Billionaire Devils Club-Palm Beach

by Ashley Woods

  Kristen liked Sinatra, “Sounds wonderful. I am definitely hungry, I hope they have good food there.”

  It was only two miles from the Plaza, but it took over a half-hour to get there in the usual New York traffic. Marco finally pulled the car in front of a large restaurant.

  He reached into the glove compartment, grabbed his gun, and put it in his pocket. Kristen looked worried, but did not say anything, as the valet opened her door.

  Kristen was very impressed with the place. It looked like it was filled with Manhattan’s elite. Marco checked her coat, and then held her hand as they walked into the room. The waiters immediately started serving dinner, and half-way through it, the lights dimmed and the show started.

  Marco kept his arm around the back of her chair, barely touching her shoulders. Kristen nervously glanced over at it and moved slightly to the other side of her chair, every time Marco moved closer. She could feel the bulge of his gun against her arm.

  The actors did a decent job of looking like the Rat Pack. With the exception of a really bad wig on the Dean Martin impersonator, they were pretty convincing.

  Marco put his hand on her knee, “Are you enjoying the show?”

  Kristen firmly removed it, “Sure, it’s great. Thanks for bringing me.”

  As the show finished, Kristen grabbed her purse, and was ready to leave. Marco left to get her coat, and she looked around at the audience.

  On the other side of the room, she saw a familiar figure that was standing behind his date’s chair and helping her up. It was Michael Hansen! Kristen felt her heart go into her throat and she started to tremble.

  At the same moment, Michael noticed her too, and quickly made his way over, leaving his companion at the table with an astonished look on her face. It was clear she was floored by such a blatant abandonment.

  Michael practically pulled Kristen from her chair and gave her a bear hug and a big kiss on the cheek.

  “Kristen, I am so glad to see you. I sorry to hear about your parents. How awful for you.”

  He then hugged her even harder, as she managed a little squeak, “Michael, it is so great to see you too.”

  The attraction was still there. They both looked at each other, and it was apparent that they would have started into each other madly, if Kristen hadn’t regained her composure.

  Kristen laughed, “Michael, I am here with a guy, and he might shoot you if he sees me talking to you.”

  Michael answered, “Aww, come on you’re kidding…” Then he suddenly became quiet.

  Marco had come back into the room, and the expression on his face soured, when he saw her talking to another man. Kristen was surprised at his reaction.

  Michael looked at him, “Wow, I better get out of here! Where do you find these loons? Do you know there are still nice guys out there Kristen? I don’t want to be judgmental, but maybe you should be looking in another direction. What are you doing to yourself?”

  He lowered his voice to a whisper, “I am here on a business trip, and leave early tomorrow. I really need to talk to you. A friend of mine gave me your number, and I tried to phone you a while back, but it was very strange, and the number wouldn’t work. Do you have a new number? Just say it quickly. I’ll remember it. Please, I seriously need to speak to you!”

  Marco came closer, and Michael knew to scoot away. All the niceness that Marco had displayed earlier, was long gone.

  He growled, “Who the hell was that pretty boy?”

  Kristen answered innocently, “I know him from my childhood. He’s a neighborhood friend. Can you take me to the hotel please? I am very tired.”

  Marco just stared, and was ready to confront Michael, but then snapped back and decided against it.

  He smiled at Kristen, taking her hand gently,

  “Sure, I’ll take you back.”

  Marco turned and walked in front of her. Kristen looked behind her and noticed that Michael was now reasoning with his date. It looked like he was having a very difficult moment.

  Kristen laughed to herself. Marco then turned to her,

  “It will be just a few more minutes. I need to go talk to a friend of mine who works here.” He then walked off toward the restaurant’s office area.

  Kristen went toward the dining room and peeked inside. Michael was now sitting at his table, waiting for his date to return from the ladies’ room. He saw Kristen, and without a word, he took her arm and led her into a corner.

