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He was pitched backward, the driver continuing, accelerating, the vehicle swerving back and forth. I got off several additional shots, the back glass shattering. Within seconds, they were out of range.
Gasping, I scrambled back, peering down at her. In the fluorescent light, she peered up at me with wide eyes, her breathing ragged.
“You saved me.” Her voice was meek, but she was very much alive.
I held her close as Tristen and two other soldiers crowded around me.
“What the hell happened?” Tristen demanded.
“She was almost taken. Help me get her inside,” I barked. “I want every soldier manning the exits.”
Tristen dropped to his knees, shaking his head. “Who the fuck was it?”
“Someone who wants Jade’s father dead.” I helped Jade to her feet, crushing her against me and kissing her forehead. I’d learn the details of what happened later. “Go with Tristen. He’ll keep you safe.”
“I’m sorry,” she said as she lifted her head. “I thought I saw my father. I had to know.”
“It’s alright, baby. Everything will be alright.” I gave him a hard look.
“Don’t worry. Iwilltake care of her with my life.”
I waited as Tristen led her away, taking a deep breath and staring toward where the car had sped off. The brief glimpse of the perpetrator hadn’t provided enough information about who he was or the people he was working for. What I did know is that they’d try again. Was Ryan inside my club?
After slipping the gun into my jacket, I returned to the casino, storming through the kitchen and taking the elevator to the second floor. I didn’t make it ten feet before I noticed the chief of police and two uniformed officers combing through the facility. When he noticed me, he pointed.
I knew the shit was about to hit the fan.
He approached, the smug look on his face one I’d seen before. However, what he said I hadn’t anticipated.
“Constantine Thorn. You’re under arrest for the murder of Martin Banks.”
* * *
Jade
Disbelief.
I remained numb even though over twenty-four hours had passed. As I stood in front of the television, watching yet another circus unfold, I could barely breathe.
“Drink this, Jade. You need to try and rest. You’re still recovering.”
Zane’s voice from behind me was comforting, although nothing would provide a sense of relief. Constantine remained behind bars, charged with the brutal murder of the prosecutor. From what little Barrett had told me, they had solid evidence. What? There was no way he’d committed murder. He’d been with me. Recovering. I had scrapes and a few bruises, but Constantine had saved my life. Now I had to return the favor. But how?
“Don’t watch that. You know how reporters love to get their fifteen minutes of fame.”
As he moved to turn it off, I held up my hand. “These press conferences and reports are just inflaming the situation, making Constantine look like a monster.”
“You and I know the truth.”
I shook my head, my anger remaining on the same level it had been two nights before. I finally took the cup of tea from his hand, my stomach churning at the thought of ingesting anything. I hadn’t been able to talk to him and it was killing me. There had to be something I could do. I knew my father had been inside the casino. We’d made eye contact. It had taken a feat to get away from Zane in an effort to try to talk to my dad. Then he’d disappeared.
Just like he always had.
Exhaling, I tried to remain calm. No one had told me anything, but my gut told me Constantine had found out who my father was just before his arrest. The reports were so damn ugly, painting his entire family as if they were monsters.
“You can turn it off. Maybe I need to go in front of the fucking reporters and tell them he was with me.”
“You never know. You might do some good.”
