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“Did you see the head asshole?”
“Not yet. I did see a few guys who come in from Cali to see the fights at Valley View.”
“I understand Johnny’s married. Happen to see anyone who’d be stupid enough to be his wife?”
Samson shook his head and Nick mulled his question over in his head. Whoever he married must’ve done it for the money, cause even back in New York Johnny was never known for his personality although according to him, the ladies couldn’t get enough of his big dick. Which normally meant the complete opposite.
Nick and Samson moved through the main rooms stopping along the way to acknowledge some guys from the city council.Never hurt to tell them what a great job they were doing, then compliment the wives.
The house was huge and for only being here a short time the place boosted some high-priced items. After mixing and mingling with a few more groups, they headed outside onto the partially covered flagstone patio for some fresh air. The space showcased an outdoor kitchen and another huge bar. Beyond the patio a natural stone pool shimmered with underwater lights, a waterfall and cabana off to the side. On the far left of the pool, a regulation putting green was carved into the lawn.
“Russo certainly upgraded from his two-story walkup in Bensonhurst.”
“I guess kissing Frank’s ass paid off for the bastard,” Samson stage whispered.
“At what price? And why the sudden move to Vegas?”
Silence fell between the two men as more people wandered outside.
Cheryl put the finishing touches on her makeup, gave herself one last look in the full-length mirror, then headed out of her bedroom. As promised, she stopped in Portia’s room and her and Izzy were already in a heated game of cards.
“Well? Does this meet your approval?” Cheryl did a little spin making the rose colored tea-length dress swish around her legs. The soft chiffon of the halter top draped to a V leaving her back bare.
“I love it, Mommy.” Portia ran to her for a hug. “You’ll be the most beautiful woman at the party.”
“You look fabulous,” Izzy added. Her eyes lingered an extra moment that said she was reading Cheryl’s mind. “But I know you’d be just as happy staying here playing cards with us.”
“Truth.” Cheryl forced a smile because everything in life had a price—you just had to be willing to pay. Going to parties and putting up with Johnny’s inane remarks ensured her daughter’s security. A small price to pay.
She leaned down and gave Portia a kiss on the head. “Be good, and don’t drive Izzy too crazy.”
“Too late,” the older woman joked.
“I’ll check in on you before I go to bed.” Cheryl gave her daughter’s contented face one last look. It was all she needed to get through the night.
When she descended the spiral staircase Johnny magically appeared as if he’d been waiting for her arrival. With much flourish he held out his hand to her and drew her to his side. “My gorgeous wife is here.” He grabbed her tightly around the waist and leaned into her ear. “Finally.”
A backhanded way to say she was late, but she ignored his accusation, like she ignored all Johnny’s sideways remarks. The man had an opinion on everything whether she wanted to hear it or not.
She smiled sweetly just to annoy him because he needed her as much as she needed him.
At forty, with a sketchy past including a stint in Rikers for doing Frank’s most undesirable jobs, he needed a new image. What better than a pretty young wife and her adorable child?
Frank set Johnny up in some newly acquired jazz clubs in Hollywood used to wash Frank’s dirty money and Cheryl and Johnny attended parties and social functions as husband and wife. To prying eyes they were the perfect couple while behind closed doors they enjoyed separate bedrooms and discreetly separate sex lives.
Johnny drew Cheryl to a group of men and women clustered in the living room. He introduced her to the casino manager of the Bellagio, the comptroller of the Wynn, and their wives mentioning they lived in the famed Billionaire’s Row, an exclusive enclave not far from Country Club Hills. The wives smiled politely and right on cue the men’s eyes zeroed in on her cleavage.
Did men know how transparent they were—or maybe they just didn’t care. Their wives certainly noticed and a few minutes later they were escorting the husbands into the other room.
Cheryl’s knowledge of the male species came in handy in her business and generally annoyed her outside of business. The old adage of women gossiping more than men was a fallacy. She’d found men to be just as catty, petty, snarky, and yes, bitchy.
Cheryl eased away from Johnny using the excuse of checking on the food. She surveyed the dining room, where people were indulging in tables laden with raw oysters, and clams on the half shell, rows of sushi, and sashimi laying on trays of ice. Four carving stations of beef, chicken, ham, and lamb, and pastas made to order along with breads of every shape and size. Desserts were artistically arranged on another table around an ice sculpture of the famous Las Vegas welcome sign. At the built-in bar, high-end bourbons were offered along with an array of other spirits, and priceless wines from their wine cellar.
Yes, the Russos certainly knew how to entertain—Nothing was too good for their guests. A phrase regularly quoted by TMZ and E! Online.
4
Cheryl escaped the dining room longing to flee from the press of people. Perhaps she would slip out the back onto the patio for some much needed fresh air.
