Chapter 2
2
Las Vegas
“Leo’s been flying’ low, man, mostly under the radar. I don’t trust it,” Johnny told me, lighting a cigar.
“He’s not flyin’ low,” I corrected. “Not even a little bit.”
We were in a quiet corner, in a VIP booth at Goldberg’s titty bar, after getting back from checking progress on the new space. Fete was ready. It was looking good, too.
The new club would consist of a larger theater, experience and VIP rooms, theme rooms for observation or for play, and a swanky cocktail lounge for people in the kink community to meet.
Some of those VIP rooms were going to be experience rooms where women or men could pay to be dominated by a professional Dom or Domme or to dominate professional submissives for hire.
They could sign up for orgy participation, be placed in a cage blindfolded to be used by others, they could be strapped onto a Sybian, either alone or in a display room, be on either end of a glory hole, the list went on. People could order their fantasy and pay through the nose for the experience. It was like Fantasy Island, the kinky version. And Ben Goldberg was Mr. Roark.
The place was fucking filthy. But swanky as fuck and it was going to make us a lot of dosh. There was a public club as well as a VIP area for vetted and approved members, only.
I didn’t need the money. But it was a nice incentive. And I liked to finish what I started. Plus, John Lewis was probably my closest buddy and needed Ferrano help.
“I got six kids to put through college, Tommy, man. And the economy has been fuckin’ killin’ me.”
It helped that staying involved would mean I could also block and maybe even crush Leo Denarda under my heel like the cockroach deserved. He’d been an annoyance up until now.
Now? He was proving to be a serious pain in my ass. I looked forward to watching him fuck himself over by being an idiot. It wouldn’t take long for him to piss off the wrong person and get a price put on his head.
And as for Fete itself? I woulda ate this shit up back when I was single. Fuck, I’d have considered moving in, building condos next door.
The book world had brought kink into the forefront and out of the woodwork and underground dungeon clubs so more people could now get what they wanted (within limits, usually) or what they thought they might want.
But, it also meant that the crazies came. Some people in that lifestyle or curious about it were happy about the ability to widen their net. Others were pissed at the mockery that was being made of their lifestyle.
I’d dabbled in the scene but had never considered myself ‘in the lifestyle’.
I’d never known what it took to be a nurturing Dominant. Before Athena, I liked to fuck the submissives and got a rush out of fucking the sub-curious females who had no fucking idea what it was like to fuck a man with a hefty appetite for rough and dominating sex. The shit I’d pulled with some of those girls? I should’ve been kicked out of the club I had membership in back home; they just gave me a wide berth because of who I am and how I’d handle perceived disrespect.
I now knew that the girls I’d hooked up with there should be poster children for what to watch out for and how not to dabble in the world of dark kink.
Since Tia, I was trying to learn a little more about the life, to learn how to be what her submissive side needed while not giving complete control to my hunger. I’d read a couple books on the subject and figured if I could figure out how to manage my urges, maybe I’d keep a lock on them most of the time.
And beyond helping us keep our sex life safely spicy, it could help me with my demons. I wasn’t looking to define my sexual tastes or put labels on my relationship with my girl, but I was trying to get my head out of my own ass so that I could be the man she needed.
I was trying to show maturity as a husband, as the man she’d voluntarily given herself to. I had to protect her, from me if needed.
Of course the idea of seeing that fear before submission still got me hard, but since she got pregnant, I was happy to feed her hungry appetite for fucking but yet we hadn’t played any games.
She’d tried to bait me a couple times lately, like she’d done right after we got married, but I didn’t let myself play since getting the news that she was carrying my baby. And it pissed her off a little, but I’d snap her out of it by kissing her belly and reminding her that she didn’t want my hunger going over the edge like it’d done in Costa Rica. And that’d get her sweet and dewy-eyed.
Costa Rica had frightened us both to the degree that I was now planning to use my association with Fete to learn how to be what Tia needed without putting her at any risk.
I’d broached the subject with Johnny, who was in the life / the scene 24/7 with his wife Kate. I phoned him from Costa Rica after a particularly rough time and at first, he was cocky, telling me he was glad I was gonna stop being a punk about it. I hung up on him.
Of course, I didn’t like hearing that, but I had to get over my shit. So, I hit my heavy bag for forty minutes and then called him back.
