Gambler's Folly (Bookstrand Publishing Romance) (9 page)

“I’ve just never had anyone take the time to make me want it before, let alone need it. One quick kiss and three minutes of ‘in, out, shake it about’ isn’t really much of a turn-on.”

“Three minutes? What can you do in three minutes?” he asked.

“Precious little, if you ask me,” she replied. “But then, that’s about what I was told to expect, from the women I knew. ‘Sex is all about him. You’re there for his convenience and to tell him how good he is,’ they said.”

“How very sad,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “If your woman isn’t satisfied, how can you expect her to stay with you? A good love life can excuse a good many faults. But a bad love life, well, that excuses nothing.”

“Try telling that to your peers, Damiano. At least the English and American ones.”

“Why, when that leaves so many more for the rest of us to choose from?”

“You’re insufferable,” she countered.

“Cara, you are my wife,” he said. “For me, there is no other woman. I may look, but you are the only one for my bed. And I grant you the same privilege. You can always look at the menu, as long as I’m the only entrée you sample.”

Karianna had settled into a routine. After their first week home, so to speak, she would get up and have coffee with Damiano. During the day he had business to attend to, so she relaxed until time for her workout.

Damiano was usually home for lunch, so they would spend an hour or two together, depending on his business requirements. In the afternoon, she would rest so she could be ready for the evening rounds. Sometimes they went downstairs to visit his establishment, and at other times, they took a car to one of the other locations. But it always involved a wonderful dinner out and some interesting people watching.

One night, a little more than a month after they were married, Karianna and Damiano were in the casino upstairs from their suite. They’d enjoyed a delightful meal, danced a little bit and then had gone to watch the gaming.

As she sometimes did, Karianna excused herself to go outside and get a breath of fresh air. There was always a nice cool breeze out in front of the Stella d’Oro. Emotions ran high inside and the atmosphere became stuffy, as patrons hoped Lady Luck would look their way. Usually, she stepped just outside the door and stood by one of the large columns supporting the upstairs balcony. She felt it offered her some protection from prying eyes. Not that it really helped at all, but she enjoyed the illusion. This particular evening, she leaned against the column to the right of the door, easing one foot out of her shoe for a moment. It was fairly late in the evening and her feet were tired from being up so much this evening.

Coming out of her daydream, she found she was surrounded by a group of young men, four or five young toughs with something to prove. With one of them behind her, she was effectively cut off from her safe haven.

“What we got here?” one of them asked, with a grin. “You be sellin’, sugar?”

“Go away,” Karianna stated firmly. “I just came out for some air.”

“You sure? ’Cuz I might be buyin’, you know what I’m sayin’?”

Beginning to get upset, Karianna said, “You need to go, right now, before my husband comes looking for me.”

“Husband, huh? You don’t look like the married kind.” He reached out to touch the sleeve of her dress and she pulled away sharply. She heard a knife open and looked around.

One of the others had an open switchblade in hand and seemed eager to use it.

“Hey, there’s no call for that yet,” the first one said. “We just talkin’, me and the lady here. Negotiatin’. Ain’t that right, sugar? Got to get down to the price.”

From her peripheral vision, Karianna saw three men exit the Stella d’Oro and circle behind the menacing group. Two of them were Paolo and Marco. The third one she’d seen before, but didn’t know. Just then, the one who’d been behind her hit the street face-first.

“Cara, are you alright? I was worried,” she heard in her ear. His strong hands on her shoulders, Damiano kissed her cheek.

“I’m fine now, Dam. Very glad you’re here.”

As the young men tried to escape, Damiano’s men stepped forward to keep them near.

“What were you doing with my wife?” Damiano asked, in a perfectly conversational tone.

“Just talkin’, man. Nothin’,” said the apparent leader. “What’s it to you?”

The one with the knife decided he was tough enough to threaten his way out. Brandishing the knife, he shouted, “You all just back down and nobody gets hurt.”

Damiano looked at him, amused, and said one word. “Marco…” In seconds and a possible broken wrist, the knife was confiscated. “Anyone else feel brave? No? Then let’s get back to my question.”

