Page 24 of Caruso (Vegas Mafia #3)
Chapter Twenty-Four
Giorgio
I t would be so easy to do the same as Matteo and keep Taylor in the bedroom. Sex is the ultimate ending for us today, but she is more than that. She’s more than that to Matteo, but he’s so addicted to her he is selfishly keeping her his prisoner.
She needs to get out.
To learn what being a Caruso involves and I am the perfect man for the job. Tommaso has yet to declare his intentions toward her, but it’s merely a matter of time. He wants her. I see the deep yearning in his eyes as they follow her wherever she goes.
It’s eating him up inside because it goes against everything he believes in. Sharing women isn’t really our thing—we’re selfish pricks and demand exclusivity. Until now.
I seize Taylor’s hand as soon as the elevator reaches the basement, and as we step outside, her eyes widen as the hotel buzz washes over her.
Sounds of the gaming machines, the general hum of conversation, shouting, laughing, music.
Objects being moved, the sound of machines whirring around — and that’s just the noise.
Then there’s the visual onslaught. Bright lights, flashing screens, the paintings on the walls, the chandeliers sparkling overhead.
The Artemis is extreme, which is exactly how we wanted it to be.
A vulgar paradise in a vulgar yet beautiful city.
Vegas is a city on crack, a collision of experiences on one long strip.
People chancing their luck in a variety of ways, from hustling on the streets or in the casinos.
Conventions, vacations and business trips.
They all come here to gaze at the spectacle, the likes of which are exclusive to Vegas.
No other city in the world matches this one—where anything goes and everything happens.
Taylor grips my hand hard, and I note the curiosity of my staff as they take their first look at the woman who has become the Caruso obsession.
I’m guessing good news travels fast. It’s the talk of the city that a mere housekeeper has earned her way into the penthouse after her first day of work.
From rags to great riches on a whim. They will be curious, envious and derogatory, but not in front of me or they will suffer the consequences.
I pull her along at speed, cutting a path through the many people who have descended on our hotel, and as we pass the various areas set up, we wander into the town center.
“Wow.” Taylor gasps as we appear to have arrived in another country .
There is a huge lake in the middle, and I mean enormous. There is even a sailboat floating majestically on the rippling water. A dining experience for the wealthier of our guests.
A small jetty enables the clientele to make their way there, and all around are bars, cafés and shops, creating the image of a thriving Mediterranean town.
Even the ceiling reflects the blue skies and sunshine, courtesy of a painted mural with changing lighting.
Heat lamps burn down, replicating the sun, and refreshing air conditioning is reminiscent of the softest cool breeze.
“I have been here before when I applied for the job as housekeeper, but somehow it looks different now.”
Taylor’s voice is excited, happy even, and I smile, gripping her hand a little tighter.
“Because you are happy. You have nothing weighing you down, and you can see things differently now.”
“I suppose.”
She gazes around her in awe and whispers above the noise, “This place is a masterpiece.”
“For now.” I shrug. “Until the next hotel opens and becomes the brightest new star. Going further and faster to create the ultimate luxury experience. Securing the best acts for their shows and the finest interior designers. You need to be constantly running in Vegas to keep up.”
“Is that why you told me to wear comfortable shoes?”
Her laughter warms my frozen heart, and now I know where Matteo is coming from.
This is different. Taylor possesses an innocence we are unaccustomed to.
An openness, honesty with no manufactured qualities.
She doesn’t seek wealth or fine living and appreciates every small gesture, a loving look, a helping hand and a smile is the greatest gift we could give her.
She is understated perfection standing beside me in basic clothes with the most beautiful smile, and is worth far more than any woman dripping wealth and privilege because Taylor is real.
She is from the streets just like us and appreciates everything life gifts her aside from the hardship.
We carry on walking until we reach the doors leading outside, and as we step into a space that mirrors the interior, she turns her face to the sun and breathes deeply.
Once again, we are standing by a huge lake where fountains dance.
Flowers are everywhere, with the sound of the ocean crashing around us from the hidden speakers.
“I love this place.” She calls out as the spray from the fountain hits her and she is so adorable I can’t resist and scooping her into my arms, I kiss her long and deeply, my hand wrapping around the back of her head, holding her possessively in my arms. She jumps up and wraps her legs around my waist, holding onto me as she kisses me back with passion, animation and desperation.
She wants me as much as I want her, and that is a powerful drug.
We liberated Taylor from the demons of her past, and it’s my one wish we can hold on to her.
She isn’t our prisoner; she is free, and she knows that, so it’s up to us to make her want to continue to stay.
We finally prise ourselves apart, and as we move off, my hand is firmly clamped on hers.
“Where are we going?”
“Hell.”
The fact we just passed Hell’s Kitchen makes her giggle, and as we head down the strip, I wonder what she will make of the rather seedy-looking basement we are heading for.