The Casino Billionaire

Chapter 9

I see Rex at the front door. Thank him for being in there for all of that and let him know that Jason is up in his office still. Rex nods to me and I smile at him. Once I make it to my car, I just sit in it and cry for about twenty minutes. Can't help it. All of these emotions I've been holding in for days come rushing out in that instant. Some strange man knocks on my window and sympathizes with me saying something about how he lost his ass at the slots also. I start to laugh hysterically. If he only knew.

Looking at the clock on my dash it is already a quarter past three. I am late. When I get to the door, it is cracked open. Carefully pushing it open, I step in and scream. Doc Tom comes from the down the hall just as I step in. "Oh, Miss Jennifer, didn't mean to startle you. No one was here so I let myself in. I hope that was alright. Shawna's IVs were almost empty and that wouldn't have been good." He picked my lock! I guess a Doc on the down-low must know how to get into anywhere. "How did it go? Are you all right?" He does a once over on me quickly.

"I am okay. Shaken up pretty well, I should be fine though." Trying my best to give him a real smile.

Digging through his bag, he pulls out a bottle, opens it, and dumps four little pills onto my hand, "Take one now and two before bed. If you are still feeling anxious in the morning take the other. Things are going to hit you hard later. You will want to sleep tonight. I will be taking out the IVs tomorrow and Shawna will need you to give her the medication by mouth and help her move. She cannot stay still much longer. She needs to get her muscles moving and healing." He smiles at me. How could he tell I am anxious,

"Thank you. For everything Doc Tom. I appreciate all of this." I grab a bottle of water and take one of the pills. Going into the bathroom I catch a glimpse of myself. I look like hell. My face is all puffy from crying. Now I know why he looked me over.

After he leaves I lay on the couch flipping through the TV channels not paying attention. My mind keeps wandering to Jason. Is he alright? Will I ever see him again? We were never meant to be anything more than what we just were no matter how much I'd like it to be more. He has no time for love and if he did I am not the woman that he would choose as a suitable mate. I am not even considered middle class. One of the guys at the foundry is more suitable for me than Jason Joens. 

A knock at the door wakes me. Jumping up, I go open it to see Doc Tom. It is already ten? I fell asleep on the couch thinking of a man I can never have. Doc goes to Shawna and takes care of her. There isn't much for him to do since he just checks her vitals and changes her IV bags then gives her pain meds. He lets me know he will be back at seven tomorrow morning to take out the IV and start her on regular meds. He is happy, her vitals are very strong and she does not cry out when he checks her wounds anymore. He believes she is healing nicely.

After he leaves it takes me a few moments to realize that tomorrow is Monday. That would be a workday. Grabbing my phone and calling the hotline, using a sick day for tomorrow. I need to be here to get the Doc's instructions and to make sure Shawna gets all of her meds on time. What I am going to do the rest of the week I do not know. I have sick and vacation time but that was to be saved for when we took our vacation. The one that Shawna blew the money for at the casino. I always thought my life was so boring. Get up, go to work, come home, shower, eat, hang out with Shawna, sleep, repeat. Right now that seems like heaven. I was content, happy. Missing having a man to hold me at night but, it wasn't something that I thought about often. I knew that when the time came he would come and let it be. Now all I want is for Jason to knock on that door and snuggle up on the couch with me and just hold me, that's all hold me tight, make me feel safe again because right now I don't feel safe at all.

Around four in the morning, I hear car doors shutting. I haven't left the couch. Those pills kick my butt. They make me feel very relaxed. Looking out the front window I start to shake. There are two large men outside the building. Running to check and make sure I locked and bolted the door, I finally breathe. No idea why they are out there or who they are. They do not look like the men that were in the office yesterday but I cannot be sure. I didn't take a super close look at any of them. How could they have found out where we live? Pacing the living room trying to determine if I should call the police or not. For all, I know they aren't even here for me. There are forty-nine other apartments in this complex.

I hear a soft knock at my door. Oh s**t, oh s**t, oh s**t. Walking up slowly to it, "Who is it?" I whisper through the door.

"It's Jason." A small voice comes back to me,

Opening it quickly to see Jason standing there with a black eye, bloody nose, and a fat lip, "Oh my God, what happened to you?"

Wrapping my arm around his waist, I take him to the couch, "I guess they didn't like me firing them all for doing such immoral things to women." He tries to laugh but ends up cringing in pain.

"Who are the big guys outside?" Asking as I go to the kitchen to get a wet cloth and some frozen vegetables for that eye.

"I hired them to watch me, back me up." He says putting the bag of veggies on his eye,

Slowly and as gently as possible, I start washing the blood from around his nose, "Where the hell were they when all this happened?"

"On their way to me. I went to get into the limo and they were already inside waiting for me." He winces when I get to his lip.

"Rex? Is Rex alright?" Dipping the cloth in the cool water before moving back to his face,

"Yeah, Rex was inside the casino telling the new security where they would be stationed. He came out and got them off me before they could do any more damage." I guess Rex is a better friend than Jason could've imagined.

"Why did you come here? I'm sure Doc Tom would've gone to your hotel suite and taken care of this." I am a bit confused about why he wanted me.

"I don't stay in a hotel. I have a house here. They know where I live, Surely they are waiting for me to go back there. I've already spoken to the chief of police. They are going to send an unmarked car over to watch my place for a few days to see if they show up or are watching it." He tries to take the bag of veggies from his eye but I make him put it back.

"I am sorry, I assumed you stayed in a hotel since you don't come here very often" I can now see the large cut on his lip. It will be hard to stop the bleeding from that spot.

"I am here more than people think. They just do not see me." He tries to smile which cracks the cut further open and more blood comes out,

"You aren't going to be able to smile for a while. I can't get the bleeding to stop if you keep smiling. Doc Tom will be here at seven. He can take a look at you while he is here," I go to get up and grab some blankets for the couch but Jason grabs my arm making me sit back down, "I'll be right back. One minute." He seems afraid to be alone. It's like he wants to show me who he is and then realizes what he is doing and stops himself.

After grabbing a few pillows and blankets, I come back to the couch and get it all set up. "Don't leave me here alone please." He almost begs.

Nodding to him, I sit back against the pillows and put my arms out to him. Slithering up my side, he lays his head on my chest and I throw a blanket over us both. Grabbing the remote to turn the television on so I have something to watch, Jason takes it from my hand, "No, please leave it off. I can hear your heartbeat and feel your chest move with each breath. It is the best sound I could ever ask for. Let me listen for a while, please?

"Alright," I whisper as I run my fingers through his hair while my other arm is wrapped around him. He holds onto my arm tightly as if he lets go he may get lost. I don't understand this man one bit. Maybe he will let me get to know the man he really is. Hopefully the next time he leaves my apartment won't be the last I ever see him again.