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

her robe and quickly put it on, belting it tightly.

‘Your toast’s burnin’,’ he called from the kitchen. ‘Want me to pop it out?’

Summoning all the dignity she could muster, she returned to the kitchen, where he was now pouring himself a cup of instant coffee. He’d placed her toast on a plate.

‘Thank you,’ she managed.

‘Coffee?’ he offered.

This was supposed to be her kitchen, and he was taking over like he owned it. He had some nerve. ‘No,’ she said stiffly.

‘Sorry about walkin’ in on you,’ he said, sitting down at the kitchen table. ‘I was lookin’ for Max, an’ the front door was open.’ He chuckled. ‘Guess they must’ve been in a hurry.’

‘Max?’ she asked, frowning.

‘My pal. He, uh, came home with Angela last night. Now I gotta get him to the airport or we’ll miss our flight.’

‘I thought you were with Angela,’ she blurted.

‘Naw, not me,’ he said, sipping his coffee and thinking she looked even prettier without all that heavy makeup plastered over her face.

‘So you simply walked in here this morning?’

‘I shoulda rung the bell, right?’ he said sheepishly. ‘Only, like I said, the door was open, an’ I didn’t know anyone else lived here.’

‘I live here,’ she said lamely. ‘Angela and me, we’re roommates.’

‘Oh, yeah,’ he said, nodding. ‘I know who you are, you’re a girlfriend of Manny Spiven’s.’

‘I am not,’ she said indignantly. ‘I hate that rude pig.’

‘You do?’ he said, surprised.

‘Yes, I do. I had the horrible experience of going on a blind date with him once. The pig tried to jump me, and when I didn’t respond, he shouted all kinds of insults at me.’

‘That’s not the way he tells it.’

‘Excuse me?’ she said, furious that there was a Manny Spiven version of their one unmemorable date.

‘Did you know that he goes round sayin’ that he’s…uh…got it on with you?’

‘What?!’ she exclaimed, blushing a deep red. ‘That’s absolutely untrue.’

‘Guess he was makin’ up stories.’

She was so humiliated. How dare Manny Spiven make up lies about her? ‘I told you he was a pig,’ she said fiercely. ‘A lying pig!’

Michael grinned. He should have known Manny was full of crap.

‘Anyway,’ she said vehemently, ‘maybe you should teach him some manners–he’s your friend.’

‘No,’ Michael corrected. ‘Business associate. Sure as hell not friend.’

‘I thought…’ she said tentatively.

‘Manny’s an asshole,’ he said, reaching for an apple and taking a bite. ‘Seems like you found that out for yourself.’

‘At least we agree on that.’

‘So,’ he said, ‘now that we’ve straightened Manny out…it’s nice to finally meet you.’

‘Finally?’ she said, big blue eyes meeting his.

‘I’ve been watchin’ you for a while,’ he said, mentally kicking himself for blowing the opportunity of getting together with her the previous night.

‘You have?’ she said, surprised and quite flattered.

‘Saw you a few weeks back, only just when I was about to make my move you ran off with some guy on a motorcycle.’

‘My sister’s husband,’ she said quickly.

‘Glad to hear he doesn’t belong to you.’

‘What?’ she murmured breathlessly.

‘That he’s not your guy,’ he repeated, giving her a direct stare that made her go weak at the knees.

Before she could answer, Max staggered into the kitchen bleary-eyed and bare-chested, clad only in his crumpled boxer shorts, his hair standing on end as if he’d just put his finger into an electric socket.

‘Jeez!’ Michael exclaimed, controlling his laughter. ‘You look like crap!’

‘Water,’ Max gasped. ‘I need water.’

‘It’s the desert air,’ Michael deadpanned to Dani. ‘New Yorkers–they can’t take it.’

‘You’re from New York?’ she asked.

‘Yup,’ he said, standing up. ‘An’ we’re supposed t’be on a plane any minute.’

‘Oh,’ she said, strangely disappointed.

‘But I’ll be back,’ he said cheerfully. ‘Soon. An’ next time we won’t let Manny Spiven come between us.’ He winked at her. ‘Will we?’

‘No,’ she said, and for the first time in her short life she felt a stirring within her that made her want to grab this man and hold on to him forever.

Chapter Sixteen

Tuesday, 10 July 2001

‘Fuck!’ the gunman exploded, punching a hole in the wall, his rage and frustration quite apparent.

Almost an hour had passed and nothing was happening. Every communication had promised that a van was on its way. So far no van.

‘You!’ he yelled, pointing at Madison. ‘Get over here.’

She felt a coldness in the pit of her stomach. Was he about to make good on his threat and start shooting the hostages? Was she to be the first victim?

Bravely she stood up and walked over to him.

He thrust the phone at her. ‘Tell ’em five more minutes or someone fuckin’ dies.’

She took the phone and began speaking. The negotiator on the other end sounded like an idiot.

‘They mean business,’ she said urgently. ‘Where’s the van? Why isn’t it here yet?’

‘How many of them are in there?’ the negotiator asked, his voice cold and impersonal. ‘Are they all armed?’

‘Yes,’ she answered quickly. ‘Three minutes is good.’

‘Try to keep everyone calm,’ he said. ‘I’m used to these situations. We’re working on getting you all out safely.’

Was he kidding? They were locked up with armed men who were threatening to kill them, and he was telling her to keep everyone calm. This was insane.

‘What’s with the three minutes?’ the gunman snapped.

‘They’re trying to get a van here.’

‘You’re comin’ with,’ he decided.

Cole was on his feet in a flash. ‘You can’t take her without me,’ he said urgently.

The gunman looked him over. ‘You her old man?’

‘Yes,’ Cole lied.

‘Get the fuck over by the door. An’ you,’ he said, waving his weapon at the short redhead in the tight blue dress, ‘you get over there, too.’

‘I want my ring back,’ the redhead whined. ‘It’s my engagement ring.’

He ignored her, picking out three more hostages to go wait by the door.

Please, God, Madison prayed. Let them send a van soon. Because if they don’t, somebody’s going to die.

Jolie was on her third cigarette when she realized that Jenna had been missing for far too long. This was not good,