We’ve had a few good conversations and he’d recommended some reading material. He later told me he’d give me some advice for play during pregnancy, too.
He and his wife, having had six kids, meant he’d had plenty of experience playing with her safely but effectively while pregnant.
Today, we weren’t gonna talk about that private shit, though. And John was a good guy who wouldn’t ever bring it up unless I did first.
I answered his questioning chin jerk about Denarda.
“He had some shitheads rough up a bookie buddy of ours. Guy’s broken away, good terms, but it’s recent and Denarda didn’t know that.”
Killian was a good guy and he and Dare were tight. We were not happy when this happened. It happened after Dare’s wedding. Kill and his new girlfriend had gotten swarmed on his way home from the reception.
“Shit.” Johnny shook his head.
“Yeah, bunch of expensive supplies vanished from a construction site of ours in Portland yesterday, including a large quantity of some very fucking pricy copper wire. Someone saw three white cargo vans leave early. No one local would pull that shit at that level, knowing it was our site. Security guards on the job site got roughed up and held at gunpoint.”
“Shit,” Johnny said.
“Yeah. Our logo was all over the place. We suspect he orchestrated it because not only was he in the vicinity, not tryin’ to hide it, but my top security guy just notified me that someone matching his description fucked our family restaurant, Venetia, for a $1930 tab the night before, shit load of expensive wine and top shelf booze and a pile of the most expensive food on the menu. Guy matching Denarda’s description walked out.”
“Call the cops?”
“Yeah, restaurant manager did. Found out he bought a first-class ticket the day before yesterday to my city, returning to Vegas this morning. He was on the flight I missed, so if my wife wasn’t pukin’ her guts out when I was supposed to leave, we’d have been on that plane together. That was no coincidence. That sleazy little fucker wanted me to set eyes on his ugly mug and be stuck lookin’ at it for two hours.”
Johnny added, “Leo was shunned at the door of a big game I was at last week and didn’t react. Or didn’t seem to react.”
John topped up both our glasses with Scotch. He told the server to leave the bottle. She’d tried to give me ‘fuck me’ eyes, but I ignored her. It wasn’t hard. Women coming onto me wasn’t new but as always, I’d never been led around by my dick. The only woman who had the capability to do that was my wife and it wasn’t her style – probably part of why she had that ability.
John, however, had stared at that server’s ass and legs in tiny black booty shorts as she strutted away.
“We’ll talk more later,” I said, “not in front of Goldberg.” I jerked my chin toward Ben Goldberg, who was approaching our table.
Goldberg strolled up to us and sat with a sigh.
“Her seams are crooked, Benny-boy,” Johnny said, the cigar in between his teeth, gesturing to our server, who was still strutting away.
Ben looked over his shoulder and shook his head. “Standards.”
He pulled his phone out of the inside breast pocket of his suit, dialed, and then barked, “Get Lily straightened up. Her seams are a mess.” He hung up.
“Fete needs to be pristine,” Johnny said.
“Agreed.” Ben reached for the bottle, filled a glass and leaned in. “I got a scene for that. Master flogs his sub for crooked seams. After she takes her punishment, the scene ends with a flash forward to her the following day, purposely pushing those seams askew when he’s ready to inspect.”
“Niiiiice…” Johnny drawled and then looked at me. “This guy. Some got an app for that. Benny’s got a scene for that.”
Ben Goldberg was a perverted fucker, for sure. He looked as straight-laced missionary-style as they came. But he wasn’t. Not by a longshot.
“Leo Denarda called me this morning. Demanded a meeting tonight,” Ben switched gears, looking to me. “Recommended you attend.”
“Recommended?”
“He did. His words. Tell Tommy Ferrano that I recommend he show up.” Ben sipped his drink. “It’s on neutral territory, a nightclub just off the strip. I have half a dozen bouncers who can accompany us and keep the peace.”
“You go. Let me know the gist. He wants a meet with me, he can reach out directly and request that. My response to that request will be a reflection of the way his request comes across.”
It’d also happen only after I had a chance to scout the planned location, or choose it. And bring my own muscle. With a sniper planted, his weapon pointed at Denarda the entire time.
Johnny shook his head. “He’ll see that as a sign of disrespect, Tommy. You really wanna poke him like that?”
