Deadly Embrace by Jackie Collins (best 7 inch ereader .TXT) 📗

‘I’d have one with you, only my doctors say I shouldn’t drink. Fuckers!’ Vito said morosely. ‘Always tellin’ me shit about what I can’t do.’

A henchman fixed Michael a drink, while Vito indulged in a short coughing fit.

‘You okay, Vito?’ Michael asked.

‘I got a few health problems. Nothin’ major. Had oral surgery the other day–that’s what they call it now when they yank your fuckin’ teeth out–oral surgery.’

Michael was well aware that over the years, Vito Giovanni had risen to become very high up in the hierarchy of mobsters. Michael was glad that he’d made it on his own, and had never had to ask Vito for any favours–although Vito had always played fair with him, and in return he’d made the old man a lot of money in investments and the stock market. Legitimate money.

‘How’s everythin’ goin’, Mike?’ Vito asked. ‘A kid like you from the streets, you did well for yourself.’

‘Took a lot of hard work.’

‘Yeah, an’ you had your setbacks along the way. But I’m glad you took my advice.’

‘About what?’

‘About that girl of yours who got shot,’ Vito said, adjusting his oversize reading glasses. ‘You could’ve gone chasing after whoever you thought was responsible. You didn’t, an’ that was smart. Like I told you at the time, you was even.’

Vito still didn’t get it. He was not even. He would never be even. Sometimes he awoke in the middle of the night and there was Beth, sitting at the end of the bed staring at him. What are you doing about getting revenge for my murder? she always asked, her dark eyes vengeful. You need to do something, Michael. One of these days you need to do something.

And one of these days he would. He didn’t know where or when, he only knew that the opportunity would present itself.

Mamie had moved to Los Angeles, so had Bone. Every time Michael flew to Vegas, he thought about making a side trip to L.A. and blowing their fucking brains out.

He didn’t, because he had responsibilities. Madison, Vincent and Sofia. His three wonderful children. And Dani, of course. He could never risk letting any of them down.

He’d amassed dossiers on both Mamie and Bone. He knew exactly where they were and what they were doing. Seven years ago they’d got married–his two arch enemies. It made him sick to imagine them together. Not only had they got married, but they’d entered the business of moviemaking, partnering with a porno king who made explicit sex videos for Japan and Europe. Apparently, it was a business that suited Mamie just fine. Bone took care of the finances and Mamie was involved with the creative side. Yeah, he could just imagine it.

As if that wasn’t enough, they’d also opened a series of sex shops across the country.

Vito never mentioned Mamie any more, so Michael didn’t either. As far as he knew, Vito considered her history.

‘You gotta do somethin’ for me next week,’ Vito said.

‘What’s that?’ Michael asked.

‘Be best man at my wedding.’

‘Your wedding?’ Michael said, somewhat surprised. Vito was over seventy years old and looked it. ‘Who are you marrying?’

‘Western, of course,’ Vito said, chuckling happily. ‘The old broad is finally makin’ an honest man of me.’

‘Congratulations.’

‘You’ll be my best man,’ Vito repeated.

Michael understood that it wasn’t so much a request, more like an order. He didn’t mind, he was used to Vito’s ways.

‘You planning a big wedding?’ he asked.

‘Nah, we’ll do it privately. Just a few friends. No fuss.’

‘I’ll be honoured to be your best man,’ Michael said, wondering if that was the only reason Vito had requested his presence.

‘There’s somethin’ else you gotta do for me,’ Vito said.

‘If I can.’

‘I’m gonna have the guys put a coupla locked suitcases in your car. I’ll give you the combination.’

‘What’s in them, Vito?’ Michael asked, not embracing the thought of lugging around a couple of Vito’s suitcases filled with God knows what.

‘Money,’ Vito said. ‘Two million bucks in cash. You’ll make it legitimate for me.’

‘Wait a minute,’ Michael said. ‘Two million in cash, I mean—’

‘You’ll keep it until I give you instructions,’ Vito interrupted. ‘I trust you, Mike–I trust you as if you was my own son.’

‘Jeez, Vito, I don’t know—’

‘You’ll do it. Capisce?’

Michael nodded. He felt seventeen again. Besides, why argue? He always ended up doing whatever Vito wanted.

It was their dance. And it never changed.

Chapter Forty-nine

Tuesday, 10 July 2001

Wedged in the front seat of the van, her hands braced on the dashboard ready for impact should they crash, Madison began reviewing her life. This was all so surreal. How had she ended up in this position?

Just luck, I guess, she thought wryly.

She closed her eyes for a moment, trying desperately to take herself to another place, just like she used to do when she was a child visiting the dentist. Close your eyes and it will all go away. Michael used to tell me that.

This last year had been such a mess. Finding out that Stella wasn’t really her mother, and shortly after that Stella’s murder. And then her tortured relationship with Michael. One moment she loved and trusted him, the next she didn’t know what to think because he’d made up such stories about her past. It wasn’t fair of him to do that: he had no right to play God with a person’s life. She might be his daughter, but she deserved to know the truth.

Then there was her relationship with Jake. A rollercoaster love affair with an extraordinarily sexy and interesting man. Now, for all she knew, he could be lying dead, or kidnapped by Colombian drug-dealers. She missed her apartment in New York. She missed her dog, Slammer. She missed her friends, her work. She missed everything.

The van was racing down dark side streets. She had no idea where they were, although the gunman seemed to be aware of their destination.

Fifteen minutes after getting off the freeway, he instructed Cole to pull