He was about my height, with a five o’clock shadow, dark hair, and dark brown eyes. He wasn’t bad-looking but not attractive enough for anyone to believe I’d want this marriage willingly. Gabe had to be in his mid 40s.
“Gabe,” I smile. “Nice to finally meet you.”
Once seated, Gabe sat right next to me fairly close, which I found odd, being it was a round table.
“I heard you were beautiful, but that was an understatement,” he smiled, and I felt his hand on my knee under the table.
“Thank you,” I smile and gently push his hand off me.
The waiter came to announce their specials and take our order.
“We’ll have a bottle of wine,” Gabe ordered. “I’ll have the tomahawk steak well done, and she will have the salmon salad.”
I look up from the menu, trying to understand. Did he order for me?
I smile at the waiter, saying, “I’ll have the 6lb MaineLobster.”
I didn’t mind lobster; I just chose the most expensive item on the menu to be spiteful.
Gabe smiles, “Honey, we are getting married in a few days. Maybe you should go light on your meal.”
The waiter looked uncomfortable and awkwardly stood there.
“I’m hungry tonight.” I turn to the waiter to kindly dismiss him, “Thank you.”
Gabe looked like he was holding back as his eye seemed to twitch. “Don’t tell me you plan to lose your figure once married. The ladies in Vegas are hard to keep up with.”
I let out a laugh, “You’re already thinking about infidelity. You know how to make a girl feel special.”
“I know how to make you feel a lot of things.” Once again, his hand on my knee slid up my thigh, giving it a tight squeeze.
Squirming in my seat, I tried to get his hand off me, but he held a firm grip this time. “I think you made your point.”
Looking around the place, I saw no familiar face. Gabe was making me uncomfortable. I had my hair pin-straight, but I felt the sweat on my head begin to undo it.
“Ms. DeCarlo,” one of the hostesses approaches the table. “You have a call. Your cell phone is going to voicemail. Did you want to take it?”
Although odd, I took it as a chance to escape. “Yes, please.”
As I follow her, she grabs my arm. “So that you know, if something like that happens again, be sure to order an angel shot. At least in here, it means you need help.”
“Thank you,” I reply, shocked. She picked up on how uncomfortable I was and decided to help. “So, no real phone call?”
“No,” she smiled, “it was written all over your face you didn’t want to be there.”
Walking through the kitchen area, she led me to the back door. “Need a ride?”
“No, I drove.”
“Hey, it’s not my place, but you need to run away from guys like that. That’s coming from someone who knows firsthand what domestic violence looks like.”
I nod my head, “Thank you.”
I was shaking from head to toe as I walked to my car. It felt as though I just escaped death. I can’t do this. There shouldn’t be anything the Appollo brothers have on my brother to make me go through with this. This ends tonight. Driving straight to Luca’s lounge, I storm right in.
Everyone looked at me as I entered.
“Can I help you?” the bartender says as I walk to the bar.
