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

was. ‘I- I have to go home and…digest this,’ she managed, standing up.

‘Don’t run away from me,’ Michael implored, grabbing her hand. ‘I need you, sweetheart. I’ve always needed you.’

‘Maybe you do,’ she said, feeling a sharp pain burning within her, ‘but this is too much of a shock, and I have to deal with it on my own.’ Pulling her hand away from his, she stood up and hurried from the restaurant.

Outside on the street everything seemed different. She felt dizzy and faint, and she didn’t know what to do or where to turn. All she really wanted to do was burst out crying.

Why do you want to cry? her inner voice asked.

Because I don’t know who I am any more.

Watching his daughter bolt from the restaurant, Michael felt a sense of relief–not because Madison had gone, but because he’d finally told her. And by telling her, he’d freed himself from the guilt he’d been living with for all these years.

Madison was upset now, but she was a sensible girl, she’d get over it. Especially when he explained it to her in more detail. It was a lot for her to absorb in one sitting. Too much.

He couldn’t wait to phone Dani, although he wasn’t ready to tell her about Stella. He’d sit on that information for a few more weeks.

Right now he wasn’t in the mood to make any life-changing decisions.

Dani would always be there. Waiting.

One day she might get a nice surprise.

Chapter Fifty-three

Dani and Vincent: 2000

‘Everything’s set, Mrs Castle,’ the caterer said.

‘You’re sure? I don’t want any mistakes,’ Dani responded.

‘Mrs Castle,’ the caterer replied, ‘I never make mistakes.’

She nodded. ‘Just checking.’ Then she smiled.

The man smiled back. He loved dealing with this beautiful woman. She was an exquisite creature. And yet, like all his other clients, she was extremely fussy. And so she should be: it was her son’s wedding, and who could blame her?

When she was finished with the caterer, Dani took the elevator to her suite in the Castle Hotel. Vincent was finally getting married, and Michael was late. Although, since it was out of his control, she had to forgive him. She’d called the airport a couple of times and found out that his flight had been delayed leaving New York. The plane had finally taken off and he should be arriving at any minute.

She’d told him to come directly to the hotel. She no longer had a house, she’d sold it and moved into an elegant apartment shortly after Sofia had dropped out of school at fifteen, and run off to Europe. She blamed Michael for Sofia’s defection. He’d had a massive fight with his daughter, who’d accused him of never being there for her. A few weeks later she’d taken off.

Dani had been a wreck about it, until Sofia had called from England and said, cavalierly, ‘Don’t worry about me, Mom. I’m with friends and I’ll check in occasionally.’

Dani had appealed to Michael. He’d been his usual stubborn self. ‘She can look after herself,’ he’d said. ‘Sofia’s okay, she’s just like me.’

Michael’s favourite description of his children was that they were just like him, when in fact the only resemblance was physical.

Did he think he was so perfect?

She had news for him. He wasn’t. Although that didn’t stop her from loving him. She always would. Michael Castelli was her incurable addiction.

The Castle Hotel and Casino had turned out to be a big success. Nando and Vincent had managed to build and operate a boutique hotel that appealed to the younger crowd. The hotel was always fully booked, and the casino always packed. Business was excellent.

Today was a special day. Vincent’s wedding day. He was marrying Jenna Crane, the very pretty, honey blonde daughter of a local lawyer.

Naturally Vincent had gone for looks. Jenna was not the girl Dani would have picked for her son. Yes, Jenna was very pretty. Yes, she appeared to be quite innocent. However, she didn’t seem too bright. Dani would have preferred to see Vincent marry a more intelligent woman.

At least he was getting married. Nando had done the deed a year earlier. His wife, Jolie, was quite gorgeous. A former dancer, Jolie was beautiful and smart. A winning combination.

As Dani put on her mother-of-the-groom outfit, it occurred to her that this was the first time that Michael would meet Dean. When she’d told Michael that Dean would be at the wedding, he’d been livid. ‘Why do I have to look at that asshole?’ he’d complained.

‘He’s not an asshole,’ she’d answered firmly. There was no way she was not inviting Dean to her son’s big day, so Michael would just have to get over it. ‘I’ve told you many times, Dean’s my best friend.’

‘Fuck the prick,’ Michael had said, put out. ‘I should be your best friend.’

‘Well, you’re not. You’re my lover.’

Her words had pissed Michael off even more.

She was putting the finishing touches to her hair when Michael arrived. He entered the suite, put his arms round her from behind, nuzzled her neck, and said, ‘Guess what?’

She spun round. ‘What?’

‘I told Madison.’

‘About us?’

‘No…No, I, uh, told her that Stella isn’t her real mother.’

‘Oh, my God,’ Dani gasped, realizing what a big deal this was for him. ‘You did?’

‘Yeah.’

‘How did she take it?’

‘She ran out on me. She’s angry.’

‘Of course she is. That’s understandable.’

‘You know what, Dani? I’m glad I did it. Now that I’ve told her, I’ll give her a couple of months to digest it, then slowly I’ll tell her about you and the kids.’

‘You will?’

‘It’s time.’

‘Good.’

‘I love you, Dani,’ he said, nuzzling her neck again. ‘Now that I’ve told Madison, things will be different. You’ll see.’

Instead of calming him, Nando was making Vincent into a nervous wreck. As it was, he had a hangover from hell. The night before, Nando had insisted on throwing him a bachelor party. It had turned out to be the bachelor night to beat all