Mine to Crave (Mine #4)(22)
Author: Cynthia Eden

“No!” The scream broke from her because it was too much. “I haven’t. I wouldn’t.” So he really thought that of her, huh? Not surprising. Most people had been sure she was just trash all her life. Just like dear old mom. “He gave me the specs to get in to the casino. I told you, he had the blueprints.” Blueprints that she’d discovered when she did a bit of snooping on his computer. “I knew about his demolitions past, okay? And I just put two and two together when you told me that someone was back at your casino. I wanted to make sure everyone was safe.”

He had no clue what she’d just done. Maxwell would discover that his devices had been found. He’d also soon connect the dots and realize that she was the person who’d seen the blueprints. She’d been the one in his office. He would know that. She’d had access to his computer, and getting past his computer’s security system had been all too easy for her.

When he realized what she’d done, Maxwell would come after her.

I’m a dead woman. None of her connections would be able to save her this time.

“It’s not like he rose to power easily in Vegas.” She’d read the newspaper stories. Had done her own research. “He told me once that he had to fight his way to the top of the pack.”

“You’re working with him.”

She shook her head. “I took one job for him. I was supposed to get that business intel on your computer. Nothing more. I swear, I swear, I would never do anything to hurt anyone.”

“You crawled into bed with the wrong man.”

She flinched at that. The memory of being in Drake’s bed was too strong. I can still feel him on my skin. In me.

“I’m going to destroy him,” Drake told her flatly. “No one comes after me like this. No one.”

He pushed her away. As if he didn’t want to touch her anymore. Then he turned his back on her. Left her out there on that balcony.

“Drake?” She took a quick step forward.

He didn’t turn at her call.

Jasmine hurried after him. “Drake, please, it’s not what you think—”

He didn’t answer her. Didn’t talk to her. Didn’t even stop in the den. He left the big, cavernous house. Left her standing there, with her arms wrapped around her stomach.

He said he’d protect me.

But he was leaving her. He’d f**ked her, just like he’d said he would.

More like f**ked me over.

Jasmine felt as if she were about to shatter into a million pieces.

Maxwell planted bombs in the casino. People could’ve died. He wouldn’t be done, not yet. His attack hadn’t worked, so he’d make a new plan. That was how he operated. Why he was so very dangerous.

He didn’t stop, not until his enemies were eliminated.

She hurried toward the phone in 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, ass**le. “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…