* * *
Around three a.m., when everyone else had fallen asleep, I brought a blanket out to the suite’s balcony. Then I got comfortable beside my boyfriend on a cushioned lounge chair and tucked both of us in.
We had an incredible view of the Strip, all lit up and gaudy and actually really beautiful from way up here. Jack was far more gorgeous and fascinating though, and I ran my fingertips along his jaw as he grinned at me and said, “That was a hell of a party.”
“It really was. No one parties like the Dombrusos, which figures. They don’t seem to do anything halfway.” There’d been mountains of delicious food, and the cocktails and champagne had flowed freely. Nana and Ollie were the life of the party, dancing, eating, and drinking with abandon—for about forty minutes. Then they’d fallen asleep, fully dressed and snoring, on top of the covers in the center of Zan and Gianni’s king-size bed.
“I’m really glad we picked up Romy. He seems to be warming up to all the newcomers in your life. It also seemed like he and his friend from high school picked up right where they left off.”
“Yeah, they did. Hey, how great would it be if I just found Romy a boyfriend?”
“I hate to break it to you, but god no,” Jack said. “Those boys are two peas in a pod—and by that I mean two sweet little bottoms in search of big, burly tops. Pete was asking Romy to be his wingman at some new leather daddy bar in town.” When I grimaced, he asked, “What?”
“That’s just a little too much information on my kid brother’s sex life.”
“Reno, he’s twenty-seven. He’s not a kid.”
“I know that…mostly. But some part of me will always think of him as a skinny, defenseless little ten-year-old.”
Jack sighed, but he sounded amused instead of annoyed. Then he kissed my cheek and said, “It’s actually sweet that you’re such a protective big brother. And speaking of sweet, I also love the fact that you hired Pete to work in your mom’s bar.” He’d quit his job earlier in the evening, and his former employer had come by to collect the limo. It actually wasn’t any worse for wear, aside from an empty hot tub.
“He’s a nice guy, and he has bartending experience, so it was a no-brainer. My mom can’t keep working fourteen-hour days forever, it’s just too much. And with me paying Pete’s salary, there’s no reason not to accept some help.”
I’d called her earlier to ask about hiring Pete, and to let her know what had happened with Greco. She’d sounded relieved. She also surprised me by saying she and Chet were having such a good time in L.A. that they’d decided to stay through the weekend. I couldn’t actually remember her taking a vacation—ever—so it made me happy that she was prioritizing something other than work for a change.
Jack asked, “So, now that Greco’s out of the picture, what are you going to do? I know you’d mentioned retiring, but is that still the plan?”
“It is. I have enough money to take care of you and me, and your mom and my mom, and Romy if he ever needs help, very comfortably for the rest of our lives. So, why risk getting arrested, and why keep dealing with men like Greco? It’s just not worth it.”
He sounded emotional when he said, “You included my mom on your list.”
“Of course I did.”
He straddled my lap and grabbed me in a hug as he whispered, “That means so much to me. I can’t even tell you.” I held him securely, and after a moment he said, “I decided to retire too, by the way. Sooner or later, I would have wound up in jail, and I can’t stand the thought of getting taken away from you.”
I kissed the side of his head and told him, “That’s a good call.”
He sat up and smiled at me as he asked, “So, what do a former thief and an ex-gangster do, exactly? Do we take up golf, like the pair of retirees that we are?”
“Do youwantto take up golf?”
“Not even a little.”
“Okay, so not that, then. And I guess the answer to your question is that we do whatever the hell we want. Logistically speaking, you’ll move in with me, obviously, and I’d love it if we split our time between Vegas and San Francisco. I want to keep getting to know my dad’s side of the family, but I also want us to be here for Mom and Romy.”
He looked amused. “So, it’s obvious that we’re moving in together?”
“Of course. I need you with me every minute of every day, and not to be presumptuous, but I think you might want that, too.”
“Oh, I do, and that reminds me. Earlier, I told you there was something you needed to know.”
“Yes, you did.”
“So, here it is.” He took my face between his palms and told me, “I love you, Adriano.” He was so serious about it, like this was the most important thing he’d ever said.
I grinned and ran my hands down his back. “Yeah?”
He nodded. “With all my heart. And if you want to live in Vegas and San Francisco, awesome. Let’s do it. The only thing I care about is that we’re together.”