Murmurs. Odd sounds. She couldn't quite make it out.
But then a voice loudly said, "Dani? I'm a paramedic, my name is Sam. Stay with me now, Dani. Don't go to sleep okay?"
She breathed, while she began to close her eyes.
"Dani...Sugar?" Kim's voice.
"Dani? You're doing okay now." Then to someone else, he said, "Start a line, Hank."
She felt a needle pierce her hand, a sting.
"Dani?"
"Be quiet," she told him, tired of hearing his voice.
"I'll be quiet if you leave your eyes open, how's that?"
Things came more into focus for her after that. She felt herself being loaded slowly onto their gurney then she was rolled out into the fresh air.
"Can't breathe, Al," she said as she stared up at the top of the ambulance.
"Dani, Al said he'd meet you at the hospital. Keep your eyes open now, sweetheart. Stay with us."
In the alley, Al strode up to the man held at gunpoint, grabbed him by the collar, and punched him with all his might. Then, as the man crumpled by his feet, he left for the hospital.
"Holy shit," Candy breathed, watching the man on the ground, "he knocked him out with one punch."
"Yeah," Matt said, "he's one of the good guys. Guess this piece of shit resisted arrest. Right?"
Al arrived at the hospital five minutes after Dani was rolled in. They wouldn't let him in to see her, so he paced the hallway, up and back, up and back.
The doctor came out fifteen minutes later. "Mr. Scaletti," he said, "she said you're a relative. You can go in and see her if you want."
"How is she?"
"We still have to x-ray her. Appears to be a broken rib. We'll let you know. Need to make sure it didn't puncture the lung. Plus probably some bruises. I understand the man just came onto the stage and tackled her? Is that right?"
Al nodded, as a muscle in his jaw twitched.
"He knocked the wind out of her when he did the tackle. She should be fine in four to six weeks. Ribs take a while to heal. We gave her an injection for the pain, so she might be a little sleepy. But, she should be okay to go home after we read the x-ray."
"Home," Al said, "right." He nodded again, and ran a hand through his hair.
Dani, he thought, looked like an angel, with her long red hair trailing on the pillow and off from her face now. Her eyes were closed, but her color was good and her breathing was regular.
He immediately thought of Clarice.
Teeny's enormous bulk showed up in the doorway. "'Ey. Told them I was her long lost fucking uncle. How's she doin'?"
"She'll be fine," Al said with a confidence he didn't feel.
Her hand came up to her face. "Al?" She opened her green eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling.
"What is it baby?" He kissed her cheek tenderly.
A flash suddenly interrupted him, as a man snapped their picture. Teeny turned to grab him, but the man dashed off.
"Sorry, boss," he said, "didn't see him comin'."
"They're like pesky little flies, my friend." Then he turned back to Dani. "Where would you like to go when we leave here? The doctor says we can leave in a while."
Smiling up at him wanly she said, "The house. In the hills."
He smiled back at her, as he stroked her hair. "You got it."
The next day, the headlines screamed, 'Dani mugged onstage,' and 'Where was Scaletti?' and worse, with the picture the photographer took in the emergency room, 'Too Little Too Late!'
But, Lefty handled all that for Al. His boss was in seclusion with Dani, in the house on the hill, and he left them alone for a few days.
Al was with her constantly, he even slept sitting up on the wrap around couch when she said she was having too much pain to lie down. He cooked her meals and helped her to the toilet and shower. And he worried as, day by day, she grew more listless.
On the fifth day, as she sat on a lounge chair in the shade, staring at the swimming pool, he came and sat next to her. "What can I do, Dani? How can I help you?"
Her trusting green eyes came up to meet his gaze. "Help me find out who I am. Where I came from. Who my parents were. Why they gave me up. Why I had to grow up like that. I need to know."
He nodded, brought her hand up and kissed her palm. "I have just the person. He'll get to the bottom of this and he'll find out what happened. Will you trust me on this?"
Smiling now, she said, "I've trusted you with everything else."
And he thought of the news Lefty and Teeny brought him when she was newly hired. Her parents were dead, but he just couldn't bring himself to tell her. If it came from a third party, she wouldn't blame him. Besides, if he had his contact search further, they might turn up some relatives.
Chapter 14
Day by day, Dani seemed to be more comfortable and Al finally felt like he could go back to work and leave her alone at the house, at least during the day. Her pain was at a minimum and he thought it was just a matter of time for her to heal.
The newspapers, however, had not backed off and there were numerous pictures of him entering and leaving the casino, with headlines like, 'Where's Dani?' and 'Scaletti - Alone Now.'
Luckily, none of them had been able to follow him home. This day, he'd just managed to shake them off by taking back roads.
He let himself in the front door. "Dani?" he called, but when she didn't answer he grew worried.
"Dani!" he yelled. After a quick search of the downstairs, he ran up the staircase. A noise brought him to the work-out room. Weights were scattered around, and Dani walked, now, on the stair stepper with her earphones on. She wore a leotard. Her head came up as she saw his reflection in the mirrored walls. She turned the machine off and faced him. She was flushed, with her hair pulled back in a long braid. It was the happiest he'd seen her in two weeks.
