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

if they’re gettin’ ripped off.’

Jolie was hardly prepared for the amount of nudity that assailed her. Naked girls were everywhere. The waitresses had no clothes on as they went about their business, lap dances were taking place all along the side of the stage, and on the stage ten females were doing their thing, totally nude and uninhibited.

‘This is a cesspit,’ Jolie said, wrinkling her nose. ‘The girls aren’t even attractive.’

‘What did you expect? The Folies in Paris?’

‘Why do you think the owners will consider partnering with you?’

‘’Cause everybody gets off on makin’ a buck. And I can guarantee this place three times the amount of revenue it’s taking now.’

‘I still think you should bring Vincent in on it.’

‘Oh, yeah, Vincent. Mr Pure.’

‘What’s he done to upset you?’

‘Look,’ Nando explained, ‘I grew up with Vin. I know him better than anybody. He was repressed by that mother of his.’

‘Don’t you like Dani?’

‘She’s okay. Problem was she stifled the shit outta him.’

‘Is that why you think he’s uptight?’

‘Now you’re getting it. He is uptight,’ Nando said, leading her through the vast room. ‘He probably fucks with the lights off.’

‘They must be making a fortune,’ Jolie remarked. ‘The place is packed.’

‘Yeah, with a bad crowd who don’t have two bucks to rub together. We can make it into the classiest strip club in town. We’ll put in private rooms, a VIP area, hire gorgeous girls. I’m tellin’ you, babe, this is a major moneymaker.’

‘I don’t feel comfortable here, Nando,’ Jolie said as a skinny black waitress with enormous boobs swayed past them, balancing a tray of drinks.

‘We’re not sittin’ around socializing,’ Nando pointed out. ‘You gotta agree, the space is unbelievable. Remember what I’ve always told you—’

‘I know.’ Jolie sighed. ‘Location, location, location.’

‘Here come the guys, Leroy and Darren. Now be nice.’

‘Aren’t I always?’

‘Am I stoned?’ Jenna giggled, totally stoned.

‘You’re just in a good mood,’ Andy said, stroking her arm.

‘No, I think I’m stoned,’ she said, starting to giggle again. ‘I feel all kind of tickly and tingly.’

‘That’s ’cause you got too many clothes on,’ Andy said, tugging at her dress. ‘Here, let me help you.’

‘That’s all right,’ she said, backing away.

‘C’mon, cookie, don’t be shy.’

‘I’m not.’

‘Then let me see those beautiful little titties you’ve been thrusting at me all night.’

‘I haven’t been thrusting anything at you.’

‘C’mon,’ he coaxed again. ‘Look at Anais–she’s not shy.’

Jenna glanced over at the beautiful black girl, who was once again lounging on the couch, legs spread, ebony skin glistening.

‘Did you know that Anais likes girls?’ Andy said, moving close and nibbling on her ear.

‘I like girls, too,’ Jenna said. ‘I’ve got lots of girlfriends.’

‘I didn’t mean in that way,’ he said, pushing back a lock of his trademark dirty blond hair. ‘Have you ever made out with a girl?’

‘What do you mean?’ she asked, widening her eyes.

‘God!’ Andy said. ‘You are young, aren’t you?’

‘I’m twenty-two,’ she said matter-of-factly. ‘How old are you?’

‘Same,’ he mumbled.

‘What’s your star sign?’

‘It doesn’t matter.’

‘Yes, it does,’ Jenna said earnestly. ‘A person’s star sign is the key to their personality.’

‘Take off your dress. I wanna look at your boobs.’

‘I don’t think—’

‘I’ve seen ’em once tonight in the Jacuzzi, remember? So what’s the harm in showing me again?’

‘Okay,’ she said agreeably, beginning to disrobe.

‘That’s more like it,’ Andy said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

Dani walked into the bedroom and lay down on the bed. She needed to rest, her mind was buzzing. There was so much going on, what with Michael turning up unexpectedly and the new accusation against him–which couldn’t help reminding her of the last time he’d been accused.

First Beth.

Now Stella.

She was sure he was innocent, but how strange for it to happen twice.

She could hear the murmur of conversation as he talked to Vincent in the other room. Father and son bonding. She loved it when they were together.

Reaching for the TV remote, she clicked on the news. Almost immediately she heard Madison’s name mentioned, and her photograph was flashed on the screen.

‘Michael!’ she called out, abruptly sitting up. ‘Michael, Vincent–quickly, get in here!’

‘What?’ Michael said, entering the bedroom, Vincent right behind him.

The newscaster–a prettier-than-a-movie-star blonde–relayed the latest. ‘A high-speed chase is currently taking place in Hollywood. Journalist Madison Castelli is one of the captives in the van with four other hostages. There are three gunmen involved, and apparently two hostages have already been shot.’

Michael stared at the screen and paled. ‘Jesus!’ he said. ‘They must’ve got to her before we did. Those bastards!’

Sofia couldn’t sleep. She felt embarrassed about what had happened, and she also didn’t care to face Gianni in the morning. This was the first time a man had rejected her, and she couldn’t believe it.

Stealthily, she got out of bed, found her clothes and dressed. Then she left his suite.

At the front desk she asked the concierge to call her a cab.

‘May I ask where you will be going?’ the concierge inquired, a snooty man with attitude.

‘Ask away,’ she said, ‘because it’s really none of your business.’

The concierge gave her a superior look and informed her that the cab would arrive in fifteen minutes.

‘I’ll wait outside,’ she said.

She walked from the entrance of the luxurious hotel and sat down on the kerbside.

Goodbye, Gianni. Sorry it didn’t work out.

‘Fuck!’ the gunman said, as the helicopter continued to track them, spotlights shining down from the dark sky. ‘Slide open the side door.’

‘Huh?’ Ace said, from the back seat.

‘Slide open the fuckin’ door, an’ shove that whinin’ bitch out.’

‘I’ll pull over,’ Cole said, swerving the van.

‘Yeah, if you want a bullet in your head.’

‘No!’ The girl in the back started to scream, as the two gunmen began manhandling her. ‘No, no, no!’

It was too late.

Ace and the other guy slid open the side door and tossed her from the moving van like a sack of garbage.

Her frantic screams hung in the air.

Chapter Forty-two

Michael and Dani: 1982

Michael was in his office when his assistant,