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

head on the roundabout; some of the smaller kids who were playing in the sandbox screamed with delight.

The boys were getting too big for park activities: they preferred hanging out at the ranch where they could ride horses and run wild.

Dani didn’t notice the man approaching her until he was standing right next to her.

‘Excuse me,’ he said, startling her.

She glanced up. He was a slim man, quite attractive, dressed in jeans, a blue sports jacket, and a white shirt open at the neck. He had dark blond hair that curled round his collar, a stubbled chin, and unfocused, faintly bloodshot eyes. He did not look American.

‘Can I help you?’ she asked.

‘You’re Dani Castle, is that right?’ he said, in a hardly detectable foreign accent.

‘That’s right,’ she said, thinking that he must recognize her from the show and was about to ask for her autograph.

‘You have something that belongs to me,’ he said, cracking his knuckles.

‘I do?’ she said, glancing round to see if there was anyone who might come to her assistance if he got crazy on her. Sometimes fans did–although this man did not seem to be a fan. ‘And what would that be?’

‘My son,’ he said.

‘Your son?’ she repeated.

‘I’m Moralis,’ he said, his eyes darting round the playground. ‘Gemini’s ex-husband. I’m sure she has informed you what a bastard I am.’

Actually, Gemini had said very little about Moralis, except that he was the son of an extremely rich man, that he’d abused her both mentally and physically, and that after their divorce was final they’d both agreed never to see each other again. Now here he was.

Uninvited, he sat down beside her and proceeded to tell her how he’d been searching for his son for the last four years, and had only recently, with the help of a private detective, discovered that Nando was in Vegas.

‘I–I thought you and Gemini worked everything out,’ Dani said, not wanting to get into the middle of this.

‘After I paid her a fortune, she disappeared with my son,’ he said bitterly. ‘Left my country without informing me where she was going. It has taken me all this time to find her.’ He stood up. ‘Where is Nando? I must see him.’

‘You’ll have to wait until Gemini gets home in a couple of days.’

‘I don’t think so,’ he said forcefully. ‘I came here to take my son, and that’s what I’m doing.’

‘You can’t,’ she said quickly.

‘Who’ll stop me?’

‘I will.’

‘Oh, you will,’ he said, almost laughing in her face.

‘Gemini has custody of Nando,’ she explained, hoping he’d listen to reason. ‘If you want to share that custody you’ll have to go through the courts.’

‘Do I look as if I’m prepared to do that?’ he said edgily.

‘Let me see if I can contact Gemini and ask her what to do.’

‘Don’t you understand what I’m telling you?’ he said, getting angry. ‘She took my son away from me! In my country that is not legal. In my country a man has rights.’

There was something unsettling about this man, and until she had Gemini’s permission, there was no way she was allowing him to take Nando.

‘Perhaps you can tell me where you’re staying, and I’ll be in touch,’ she said.

‘I want my son,’ he answered, an angry gleam in his eyes. ‘And I want him now.’

‘That’s not possible. Nando is in my charge, and I can’t release him.’

‘Bitch!’ he said, suddenly snapping. ‘You fucking American women are all bitches. You’re as bad as the French ones.’

Dani stood up. She was as tall as him and unafraid. ‘You’ll need a court order to take Nando, so go away,’ she said firmly.

‘No, I will not go away,’ he said, staring her down.

Out of the corner of her eye she observed a police car cruising by. ‘If you cause any more problems, I’m flagging down that police car and you’ll be arrested.’

‘Are you threatening me?’ he said, the anger in his eyes turning dangerous.

‘I’m merely trying to make this a pleasant experience for everyone concerned. I’m sure you want to see your son. However, you must understand my position.’

‘I understand shit,’ he said abruptly. ‘I’m takin’ my kid.’ And he marched towards the boys on the swings. ‘Nando!’ he called out. ‘Nando, it’s your papa. I’ve come to get you.’

Nando stopped what he was doing and turned to see who was calling him.

Quickly Dani ran over and waved down the police car. She leaned into the window, and was happy to recognize one of the cops. His name was Burt, and he attended her show regularly.

‘Hey, Dani–how’s it going?’ Burt asked.

‘Not good,’ she answered. ‘That man over there is Gemini’s ex-husband. He’s trying to take her son. Can you do something?’

‘Sure,’ Burt said. ‘We’ll go have a word with him.’

Burt and his female partner got out of their patrol car and approached Moralis, who by this time had picked Nando up and was swinging him round in the air. The little boy didn’t seem at all perturbed. On the other hand, he didn’t recognize Moralis–but, hey, an adventure was always fun, and Nando lived for fun.

‘I’m your papa,’ Moralis kept on repeating. ‘Remember me? Your papa.’

‘Can I talk to you, sir?’ Burt said.

Moralis was not in a good mood. ‘I’m busy,’ he said.

‘Put the boy down, come over here, and we’ll talk,’ interjected the female cop, a tough-looking redhead.

‘Screw you,’ Moralis snapped.

Vincent, who’d been watching all this, ran over to Dani. ‘Who’s that man, Mommy?’ he asked. ‘Why’s he got Nando?’

‘It’s nothing, baby,’ she said, quickly taking his hand.

‘Why’s Nando with him?’ Vincent persisted.

‘He’s a…relative. We have to wait until Auntie Gem comes back, then we’ll sort everything out.’

‘Wanna get down,’ Nando yelled suddenly at Moralis. ‘Lemme go.’ And he kneed him in the stomach.

‘You little shit!’ Moralis shouted, and went to slap the boy.

Before he was able to, Burt grabbed his arm, Moralis lost his balance, and a scuffle ensued.

Dani didn’t wait round. She rushed over, grabbed Nando, and hurried the boys to her car. ‘Get in quickly,’