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

with me.’

‘So you should, she’s your child.’

‘Madison’s a great kid.’

‘Madison. That’s an unusual name. Does she look like you?’

‘Yeah,’ he said, laughing. ‘Poor kid.’

‘Do you have a photo?’ she asked, wondering if his daughter looked anything like Vincent.

‘Would I sound like a proud dad if I said yes?’

‘There’s nothing wrong with that.’

He got out of bed, padded across the room and picked up his wallet from the table.

She admired his body as he walked back towards her. He was lean and muscular, with broad shoulders and hard abs. He was certainly one great-looking man.

She sighed and wished this night would last for ever.

Only she knew it wouldn’t. He’d leave. And that would be that.

Unless she told him.

Max was trying desperately to stay cool as he won hand after hand at the blackjack table. But staying cool was tough when all he really wanted to do was stand up and yell!

He kept on hitting twenty-one. It was unbelievable.

‘Card?’ the dealer asked.

He nodded.

Shit! Twenty-one again.

He could do no wrong!

‘Gotta go find my friends before they blow their bankroll,’ Michael said, jumping out of bed. ‘Come with me, I’d like you to meet them.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Wouldn’t ask if I wasn’t.’

They got dressed and took a cab to the Magiriano, holding hands all the way. When they got there, he was just in time to haul Max away from the blackjack table before he blew his winnings.

‘Be smart,’ Michael said, getting a firm grip on Max’s arm. ‘You gotta learn when to walk away.’

For once, Max listened.

‘Say hello to Dani,’ Michael said, as soon as they were a safe distance away from the blackjack table.

Max stared at the beautiful blonde holding Michael’s hand. He recognized her immediately. She was the gorgeous topless babe in the show they’d just seen, the second girl from the left. How did Michael do it? Lucky bastard.

‘Hi, Dani,’ he said.

‘Hi, Max,’ she said, remembering him from his one night of lust with Angela.

‘How do you two know each other?’

‘Guess you’ve forgotten about your bachelor night,’ Michael said, grinning.

Max looked blank. ‘Huh?’

‘Wasn’t her name Angela?’

‘Jeez!’ Max said, eyes nervously darting round the casino. ‘For God’s sake, don’t let Tina hear you.’

‘If you hadn’t been so bombed, you would’ve remembered that Dani was Angela’s roommate. Now do you get it?’

‘Oh, yeah, Dani. She’s the girl you used to talk about.’

‘You see?’ Michael said, smiling at her. ‘I used to talk about you all the time. Max thought I was nuts.’

‘Why did you think that, Max?’ she asked.

‘’Cause, uh, well, he’d talk about you, an’ you weren’t there. An’ I kinda figured he’d get on a plane and come back to see you. Then he, uh, had other things goin’ on.’

‘It’s all right,’ Michael said. ‘She knows what happened to me.’

‘She does?’

‘Yes, I do,’ Dani said.

‘She also knows I’m out of that line of business now,’ Michael said. ‘An’, by the way, with that investment thing I got going, you should give me your four thousand bucks, I can double it for you.’

‘I’d better ask Tina.’

‘D’you havta get her permission to take a piss too?’

‘Screw you.’

‘Where is Tina anyway?’

‘Losing my money on the slots.’

‘We should go find her.’

The three of them went searching for Tina, and discovered her playing her last ten dollars.

‘Lose it an’ quit,’ Michael ordered. ‘Oh, an’ Tina, meet Dani. We’re all going for a drink.’

‘Who is she?’ Tina hissed at Max, not thrilled that their cosy threesome was now a foursome.

‘She was in the show,’ Max whispered back. ‘Mike knows her from years ago.’

They were sitting in one of the lounges drinking champagne to celebrate Max’s four-thousand-dollar win. He was flushed with success, but Tina was livid: not only had she lost all her money, she’d also lost the hundred dollars Max had given her to play with.

Besides, she was feeling disconcerted. She was usually the prettiest girl in any group. Now this tall, beautiful blonde had joined them, and everyone was looking her way. This did not thrill Tina.

‘I don’t like her,’ she whispered to Max.

‘I don’t think Michael cares,’ Max retaliated.

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘He’s fucking her, not you.’

‘God! You are so vulgar. What makes you think he’s sleeping with her?’

‘Take a look at the two of ’em.’

‘I should think he’d have more respect for Beth’s memory.’

‘Beth’s been gone for almost two years. A man has to get it on.’

‘Sometimes you are so disgusting.’

Meanwhile Dani decided she should try to get to know Michael’s friends. ‘What do you do?’ she asked Tina.

‘Me…I, uh…look after my kids,’ Tina said. ‘And he’s a lot of work,’ she added, jerking her thumb at Max. ‘Dumps his clothes on the floor, never does anything around the house, leaves his empty beer cans on the table…’

‘Hold on a minute,’ Max objected. ‘It’s me you’re talking about. I get up every morning at dawn and go to work sellin’ cars for a living.’

‘Perhaps you can advise me, Max,’ Dani said. ‘I’m thinking of buying a new car.’

‘You are? What do you drive now?’

‘A Cadillac. I was considering something more sporty. My son keeps on trying to persuade me to get a Corvette.’

‘Oh, you have a son?’ Tina said, making an attempt to warm up.

‘Yes.’

‘How old is he?’

‘Nine. What about your kids?’

‘Susie’s seven, Harry’s eight–the little monster. What am I telling you for? I guess you know all about boys.’

‘Actually, mine’s quite studious.’

‘Lucky you!’

To Michael and Max’s relief the women were suddenly on mutual ground.

‘I thought they weren’t gonna get along,’ Michael said to Max, in a low voice. ‘Only now Tina’s started complainin’ about you, we’re on Easy Street.’

‘Max mentioned that you knew Michael a long time ago,’ Tina said, dying to find out more. ‘Where did you meet?’

‘Where did we meet, Michael?’ Dani questioned, throwing the ball to him.

‘Uh…a mutual friend introduced us.’

‘You can tell Tina the truth,’ Dani said, laughing. ‘I was sixteen and a virgin. Then along came your friend Michael and took advantage of me.’

Tina shot him a spiteful look. ‘Oh, yes, our Michael’s very fond of