  Kristen looked up at him and smiled. Michael sweetly kissed her, as he pulled her close to him. For a few moments, Kristen was all his, but then she abruptly pulled back.

  “I am sorry Michael, we can’t do this. I have a boyfriend that I live with in Palm Beach. I have to go now.”

  Michael pleaded, “At least give me your number. There is no harm in that.” He quickly pulled out his phone.

  Kristen rambled off her number, and Michael typed it in. She smiled and walked away, without looking back.

  Michael felt the air leave his lungs. He was afraid that he had lost his only chance to renew his life with her. Those teen-age heart pings had returned and had now grown painful. He knew that they needed to meet up again, and he would convince her to leave her boyfriend. He still knew in his heart that they should be together.

  He sat down at the table nearest to him and began to text to her number.

  Kristen: Just contact me when you are ready. No obligations.

  A message instantly came back and stated that the text did not go through.

  Michael groaned to himself, “Oh, come on Kristen, not this again! You didn’t need to give me a fake number. I wasn’t planning to stalk you. I got the message loud and clear. You have a boyfriend. I am not an idiot.”

  But, he was obsessed. He decided to dial the number again, to make sure it was the correct one. His dinner partner had now crossed the room and came up to him. She stood there highly annoyed, as Michael stared down intently at his phone.

  Michael dialed, and the phone instantly disconnected.

  His date asked, “Who are you calling? Where have you been? I am taking a cab.”

  She then angrily walked away from him.

  Michael stood up and summoned a waiter, so that he could order a strong drink. He felt like his heart wasn’t even beating. He was so dismayed at Kristen.

  During the ride to the Plaza, Marco chattered away about the show, and just about everything else. Kristen sat quietly. Now that she was away from Michael again, she felt a longing for him. In spite of Anthony, that extra space in her heart that had always been reserved for her childhood crush, was growing wider.

  As they pulled in front of the hotel, Marco took her hand.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to stay out? Don’t you want to go dancing?”

  Kristen thanked him, “No, I am still calling it a night.”

  Marco turned off the engine and looked closely at Kristen. Kristen avoided his eyes, as Marco moved closer to her.

  “I hope I’m not making you nervous.”

  “No, Marco, you’re fine. Thanks again for the lovely evening. She then opened her door.

  Marco laughed, “Maybe, it is best that you go. I don’t want to have to do any explaining whatsoever to Tony. He never trusts me around his women.”

  Kristen gave him a puzzled look, as the doorman came up, and helped her from the car.

  “Good night Marco. Have a safe ride home.”

  As Kristen dressed for bed, she checked her phone. She had hoped Michael would have at least called to say good-bye to her. She knew she still had feelings for him, that could not be easily discarded.

  Earlier that day, Tony had never left New York. In reality, he just drove to another part of the city to attend to the serious tasks that only he, as the head of the family, could take care of. Vincente had joined him, and the brothers ended up in a very familiar Italian neighborhood.

  Tony calmly asked his brother “Are you sure we don’t need Marco with us?”

  Vincente an
swered, “I think we can do this by ourselves. We just need to talk to some of our renters. They are expecting us.”

  The “renters” were various businesses and illegal enterprises in the area, that were obligated to pay the Fiores protection money, in order to remain operational without any hitches.

  Normally, Tony and his brothers would not get involved at this lower level, but these were larger places that brought in a considerable amount of income. Their owners felt they were above this type of thug treatment and had recently banded together to oppose the Fiore family. The Fiores were concerned that they might look toward their rivals for help.

  The brothers drove up to a small pizzeria and parked. Without any words, four men filed out of the building, and got into a large van. Two were cousins, and they served as back-ups, in case there were any problems. They followed closely behind them.

  The group soon arrived at a large car dealership. They were greeted at the door by Nicky Bandini, the elderly and surprised-looking owner, who was wearing a purple leisure suit, and had an unlit cigar hanging out of his mouth.

