Like the rug flew out, his shoulders hit the floor.
The first jock’s eyes bulge as he charges me, red faced.
I sidestep, toreador style. He passes and I grab his wrist to spin him into the pool.
Bouncers and security are up and with us already. Joey, laughing, holds out his hands.
He tells the jocks, “If you can get out of here in the next thirty seconds, I won’t send the boys to give you the parking-lot dumpster send-off you deserve.”
The jock in the pool and his pal on the floor struggle to their feet. Bouncers and security shake their heads, laughing.
As the jocks shamble out in a hurry, Joey tells the head of security, “I want to know who recommended them for invitation.”
Another night on the Vegas strip.
Chapter Two
Giovani
My phone rings. It’s the call I’ve been expecting from Leo Franconi. A text comes in at the same time, giving me the address of the Astra Bar.
“Lily will be in the Astra Bar.” His voice is low and easy. Relaxed, with a note of a smile. A powerful man, used to getting what he wants. “Look after my daughter. Make sure she is safe. Obviously. Show her a good time. Give her whatever she wants. Keep an eye on her and keep her out of trouble.” He laughs. I’m getting an uneasy feeling about this. He says, “Okay, that’s a pretty tall order.”
The bright tone of a smile is still in the voice as he tells me, “But you’re a smart boy. I can see that. Maybe you can help her to understand that publicity doesn’t help the family business.” I’m thinking, If you brought her up for the whole of her life and you didn’t get that idea across, what the fuck do you think I’m going to do about it?
I can practically hear the weary shrug as he says, “She thinks publicity is a good thing in and of itself. Coverage, as she calls it. Exposure.”
He has a way of leaving silences that makes you uncomfortable, so you want to fill them.
“Well,” I tell him, “if your whole shtick is to be a celebrity, exposure is a good thing.” I’m already wishing I’d stayed quiet. He leaves another gap. But I don’t fill it.
“I knew you were smart. I don’t know about this whole Vegas deal, but you and me, Giovani, we’re going to get along just fine.”
There’s another pause but I resist the urge to speak. It feels like he’s about to hang up. But his voice goes down an octave.
“If you lay one finger on her in an inappropriate place, I’ll feed your cock to you in thin slices. Understand? Capisce?”
Chapter Three
Lily
I don’t see why Daddy wanted me to come here in the first place. Seems like I left all the interesting people behind in Los Angeles.
Maybe he thinks while we’re away from home, he’ll get a chance to apologize and try to get round me. Or worse, try it again. I’ll stab him in the eye if he does. Or maybe somewhere more sensitive.
Meanwhile, I’m here in the town where fun came to die. Damn, these must be the most boring people on Earth. Everywhere I go in L.A., there are movie stars, music stars, fashion icons. Glittering people.
The bar is a cross between a neon ’50s nightmare and a Toys R Us version of what was ‘hip’ about a decade ago. In L.A., all the rich people are beautiful and fascinating. Well, Las Vegas must be where all the dull and ugly rich people come to hide. It’s AWFUL.
Should have guessed it, for a town where the two most interesting things to do are; get married or dress like Elvis.
That guy along the bar, though. Hot diggerty. I’m sure I know his face. Was he in Game of Thrones? The one who was a bodyguard in that hot streaming series? I know him from something, I know I do. I’ll wait until he comes up to me.
I make eye contact.
Nothing.
Is he playing it cool or does he really not recognize me? How come nobody in the town recognizes me? I don’t remember the last time I was in a bar and no-one ran up to take a selfie or came to say something about my last video post.
I think it’s happened to me every single time since I was old enough to be in a bar.
Since I walked in, nobody has bought me or even comped me a drink. I went to the bar, which I almost never have to do in L.A., I ordered a drink, then, I actually had to pay for it. None of the usual, ‘Oh, No, Ms Franconi. No, no, no, Lily. It’s on the house Lily,’ or, ‘allow me, Lily.’ Nobody even called me Lily yet. What the actual fuck?
No-one said, ‘Ms Lily’ all night.