all night, building up quite a presence. At the best clubs, she would always pounce her way into the VIP section and have her pick.
Although she didn’t hook up with them, there were many Hollywood celebrities that flew into town that she got to know. They would often keep company with her because she was easy to talk to and she knew to just act normal and not gush all over them. Chicago was a much easier place to have access to the stars than other places. They came out because they were probably bored at their hotels and they didn’t have to usually worry about paparazzi here.
One night, she was at one of her favorite retro bars. Kristen was making her way to the dance floor, when a well-dressed, slim-built man came up to her. “I noticed you have long fingers. Can I see your feet?” She thought it was a funny request, so she pulled off her shoe. He reached down, stroked it lightly, and looked like he was getting excited.
She liked his weirdness and grabbed him to dance. In between twirls, the man told her he was a movie producer from Hollywood and invited her back to his hotel just to party; nothing else. Kristen did not even have to think about it. She politely said she was not interested. He seemed to understand and gave her a big good-bye hug. He practically smothered her and she had to pull back because his cologne was so overpowering. She could taste it in her mouth.
As she was walking back into the bar she looked at her cell phone and noticed that Dino had called an hour ago, but did not leave a message. Even though it was late, she knew he wanted her to call back and she was wondering why he would still talk to her. She was afraid that it was about the money she took from him.
She decided to start driving towards his nightclub before trying him. When she got about ten minutes away she dialed his number. One of his waitresses answered. “What are you doing with Dino’s phone?” Kristen demanded. “Who the hell is this” the girl replied even surlier and said “His phone was sitting on the bar.”
Dino came up on his employee and grabbed the cell. He saw it was Kristen’s number. “Hello Trouble-Maker. How are you Beautiful?” “Hello Dino!” Kristen was glad that he was happy to talk to her, and a bit relieved.
He said “Where are you Honey? Come and see me tonight. I want you!” Kristen questioned “Are you sure you want to see me? You’re not mad at me?” He laughed “You bet I’m mad at you. What where you doing that night? I miss you Honey! Get over here.” Kristen agreed to drive over.
“I’ll see you in my office” he told her. “Which one?” she asked. “Upstairs? Or in the basement?” He replied “Basement. I’ve got to keep my eye on the slot action. I’ve got a couple of guys there now making too much money off me.” Kristen was not sure if she trusted Dino enough to meet him down there and she thought it was suspicious that he did not seem angrier at her. After all, she did grab a lot of money and had already spent it. And, she had no intention of paying it back!
When she got to the club, there was no valet. So, she left her car parked in front of the Social Club entrance and went in. Not even a bouncer was present in the lobby. “Pretty strange” she thought. She went down the narrow cellar stairs. There were only two men at the slot machines and no one at the card tables. The dealer was sitting in a kitchen chair in the corner with his head down on his chest sleeping.
Dino’s office door was half-open. As she approached, she saw a man sitting in a wooden chair with his arms tied behind him. One of Dino’s bodyguards had a leather blackjack and was hitting him in the knees. Dino was sitting on a large couch, which was a new addition to the room since she last saw him. He was casually smoking a cigarette. “Come in, come in” he gestured. Kristen was too nervous to say anything about the man. She looked carefully around and walked in, keeping her cell phone close in her hand. The bodyguard untied and pulled the man out of his chair, taking him down the hall. He looked at Kristen with a pleading look in his eyes. She heard a door slam.
Dino said sweetly “Sit, sit” patting the cushion next to him. She sat down with hesitation and he put his cigarette out. He immediately tried pulling her into his arms and she inched back from him afraid that he would smell the Hollywood producer’s cologne on her. It was that strong! She abruptly stood up. “I have to go to the restroom to freshen up first.” She departed down the hall. Safe in the bathroom, she tried washing off the scent, but it was too pungent. She was afraid to return to him.
Kristen slowly walked back. Dino wasn’t in the office. She went out to the bar area and fixed herself a drink. Sipping it as she walked back in, she noticed the gamblers had left and so had the sleeping bartender. The room where the man had been taken was now empty.