“Ask how many fucks I give,” I clipped. “That disrespect is not unearned. That slimy little cheap-suited fuck hasn’t earned the time of day from me and if my suspicions are right and he’s fucked with all that shit back home, he’s gonna feel the opposite of my respect. Right where it hurts.”
“Shit back home?” Ben asked.
I shook my head. “Forget about it for now. I’m still confirming. You take the meet and lemme know the gist.”
The subject got dropped and our meeting went on and we dealt with the things we needed to, final numbers and plans for the launch of Fete. There was PR happening and we’d be having adult industry big-name entertainers flown in for it.
I wasn’t planning on attending the opening night events. They were trying to talk me into it but bringing my pregnant wife into that scene? The alternative of going stag? Probably not a great idea. I told them I’d think about it.
Dare and I didn’t want to be in this business long-term because of some of the people it’d tie us to, but based on associations and the past as well as the fa?ade we were trying to keep up, it was the only thing that made sense for now.
John needed this, he’d taken some financial hits in the past few years. I’d help get it going and then in a year, maybe two, we’d sell our shares back to John and Ben.
I got a ride back to my hotel from one of Ben’s drivers, calling Tia on the way. She answered on the third ring, her voice small.
“Hello?”
“Sleepin’ baby?”
“Mm. It’s okay. How are you?”
“I’m good. On my way back to my room, crashin’ early. Just wanted to see how you’re feeling.”
“I don’t know yet. I guess I’ll find out when I finally get my head off this pillow.”
“You been in bed all day?”
“No. I got up and got stuff done for the party tonight and then I decided to take a nap after I made all the food. Sheesh, I slept a long time.”
“I’ll call you later then. Sarah still there?”
“Think so. I’m gonna take a shower; girls’ll be here soon. Love you. Call me before you go to sleep?”
“Yep. Have fun. Love you, baby girl.” I entered the hotel and tucked my phone into my pocket and then stopped near a bank of elevators, leaning over to fix my shoelace.
From the corner of my eye, I saw something that tweaked me. An older guy, trench coat, coming up beside me. He halted when I bent and then he skirted the couple walking in front of him, quickly walking by me, disappearing around a corner in a way that felt unnatural.
It might’ve been nothing, but I’d learned over the years to trust my gut. Trench coat done up like that indoors in the fuckin’ desert? I’d lay bets he was following me. And packing. But for who? Denarda? Or, I was being followed by Zack’s Fed buddies.
I hit the button for the elevator. One opened immediately. I got on it and hit buttons for the second, third, fifth, and twenty eighth floors.
I let the doors open and close on the second floor and then got off on the third, crossed the long hallway to the other end and then climbed up to the fourth floor and called the elevator. Whoever was watching me wouldn’t know which floor I’d gotten off on, unless they had the elevator camera feed hacked.
As the elevator climbed to my floor, I texted Nino.
Come to Vegas. Get on the next flight. Arrange security detail for me. Double security for Tia. Tail the goof and toss his house. Thinkin’ he might’ve put out a hit on me.
I entered my hotel room with my gun drawn. The room was empty, but I wasn’t taking any chances so I examined, then packed up my shit, changed into jeans and a hoodie with dark glasses and sneakers, and then I switched hotels and checked in under a fake name.
It was the next day. I was in another meeting with John, Ben and the other investors for Fete. Ben said Denarda had canceled their meeting after the start-time. So, my guess? He saw I wasn’t there and that’s why he canceled.
As we were wrapping up our meeting, I got a call from
Nino who said he and a few other of our guys were checking out Denarda’s place and his office and they’d nearly gotten caught by Denarda’s security. Nino found a fucking Ferrano inner circle flowchart on the fucker’s home office wall. Tessa’s picture was circled.
Nino called her immediately to tell her to stay put so he could get additional security for her but she hadn’t answered, so he called me to tell me he’d have her tracked down. I called her cell. The phone went straight to voicemail. I called Sarah’s cell. Voicemail again.
I phoned the house.
“Hello?”
Lisa. Shit.
Lisa and I hadn’t talked much since her meltdown. She hadn’t been back from her retreat for long and had revealed her secrets of her origins to the girls.
Tia had been there and filled me in on how it all went down, how Tessa and Luciana left without letting Lisa off the hook. My sisters were in shock and Dare and I had talked it over. We knew that given time, they’d welcome her back into the fold. Hopefully Lisa knew that, too.
