The Casino Billionaire

Chapter 4

Grabbing my phone from my coveralls, flipping through the pictures of Shawna's beaten body helps rev my ager back up. Looking back up in the mirror to see that emotion once again reflecting at me. It is time to go out and address the man that leads these Neanderthals to do these things to people who cannot control their compulsive behaviors. Walking to the door, reminding myself to not let his looks or this act his playing that he isn’t a low life that runs dirty casinos to profit his massive ego. 

He is sitting at his desk on the phone, he raises a finger to me and then points to the chair directly across from him. Slamming my coveralls into the empty chair, I sit and cross my legs waiting for this empty conversation he seems to be having an end. After a few minutes, my foot starts tapping impatiently as my thumb scrolls through the pictures letting the heat rise to my scalp. The top of my head starts to tingle. The need to blow up is imminent. Looking around this massive office to see that he has it decorated modestly. Nothing outlandish or crazy expensive art on the walls. Not what was expected. Guess if he isn’t here much, there is no reason to make it over the top as I am sure his main office is. 

Finally hanging up the phone, he leans back into his plush chair, floods his hands on his lap, “Miss Jennifer, what is it that I can do for you?” He asks with this smile that I would love to wake up to every morning. 

Shaking my head to get those thoughts to leave, “Well, Mr. Joens, my friend was in your establishment last night. She ran out of money and was given a line of credit. Now as you can see, I am not a rich woman. This should tell you just by a look that she, as my roommate, would also not have the money to float a line of credit in your establishment. So, do you know how your goons out there get paid back when people lose that money and do not have the means to pay that back?” Starring him straight in the eyes the whole time speaking, keeping my voice stern and direct. 

“First off, please call me Jason. Second, each of my casinos has strict rules to abide by before extending a line of credit to any visitor. I am not sure what your friend did to get by those rules to make it so she is able.” Jason leans forward placing his elbows on his desk, fingers laced in front of him. 

“I am not sure what you are insinuating here, Jason.” His name slithers out of my mouth, the rage growing at the thought of Shawna bringing this upon herself. “I highly doubt my friend would agree to something that would have her ending up coming home like this.” Sliding my phone across the desk with the picture of Shawna's whole upper body. It’s the only one that shows everything the best. 

Jason picks up the phone and looks at the picture. Horror comes across his face. I see him start to swipe through my photos. Each one he sees his face changes from horror to sadness to anger. “You are telling me that this happened to her here?” His eyes move from the phone to me. The glow from my phone makes his eyes the most beautiful blue I've ever seen. 

“They beat her, breaking her ribs and who knows what else in her body, raped her repeatedly until they felt her debt to you was paid. They then shoved her in her car and how, I will never know she made her way home to me.” Almost having to climb across his desk due to my shortness and his choice in dark cherry office furniture. I yank my phone from his hand. 

Jason picks his landline up and starts to dial, “Hey, yeah, it’s Jason, are you available right now? I need you to meet me somewhere.” Tilting my head to him, starting to freak a little wondering if he is making plans to have me taken care of now. “Yes, bring your bag. I’ll text you the address.” He hangs up the phone and stands. “Let’s go.” 

“Go where? What the hell is going on?” Jason now stands before me with a hand outstretched to help me up. 

“We are going to tend to your friend. Then I will come back and take care of whichever ones of these men that did this to her. This is unacceptable. Does she remember any names? Never mind, I’ll ask her when we get there.” He leans down and takes my hand pulling me up from the chair then heads for the door. 

“You think I am going to take you to where we live so you can, what, take us out before anyone else finds out?” I’m trying desperately to pull my hand from his. He must be just stacked under that suit because I don’t think he can even feel me struggling. 

“Yes, you are going to take me to your home and my private doctor will come and take care of your friend. He will give her whatever she needs.” His voice is stern, his brow furrowed. He is pissed. 

 As he pulls me out the door one of his grunts smiles widely and snarls at me, “Gonna get what you deserve bitch.” 

