Chapter Six: Time To Try A New Tactic
Jaz
Talk about a racing heart. I wanted to run as fast as my short legs would carry me, but I had to play it cool. I knew he was in the room, but I thought I’d covered myself enough for him not to see what I was up to. Busted. I never knew I had a pulse in my neck, but I did. It kept thumping like a jackhammer, and I wanted to scream because I’d been caught.
The cool of the Mississippi air calmed me down as I power-walked back to the safety of my apartment. I did great in the Mahogany Room. My first night in there and I’d managed to collect a nice little bank roll of $2000. I would have to make up the $5000 that I lost, but I felt pretty good. I would have made the whole amount back if the tatted investigator hadn’t stuck his nose in a cheater’s business.
I wrapped my arms around myself as people on the boardwalk strolled past with their partners. The noise from the carnival rides was pleasant and made me feel like this would be a wonderful place to stay if I wasn’t on the run all the time. The timber boardwalk creaked under my feet as I did the math on where I went wrong.
What if he caught me on the cameras? I would have to come up with a plan. Or was it time to bail and cut my losses? My head was a little scrambled still, but I felt sure I would find a solution at the bottom of my mini bar. I pulled my expensive leather bag close to me. I was aware I had pure hard cash in there and it made me a little edgy. I didn’t keep my money under a suitcase. I did bank it, but still, carrying a few thousand on your walk home on a boardwalk in Mississippi, couldn’t be safe.
I punched in the code to my apartment and puffed my cheeks out in a sorrowful sigh. I climbed the stairs, feeling heavy. I opened the door and flicked on the light. I dumped the bundles of cash onto the bed. Wow. I did that. It still left me feeling empty. Just a little. I unlocked my apartment safe and stacked the money inside along with the other stacks. I planned on taking the money to the bank stack by stack to avoid raising an alarm.
I opened the small fridge and picked out a little bottle of Hennessy, pouring it into a tumbler with a can of coke. I usually didn’t drink brown alcohol, but tonight I felt the need to get trashed. I hoped it would help me figure out what to do about Ink.
Seduction. I knew he wanted me. I’d always noted this animal look men got when they lusted after a woman. It would turn them into stupid creatures. He had that look. I’d seen it the first time he showed me his tattoos. I made a decision, right then and there. Seduction would be the tool I would use. I drank a few bottles until I realized what I was doing and stopped. Drinking myself into a stupor wouldn’t help matters. I pulled myself together a little and stepped out to my balcony. Watching the stars hanging in the pitch black, I wondered where my home was and if I would ever belong. I let the cool air sober me up and stepped back inside.
Let the games begin and the chips stack!
I pulled on my leather boots and took a last glance at myself before I headed to the casino right after 7. Best time to start. If I began cheating too early, there were more people around and a higher chance for me getting caught. I would leave the high roller room for the night and mix in with the lowly minions on the ground floor. I swept into the casino with my purple lipstick and high ponytail, wearing all black again. Seemed to be the color I went for as of late.
I put my hand on my life pulse, the stack of hundreds inside my purse. I patted them and approached the cashier. The steel bars and slip chute were like my second home. I grabbed some water from the bar. I drank enough the night before, and I wanted a clear sharp eye. I did what I had to do and surfed around the tables for the right spot. The first table I saw only had three people on it.
Scratch that. I stepped forward as I sipped. Second table, three players on blackjack. No go.
The next, three players on blackjack. Nope.
I kept dancing around and failed to see any tables that satisfied my needs. I quelled my frustration. That’s sometimes how it went for me.
“Evening sunshine, nice to see you back.”
The deep voice was a familiar one. I knew who it was. In fact, I’d been waiting for him to find me. As a security officer, he was decent at his job, and he’d caught me. Even though I felt a little flutter in my stomach, I held onto my composure. “Just can’t keep away from me can you?” I swiped.
“You make it hard to do that when you’re not doing the right thing.”
His overpowering energy made me swoon a little, so I steadied myself by putting my hand on the table. Why is he so fine? It makes matters worse for me. “I don’t know why you keep accusing me. There are other people here, you know.” My eyebrows rose as I rolled my tongue around my cheek with a haughty hand on my hip.
He nodded as my eyes landed on the veins in his biceps. I tore my eyes away, feeling a clutch in my pelvis and staring instead at his eyes. They weren’t any better to look at; his gaze was soul snatching?I felt sure. I did want to iron out that frown for him though.
Jaz. This could be a little hot Mississippi fun for ya. Give it a go.
“Do you work here every night? I’m seeing you a lot. I thought with your good eye, you would be head of security by now.”
He glanced away, tension in his loaded jaw. “No, I don’t.”
“What else do you do besides stalk women in the casino?” I enquired, sipping my water innocently.
“I told you I’m not stalking you. I’m doing my job and I know for sure, you’re up to something. ”
“I wonder what that something is that I’m up to exactly? That’s all I’m hearing you say, but you don’t have a clear answer,” I argued. “You’re hot and everything, but I didn’t come here to just chit-chat to security. I have some money to win from the casino.”
Steam was rising from his head. I could almost see the wisps of smoke triangulating above his hair. I chortled to myself as my petite legs carried me to the other end of the casino. His red- blooded energy wasn’t behind me anymore, I would know if it was. I spotted the table I wanted to hit; a blackjack table with eight players on it. To me, this meant something was definitely cooking on it. I tossed my chips back and forth in my hands and eyeballed the dealer. I set down my chips as I traced behind me with my eyes for Ink.
No sign. Maybe he got the hint or he was in the security room. The dealer started the game, and I decided to play the first game straight up. Card counting technically was not illegal. It was smart mathematics, but I dabbled in the not so legal, placing bets after the game was done. The torrid rush made me come alive.
I let the hands play out, and the house was in favor, not me. I wanted to ease into the game, but my itchy fingers wouldn’t let me. I distracted the dealer a couple of times by trying to place a bet down. A few other people saw me do it on the table and tried it to. Copycats. This threw the dealer off his game for a split second and allowed me to sneak in a few chips. My fingers worked lightning quick. I won an extra $2,000 for my trouble. I was feeling anxious. I knew Ink would be keeping an eye on me.
The people in the casino became a blur as I stared out at the security guards around the venue. One on the left, another one walking on the right. Ink right beside me, walking in step. Shit. I was trying to work another table. He was the last person I wanted to see right now. I know my plan was seduction, but he was announcing himself at the wrong time.