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Tony DeMarco was working late in his casino office and stopped by to see Dino before going home. He was concerned about him after getting the invitation for Preston’s wedding. It was sudden. What was even more unusual, the bride was Lindsay York, the girl Dino had been seeing. He thought they were a couple. They seemed to be in love. What happened? Tony stared at the invitation, lost in a questioning thought. I’ve gotta talk to him. Something isn’t right.
Bartender Jake was drying a glass when his boss walked into the lounge. Quickly, Jake poured a scotch over ice in a glass, knowing it was the owner’s favorite drink. He sat it on the counter with a coaster as Tony approached the bar.
“Good evening, Mr. DeMarco. You’re here late,” Jake said politely.
Tony took a sip of the drink before speaking. “Thanks for this, Jake. I needed it. Yeah, it’s been a long day. Shareholders’ meeting on Wednesday. I gotta be sure my ducks are in a row. Some days can be tougher than others.”
“A lot of worries, huh? I can’t imagine what it takes to keep a place like Caesars going,” Jake said, being a good listening bartender.
Tony sighed. “Not worries, but concerns. Hundreds of people in my corporation depend on my decisions to provide them a livelihood. If I don’t make the right decisions, a lot of people will be hurt. If I don’t make money, no one including my family will survive. It’s a balancing act for sure.”
“Wow, I never thought of it like that. You make it look so easy, Mr. DeMarco but I guess it’s a job like any other. Lots of hard work.”
“Yes, but it’s a pretty amazing job. One I love. I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Tony said and finished his scotch in one last gulp. “Since I made Cassie a promise never to bring my work home, I sometimes stay late and make sure my casinos remain the best in Vegas, especially my favorite, Caesars. But now, I’m so ready to see my wife and kids. That’s where my real happiness is.” Tony glanced around the room. “By the way, how’s it going tonight?”
“Great sir. Not bad for a Tuesday night. Dino will be singing shortly, and the drinks are flowing. Customers are happy. What could be better?”
Tony gave him a tight-lipped smile. “Great. Say, I need to speak to our songbird. Can you get him for me? I’ll be in that booth waiting.” Tony pointed to a back corner.
“You bet, Mr. DeMarco. I’ll grab him before he starts. Be right back.”
Jake left to get Dino, who was arranging his music for the evening at the piano. Tony seated himself in a booth in the lounge’s rear corner, away from anyone else. Jake called it the lovers’ booth because it was a perfect place for privacy. Dino grabbed a cup of coffee from Jake on his way to meet with Tony.
“Did you want to see me?” Dino asked, taking a seat in the booth.
Tony lit up one of his Cuban cigars and offered one to Dino, who refused politely, protecting his sensitive vocal chords.
“Yeah, I got an invitation today, to a wedding,” Tony began and blew the smoke over his head. He tapped the ashes as piercing eyes zeroed in on Dino. “I bet you know who, don’t you?”
Dino lowered his sad, blue eyes. “Lindsay’s wedding, isn’t it?”
Tony sat the cigar down in the ashtray. As was his Italian style, he emphasized his words with hand gestures.
“What the hell, Bertelli? I thought you and she were a couple and now she marries Jonas Beckett’s spoiled brat? Man, what happened? And don’t give me any crap about her wanting that prick over you. I know that’s not right.”
Dino’s eyes glanced up from under his thick brows, upset he looked cowardly in front of Tony.
“I didn’t mean it to go like this. Lindsay chose Preston over me. What can I say? She said it was a promise she had to keep. I don’t know what the hell that means, but she begged me to let her go. That’s all. C’mon, Tony, you know me. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her if I could help it.”
Being a graduate of the school of hard knocks, Tony often started out sharp and demanding. Cassie was always telling him to have more empathy. His wife had taken the edge off him over the years. Yet between men, Tony’s tough side surfaced.
“Do you love her?” Tony asked with a softer tone.
“Absolutely, I do. And she told me she loved me. But a few days ago, Preston shows up at the clinic and she leaves with him. Tells me it’s over. I tried to get her away from him, but the coward pulls a gun on me. What was I supposed to do?”
