“I want out. You can trust me. My kid’s safety is more important to me.
I considered her request as I stepped into the marble shower. The hot water hit my shoulders, easing tension I hadn’t realized was there. The water pressure was perfect, as always. I expected nothing less at my own hotel. As I washed, I weighed the pros and cons of her request. Allowing contact with her brother was a risk. I didn’t know what Tom knew. I needed to end this. I needed to avenge of father’s death. So far, Marie had been cooperative.
I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my waist. I walked back into the bedroom. Marie had moved to the edge of the bed, watching me with those careful dark eyes.
“I will get your laptop. You can send the email tonight,” I decided, moving to the closet. “When I’m here. I’ll need to read it first.”
Relief washed over her face. “Thank you, Mr. Bregoli.”
I selected a charcoal gray suit, one of my favorites. The Italian-made fabric was smooth under my fingers. The craftsmanship was impeccable. I laid the suit on the bed and checked my phone again. Three messages from Cenzo about the LaGrassa negotiations. One from the manager at the Othello about casino floor numbers. Nothing from Lord. I’d expected that. He was still pretending that his breakup wasn’t affecting him.
Marie watched me dress, her eyes tracking my movements. She’d been quiet since her return, and even more obedient. I knew what was coming next from the way she straightened her spine, gathering courage.
“I was also thinking,” she began, “my kids, enrolling them in school? They’re falling behind.”
There it was. The real request. I finished knotting my tie before turning to face her.
“No schools,” I said firmly. “Not yet.”
“But they need?—”
I raised a hand, stopping her mid-sentence. “I’ll hire someone. A private tutor who can come to the Palladium and homeschool them. Someone discrete.”
“They need friends, interaction with other kids.” There was a hint of desperation in her voice now. “They need normalcy. They were left alone in Milwaukee.”
“But they’re here now. I got your kids and brought them here to you.” I glared at her as I grabbed my Glock off the nightstand. “You got your kids’ birth certificates and the other shit. That’s what you wanted, so shut the fuck up.”
“I know. Thank you. I still want to stay in Vegas and make this our home. There is nothing left for me in Wisconsin.”
“Listen, I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.” My tone was gentle but left no room for negotiation. “Until I locate your brother, the children stay here with me.” That and a huge cock was all I could offer Marie at this time.
“Yes, I understand.”
“Don’t fuckin’ piss me off. You only breathe air because I let you.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Bregoli.” Marie’s eyes dropped to the floor, a sign of submission I’d come to expect. “I understand.”
“You’ll get a teacher for your kids.” I said. “Someone who can teach them whatever they need. Math, science, art. Whatever kids learn these days.” I tucked my Glock into the holster under my arm.
A small smile touched her lips. “Thank you.”
I finished dressing, checking my appearance in the full-length mirror. Perfect. Professional. Powerful. Marie remained on the edge of the bed, watching my reflection.
“Will you be back for dinner?” she asked.
“No, I’m not eating with you.” I turned to face her. “I’ll return tonight with your laptop so you can email your dead brother.”
She nodded, accepting this as she accepted all things because she didn’t have a choice. I’d been with enough women to recognize the signs. Was Marie an obedient soldier, or was she biding her time, waiting for an opportunity to flee? I had possessions of all the things she brought back from Wisconsin. I made a mental note to have someone check her browser history and review her previous cell phone calls. I couldn’t call on Tino LaGrassa, the best hacker in the business, because he had been killed in Chicago. That was just another situation I had to deal with.
My arm rose in the air, and I watched her scurry over and take my hand to kiss my ring.
For now, I believed in her immediate loyalty. Not completely, but enough to appease me for the time being. I pressed a kiss on her forehead. I saw this gesture of possession masked as affection. She leaned into it slightly, playing her part in our carefully constructed dynamic.
I paused in the doorway, looking back at her. She appeared small in the enormous suite, surrounded by luxury that was as much a cage as a comfort. Marie was still my kidnappee. There was an armed guard right outside the door.
I stepped out of the Palladium’s private elevator with Punchy. We went down into the underground garage where my bulletproof Bentley truck waited, engine running. Lefty, one of my most trusted men, stood by the open rear door, his face impassive. He’d worked for my family longer than I could remember. I remembered he started as muscle for the organization before proving himself valuable enough to serve as my personal driver and security when I turned twenty. He nodded once as I approached, a gesture of respect without unnecessary words. I appreciated his efficiency just as much as his discretion.
“Morning, Don Bregoli,” he said, the only words he’d speak unless I engaged him further.