Smiling, he walked up to her. "You aren't overdoing it are you?"
Pulling off her earphones, kissing him on the cheek, she said breathlessly, "No, I'm not. It only hurts a little today. I need to do something and work out or I'll go crazy."
"Let's go downstairs. I'll fix us both a drink and we'll talk about the latest casino gossip."
Once downstairs, they sat on the couch.
"How is the show?" she asked him eagerly, as she sipped her drink.
"You don't want to know. Adriene is pregnant again, so that takes her out pretty soon. She can't be up there with a little stomach on her. Last time she didn't show until four months, though."
"I'll have to call and congratulate her. Will you hire her back afterwards?"
"Of course. We'll just put her on maternity leave. She'll still get her salary. I spoke to Stutgart today about it."
"So, what else?"
He sighed. "Lorali is getting fat. I don't mean just a little flab. She's getting worse every day. And she feels like I'm singling her out about it, but I have to say something to her. It's part of my job and it's only fair for me to be impartial."
"Isn't there a clause in her contract about that?"
Al looked at her strangely. "Yes, I suppose it's in there somewhere, and that would be my last resort."
"What?"
"You're pretty smart sometimes. I just don't know what to make of you."
She smiled at him. "I've got another zinger for you."
His hand came up and stroked her hair.
"You should take Winner Takes All on the internet."
He was silent for a minute as he searched her face. "I brought your laptop to you last week. You've been researching this thing, then?"
She nodded. "Along with a few other things."
"So, talk to me."
"Internet is the wave of the future. I suppose I see a vision of people playing poker in their pajamas."
"And still keep the two casinos then?"
"Of course. You'd have to check on the legal end of it. State restrictions and that sort of thing. But, what you could do is reward the online players with comps for casino visits.
That way, if they take a vacation, they'd end up at the casinos in person. It's a win-win situation."
Sitting back on the couch, he asked, "So what else have you been researching?"
Dani hesitated. How could she tell him? She just couldn't admit that she'd never finished high school. Then he'd never think she was smart. She'd sent for some materials for online classes, but she'd filled in the casino address with her room number. "Oh, just things," she said vaguely.
Marie watched Vito come in the main cage side door. "Hey, you," she said brightly, "what's shaking?"
But he was in a foul mood, and just muttered something under his breath as he headed for the safe. And she wondered if there really was any hope for a romance between her and the general manager. Leaning back, she checked out his back end. "Nice," she said to herself.
Robert sat in surveillance, thinking about Scaletti and he wished the man was a little more approachable. Their department was suffering because of Leroy's constant absences. They were tired of filling in for the man's shift. Rubbing his face, taking a sip of coffee, he checked the monitors.
Nothing much going on today, he thought, so he replayed his tape from the morning's soft count. Although he was tempted to skip over the cage safe monitors, just for kicks he thought he'd give them the once-over.
Now, he watched Vito checking the day's deposit slip and cash. The man's eyes shifted, checked the monitors first then slid three one-hundred dollar bills into his pocket.
Robert shook his head back and forth and cracked his neck. He didn't believe what he just saw. He thought he was too tired from working so much. He watched as Vito left the room with the huge rubber-banded deposit in his hands. He gave it to Marie, and left through the cage side door.
"Jerry," he said tiredly, "can you look at something over here?"
The man came and stood in back of him. Robert pressed the back button, reversing Vito's entrance.
But when he pushed play, they both saw Vito's pilfering.
"Shit!" Robert moaned.
"Scaletti's going to be pissed." Jerry sat next to him. "Rerun it would you man?"
They saw it again. Same thing.
"He's the one," Robert said glumly.
"You've got to tell Scaletti."
"I suppose you heard what he did to the 'Dani Man'?" They'd nicknamed the man who assaulted Dani onstage.
"That was different. This is work, guy. It's your fucking job. You should be proud of yourself. I never even would think Vito skims. I barely checked him out."
"Yeah. Guess I'll call Marie first and see how much the deposit is off today. Have her recount it right now."
While Al and Dani were chatting on the sofa, Robert's call came through.
Dani watched the expressions on Al's face go from relaxed, to incredulous, to rage. "What is it?" she asked, as he stood up.
"They found who's stealing money from me," he said with his blue-grey eyes glinting.
Grabbing his suit coat, he spat, "Vito. I'll be back in about two hours." Then looking down at her, he said in a softer tone, "You'll be all right then?"
"Of course. Take your time. Do whatever is needed. And," she paused, "reign in your temper. Anger shows weakness."
He nodded and left for the casino.
Vito wandered the casino floor aimlessly, and congratulated himself for the deposit money. Three hundred. He sniffed. A pretty good hooker for the night. Although, he thought, Marie had the hots for him and she wasn't bad looking. Nice figure and she didn't talk back.
Heading for the cage, he stopped at her window and laid his elbows on the counter. "How goes it baby?"
But he thought she looked nervous, as her eyes darted back and forth and her gaze wouldn't meet his. "How goes it Marie?" he repeated.
"Pretty good, Vito," she said finally, still not looking at him for some reason.
