Page 73 of Sainte
“Not in the last thirty minutes,” I tease. She leans, not saying a word, and kisses me full on the mouth.God, I love this woman!
When she breaks the kiss, I say, “We need to get down to Tranquil Gardens and clean house.”
“Clean?”
“Talk to the staff, decide who we’re keeping and who’s going.”
“Oh. And I noticed you referred to the spa as Serenity Knights and the club as Silent Knights? Are you changing the name?”
“Yes, we want a whole new image. We wanted to give them names that were related but ones that will also keep them each as their individual identity. The spa will remain the upscale day spa that it is, with new staff of course. And the club is going to get a major overhaul. We are hiring new staff and creating an exclusive membership into the club.”
“I like it!” Honey says. “I can’t wait to get started.”
“You’re gonna love it, baby. This is exactly what you needed and you’re gonna shine.”
“I know you had something to do with this, Sainte. Thank you.”
“I may have dropped a hint or two, but Ice came up with it all on his own. Despite what you may think, he thinks very highly of you.”
“That means so much. Thank you.”
“Now get ready to go, and we’ll get started on our new venture together.”
She smiles and turns to run up the stairs. A few minutes later, she comes down with her purse and walks to me. “I’m ready.”
“Oh, one more thing before I forget.” I take her phone and keys from my pocket. “I think it’s about time I return these to you.”
She beams. “Thank you, Sainte.” Taking them and placing them in her purse, she says, “I won’t let you down.”
We leave, get on my bike, and head out.
We spend the next several hours talking with the staff. We decide to keep some of the existing employees, while others must go. I notice that the hostess who checked us in the other night and theMasterare gone. They must have been Santino’s people. I have to say it is a comforting feeling knowing that the trafficking portion of this establishment is long gone.
Through the years I worked with the Vitalis, we came across many organizations that were heavy in human trafficking. They would spend thousands and make millions. Girls would be abducted from just about anywhere they went alone: grocery stores, gyms, massage parlors, etc. They would be trained, conditioned, and sold into slavery. It makes my stomach turn when I think of the money people make from this illegal shit with no consideration to what they’re doing to another human being. Well, I’m glad they’re out of Edinboro.
When we finish, I ask Honey, “You happy?”
“I am.” She puts some papers away she had on her desk and then says, “I think we have a good promising staff here and can see great things to come.”
“I do too. We’re gonna need to find a newMasterfor the inexperienced.”
“Yeah, I know. We’ll need to look around. I’m sure the right guy is out there. I’ll just have to test them out,” she says.
What?I grab her arm and pull her close. “Ain’t no other man touches what’s mine!”
She laughs. “Well how will we know?”
I know she is teasing just to get a rise out of me. After all, she learned from the best. She loves my dominant possessive side, and she knows exactly how to bring it out.
“You’ll know. You don’t need to experiment.”
She laughs again. “Come on, big guy. We need to get back to the clubhouse and help Brianne. She’s got some pretty big shoes to fill.”
I love this confident and radiant woman before me. Her teasing nature is her best quality, and it is so good to see. I knew she had it in her. It’s why I never gave up. But what she has revealed is so much better than I expected.
We put everything away and make our way out. When we get to the door, a guy is approaching.
“Can we help you?” I ask.
