Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
Inside, the casino was busy with the usual assortment of players and guests.
The slots rang and buzzed. Electronic music came from various machines. Waitresses walked around with drink trays, eager to get the customers tipsy on the manager’s behest.
Drunk people played more.
The place was big and cavernous, with no windows or clocks so patrons would lose track of time for a bit.
The tactics of casino owners weren’t important right now, Trixie reminded herself.
Focus!
Her eyes darted around frantically as she looked for a security guard or someone to flag down. She couldn’t see anyone that looked official. But there were tons of people. Maybe she should just make a scene and pray some of them came to her rescue.
As if clued into her very thoughts, her captor said, “You make a peep and I’ll shoot you. Understand?”
Images of Trixie taking a bullet to the stomach or chest flooded her brain.
That can’t be how your life ends, bleeding out on a casino floor! Just go with him and look for a way out.
Or wait for Daddy. He’ll come to you!
Trixie felt a warmth spread in her stomach. Surely John would find her. Or had she messed up so badly by getting out of the limo that even he couldn’t rescue her this time?
It was possible. After all, her luck was bound to run out at some point.
Why do you do it, Trixie? Why can’t you just stay out of trouble? For once in your damn life!
Her captor stopped abruptly. His voice was low and almost a growl as he said, “We’re going to keep walking. Don’t cause a scene. Don’t try to get anyone’s attention. Just move. Do you know what the Tournament of Kings is?”
Trixie knew—the famed dinner show that had medieval jousting and other stuff like that. “Yes.”
“You know where it’s at?”
“Yeah.”
He smiled, but it seemed so cruel and full of malice. “Good. We’re going to walk toward it. There’s an exit back there. We just keep going. You be quiet and you might actually live through this.”
Trixie tried to speak but only a scared whimper came escaped her lips. She hated that the man knew she was afraid. But what else could she be given the circumstances?
She started walking when he gripped her arm again, keeping pace with him for a few seconds.
But then she stopped.
Her brain was going a million miles an hour once more.
“Wait.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said wait.” She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes as she gave him a hard stare.
“You’re going to try and kill me either way.
I’m a loose end. And it doesn’t make any sense that you’d leave me alive.
Now, you’re probably looking for the evidence I stashed away that implicates you and your friends in all sorts of shady activities… ”
The guy looked around, as if trying to see if anyone was listening.
Trixie kept right on talking.
“But even if you find it—which I don’t have it on me—you can’t let me live.
Because I know too much. Now, it’s true you might try to do some sort of exchange like they do in the movies—me for the evidence.
But it won’t work. Have you ever seen Dog Day Afternoon?
What about The Taking of Pelham One Two Three?
The original or the remake from 2009. Both are good, but I actually prefer the newer ones.
Anyway, you should know that taking hostages and trying to negotiate never works out. ”
The guy’s jaw dropped. He seemed to be feeling a mixture of shock, annoyance, and impatience.
Trixie kept right on going.
“You’d be better off—”
She didn’t get to finish her advice because a fist crashed right into the guy’s jaw, sending him crumbling to the ground in an unconscious heap.
John had arrived.
“Daddy!”
Trixie didn’t care that she’d yelled that out. Nor did she care that everyone was watching as she jumped on him, wrapping her legs around his waist as they kissed passionately.
John didn’t seem to care about the audience, either, because after they kissed he said, “Several things, little girl.”
“Yeah?”
“First of all, I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
“Deal!”
“Second of all, you’re absolutely getting a spanking when we get back to L.A. I told you to stay in the limo, missy.”
Trixie smiled and said, “Daddy!” again before hugging him tightly and laying her head on his shoulder.
All was right in the world.