who the hell could? They make you sign over your house.” Jackson pointed a finger at the man. “Then they come after your business, telling you they only need a few shares to call it even. All of the sudden they own every aspect of your life and you are screwed over so bad your ass is going to hurt for months.” Jackson snarled. Not really at Gladstone, but at memories. The man had definitely been through some big-time pain associated with gambling in the past.
“You might think because they’re here that they won’t be able to reach you in the States, but they will.” He made a wavy motion with his fingers. “They are bacterial scum who will eat away at your life until you have nothing left. Oh, and when all of that isn’t enough, they’ll go after your family. That little baby and your wife are considered commodities. They’ll find out exactly how far you are willing to go for them. I’ve seen entire families killed for as little as ten thousand dollars. Babies, grandparents, these people don’t care. They kill for sport.”
There was a long silence.
She started to say something, but Jackson tilted his head toward Gladstone, who appeared tortured. His face contorted into a mass of emotion.
Jackson’s words must have finally penetrated the man’s skull because his head fell into his hands. “Whatthe hell was I thinking?” he cried out in agony. “She’s going to kill me. Oh, God, I don’t want to disappoint her again. I’d been doing so well and then the new baby came and we needed to add on to the house.” His fist clenched.
“Sales were down at the office and I was worried about my job. I heard about this place from a friend and thought I’d make some quick cash. How could I have been so incredibly stupid?” The last part came out as a groan.
Yep. Mariska didn’t say it out loud.
“My only saving grace is that you guys came in before I could borrow any. Though, I’m sorry to say I probably would have. I kept thinking this time it’ll be my turn to win. At first I was up almost a hundred thousand.”
Jackson cleared his throat to get the man’s attention. “I don’t know who suggested you come to Bangkok to gamble away your home, but they don’t exactly run clean games in a place like that,” Jackson said as he wrapped an arm around the headrest. “There are some legitimate clubs operated by the hotels, but not the ones run by these guys.
“Be grateful that we got you out when we did. Go home and make amends. Ask for forgiveness, and get your ass to a meeting.”
Gladstone was quiet again.
“You’re right,” he finally said. “I have to get home. I’m out of control and I’ve made a royal mess of my life again.” He sighed. “Can you guys take me back to the hotel? I can pick up my things and my passport. I want to get the hell out of this place as soon as possible.”
“It isn’t necessary to take you back to the Four Seasons,” Jackson said. “We’re taking you straight to the airport. Your bag and papers are in the trunk.”
A tiny gasp of surprise escaped Mariska. She couldn’t believe he’d done that or had even thought to do it.
He must have read the question on her face. “I thought if we were lucky and did find him tonight, he might need to make a quick exit. I took care of things before we left. It’s the Boy Scout in me. I like to be prepared.” He winked.
The man was full of surprises. Mar chastised herself for not thinking about what would happen if she did find Gladstone. Always have an exit strategy. Whether in a client meeting or when being chased by bad guys, it was one of the things her friend Katie, who used to be a detective with the NYPD, drilled into her.
They pulled up in front of the airport and the driver opened the door nearest Gladstone.
Mariska watched as Jackson jumped out and grabbed Gladstone’s bag from the trunk and handed it to him. She pushed the button to roll down the window so she could hear what Jackson said to the
“You might think because they’re here that they won’t be able to reach you in the States, but they will.” He made a wavy motion with his fingers. “They are bacterial scum who will eat away at your life until you have nothing left. Oh, and when all of that isn’t enough, they’ll go after your family. That little baby and your wife are considered commodities. They’ll find out exactly how far you are willing to go for them. I’ve seen entire families killed for as little as ten thousand dollars. Babies, grandparents, these people don’t care. They kill for sport.”
There was a long silence.
She started to say something, but Jackson tilted his head toward Gladstone, who appeared tortured. His face contorted into a mass of emotion.
Jackson’s words must have finally penetrated the man’s skull because his head fell into his hands. “Whatthe hell was I thinking?” he cried out in agony. “She’s going to kill me. Oh, God, I don’t want to disappoint her again. I’d been doing so well and then the new baby came and we needed to add on to the house.” His fist clenched.
“Sales were down at the office and I was worried about my job. I heard about this place from a friend and thought I’d make some quick cash. How could I have been so incredibly stupid?” The last part came out as a groan.
Yep. Mariska didn’t say it out loud.
“My only saving grace is that you guys came in before I could borrow any. Though, I’m sorry to say I probably would have. I kept thinking this time it’ll be my turn to win. At first I was up almost a hundred thousand.”
Jackson cleared his throat to get the man’s attention. “I don’t know who suggested you come to Bangkok to gamble away your home, but they don’t exactly run clean games in a place like that,” Jackson said as he wrapped an arm around the headrest. “There are some legitimate clubs operated by the hotels, but not the ones run by these guys.
“Be grateful that we got you out when we did. Go home and make amends. Ask for forgiveness, and get your ass to a meeting.”
Gladstone was quiet again.
“You’re right,” he finally said. “I have to get home. I’m out of control and I’ve made a royal mess of my life again.” He sighed. “Can you guys take me back to the hotel? I can pick up my things and my passport. I want to get the hell out of this place as soon as possible.”
“It isn’t necessary to take you back to the Four Seasons,” Jackson said. “We’re taking you straight to the airport. Your bag and papers are in the trunk.”
A tiny gasp of surprise escaped Mariska. She couldn’t believe he’d done that or had even thought to do it.
He must have read the question on her face. “I thought if we were lucky and did find him tonight, he might need to make a quick exit. I took care of things before we left. It’s the Boy Scout in me. I like to be prepared.” He winked.
The man was full of surprises. Mar chastised herself for not thinking about what would happen if she did find Gladstone. Always have an exit strategy. Whether in a client meeting or when being chased by bad guys, it was one of the things her friend Katie, who used to be a detective with the NYPD, drilled into her.
They pulled up in front of the airport and the driver opened the door nearest Gladstone.
Mariska watched as Jackson jumped out and grabbed Gladstone’s bag from the trunk and handed it to him. She pushed the button to roll down the window so she could hear what Jackson said to the
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