“Really man, just talking.”

“About what?” Damiano asked.

“You know, foxy lady out on her own. Thought she might have something to sell. Ain’t a crime.”

“Unless you give her no way out,” Damiano answered. “Which is what you did.” Shaking his head, he continued. “No way out and threatening her with a knife. It’s bad for business. Tell me, do you know who I am?”

“Why should I know that?”

“It’s always good to know who you are dealing with in this town, isn’t it, cara?”

Answering, Karianna said, “Yes it is, Dam. It can be very important.”

Taking a good look at the young man in front of him, he asked, “Does the name Damiano Leone mean anything to you?”

“Leone?” The young man licked his lips nervously. “He’s supposed to be some big shot with the underworld, isn’t he?”

“Yes, I am. And shortly, I will know who you are and what I’m going to do with you.” Motioning for Paolo, he said, “Could you take Madam Leone back inside. Marco, escort this young man to my office.”

Karianna turned around and looked up at her husband, who gave her a quick kiss and warm hug. “Cara, go with Paolo and have a drink or a snack. Or would you prefer to go back home for the evening?”

“Really, I think I’d like to go home, if you’re going to be busy.”

“Very well, Kari. I’ll send something up for you and when I come in, we’ll have some champagne, yes?”

Karianna went back downstairs with Paolo. He accompanied her all the way to the door. “Thank you, Paolo. I’m really unnerved after this evening.”

“It’s fine, Madam,” he said. “Signor Leone asked me to guard the door this evening until he returns. He thought you’d feel safer.”

“Yes, I will,” she answered. “Thank you so much.” Closing and locking the door, she sat down on the sofa and was nearly asleep when she heard the door chime. Asking who it was, Paolo said it was room service. She remembered Damiano was going to send something up for her.

Accepting the tray, Paolo looked it over before bringing it in for her. “It should be fine, madam. Just checking.”

The tray contained one of her favorite treats, which she had only on rare occasions, boca negra. The rich chocolaty cake had more calories per ounce than she wanted to think about. And the espresso went with it marvelously.

Damiano came down much later. He looked tired, but relaxed, so she thought everything had probably gone well. “Did you get it all sorted?” she asked.

“Of course, cara. They will bother you no more, nor should anyone else.”

“What happened?” she asked.

“Don’t worry, cara. It is finished.”

“Dam?” she asked, nervously.

“I said don’t worry. I won’t talk about it, Kari, so don’t ask again. Did you enjoy your dessert?”

“Oh my, Damiano. I’ll have to work out double tomorrow. It was pure evil.”

“Are you alright? I tried to get out to you sooner, when I first felt something was wrong. But, with the crowds, it took longer than I had wished. You were so upset, cara.”

Karianna was slightly confused. She’d only been gone about five minutes before the encounter began. “You felt something was wrong?” she asked.

“Sometimes, I have a feeling. That’s all. And sometimes I’m right, like tonight. Would you like some champagne or something else to drink?”

“Whatever you’d like will be fine.”

Ordering up a bottle of champagne, Damiano insisted they should celebrate being together. Karianna was celebrating still being alive. “What would you have done if I’d been hurt tonight?”

“Don’t ask such things, cara. The answers to such questions are not pleasant. Just be glad you are well and have me to take care of you.”

She wasn’t totally happy with the answer, but decided he was probably right. In fact, she didn’t think she really wanted to know what had happened after she came back to the suite. In spite of herself, though, she hoped it had been very unpleasant.

“But, cara, I must go. It will only be for two days.” Gently taking her in his arms, Damiano smiled indulgently. “I have a business to run, Karianna, and sometimes it takes me away. I’ll come back.
Te lo prometto
. I promise.”

“What am I going to do, Damiano?” she pleaded. “Take me with you.”

“We’ve talked about this, cara. You cannot come this time. I will have no free time this trip.”

“That still doesn’t answer my question. What can I do while you’re gone?”

“What do you like to do, Karianna? Do you have no hobbies, no interests? What did you do before?”

