Page 38 of Kingpin
“I’ll explain on the way.”
As we ride in the back of the taxi, Dominic sits silently next to me staring ahead like he’s driving even though he isn’t. There’s been no explanation as to where we’re going, but I’m not concerned about it anymore. All I can think about is how Dominic is sitting next to me.Dominic is sitting next to me!He isn’t dead—the victim of some heinous murder with his body chopped up and buried in cement, never to be seen again. The lack of contact over the past decade has made my imagination go to extremes, to say the least.
Now that I know he’s not dead, I see him sitting here with his fancy suit and untouchable demeanor. He’s grown up to be the man I thought he’d be when we were in school. He’s obviously got money, and I can tell he’s the kind of man who demands respect.
So, I start to wonder. What’s he doing now that he’s all grown up? Is he still connected to the mafia like he was ten years ago? Is he a savage killer who likes to cut off the hands of his enemies? Or, is he really a businessman earning a living off of the hotel his father used to own? I don’t know, but I want to.
“So, how have you been all these years, Dominic?” I force myself to ask, although my nerves want me to stay quiet.
Dominic peels his eyes off the windshield to look at me, his blue eyes piercing.
“I’ve been good. I’m a little stunned that you’re here, though. I didn’t think I was ever gonna see you again.”
“I know what you mean.”
“So, you’re really here for good?”
“Yeah. I got a job at Mercy Hospital so I’m here to stay. I’m glad, too. I’ve always loved this place, and I never wanted to leave to begin with. I’ve missed St. Louis.”
Dominic doesn’t say anything, but he smiles like he’s got lots to say in his head. I smile back and we lock eyes again. It’s like it’s a game to see who’ll look away first, and I lose when the cab turns into the parking entrance of River City Casino & Hotel.
I look out the window and marvel at the large structure built to look like a castle in the front. It’s bigger than I remember, and you can’t tell it’s a hotel until you pull around back and see the windows to the rooms. The construction is marvelous and it just breathes fancy, with its pillars made of elegant white brick.
Dominic pays the cab driver with what looks to be a lot more money than the fare, then he steps out. As I reach for my handle so I can get out, I see two valets outside jump to attention and rush over to greet Dominic. I open my door just in time to hear them talking to him.
“Good morning, Mr. Collazo,” one says, nodding politely.
“Sorry, Mr. Collazo, I didn’t recognize you in the cab,” the other says with a bit of pleading in his voice.
Dominic shoos them away with a wave of his hand as he glances down at his phone, before stuffing it back into his pocket and speaking.
“It’s fine. Just help her with her bags,” he says, and the valets dive into action. When I try to reach for one of my bags, they tell me they’ve got it, and follow Dominic and me as we walk inside to the counter. Dominic directs his attention to the clerk who stands at attention like an Army soldier when he sees us approaching.
“Make sure she gets the Director’s Suite, okay? And charge it to me,” Dominic says, and my heart perks up like the clerk.
“Oh my god, Dominic, you don’t have to do that. I’ll be fine in a normal room. Really,” I try to tell him.
“I know you will, but I think you’ll like this one better,” he says with a smile, then he turns back to the clerk who’s already clicking keys on the computer to check me into the suite. “And do me another favor; make sure we have reservations at the VIP Lounge in two hours.Capisci?”
“Understood, Mr. Collazo,” the nervous clerk replies, then he hands Dominic the keys to my room, who hands them to me.
“So, listen,” he says. “I got some business I gotta tend to, but I’m gonna meet you right here in this spot in exactly two hours. Can you be ready by then?”
“Can I be ready for what by then?”
“I thought maybe we could go to dinner. I figure we need to catch up after ten years apart.”
My heart explodes, and sends tiny rays of happiness shooting through my body, but I don’t let Dominic see my excitement. I let out a sigh like I’m bothered by his pushiness, but I really just want to dance with joy.
“Well, good thing I don’t have anything planned, huh?” He doesn’t respond, he just flashes his devilishly sexy smile. “Alright then, I’ll see you in two hours.”
“Okay.” With that, Dominic turns on his heel and heads back out the way we came in.
The valets are replaced by bellboys who carry my luggage for me and lead me to my room. I’ve got two hours to get ready for dinner with Dominic on my first night back in St. Louis. Whether it’s two hours or two hundred hours, there isn’t enough time in the world to prepare for this.