The next thing I see is Jason's fist from his free hand smash into that bastard's face. HE goes down and the other just move out of our way. Jason doesn’t say a word. Looking back to see the one goes over to the other trying to wake him. His nose all bloody, running down his face and onto his shirt. Once we get to the casino floor, Jason pulls me to him, wrapping his arm around me, keeping me close. I can feel the muscles against my back. His smell wafts over making my knees feel weak tripping me a bit. His grip tightens and he looks down with a look, making sure I am alright. Nodding to him, we move swiftly through the casino and out the front door toward his limo. 

“My car is over there.” Pointing over to the left. 

“I’ll get it to you.” He helps me into the limo, “Where are we going?” 

After giving him my address, Jason tells the diver and sends a text out on his very expensive cell phone. The limo speeds off toward my home. I sit watching quietly out the window as we speed by all the cars and trucks in the way of us getting to Shawna. What is he doing this for? So, she will come back for more?  You cannot make me believe that this man had nothing to do with what goes on in his very own casino. This is just to make us keep our mouths shut about what goes on behind closed doors at his establishments. He had to have gotten rich somehow. He is too young to be this rich. Can’t be much more than his late 20’s by the look of him. Glancing over to his side of the limo he is engulfed in his phone. Typing like crazy. Planning my demise, I suppose. 

It feels like forever before we pull up in front of my apartment complex. The drive opens my door holding out a hand to assist me out of the car. When I stand, Jason is already there waiting for me. An SUV pulls up behind the limo and a man climbs out carrying a bag full of what, I am afraid to know. 

My nerves are through the roof as we get to the door. “I don’t have my keys. They are in my coveralls at your casino.” Looking up to Jason as I speak. 

“Move aside. I’ll open it.” Jason pulls something from his jacket and masterfully picks the lock to my apartment. Well now. 

I rush through the door and over to the couch where it looks like Shawna has not moved. “Tom, here she is, please take good care of her.” Jason comes up behind me seeing the destruction his goons did to my girl in real-time. His brow furrows before he turns away. 

“We need to get her to her bed.” The doctor, Tom, I guess speaks up with a deep professional voice. 

Jason gently puts an arm under Shawna’s neck and legs lifting her. Shawna cries out in pain. My instinct is to go to her. The doctor grabs my arm and gives me a look. Taking a deep breath, I take the lead and show them to Shawna’s room. Once Jason gets her into her bed, Tom, the doctor shoos us out of the room and shuts the door. Placing my hand on it feeling like I should be in there with her. We can hear her crying out through the door. As I reach for the handle, I was going in, Jason takes my hand and walks me to the living room. 

“Let him do his work. He will give her something for the pain. Just trust he will help.” Jason says quietly to me as he makes me sit on the couch. 

“Trust? After what I’ve seen your boys do to her, you want me to trust you.”  I snap back at him. 

“That is not me! Whatever gave them the idea they can do things like that at my casino did not come from me.” Jason says with a direct fury as he points at the bedroom door. 

He seems to get very aggravated when I bring this situation up, “Then why is it every time she goes to YOUR casino, she comes back like this? Well, not usually like this. THIS time there were four of them instead of the usual two. Shawna has a gambling problem. I’ve done everything I can to help her. She still steals our money and sneaks off to YOUR casino and I have to clean up the mess it all leaves behind. You would think to kick her out or something is better than raping and beating her.” I stand up and get into his face, well, as close to it as possible. He is quite a bit taller than me. I just wanted to show him that I’m not scared of him like all the rest are. 

 “Four? Jesus.” Jason's head hangs, he runs his fingers through his golden-brown hair messing it up a bit. “I had no idea this was going on. This casino is one that runs so smoothly. I hardly ever have to come out this way. Now I see that they have been lying to me for years, doing what they want to keep the numbers up and me away.” He plops down on my couch, elbows on his knees, head hung low. A large sigh leaves him. 

For some reason, I feel for him. That is if he is telling me the truth. How can I trust this man?