Deadly Embrace Jackie Collins (the reader ebook .TXT) 📖

her that worrying did absolutely no good at all.

Vincent was leading a bachelor’s dream life and he knew it. Girls, girls, girls. Blondes, brunettes, redheads. He had his pick.

Unlike Nando, he did not care to indulge in sex with a different girl every night. He tried to be more discerning than that. Only it wasn’t easy: the girls who came into their restaurant bar were begging for it. He and Nando were prizes: score with one of them and it meant you were really a hot chick.

Vincent liked girls. In fact, he loved them. But sometimes he yearned for a girl who wasn’t so damn available.

Nando laughed at him when he tried to discuss it. ‘Take it when you can get it,’ was Nando’s philosophy.

So he did, but not as much as Nando, who seemed to possess an alarmingly active libido. Two or three girls a night was not unusual.

Vincent enjoyed the restaurant business: he ran a tight operation while Nando was Mr Personality, luring the prettiest girls and the guys with money to hang out at their place. Vincent preferred to take a back seat, although somehow he got to do all the work. Nando was into the music and the look and the minor details, while Vincent made sure the chef ordered wisely, the bartenders didn’t steal too much, the waiters kept a high standard, and the bills were paid on time.

They both wanted more. Their dream was to build their own hotel and casino. And one of these days Vincent was convinced they would achieve their dream.

Chapter Forty-eight

Michael and Madison: 1987

The hotel in Miami was big and luxurious. Michael had booked them into a suite. Naturally. He always did things in style.

As soon as they arrived, Madison ran round inspecting everything, from the two huge marble bathrooms to the spacious, palm-decked terraces overlooking the ocean.

‘This is so wild!’ she exclaimed. ‘Can we go down to the beach and take a walk along the shore?’

‘What’s so interesting about the beach?’ Michael asked, enjoying her excitement.

‘I’ve never been to the ocean before.’

‘First time?’

‘You know it is, Michael.’

This was his second trip to Miami. The first time had been when he’d visited Vinny. He hadn’t seen his father since, although he knew that Vinny was still living in the same place. He sent him a cheque every month, a cheque that was always cashed.

‘You go take a walk along the beach,’ he said. ‘I’ve got a couple of calls to make.’

‘Oh, no! Business!’ Madison said, making a face. ‘You promised no work.’

‘Only two calls, sweetheart, then we’ll have a wonderful dinner together. Just the two of us. You like lobster?’

‘Who doesn’t?’ she said, already hungry.

‘So…will you be my date?’

‘You bet!’

As soon as Madison left the suite, he called Dani. ‘How was the flight?’ he asked.

‘Uneventful,’ she replied, always delighted to hear his voice.

‘That’s my girl.’

‘Who? Me or Sofia?’

He laughed. ‘Hey, look, after you’ve put Sofia down tonight, leave her with a babysitter and drop by the restaurant in my hotel. I’m having dinner with Madison. I’ll see you walk past, pretend you’re an old friend, and ask you to join us. How does that sound?’

‘You don’t think Madison will suspect anything?’

‘What’s she gonna suspect?’

‘How would I know? She’s your daughter.’

‘Do it,’ he ordered. ‘I’m not staying here without seeing you.’

‘And how will you cope if Sofia spots you on the beach tomorrow and runs over yelling, “Daddy, Daddy”?’

He laughed. ‘That’s the reason I booked us into different hotels.’

‘Clever.’

‘So…later?’

‘Whatever you say.’

‘Michael? Michael Castelli?’

Beautifully executed. He couldn’t have done it better himself.

He stood up from the table. ‘Dani Castle, what a pleasure to see you again.’

Madison glanced up, green eyes on alert. Who was this beautiful blonde woman talking to her father, interrupting them while they were trying to enjoy a quiet dinner for two?

‘Are you by yourself?’

Shut up, Daddy, we do not need company.

‘As a matter of fact I am,’ Dani replied. ‘Business trip, you know.’

‘Then why don’t you sit down and join us?’ Michael said, making it sound as if it had only just occurred to him. ‘This is my daughter, Madison. Say hi to Mrs Castle, dear.’

Dear? When had he ever called her dear? Damn! This woman appearing out of nowhere was a big pain in the butt.

‘Well…if you’re sure I’m not disturbing you,’ Dani said, and sat down at the table.

Shit! Madison thought. I cannot believe this woman has the temerity to sit down at our table, when I am having a private dinner with my father.

Michael didn’t seem at all put out. Madison threw him a narrow-eyed glare–just to let him know that she was.

‘Dani’s a friend of mine from Las Vegas,’ Michael explained. ‘We’ve known each other for years.’

‘Oh,’ Madison said, totally uninterested.

‘I’m in Miami for the jewellery show,’ Dani offered.

‘Where’s your husband?’ Madison asked bluntly. And why the hell isn’t he with you?

‘He, uh, doesn’t like to fly.’

‘I see,’ Madison said. Although she didn’t see at all. What was this rather glamorous woman doing travelling by herself when she should be at home with her husband? This was a big fat drag.

‘We’ve ordered lobster,’ Michael said. ‘Would you like some?’

‘Actually, I haven’t eaten,’ Dani said, ‘so that would be very nice. Lobster is my favourite.’

Oh, crap! She’s staying for dinner.

‘Are you a friend of my mom’s?’ Madison asked rudely, suddenly feeling a little protective of Stella.

‘No, actually we’ve never met.’

‘Dani’s husband is a business associate of mine in Vegas,’ Michael explained.

‘Have you ever been to Vegas?’ Dani asked, all sweetness and big blue eyes.

‘Nope,’ Madison said, shaking her head. ‘I never go anywhere except school, and summer camp, and home. Daddy and I came here for a weekend together, just the two of us. Didn’t we, Daddy?’

Michael raised an eyebrow. Madison never called him Daddy, it was always Michael. Suddenly he was Daddy. He had a feeling she was marking her territory. ‘That’s right, sweetheart,’ he said. ‘I’ll take you