I’m telling them everything. You’re done. You should just…you should get on a plane and get the hell out of the country. Run, while you still can.”
His low laughter slipped over the line. “My, but you must be upset…because you didn’t even try to block this number when you called me. Such an amateur mistake. But then, I already knew you were with him in New Orleans.”
The sob choked her. No, she hadn’t tried to block the call. What would have been the point? When she’d been on Maxwell’s computer, she’d seen the file he had on Drake…a file that had contained the addresses and telephone numbers for all of Drake’s homes. This place in the Quarter, the estate in Vegas, the—
“I know where you are, Jazz, and I’m coming for you.”
No.
No!
“Stay away from me. Stay away from Drake!”
“I’ll be seeing you in the Big Easy, love. I’ll find you, and then I’ll finish my business with Drake.”
He hated Drake. She didn’t even know why. Surely this wasn’t just about business?
“I’ll show you just how beautiful I can make the flames,” Maxwell promised her. “They’ll be nearly as beautiful as you.”
He’s coming to kill me.
“Stay away from Drake,” she repeated as she swiped at the stupid tears on her cheeks. “And you need—you need to run. You think he was the only one that I hacked? I was in your office, too, Max. I’ve got your files. I’ve got your business. I’ve got your life.”
Silence, then… “You’re playing out of your league.”
“I didn’t want to be in this nightmare at all. You forced my hand.” Now…
turnabout, asshole.
“Stay away from him.”
He hung up on her.
Her gaze flew around the house.
Then Jasmine did the only thing she could…she ran. It was a good thing that she’d had plenty of practice at running.
I ran away for the first time when I was fifteen. I wasn’t going to let her use me…wasn’t going to let those men touch me.
I ran then.
And she would keep running, for as long as it took. She’d run until she was safe.
***
Drake stared down at the crowd in his casino, the Masquerade. The New Orleans place was his crown jewel. Right on the riverfront, perfect for the tourists. Perfect for those looking to live on the edge.
The floor was mostly empty below him. Dawn had come, and in a few hours, the place would begin to fill.
Coins would fall into the slot machines. The tables would be surrounded. Roulette, Black Jack, Craps…
They’d come for the thrill. The thrill drew them back again and again.
Like moths to the flame…they’d all get burned sooner or later.
“We all do,” he muttered as he turned away from them.
He’d been burned.
Jasmine.
She was so tangled up with Maxwell. A lying, deceiving, murderous—
“Mr. Archer? There’s a…a federal agent here to see you.”
He turned at his assistant’s hesitant voice. Janet stood in the doorway, her hair pulled back in its usual elegant twist. Her hands hovered nervously in
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