Dare told me he’d talked to Lisa and said she was doin’ okay, despite the shock from the chat with the girls. Tia and Angel were being a good support to her, as was Sarah. Though Sarah was pretty fuckin’ angry lately, knowing the truth about all that her girls had been through. She treated all of them like daughters and took it as a personal affront that anyone would hurt those girls.
“Hey. It’s Tommy. You good?” I half prayed she wouldn’t answer that question with more than a yes.
“Hi. Uh. Yeah, Tommy, I’m good. Um… you?”
“Not so good. Listen, Tessa there?”
“Oh, I’m not sure. I think Sarah has the boys.”
The volume of her voice got lower and I heard the click of heels on floor and then outside noises.
“Wait, she’s got Luc’s girls in the backyard. They’re playing in the snow. Tessa’s boys must be at daycare. I don’t know where Luc and the baby are.”
“Snow?” I asked. “Lots?”
“We got a dumping of it overnight. You out of town?”
“Yeah. Business. But things need to go on lockdown. Need to find Tess immediately.”
“Oh, uh, you texted her?”
“I called. No answer. Luc isn’t there in another part of the house or something?”
Fuck. Both my sisters unguarded.
“I’m not sure but I don’t think so. I’ll ask Sarah.”
“I need to talk to Sarah,” I started and then changed my mind. If Lisa was gonna continue to be a member of this family, we had to get over this awkward dance and she needed to be able to act quickly in a crisis.
“Scratch that,” I said. “I need you to keep things calm at the house and keep Sarah and the kids there. Find out where Luciana is and text me. Anyone else there?”
“Dex is around somewhere, I think. Unless he is over at your house. He’s been back and forth today. Tessa might be at the restaurant. She’s been helping Eddy with prep a few days a week.”
“Right. No panic all right, but stay there until you hear from me or unless I give Dex a change in orders. Yeah?”
“Okay,” she answered softly.
“I’ll get word to you guys when things are cool. Ask Sarah about Luc and text me. I need you to be cool and collected, Lisa.”
“Got it,” she replied and her voice sounded sure.
Me? I wasn’t sure about her yet, but Dex was on her heels and reporting to me and Dare that she seemed adjusted since returning from her retreat. I wasn’t fully convinced, but she was getting some leeway from me.
I’d had a brief text discussion with Tia last night and first thing this morning to check in. I called Tino, who was overseeing security for the house, and told him what was up as well as to make sure he got someone to catch up with Luciana, pronto, to make sure she was okay. He called back to confirm all was still well.
I got a text from Lisa, saying Luc had the baby at the doctor’s for a check-up and Dex told me he was having security meet up with her. Tino said that at my house, Tia and her friends were eating breakfast. I told him to subtly get rid of them and hustle Tia over to Pop’s house. I scrolled to my brother’s contact details and called him.
Dare answered. He and Angel were in Italy and they were at a restaurant for dinner. They’d spent the day at the hospice with Dare’s mother Annette, seeing Dare’s stepfather. Some girls would’ve complained about going to see her new husband’s dying step-father on their honeymoon, but not my brother’s girl.
Like me, he had lucked out in the wife department. Not that it was easy; seemed like real love never fucking was easy. And also not that either of us were worthy of everything we got from our women. I know I certainly wasn’t.
I cut my brother off from talking when he was clearly not picking up on my vibe and kept talking about whatever, like we were just shooting the breeze. I told Dare the gist of what was up, but we figured there was no point in him cutting his honeymoon short until we knew exactly what was what. I told him there was bullshit with Leo, told him about the chart, and said Tessa was off radar and that we were on it. I let him go, saying I’d keep him posted.
I got a text from Tino.
Your girl needs to cut the sass.
Shit.
I called Tia.
“Baby. End the party. You’re needed with the girls. Now.”
“Tino’s trying to drive the girls home already. We just got up and we’re only half way through –”
“Tia. You’re all going on lock down. Get off the fuckin’ phone and listen to Tino,” I snapped.
She usually respected Nino, knew he didn’t fuck around, so her attitude with Nino’s twin was surprising since Tino wasn’t nearly as friendly as Nino.
“Oh,” her voice went small. “What’s wrong?”
“Do it now, Athena. Gotta go.”
“Kay,” her voice went smaller. “Love you.”
She hung up to do what she was told before I could reply.