Karianna thought for a moment. When she was younger, she had played flute and recorders. Though she hadn’t played in years, it would be something to do. If she had an instrument.

“Then why don’t you go with Marco and buy one. Or buy one of each, if it will make you happy, cara. Or if there is something else you like, let him know. There is no need for you to sit here and stare at the walls.”

“I thought Marco was going with you,” she said.

“Not this time. I want someone to stay here, to make sure you’re alright. When you go out, please, take Marco with you,” he said.

“I will, Dam,” she answered. “I don’t want you to worry.”

It was almost time for her workout when Damiano left. At least she would have about two hours of something to do. Afterwards, she’d have lunch and think about some music. At one time, she’d been pretty good. The old music of Earth, from the fifteenth century, had been among her favorites. It was from a time when life was simple, as were its pleasures. Good food, good drink, and good friends were what had counted.

In the rush of current times, you could get expensive food and drink, but it wasn’t always good or good for you. And friends were often fickle. People moved around so much, it was difficult to imagine friends for life. It was even hard to keep track of family.

Her workout was good. She was in better shape than she’d ever been and was getting used to the routine. Her figure had improved to the point that some of her clothes needed to be taken in. Lea had sent a girl up a few days ago to take some back to the shop for alterations. Damiano had been right. A few weeks with a trainer had definitely made a difference.

After lunch, she sat and thought about what she’d like to do or buy. Perhaps two different recorders for now, one in C and one in F. This would give her more options for music, if they had one here. Gambler’s Folly was a pleasure center of the galaxy. People didn’t usually come to someplace like this to buy musical instruments, especially the more ancient types. Maybe Marco would know of someplace.

“You want to buy an instrument?” he asked. “What sort?”

“It’s called a recorder,” she’d explained.

“A recorder? Something to record music?”

“No, Marco. It’s kind of like a wooden flute.”

“So, it is a flute, not a recorder?” Marco asked, still confused.

“If you know where I can buy a flute, they might know what I want,” she suggested.

After several stops, she found someone who at least understood what she was looking for.

“I’ve heard of them, and heard them a few times. They sound beautiful, in a haunted sort of way,” the man told them. “I don’t have any, but I know who will.” Writing out an address and contact number, he handed it to Marco. “If he doesn’t have one, he can get it for you.”

“Do you want to go today?” Marco asked.

“I don’t think so, Marco. I’ve walked over half of this town by now. I just want to go home and rest. I’ll call them tomorrow, before we go all the way there, just to find out they don’t have them, either.” Getting back into the car, they drove back to the Stella d’Oro’s private garage.

“Will you need anything else?” Marco asked her.

“No, thank you all the same. I’m going to order up some dinner, watch something on the viewer, and go to bed.”

“I’ll stay until your dinner arrives,” he insisted. After he had checked it over and brought the tray into the suite for her, he said good-night and left.

She took the tray over to the sofa, switched on the viewer and searched for something to watch. Finding an old romantic comedy, she settled in for the evening. It felt good to take a break from the gaming rooms upstairs. While she enjoyed going up with Damiano, it wasn’t someplace she’d be comfortable alone.

Just as she was getting settled in bed, the communicator sounded. She was happy to hear Damiano’s voice on the other end. It was deep, dark, and resonant, sort of like velvety chocolate.

“So, cara, did you find what you wanted today?” he asked. She explained her dilemma with the recorders and told him she would try again the next day. “I’m sorry, cara, that you couldn’t find anything. But at least you got out and had a little fun, yes?”

“Yes, and I found a couple small items for the suite, to kind of personalize it.”

“I can scarcely wait to see them,
carissima
.”

Talking to him was good, but made her feel lonely, too. He would be gone only one more day and then things could get back to normal, if the life she was now living was normal. And if she could find an instrument to play, she would have something else to fill in some of her time.

* * * *

“Yes, we do carry some types of Renaissance instruments,” the man said. “What is it you are looking for?”

Karianna told him what she had in mind. “And if you have some music to go with it, fourteenth and fifteenth century would be nice. Really anything medieval or early first Renaissance,” she added.