Kristen went in and closed the office door. She turned on the TV and sat in his chair to wait for him. A short while later she heard someone lightly knocking on the door. “It’s open Dino” she called. Another knock. She laughed “Dino! Get back in here!”
The door opened wide and an enormous man with dark hair and a very deep tan was standing there in a T-shirt and a pair of red gym shorts. His neck, arm and leg muscles looked like they should be on an Olympic weightlifter. He also had a prominent bulge in his shorts that was stretching them tightly forward. He looked like a freaking gorilla.
Kristen was completely surprised and didn’t know what to say at first. She just stared at him. Right when she was saying “Who are you?” Dino’s top bodyguard, who Kristen hated, but was now relieved to see, peered in from the side of the giant and said “The boss wants you to take care of him.” She yelled “What are you talking about?” He sternly said “He wants you to make him feel welcome. He’s fresh off the plane from Sicily. His name is Rico.”
Kristen was ready to throw her cell phone at him. “Are you kidding me?” She figured it was a big joke and that Dino would show up next laughing. “No, seriously, he wants you to do it with him!” The hulk repeated him in broken English “Do it with me.” The bodyguard told him “Show her what Dino gave you.” Rico’s shorts were now almost ripping in front with how hard he was. He smiled at Kristen and pulled out a very tiny condom from his top pocket. Dino now came to the door and said to her impatiently, “What’s the matter? Do him! He needs it. He likes you. Get nasty! You know what I mean!” He then started speaking in Sicilian to the monster. His bodyguard left laughing.
Dino then walked fully into the office pulling the gorilla’s arm. “Come on Kristen, you’re a little whore. Show him how much.” “Come on, you slut, here I’ll pay you.” He walked towards her “I know you’ve been messing with Angelo and everyone else!” He reached over to his desk drawer to get some money.
Kristen started screaming “What are you talking about? Let me out of here!” She pushed by both of them to make her escape. She ran out into the bar area. “Dino, you pig, this is it! I’m going to make it so we are really through.” She grabbed her cell phone and pushed one of the speed dial buttons. It was for Dino’s home. Kristen waved it at him. “I’m calling your wife Dino. It’s over Loser!”
Dino started to rush towards her tripping on the stairs as he tried to go up them. Kristen ran ahead, trying to keep her balance while holding the phone up, out of his reach. She heard a woman answer on the other end. Kristen screamed into the phone “Dino is a crazy bastard and he cheats on you all the time!” She kept running as she heard his wife swear and slammed the phone. Dino yelled “I am going to kill you!”
Kristen pushed the upper door at the top of the stairs closed and threw a chair at it. She ran even faster outside to her car. She fumbled to click her key chain to open the door, pushed the panic button instead, and the car began beeping. Dino was now right on her heels. She slammed her knee on the wheel as she threw her body inside. She started the car as Dino reached her door handle.
The car started to move. Dino now came in front of it. She was so scared that she veered and jammed her foot on the brake. Somehow, Dino doubled over and rolled off the hood. Kristen swore she
saw him reach to his side for his gun. She managed to tear off, driving over the club’s front lawn, through the bushes, and almost into a tree. She kept the accelerator pedal dangerously to the floor for several more miles. She knew she could not go to her house. She really did it this time! Dino was going to be out to get her! He was not the one to mess with.
Kristen kept thinking “Why is this happening to me? Why can’t I find someone nice? Why are they all such creeps?” She had serious thoughts that it now seemed to her that something truly was controlling the outcome in her life and she had no say in it. Her shallow behavior, her tramping around, being conned by Robert! It was only getting worse…
10 LIEUTENANT WALSH
Kristen spent the next three days at a hotel in the far suburbs. Luckily, one of her girlfriends dated a bodybuilder and Kristen had them sneak over to her house and pack her a large suitcase.
She was at first going to hide at her friend’s house, but, she knew that she needed to get farther away from Dino in order to be safe. She decided to go to New York City until she knew what to do and to let him cool down.
She kept her place in Illinois, and the
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