"Okay, I'll leave you to your money, then," he replied, irritably. Hell with this, he thought, as he walked along.
A few minutes later, his cell phone squawked. "Yeah?"
The voice sounded smooth. "It's Al. I need to see you."
That's all I need today, Vito thought. He always had trouble looking at Al's face after he stole. It seemed like the man could see right through him. "Can you wait for a few? I'm checking something here on the floor."
"No. Come right away. Penthouse." And the phone went dead.
"Crap."
He took his time catching the private elevator to Scaletti's penthouse. Once up, he went into the den where Al could usually be found. When the man wasn't around, he helped himself to his favorite aged scotch and sat on a chair. At least he'd get a drink out of the thing.
Al strolled in a few minutes later, and stood in front of his desk. "How's everything going today, Vito?" he asked in a soft voice.
He'd never heard this tone in Al's voice before, and Vito was instantly on guard. "Okay. Deposit was off again though."
"And how much was it off?" Same tone of voice, same bland look on Al's face.
Vito rose. "I think it was three hundred or so."
"Was it exactly three hundred off then?"
"Geez, I guess I'd need to call Marie."
Al waved toward the house phone on his desk. "Be my guest."
Vito felt sweat crawling down his chest, as he made the call. When he heard Marie say the amount he hung up. "Yeah Al. She says exactly three hundred."
He faced Al now. "Don't worry boss. We'll catch who's doing this pretty soon. I can feel it in my bones."
Al gave him a hard stare. "Is that right?"
"Yeah."
After a minute, a long minute for Vito, Al said, "First of all, don't ever call me 'Al' again."
"Okay, boss--" he began.
Al held up one hand. "Second, don't ever call me 'boss' again. Pack up your things and get out. Now." Then handing Vito an envelope, he said, "Your last check."
Two guards showed up at the den doorway, with their hands on their guns.
"But--"
Smiling tightly now, Al said in a softer tone, "Now. Get out now, before I do something I will regret. And you are no longer my cousin. Don't ever tell anyone ever that you are related to me in any way. Understood?"
Vito gulped. "Sure, boss, if that' the way you want it--"
Looking past him to the guards, Al said, "Get this man out of my sight. Right now."
One guard on either side of his arms now, they escorted him out.
Dani waited anxiously for Al to come back from the casino. She'd never seen him so angry. She thought of his eyes and the way they gave him away. When he was angry or upset, they were almost all grey colored. But when he looked at her the way he did sometimes, the passionate times, they were deep blue with little grey flecks.
In his absence she'd taken a bath and now sat in her robe.
He let himself in just before dark.
From the living room couch, she asked him, "How did it go?"
Taking off his suit coat and tie, while he unbuttoned his shirt, he said tiredly, "He's gone. Forever."
Sitting next to her, he sat back and closed his eyes.
"Is there anything I can do?" she asked him, while her hand stroked his arm.
"Just be you. That's all I need." He turned his head towards her, but she couldn't tell whether his eyes were grey or blue.
His hands came tenderly around her back and pulled her to him. "Just be the wonderful person you are, Dani."
And after they sat for a few minutes, he said, "I need you to come with me now." He helped her up and they went to the bedroom.
She lay on the bed, while slim daylight filtered through the blinds.
"Your robe," he said huskily, while he pulled off his clothes.
She wiggled out of it carefully, and dropped it on the floor.
He stood by the bed now, by her, and her hands roved his muscular legs, back to his buttocks then gently rubbed his hardness. It grew with her stroking, and he whispered, "Bellissimo," with his eyes closed. After a minute,
he caught her hand with both his own. "I want this to last, and that feels too good."
Lying next to her, he lightly gathered her in his arms. His kiss was electric and hard, as his tongue moved frantically, sensually in her mouth. Licking her lower lip, he whispered, "Just for you," and he pushed his hardness between her legs, outside, softly, slowly. His fingers found her wetness as his lips kissed her breasts, sucking then running his teeth across her nipples.
"Now," she told him urgently, while her hand roved over his muscular back.
"Oh, no," he breathed, against her lips now, "I've waited too long for this."
Pulling up from her, he kissed her breasts, her stomach then lower, between her legs. "Oh," he groaned, "my Dani, you're still shaving then?" But, his voice grew muffled as his tongue roved between her legs, then rolled inside. She felt two of his fingers enter her then, in and out, along with his tongue darting here and there. She stiffened and cried out at the sensation.
"Now," she pleaded with him.
He laughed softly, but just kept up with it, as she cried out again and again.
Hovering over her now, tongue rolling on his own lips, he grinned down at her. "Mmmm, you want me Dani?"
She nodded, unable to speak.
"How much?"
It was her turn to groan now. "Please," she said weakly.
"A lot?" His fingers came back inside her now, moving in and out sensuously, spreading her wetness.
"A lot," she gasped.
Kissing and nipping her breasts again, with his hand on one breast, he guided himself to her opening with his other hand.
"You're sure now, Dani?"
She heard him laughing softly.
"Now," she said urgently.
Romance in Vegas - Showgirl! Page 12
