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

long blonde hair on top of her head.

Vincent was always struck by his mother’s incandescent beauty. Time had not dimmed her glow.

He often thought what a fool Michael was not to have married her. Whenever he asked why they hadn’t got married, they both came up with the same evasive answers.

It was stupid, because it was so blatantly obvious they belonged together. Dani, who was usually so on top of everything, turned to mush round Michael. And he treated her as if they’d been married for years.

‘Something not so good has happened,’ Michael said, clearing his throat.

‘What?’ Vincent asked, immediately thinking it must be something to do with Sofia.

‘It’s a tough one.’

‘So tell me what it is.’

‘Your father is being accused of killing Stella and her boyfriend,’ Dani blurted out.

‘Come on,’ Vincent said disbelievingly.

‘There’s a warrant out for my arrest,’ Michael said. ‘It probably won’t be long before they come sniffing round here.’

‘Jesus Christ!’ Vincent repeated. As if this evening hadn’t been bad enough, he now had to hear that his father was on the run from a murder charge.

‘I didn’t do it, in case you’re wondering,’ Michael said. ‘It’s a set-up.’

‘Who set you up?’

‘I have enemies–long-time enemies. Grudges that go way back.’

‘This is insane.’

‘I know.’

‘So what am I supposed to do?’

‘Look after your mother. Contact Madison and Sofia. I think they should both come here for a while.’

‘To do what?’

‘Be protected,’ Michael said. ‘You can arrange that, can’t you?’

‘Yes. Only I should point out that I have no idea where either of them is.’

‘Madison’s in New York,’ Michael said, reaching for the phone. ‘I’ll call her now.’

‘You think she’ll fly out here?’

‘If I tell her it’s important, she’ll come.’

‘How about Sofia?’

‘Find her. If you don’t, somebody else might. And, Vincent, believe me, that could be deadly.’

When Jenna heard the front door slam and realized that Vincent had gone out, she couldn’t believe it. How dare he nag and scream at her, then leave her alone in the apartment? She was livid.

She came out of the bedroom and took a good look round. He was definitely gone.

Quick as a flash, she ran to the phone. ‘Andy Dale’s suite,’ she said to the operator.

‘One moment, please,’ the operator replied.

Anais answered the phone–or, at least, it sounded like her.

‘Is Andy still round? This is Jenna Castle.’

‘Hey, baby,’ Anais said, sounding real friendly, ‘we’re packin’ up an’ blowin’ this dump. You wanna talk to the man?’

‘Yes, please.’

‘Sure, babe. You gonna party with us later?’

‘Maybe,’ Jenna said, hopefully.

Andy got on the phone. He did not sound happy. ‘I’m sick of your freakin’ husband chasin’ me everywhere I go,’ he complained.

‘I called to apologize,’ Jenna said. ‘Vincent gets into silly moods sometimes. It’s not as if anything was going on between you and me.’

‘It’s not like I don’t want something to go on between us,’ Andy said, warming up.

‘Really?’

‘Didn’t you feel the vibe?’

‘Yes…I did,’ she said excitedly. ‘Where are you going now?’

‘I got a suite at the Bellagio. Wanna join us? We’re ready to party, only don’t bring your old man. An’ don’t tell the asshole where you’re going, okay? ’Cause I’m not into another confrontation.’

She took a long, deep breath. Andy Dale was a huge movie star, and this was her big opportunity. Was she supposed to pass it up simply because Vincent was jealous?

No way.

‘I’ll be right there,’ she said.

‘You got it, foxy.’

The procession made its way down the darkened alleyway towards the big black van parked there. Madison realized that this was probably the most dangerous time of all.

Once they reached it, she was relieved to see that it was probably large enough. Hopefully it had a tracking device in it.

A voice boomed out of a nearby loudspeaker. ‘Whyn’t you give it up now? Let the hostages go, drop your weapons and surrender.’

The ringleader nudged Madison in the ribs with his gun. She could smell his sweat and fear. He might act tough, but she knew he was nervous. ‘Keep moving,’ he muttered.

She did as she was told, along with everybody else, wondering if they’d encounter a roadblock when they drove out of the alley.

Roughly he shoved her into the van. The rest of them squeezed in too.

Cole got behind the wheel, the main gunman crowded up next to him, while Madison sat on his other side. Everyone else was crammed into the back.

It occurred to her that if the cops started shooting, she and Cole were prime targets. Cole especially, because he was in the driver’s seat.

Cole started the engine. The gunman leaned forward, checking to make sure the gas tank was full. ‘Let’s fuckin’ go,’ he yelled. ‘Move it!’

‘Where?’ Cole asked.

‘Turn on to Beverly an’ floor this mothafucker.’

‘Yes,’ Cole said, doing as he was told. And they roared off.

Silently Madison began reciting a prayer, knowing that within minutes there was a strong possibility that they could all be dead.

Chapter Thirty-three

Michael: 1974

It was Madison’s third birthday. She sat with a dozen other toddlers in the garden of Tina and Max’s new house, which was now her home, and watched in fascination as a funny man, dressed like a clown, blew up different coloured balloons and twisted them into animal shapes. Susie, Tina and Max’s daughter, sprawled on the grass next to her. At seven, Susie was a cute little girl, with two missing front teeth and a sweet smile. Harry, her eight-year-old brother, was not so nice. His favourite occupation was pulling Susie’s hair, destroying her dolls, and teasing her until she screamed.

Tina was constantly nagging at him to behave himself.

Max was constantly telling Tina to shut up. ‘He’s a boy,’ he said. ‘That’s what boys do.’

‘Not this boy,’ Tina retorted.

Michael arrived late and stood at the kitchen door, watching his daughter. She was such a little beauty. So full of life, so like Beth. Thank God for Max and Tina. They’d been there when he’d needed them–they were true friends, always behind him. Unlike Catherine,