Deadly Embrace by Jackie Collins (ebook reader for manga TXT) 📕

weeks and months, it was a rambling continuation of random thoughts. Mostly Emily wrote about Sam. How much she loved him, how good he was to her, and how happy she was that he’d rescued her and Dani from the ranch.

Dani turned to the most recent entry, hoping for a clue.

Dani will be sixteen tomorrow, and I’m so proud of her. She works hard and still finds time to study. One day she’ll make something of herself. On her birthday I’ve decided to tell her the truth; it’s only fair she knows Olive is not her mom, that her real mom, Lucy, died giving birth to her. Dashell was a heartless bastard–he buried Lucy in the back garden. No service, nothing. When Dani hears the truth, I think she’ll want to go back to the ranch and search for her mom’s grave. If it was me, I’d want to give my mom a proper burial. Trouble is, I’m frightened to go there. I’m sure Dani will be too. Got to go now and do the shopping for tomorrow so I can cook Little Sis her favourite meal. Sam and Dani are my life. I love them both so much. I’d do anything for them.

Emily’s words ended there.

Dani closed the journal, tears streaming down her cheeks. She was full of mixed feelings. It wasn’t as if Olive had ever been a true mother to her, but to suddenly discover that her true mom had died giving her life was a terrible shock.

When she got home that evening, Sam was huddled in his favourite chair, gazing at a picture of Emily he kept in a tarnished silver frame.

She decided not to tell him what she’d found out; the important thing was to get him sober.

She went over to him and put her arm round his shoulders. ‘You’ve got to stop doing this,’ she said quietly.

‘Stop doing what?’ he responded belligerently.

‘Stop mourning Emily. She’s gone, and we have to start afresh.’

‘How d’you suggest we do that?’ he asked, slurring his words.

‘First we’ve got to get you better,’ she said. ‘There’s an organization I found out about at work called Alcoholics Anonymous. If you’ll go to a meeting, I’m sure they’ll be able to help you.’

‘Why would I go?’ he said blankly. ‘I’ve nothing to live for.’

‘You’ve got me, haven’t you?’ she answered softly.

‘You? You’re just a kid.’

‘I’m sixteen,’ she said earnestly. ‘I’ve been working for the last three years, so I’m certainly not a kid.’

‘Yes, you are,’ he mumbled.

‘Please,’ she begged. ‘Do it for me. And if not for me, for Emily. She loved you so much, and seeing you like this would break her heart.’

‘Okay, okay, I’ll think about it,’ he said reluctantly.

She kissed him on the cheek. ‘Thank you.’

‘Excuse me!’ Dani gasped, blushing a bright red.

It wasn’t the first time she’d walked in on a hotel guest in the buff. But this was different, this was two women making out in the shower of penthouse number one, a suite reserved for the hotel’s directors and high rollers when they were in town.

‘I’m s-so s-sorry,’ she stammered, hurriedly backing out of the bathroom, quite shocked.

It wasn’t her fault she’d interrupted them. There’d been no DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door. If people wanted privacy they should at least activate the security lock.

‘Wait!’ one of the women called out.

Dani paused outside the bathroom door, wondering if she was about to get fired.

After a few moments the woman emerged, wrapped in a fluffy white towel. She was in her forties, with dyed blonde hair and trampy features. The towel ended at the top of her thighs and her legs were sturdy and pale. She didn’t seem at all embarrassed.

‘You!’ she said to Dani. ‘You didn’t see nothin’, right?’

‘N-no, ma’am,’ Dani replied, still stammering.

‘Course you didn’t,’ the woman said, picking up her alligator purse from a table beside the large double bed. ‘Nothin’ you would ever wanna repeat to anyone, right?’

‘Absolutely not,’ Dani assured her, attempting to recover her composure, although she was still shocked. Two women together. It wasn’t normal.

‘Here,’ the woman said, fishing three ten-dollar bills from her wallet and thrusting them at her. ‘Thirty bucks for you.’

‘It’s–it’s not necessary,’ she said, refusing to accept the money.

‘Yeah, it is,’ the woman said, pressing the bills into her hand. ‘I’m here for a week, an’ I require personal maid service, so, honey, you’re it.’

‘I am?’ she gulped.

‘Yeah. I’ll call the hotel manager an’ fix it. My husband does business with this hotel, so they’re inclined to give me anythin’ I ask for. An’ personal maid service is the order of the day.’ A ribald chuckle. ‘Only don’t get no fancy ideas. My old man arrives tomorra, an’ just ’cause I indulge myself don’t mean he can. So keep your pretty little paws to yourself, your mouth tightly closed, an’ everythin’ will be hunky-dory.’

Dani was speechless.

‘We’re in business,’ the woman said, hitching up her towel, which was in danger of falling. ‘I got two suitcases need unpacking. Get everythin’ pressed, an’ book me a hairdresser to come up to the suite. Oh, yeah, an’ have Room Service deliver ice, two bottles of their best champagne, an’ a tray of goodies to snack on.’ She clapped her hands. ‘Get goin’, sweetie. I need my blue silk dress ready to wear tonight, an’ make sure there’s not a crease in sight.’

‘I have other rooms to clean,’ Dani said, completely awed by this forceful woman.

‘Are you listenin’ t’me?’ the woman said, her voice rising. ‘One phone call an’ you’re all mine. I’m makin’ that call now.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

‘Call me Mrs Giovanni. I don’t dig that ma’am crap.’

‘Yes, Mrs Giovanni.’

Mamie grinned. ‘That’s more like it.’

Mrs Giovanni did as she promised, called the hotel management and arranged for Dani to work as her personal maid now and whenever she was in residence.

Soon Dani began looking forward to her visits: it was certainly better than having to clean a series of anonymous hotel rooms while fending off various