Page 73 of His Vicious Vow
“Yes, ma’am.” The words dry as the Sahara.
Exiting the elevator his hand goes to the small of my back to guide me. The touch revives every cell in my body gone dormant since his last touch. I can’t deny the need to get as close to him as I dare with people all around us. That hand on my back instantly becomes firmer than the previous light touch.
We start at the front desk. He introduces me with pride letting them know he’s beginning the walk tonight as Paul is out and will be for an undetermined amount of time. The two women and one guy are obviously curious yet respectful.
As we walk Sandro greets every employee who gets close from a waitress to someone cleaning. He wasn’t wrong, many of the employees are wary—until I smile at them. A few approach us, some out of curiosity, a few out of a need to talk to Sandro. Sandro is patient and takes every concern with an appreciation the person brought the issue to his attention and a promise to follow up.
Several employees take the time Sandro is with one employee to discuss their issue with me. I’m flattered and determined to do what I can, which is promising I’ll talk with Sandro. Almost every time they get anxious at the news. But when I explain I don’t know how things work, and I’ll be the one to follow up with them they seem to understand and are grateful.
The issues are numerous, some are big, some small. There’s a new cocktail waitress in the wine bar who is not making any friends with all the problems she’s causing. A guest is making employees uncomfortable with repeated sexual innuendo, the woman is doing it to both men and women. Concerns are numerous for a long-time employee no one can reach. Other employees are afraid to bring it to the manager’s attention in case she is doing something she shouldn’t.
I don’t have Sandro’s memory so I tell him each thing as we walk. I’m surprised when he stops suddenly. He calls the head of his security to send someone over to the missing employee’s home.
I’m not really surprised I enjoy myself but I thought it would be because of Sandro. He is a huge factor except he isn’t the only one. I thought I wouldn’t miss people but after a month of being more or less alone in the penthouse with only Kiki for company I genuinely enjoyed meeting and talking to the people who kept the enormous hotel and casino running smoothly and efficiently.
By the time we’re done, I’m not even tired. Okay, I’m a little tired and Sandro was right my feet are sore. Yet I would gladly do it all over again. Our last stop is in the kitchen of the restaurant where we ate for the dinner. I thank the chef for the amazing food they prepared for our wedding. I’m embarrassed when my stomach growls. The chef is aghast I’m hungry while in his kitchen. He demands I tell him what I want to eat, promising it will be on the table immediately.
I blurt out chicken parmesan. He nods and ushers me out to a table.
Sandro’s tone is bone dry. “Are you not going to ask me what I would like?”
“Since you kept her so hungry her stomach was growling you can wait until a waitress takes your order.”
I can’t hide my smile as he shoos Sandro out of his kitchen.
Shaking his head Sandro mutters. “Those Michelin stars went to his head.”
At our table a waitress rushes up to us. He orders linguine with clams and a strawberry Italian soda for me.
We spend our very late dinner discussing the walk. It isn’t until dessert, a tiramisu to die for we share when I give in and ask him about his memory.
For the first time tonight he withdraws from me. I’m hurt, until I wonder what’s the big deal? The answer comes to me instantly: he remembers everything, including the death he saw and wrought.
“I’m sorry I—”
“Don’t apologize. I do have an eidetic memory where if I see or hear something I never forget it. And yes there are things I wish I didn’t remember.” A single shoulder lifts. “You weren’t the only person who used drugs to escape. It didn’t help, not really. This is the life. If I couldn’t handle it I shouldn’t be in it. My father warned me when I was young. Neither of us knew a hundred percent what it was—I figured out the name when I was high school. Unlike some children of mafia men, he offered me a choice. I didn’t take it. So now I must live with it, blood and all.”
“Do you regret the choice you made?” I long to touch him to soothe his anguish he could hide from anyone but me.
His answer is immediate. “No. Maybe it’s the psycho in me. This world is not an easy one. However the good outweigh the bad—for me.”
I’m dying from curiosity. I want to ask yet I don’t want to know. The why didn’t matter, all that did is he doesn’t regret it. Anything else…isn’t going to change the way I feel about him.
“So you liked walking with me?” He lifts an eyebrow.
I nod fast. “I really did. Everyone seems so happy here. There are also so many families here. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Luca figured out it was important that our employees be happy, if not our guests would see it, feel it. We pay the second most out of any property in Vegas. The place that pays more than us doesn’t have the benefits we have like the no cost daycare, medical, dental, and eye insurance all covered. Our paid leave is the best out of any major corporation, and retirement benefits Luca was told was excessive especially when it all starts from day one. All of it has paid off, year over year.”
“Is it this way at the hotel and casino you ran in old Vegas?”
“Yes, my dad was skeptical but he made the changes and the same thing happened. Our employees were happier and guests come back year after year. Do you think you want to come back with me to walk again tomorrow afternoon?” The question is light.
“I would like to very much.” I’m hoping I didn’t say it too fast. “I had a lot of fun.”
His chuckle is light. “Interesting idea of fun but I won’t argue as I appreciate your help.”
The question is one I’ve wondered since I got to Vegas. “So, what do you do for fun exactly? It seems like you work a lot.”