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

the goddamn hotel. Afraid to take risks. Doesn’t think we should branch out. I got a deal that’ll make us more money than even you can spend–an’ he doesn’t want to touch it.’

‘Why?’

‘’Cause it involves drugs an’ hookers. Big freakin’ deal. This town wouldn’t exist without drugs an’ hookers.’

‘Calm down,’ Jolie said. ‘You’re all worked up.’

‘Yeah. I’ll never sleep tonight.’

‘Yes, you will,’ she murmured. ‘Give me five minutes and meet me in the bedroom. By the time I’ve finished with you, you’ll be so relaxed you won’t know what hit you.’

Finally the van arrived. Madison experienced a brief moment of triumph. Had she persuaded the negotiator to get it there?

Whatever. It was there, that was the main thing.

‘This is the way it’s goin’ down,’ the ringleader announced. ‘Pull the cloths off the tables, make holes for your eyes, an’ put ’em over your heads. You,’ he said, speaking directly to Madison, ‘you’re comin’, an’ your old man. An’ you,’ he added, pointing at Natalie.

‘Leave her behind,’ Madison said quickly. ‘She’s not feeling well.’

‘Fuck that, she’s comin’,’ he said, and singled out three more hostages–the young Italian waiter, the woman with the gash on her temple, and a middle-aged man. ‘We go out with you surroundin’ us. Anybody fucks with me, they get their shit-ass head blown off. Got it?’

Everyone nodded.

‘The rest of you mothafuckers–over in the corner, an’ stay quiet.’

Madison glanced at Cole. He gave an imperceptible nod–as if to say, Do what he wants. She pulled a cloth off one of the tables, and began making crude holes for her eyes with a table knife. Natalie started doing the same.

‘This is a nightmare,’ Natalie whispered. ‘How’ll we get through it?’

‘We will,’ Madison said reassuringly, sounding a lot braver than she felt.

‘Where are they taking us?’

‘Wherever this lunatic says.’

It was one thing telling Natalie not to worry, but Madison knew they were in great danger. One of the stoned gunmen could shoot them on a whim. Or maybe the police had sharp-shooters with itchy fingers dying to burst in.

Who knew what might happen?

All they could do was hope and pray.

Chapter Twenty-seven

Michael: 1972

Motherhood had mellowed Beth slightly, which did not stop her from complaining about being kept awake at night by the baby crying. She also flatly refused to breastfeed. ‘Not my scene,’ she said, wrinkling her nose. ‘That’s like–ugh!’

‘Isn’t it supposed to be better for the baby?’ Catherine asked. She’d recently returned from her visit with relatives and was helping to look after Madison.

‘That’s crap,’ Beth replied, shooting her sister a daggers look.

‘Y’know, when Madison gets bigger, you gotta learn to control your language,’ Michael commented.

‘Really?’ Beth answered coolly.

‘It’s a thought,’ he said mildly.

He and Beth had settled into domestic life quite well. They lived together as man and wife, even though they weren’t married. It suited both of them. Great sex and no wedding rings. He was a lucky man–or was he? Sometimes he thought marriage might work out. They had a baby together, so why not?

Since Madison’s birth, he hadn’t felt like seeing any of his old girlfriends. He was satisfied hanging out with Beth, the baby, and Catherine–who, once she’d got over her initial shock, had turned out to be a sweetheart. And Beth seemed to have curbed her wild ways, no longer running out to all-night parties and flirting outrageously with every man she saw. She loved Madison as much as he did, and although they fought a lot, they both agreed that Madison was the cutest baby in the world. She was a combination of the two of them, with her dark curly hair, sparkling green eyes and deep olive skin. She was truly beautiful.

Sometimes, late at night when Madison awoke for her bottle, Michael went into her room, scooped her out of her crib, and fed her himself. She was such a warm and trusting little bundle in his arms, her big eyes staring up at him so expectantly. When he looked at her, he felt a love he’d never experienced before. She was his baby. His future. She was the family he’d never had.

When Madison was six months old, Catherine moved in permanently. Although, like Beth, she was only eighteen, she seemed much older and more capable. Michael was pleased to have her around: she could keep an eye on Madison and Beth, so that when he was at work he could feel more secure. Especially since a lot of his work took place at night, and Beth claimed she felt nervous in the house by herself.

One morning Beth woke up, jumped out of bed, and decided she wanted to go back to the fashion institute to continue her studies. ‘Will you pay for my tuition?’ she asked. ‘I promise you won’t regret it.’

‘If you’re sure that’s what you want to do,’ Michael said, ‘then I’ll be happy to pay for it.’

‘Very sure,’ she answered. ‘I’ll be famous. You’ll see.’

‘You will, huh?’ he said, amused by her enthusiasm.

‘I’ll make you proud, Michael.’

‘You’ve already done that,’ he said, indicating Madison, who was kicking and gurgling in her crib.

‘I have?’

‘You bet,’ he said, hugging her.

And he truly meant it.

Word on the street was that Vito Giovanni and Mamie had split. Vito had caught Mamie with another woman in their bed, gone completely berserk and thrown her out. The rumour was that Vito now had a girlfriend–a twenty-two-year-old stripper who went by the name of Western Pussy.

One night, some of the guys were sitting round at the social club playing poker. Bone was there, so was Gus. When Michael walked in, they were sniggering about Mamie and her sexual predilections.

‘She was always a tough-assed bitch,’ Bone announced to the room. ‘Her an’ that douchebag cousin of hers, Roy.’

Michael figured this might be the right time to get Bone to acknowledge his existence. ‘Oh, yeah, Mamie,’ he said, pulling up a chair. ‘She used to get it on with girls in Vegas.