  He led them to his conference room. The salesmen on the floor took a look at the men, and quickly walked out to the parking lot. The air was filled with tension.

  Tony told the owner to sit down. He looked scared when Tony and his men remained standing, and a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead.

  Tony started, “Nicky B., I came here in advance only to talk to you. You can relay this to the rest of your buddies who think they have a say in the matter.” Tony’s men moved in closer, surrounding him.

  Tony said firmly, “I know you have a gun on you Nicky, and I need you to very slowly put it on the table.”

  The owner looked up at him like a child and obeyed as he reached into his suit jacket.

  Tony continued with no expression, “I will make this short. You and your family will all continue to make your payments, like you have for years to our family, or I will hold you personally responsible for any further delays by the others. I will hear nothing more about this. Right?”

  Bandini looked like he wanted to speak up, but he knew that would be a big mistake.

  He meekly answered, “OK, Tony, I will tell them. But, you know my brothers and my cousins are not so easy to convince. They think we have more pull in New York these days then you do.”

  He gazed toward his gun. One of Tony’s men quickly picked it up and put it in his own pocket.

  Tony then leaned down, and roughly said, “I don’t think you heard me. I will hold you personally responsible. Now that my father is gone, things are not different, despite what you may have heard.”

  He looked into his frightened eyes and spoke very slowly.

  “Do you understand me now?

  Nick said quickly, “Yes, I do.”

  Tony finished, “Alright then, I won’t be talking to you again.” He then walked out of the room with Vincente.

  The car dealer’s eyes followed Tony as he left. The four men stayed behind, and the owner slowly turned back toward them, as his body sank further into the chair. A hopeless look came over his face.

  Tony was now in a good mood because it seemed that everything had gone well, and in a peaceful manner. He handed Vincente a cigar. The brothers then drove back over to the pizzeria to have lunch.

  Their men showed up forty-five minutes later and joined them. There was no talk about what happened after Tony and Vincente left.

  As Tony left to go to another part of the restaurant, Vincente turned toward the men and gave them a questioning look. They all nodded in silence.

  Vincente said, “OK, that’s good, you took care of him. He was mouthing off too much. Marco and I will keep in touch.”

  Several hours later, after they had a big meal, and downed a few bottles of wine, the men departed. Anthony listened to his phone messages and decided to return Kristen’s call from that afternoon.

  When the phone rang, it woke her up, but she answered right away. Anthony cheerfully said, “Hi Honey! How did things go with Marco? Did you have to flee from him?”

  Kristen laughed, “Funny you should ask. I did escape him. I am at The Plaza.”

  Anthony now took on a serious tone, “Are you kidding me? What did he try on you?”

  Kristen quickly answered, “No, nothing like that. I just decided I would be more comfortable here, and then it would be easy to get back to the airport to meet you, whenever you come back from New Jersey.”

  She enthusiastically added, “It will be great. I can go shopping all day tomorrow. I am where I am meant to be!”

  Anthony said, “Are you sure he did not hit on you?”

  Kristen was surprised at his jealousy.

  "Marco has been quite the gentleman. He even took me to that new Sinatra dinner show, and we had a great time. There is nothing to worry about.”

  Anthony laughed, “Hmm, Sinatra? Now I know what CD’s to bring in the car with me. I didn’t know that was your type of tunes to listen to.”

  He then apologized, “I really should have brought you with me today. Then you could have met Vincente too. At least, I can trust him.”

  Kristen cut in, “So much for our big New York trip together. Exactly, what time am I going to see you again?”

  Anthony said, “I should have things wrapped up tomorrow morning. We can fly back to Palm Beach in the late afternoon. Is that good for you?”

  “Sure! Just give me an hour warning, so I can get back to the hotel from the stores. Do you want to meet me here?”

  Anthony agreed, “Sounds like the plan. We’ll get dinner on the island somewhere after we land. Good night Dream Girl.”