“A gun? That little shit pulled a gun on you? You gotta be kidding me?” Tony was shocked. “Why didn’t you tell me? Say the word and I’ll have Roger teach the kid what happens when you threaten my friends.”
“I appreciate you wanting to help Tony, but I gotta fight my own battles. That was not one I would win. I’m not stupid and I haven’t given up.”
Tony leaned back against the booth’s leather seat and puffed on his cigar a few times, thinking. When DeMarco started thinking that deep, important things happened.
“Well, something is going on with the Becketts. Jonas is like a snake lying in wait.”
Dino looked cautiously at him. “Do you think Lindsay’s being blackmailed?”
Tony knew the darker side of Las Vegas, where deals often were negotiated under shady circumstances. He had pulled his life out of that mire and become one of the city’s most respected businessman, a perfect rags-to-riches story.
Tony snuffed out the cigar butt into an ashtray. “Well, it’s my gut feeling Jonas Beckett is behind it. He’s got something on her or otherwise a smart, beautiful girl like her wouldn’t give Preston the time of day.” Tony pointed his finger at Dino’s chest. “You can’t just let her go. Obviously, she needs you. You gotta fight for her. I fought to save my Cassie when she was threatened. We’re men, that’s what we do. We take care of the women we love.”
Dino shook his head, frustrated. “I tried, but she begged me to stop. She’s worried what Preston or his father will do to me, or the clinic, even Hank’s church. You know Jonas Beckett has been trying to get our property, don’t you?”
“Yeah, so what’s that got to do with it?”
“The city government has thrown everything at us from code violations to fire hazards to whatever they can think of to shut us down. We think it’s Councilman Graham who’s pushing it. It’s been hell for Hank. He can’t afford a lawyer to keep us out of court. I’m afraid Beckett is going to win. We can’t take much more.” Dino said, discouraged.
Tony frowned. “Rumors have circled for years about Councilman Graham’s ties to Jonas. I don’t listen to rumors; I search for facts. Graham doesn’t have much going for him but his wife’s influence in this city. Poor Julia is married to that clown. But I don’t care about a corrupt politician. They come and go. It’s men like Jonas Beckett you’ve gotta watch out for. He has his hooks buried deep in a lot of stuff affecting a lot of lives. It’ll take more than a wish and a prayer to root that rat out of his hole. If Hank needs legal advice I can help. I’ve got the best lawyers in Vegas on my payroll. Just ask.”
“Thanks Tony. I’ll tell Hank. What really bothers me though is what is going on with Lindsay. I can’t stand the fact she’s mixed up in all of this. I’m scared for her. I can’t stop thinking about her. Wondering if she’s okay. When I imagine her with Preston... him touching her, kissing her...” Dino looked away not wanting Tony to see his rage. His hands balled up into fists. “It’s driving me crazy, Tony! I get so frustrated I just want to punch something.”
Tony slapped a consoling hand down on Dino’s shoulder. “Hang in there, buddy. Jonas hasn’t won yet. I backed out of this deal to build my condo tower on that property because of what I learned about Beckett. His plans to demolish all those buildings, kick people out on the street, close the clinic and Hank’s church. I would never make a deal with him now, and he’s pissed. Like I give a damn. He threatened to sue me for breach of promise, except I signed nothing, never shook on any deal. That asshole doesn’t scare me, nor can he intimidate me, and he knows it. Nobody bluffs an old poker player like me. I learned from the best.”
DeMarco waved to Jake to bring him some coffee and refill Dino’s cup. Once Jake was gone, Tony continued his observation of Dino’s problem.
“You know what I think?”
Dino shook his head no.
“I think your girlfriend made a deal with the devil and now she’s stuck. Jonas doesn’t show mercy to anyone.”
Dino looked bewildered. “Seriously? You think that’s why Lindsay is marrying Preston? Some deal she made?”
“I have a sixth sense about deals and this one stinks. It feels like to me she’s protecting someone. She left Preston once, but something made her go back to him. Maybe it’s you she’s protecting, but that doesn’t jive. She was with Preston before you came to town, so I think it’s someone else.”
