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

He stamped his feet as he waited, trying to stay warm. He thought about Beth, with her seductive smile. And his precious daughter, Madison. He loved them both. They were everything to him.

After about twenty minutes, he spotted Roy approaching. As soon as the man was close enough, Michael stepped out from behind the tree and stood in front of him, blocking his way. ‘Hey, Roy,’ he said, in a friendly tone. ‘Remember me?’

Roy peered at him through the darkness. ‘Who’s that?’ he asked, startled.

‘Michael Castellino,’ he said, moving closer. The dogs began to bark and pull on their leashes.

‘What the hell you doin’ here?’ Roy mumbled bad-temperedly. ‘It’s the middle of the fuckin’ night.’

‘I was takin’ a walk, saw you comin’, an’ thought it might be a good time to reminisce.’

‘Reminisce?’ Roy said, as the dogs continued to yap. ‘What the fuck you carryin’ on about?’

‘Oh, y’know,’ he said casually. ‘Mamie an’ my dad.’

‘What?’

‘Didn’t Mamie used to go out with him? An’ wasn’t she kinda pissed when he dumped her an’ married my mom?’

Roy made an attempt to kick one of the barking dogs with the tip of his shoe. ‘Shut up, ya fuckin’ rats,’ he said sharply.

‘I was wondering if you remembered my grandma’s store,’ Michael continued, feeling quite calm, although he knew what he had to do. ‘Lani’s convenience store. Bring back any memories, Roy?’

‘What?’ Roy repeated, distracted by the dogs which were now snarling at each other.

‘There was a time my mom worked there, too,’ Michael said, keeping his voice low and even. ‘Yeah–she was pregnant with me.’

‘You got a point?’ Roy said, beyond irritated. ‘’Cause I’m standin’ here freezin’ my balls off.’

‘Yes,’ Michael said, ‘as a matter of fact I do.’ And very calmly, he took out his gun, aiming it directly at Roy. ‘My point is that you’re a piece of shit who doesn’t deserve to live.’

Roy blanched. ‘For crissakes!’ he said, panicking. ‘Put that away.’

‘What’s the matter?’ Michael said mildly. ‘You don’t like guns? They scare you, do they?’

‘Put the fuckin’ thing away,’ Roy repeated, his eyes bugging.

‘I bet my mom was scared, exactly like you are now. And, as I said, she was pregnant with me, so she couldn’t run, couldn’t do anythin’, could she? I guess she was a sittin’ target. Do you agree?’

‘Jesus Christ!’ Roy said, spittle dribbling from the side of his mouth. ‘I warned Mamie not to bother with you. Knew you’d be trouble one of these days. The dumb cunt wouldn’t listen–she got off on havin’ you round.’

‘Until you got rid of me, right?’ Michael said, his voice hardening. ‘You set me up good, Roy. Eight years, an’ I ended up servin’ five. That must’ve been a disappointment.’

‘It wasn’t me,’ Roy whined. ‘She wanted you outta the way–it wasn’t my idea.’

‘No?’

‘I swear it wasn’t, Mike,’ he said, his hands beginning to shake. ‘I like you–you’ve always bin civil t’me.’

‘That’s good to know.’

‘So…’ Roy whined ‘…whyn’t you put the piece away before you hurt someone?’

‘You think I should do that, Roy?’

‘Yeah, yeah, I think ya should do that.’

‘Just like you did for my mom, huh?’

‘I never shot your mom.’

‘You didn’t, huh?’

‘It was—’

‘Remember the Chronicle?’ Michael interrupted. ‘An’ Vito tellin’ me I should learn to shoot? He was some guy that Chronicle–he taught me good.’

Raising the gun higher, he pointed it at Roy’s face. ‘Retribution is the name of the game. It’s called paying the price. You killed my mother. Destroyed my dad. Now it’s your turn.’ A long silent beat. ‘Remember my name, Roy. Michael Castellino. Remember it all the way to hell.’

And he shot him in the head.

Then, very calmly, he turned and walked away.

One down. Two to go.

Chapter Twenty-eight

Dani: 1972

‘You gave him back the ring?’ Gemini exclaimed in amazement. ‘Why?’

‘Because I didn’t say yes. Therefore there was no reason for me to accept it,’ Dani explained.

They were standing in the wings getting ready to go on: two tall, spectacular young women, both blonde, wearing matching skimpy costumes of sequins, feathers, and lace, with plenty of flesh on show, and extravagant headdresses. The two of them together with their long legs and large bosoms were every man’s fantasy.

‘You’re crazy,’ Gemini said, licking her highly glossed lips. ‘Surely you know that a girl never returns jewellery.’

‘I couldn’t lead him on.’

‘You poor baby, you have so much to learn.’

‘And I’m sure you’re planning on teaching me.’

‘I can see I’ll have to.’

Several other girls jostled for position as the music started. Gemini and Dani hung back. They made their entrance a few minutes after the dancers. Statuesque, dazzling. Total glamour.

‘How did you leave it?’ Gemini asked.

‘He had to fly to Houston,’ Dani said. ‘He’ll be back in a couple of weeks. I told him I’d try to give him an answer by then. In the meantime, he gave me the name of a lawyer to call.’

‘Then what are you waiting for?’ Gemini said, taking a quick peek in the backstage full-length mirror. ‘Call the man.’

‘I will,’ Dani promised.

She’d been struggling with her feelings all day. How simple it would be to say yes to Dean, pack up everything, take Vincent and move to Houston.

Yet something held her back. She refused to get involved in another loveless marriage like the one to Sam. It wasn’t fair to Vincent to bring someone else into his life who might not be permanent. She wasn’t even sure she knew what love was. She’d murmured the words once in her life to Michael.

Ah…Michael. One magical night from her past, and she’d been no more than a child. Yet, hard as she tried, she couldn’t forget him. How was it possible with Vincent there to remind her?

The next morning she and Gemini worked out in the gym, hardly the gorgeous, untouchable creatures of the previous evening: they now wore no makeup, hair in simple ponytails and had on work-out clothes. Staying in perfect shape was an