  Kristen smiled, as she held the phone. She was so happy with how everything was going for them. They already felt like a married couple with a future. She could not even imagine how any dark clouds could ever get in their way.

  16 TURNED TO SALT

  Palm Beach was a very small town, and even during Season, and it was inevitable that you would eventually run into everyone at some point. The Shiny Sheet kept close tabs on all of them, whether they were in town, or in The Hamptons. Nowadays, the paper wasn’t quite as gossipy. But, in the inner circles, tongues were clucking around the clock.

  As Kristen gained more access to the top rungs, she became even more conservative in her dress, and her ways. She was excited about becoming a mother soon and wanted to be the perfect role model. She also needed to be the ultimate trophy wife to be seen on the arm of Anthony. He was in an elite class and not someone to embarrass. She needed to show grace and poise, at all times.

  It was late March, and the wedding now appeared on the horizon. Kristen was head over heels in love with her fiancé but was getting a little apprehensive about actually going through with it. To do this, meant total responsibility and commitment. It was not an easy thing for her to say, “I will love you forever,” especially since she was still young. She just didn’t feel ready.

  Kristen thought, “It must be a full moon coming up if I am thinking like this.”

  Anthony was in away again, and she was lonely. Melanie was in town from California, and they had set it up to meet inside one of the Breaker’s Hotel bars after 9 PM.

  She was a little late, when she walked into the hotel. She found Melanie sitting in the main bar area, talking with a gentleman from Canada. The bartender also seemed interested in Melanie, and was leaning on the bar with his elbows, trying to join in the conversation.

  Kristen sat down next to her, ordered wine, and then turned her chair to observe the people. The bar was half-filled, and only a few of the tables were occupied. Kristen thought that there must be a major party going on somewhere else in the hotel. The rest of the crowd would probably show up later toward closing.

  Kristen was on her second glass, and Melanie, on her first kiss, when a man, with three very young redheads dressed in white, walked in. He chose a table only ten feet away, and Kristen watched as he ordered a bucket of champagne.

  He
turned his head to look around the room, and his gaze rested immediately on Kristen. He sat up a little taller.

  The man’s hair was perfectly coiffed, and he was wearing an expensive dinner jacket. Kristen looked straight through his blue eyes and saw the blackness in them. It was Karl!

  Karl instantly smiled at Kristen, and his face now came to life. It made him look like a different person, and approachable.

  She nodded nervously as he left his chair and came over to stand next to her. Kristen could smell his spicy cologne and again felt attracted to him. She couldn’t help herself. He was actually excited to see her and shed his former persona to give her a kiss on her cheek.

  Karl said warmly, “How have you been doing Kristen? It’s been a while.”

  Instead of immediately bringing up the subject, of how their last meeting in Chicago had ended with him disappearing, she replied politely,

  “I am doing well Karl. What brings you to the Palm Beach?”

  “I have always had a place here at the end of the island. I am still in New York too.” Kristen thought Karl looked happier now, just like a human. She wasn’t used to this Karl. He seemed miles away from his dominant personality.

  Kristen looked at the girls at his table and wondered if they were submissives. An old feeling came over her. She was jealous! She was surprised at herself. These were not the feelings of an engaged woman. She thought it must be the alcohol, but she knew it wasn’t.

  He acknowledged this moment saying, “Kristen, I have done nothing but think of you since I last saw you.” Kristen turned away. He said, “Strange days. Weren’t they?”

  Kristen mustered up some words, “Are you still into that?”

  He gave her a familiar mischievous look,

  “It has hardly been that long since I saw you last. Of, course I am into it. It’s not a choice.”

  He lowered his voice, “There happens to be even a stronger underworld element to this island. But I am sure you have not seen it.”

  Kristen was afraid to speak. The old Karl was coming out, and again she feared him. He knew the effect he was having on her and stared directly at her.

  “I am going to a party tonight on an ocean estate, and I would like you to come with me.”