“Really? Do you think it’s someone in her family? I’ve never met her father, but I know she loves him very much. After her mother died, he raised her alone, just the two of them. Do you think it’s her father she’s protecting? But from what?”
Tony leaned forward, sitting his hands clasped together on the table. “Dunno but could be. I’ve worked with Carlton York on a few construction projects at my casinos. He’s an honorable man, honest and fair. I can’t imagine he’s involved with Beckett.”
“Lindsay mentioned her father had some financial problems, but his company is fine now. Do you think Jonas had something to do with that?”
“I’ve been in this town a long time, Dino. I know how it can chew you up and spit you out if you don’t show it who’s boss. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Vegas, but you can’t swim with the sharks like Jonas Beckett and not expect to get bitten. If Carlton went to Jonas for a loan...” Tony’s voice trailed off as he contemplated the ramifications of such a deal. Could that be the connection?
Worried, Dino asked what their next move was. “I’d do anything Tony if I thought Lindsay was in danger. You know that. Anything to save her.”
Tony smiled. “You sound like me. Cassie is my universe. I’d move heaven and earth to protect her and my kids. Why do you think I have Roger and his bodyguards? If you love Lindsay like that, then it’s time to fight back. No one should have to marry someone they don’t love out of fear or regret.”
“I agree. I won’t let that happen.” Dino glanced at his watch. “I’m supposed to see Lindsay tonight. Mark, Peter and Hank are arranging a meeting after I get done here. Preston has Lindsay’s apartment guarded by two of his guys. His father is taking no chances she’ll skip out on him. Mark assures me he and Peter can get her out safely and unnoticed. I don’t know how, but everyone seems confident.”
“Great! Find out the actual story behind this from her,” Tony said. “After that, come by my office tomorrow at two. I have an unusual meeting of some parties involved in this mess. Using what you know and what these people know, we can find the underlying plot. Perhaps it’s time to teach the Becketts they don’t run Las Vegas. Jonas is a smart man, very shrewd. I can’t see him making any mistakes that would get him arrested. But if there is something criminal here, and it involves Jonas, believe me, he’s going down.”
Tony didn’t let on to Dino who he was meeting with. He had received a desperate call from Julia Graham about Lindsay, and a confusing call from her husband Martin about the land deal. After the humiliation he endured and the threats Jonas made toward Julia, Martin was ready to tell Tony all. He found his courage on his knees. No man would ever touch his Julia, even if he died trying to save her.
It was clear to Tony neither Julia nor Martin knew the other was calling about the same person. He put them off for a few days, hoping to find out more from his sources. Now, Tony was bringing them together tomorrow to flush out the details and piece together everything before going to the authorities. Dino just as well be there too and tell what he knew. Tony surmised all these players were connected somehow.
Dino smiled, feeling better he had an ally like DeMarco. “Thanks Tony, you don’t know how much this means to me. How can I ever repay you for your support?”
Tony laughed. “I’ll send you my bill and I’m not cheap.”
Dino laughed too. “I’ll pay it, for sure.”
The men stood and shook hands. Tony gestured toward the piano.
“You know what? You don’t need to be here. You need to be with Lindsay. You two have a lot to work through. Skip tonight’s performance.”
“But who’s going to entertain your customers?” Dino asked.
“It’s a Tuesday. I’m not that worried about making a lot of money on Tuesday. What about that intern of yours, Peter? I heard he’s pretty good. He can fill in. Then you can go home and see that girl of yours.”
“That would be terrific. Hank just texted me and said Mark and Peter were on their way back to the church now with Lindsay. Peter is very good, and he would jump at the chance to perform. I’ll call him now and see if Hank can bring him over when he comes to get me. I can do my act until he gets here. Okay with you?”
“Sounds like a plan. Do it,” Tony said.
“Thank so much Tony. I really appreciate it.”
“Just be sure to tell Lindsay she’s not alone. We’re going to figure a way out of this mess for her somehow, and for Pete’s sake, keep telling her how much you love her.”
Dino chuckled. “Yes sir, I can do that. No problem.”
Tony patted Dino on the back and grinned. “There’s going to be a wedding all right... yours and hers... right here at Caesars Palace.”