The kitchen was swarming with police and security. The police were bandaging up the wound on Justin’s wrist using towels from the kitchen. The kid, lie on the floor still, wincing in agony from the flesh wound he had sustained. Andreas was an excellent shot. Joseph nodded over at the man, thanking him silently for not putting Jewel at risk, and saving his mother by taking the shot the moment he did. He had ended the nightmare for them all. He hadn’t hesitated.
Gio approached them, and flanking him on the right was another massive man, his brother Blaze. “Why don’t you head upstairs to your offices? We will coordinate things here. The police will bring Justin to the hospital to take care of the injury. It looks clean and he should be fine.”
Joseph wanted to get the women out of there as soon as he could. Jewel was still crumpled next to his side, and he could feel her shaking. The adrenaline rush they were all experiencing was still taking its toll.
Blaze added, “The police will want statements from everyone. So please stay upstairs until then, but go get yourselves a drink. And relax if you can. We will try to make this quick down here.”
Now Nikko and Tom were there too. “The police are already on the way to the police station with the other three. The kids are already talking. So we have enough information to put Justin, Eddie, and Willie away for a very long time. I’ll come upstairs with all of you, and we’ll let my brothers handle things down here,” he finished.
“I’m staying,” Tawny replied. No one argued.
“I’ll stay with her,” Tom put in getting closer to the matriarch of the casino. Joseph knew his mother enough to know, she wouldn’t leave until the police had escorted Justin away.
“Thank you, Tom. And, I’ll be up as soon as the kitchen is in order.” It was business as usual, but for her it was also about making sure everyone was okay. Her employees, and her people always had her devotion.
Joseph just nodded and began to escort Jewel away. As they left they heard Tawny speaking with Adele, “Why don’t you go upstairs with Jonathan. Once the police get your statement, he will take you home himself, dear.”
As they reached the doors to the dining room, Jonathan and Adele caught up with them. “Mom is something else, isn’t she?” Jonathan murmured right behind him.
“She sure is,” he murmured back. The best, he thought. Fierce, loving, and always looking after her children, her family, and her people. They always came first.
“She is incredible,” Jewel spoke for the first time since the ordeal had occurred. Her voice was quavering. She was still in shock. “You are incredibly lucky to have her.”
Joseph pulled her in tighter. “I’m incredibly lucky to have you.” He placed a kiss atop her head as they walked through the casino towards the elevators. The guests were oblivious as the slot machines continued to chime out their tunes. They had drowned out the noise of what had happened ten minutes earlier and in some places only one hundred yards away. The chance to strike it rich had them glued to their seats.
“I’m the lucky one,” Jewel answered as the elevator opened that would take them to the second floor where their offices were located.
“We are all lucky,” Jonathan spoke those words, and smiled down at the young Adele who nodded up at him.
And Joseph agreed. Tonight had been a nightmare, but thankfully they had all come through unscathed. He was now, more than ever, ready to start his life with the woman who was standing by his side.
Chapter 27
July 3rd
(The epilogue to Book 2 and the Prologue to Book 3 in the Mystic Nights series – Lucky Strike)
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“The club looks fabulous,” Jewel told her new sister-in-law. She was still coming down from her high. She had gotten married just an hour earlier and they were celebrating on the day before Eve’s new club was set to open. The views were spectacular.
“Thank you,” Eve looked around and took in the rooftop club. It was more than fabulous. It was outstanding. The walls were sheer glass so there wasn’t an obstructed view in sight. One massively long bar stretched across one side of the roof facing the North. Across from that was the river and a view of their competitors. It provided an amazing vista. Tables circled the dance floor on the East, and in front of that was a massive stage for the performers she would be bringing in. She had Spirits in the Sky booked for a solid year. It hadn’t even opened yet, but she just knew it would blow any club in the state out of the water.
The decorations were simple and sleek. White marble for the bar, white leather sofas and end tables. The carpeted areas a soft grey. The dance floor, a dark sleek wood shining to perfection. Behind the stage was a shimmer of silvery curtains. But the best feature was the retractable roof. It opened to the night sky and tomorrow night it would be open, weather permitting. And so far it looked good. She hoped it went well because at nine thirty when the club opened its doors to the public and it was full dark, they had a fireworks extravaganza planned unlike anything ever done along the Mystic River. Spirits in the Sky would dazzle.