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

highly paid whore, but a whore all the same.

Dean was ecstatic. ‘This definitely means we’re getting married,’ he crowed, producing the ring again.

‘It means we’re…we’re engaged,’ she said, as he slipped the magnificent diamond on her finger.

‘You will never regret this, my darling, never,’ he assured her, beaming. ‘Whenever you can take a few days off, I’ll fly you and Vincent to Houston to see my house. It’ll be all yours to do with whatever you like.’

‘That’ll be great,’ she said, already feeling pressured.

‘Maybe you should quit your job,’ he said. ‘After all, there’s no reason for you to work now that we’re together.’

‘Yes, there is,’ she said quickly. ‘I need my independence, Dean. One of these days I intend to pay back the money you gave Sam.’

‘Think of it this way, Dani. When we’re married, my money is your money. So what difference does it make?’

‘It makes a difference to me,’ she said quietly. ‘This is a debt I should be responsible for.’

‘We’ll see,’ he said, unconcerned about the money. ‘I’m planning our engagement party. Start making a list.’

She nodded, and decided that since this was obviously her future, she’d better start being happy about it.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Michael: 1972

Scanning the newspapers, Michael had to work hard to find any mention of Roy’s demise. Finally, twenty-four hours later, he discovered a small item tucked away at the bottom of page three.

Man Shot in Central Park Assailant Unknown

Just as he was about to read on, Beth walked into the kitchen on her way to the fashion institute. He put down the newspaper quickly and picked up his coffee.

‘What’s our plan today?’ she asked, dressed for action in tight black jeans, an off-the-shoulder peasant blouse, and backless high-heeled mules.

‘I gotta meeting this afternoon, but after that I’m all yours.’

‘Michael,’ she said, tilting her head, a questioning look in her eyes, ‘what is it you do exactly?’

‘A little bit of this, a little bit of that,’ he answered evasively, sipping his coffee.

It wasn’t the first time she’d tried to find out what he did. When they’d first got together she’d questioned him non-stop until he’d warned her to drop it. Early on he’d decided that the less Beth knew about his business, the better. He especially didn’t want her knowing about Warner Carlysle and the investments–which were going so well that he might retire soon from Gus’s crew and concentrate on his own thing.

‘That’s what you always say.’

‘Believe me, you don’t wanna know–it’s boring.’

‘As long as you bring home the money, I suppose I shouldn’t care,’ she said, tossing back her long dark hair. ‘Although I’d hate it if you ever got arrested again. That must’ve been horrible.’

She’d obviously been getting an earful from Tina and Max, which he didn’t appreciate. ‘Where’s Madison?’ he asked, changing the subject.

‘Catherine took her to the park. We’re going to the zoo later. Why don’t you come?’

‘I told you, I got a meeting,’ he said, standing up and giving her a big hug, wrapping his arms round her slim body until she could barely breathe.

‘What’s that for?’ she gasped.

‘Something for you to remember me by today.’

‘Oh,’ she said, laughing softly. ‘Mr Romantic.’

‘I can be romantic when I want to,’ he said, grinning.

‘I know,’ she said warmly. ‘And I like it.’

‘You do?’

‘Yes, Michael. I do.’

She was smart, sassy, and sexy, and although she was still very young, she had an old soul. He was definitely falling for her big-time. A surprise. But one he was definitely into.

‘I’ve been thinking, Beth,’ he ventured.

‘Yes?’ she said, her brown eyes bright and alert.

‘Remember before you had Madison, we were talkin’ about gettin’ married?’

‘We weren’t, you were,’ she said pointedly.

‘It’s time.’

‘For what?’

‘Plannin’ a wedding.’

‘Oh, no, no, no,’ she said. ‘That’s not for me.’

‘C’mon, sweetheart,’ he said persuasively. ‘We got Madison to think about.’

‘Madison is a very happy baby.’

‘I know. But you gotta consider it.’

‘Why?’

‘Because.’

‘Because what?’

Jesus! She could be stubborn. ‘Hey,’ he said, ‘here’s the good news. If you don’t like bein’ married, we can always get a divorce.’

She sighed and tilted her head on one side. ‘You’re funny, Michael.’

‘You’re even funnier,’ he countered. ‘You’re the only woman I know who doesn’t wanna get married.’

‘In that case you should be jumping up and down with joy.’

‘I’m not,’ he said, exasperated. ‘’Cause I’ve decided you’re gonna marry me whether you like it or not.’

‘I am?’

‘Yup.’

‘Is that an order?’

‘It sure is.’

‘Okay,’ she said meekly.

‘Okay what? You’ll do it?’

She grinned. ‘I’ll let you know.’

‘You will, huh?’

‘Maybe.’

‘What a woman!’

‘Oh, Michael,’ she said with a great big smile, ‘you finally called me a woman. I think I will marry you, after all.’

‘That’s my girl!’

‘No,’ she corrected him, still smiling. ‘That’s your woman.’

Most afternoons Michael hung out at the social club with some of the guys. They played poker or pool, sat around watching sport or the horse racing on TV, made a few bets and had a beer or two.

This particular day, Michael was feeling wary. He knew that Bone had to be suspicious that it was he who’d eliminated Roy. After all, Bone had revealed the details of the crime that had taken his mother’s life, and two weeks later Michael had sprung into action. It didn’t take a genius to work that one out.

But Bone wasn’t there, and nobody else said a word about Roy’s demise.

When he left, around five, he noticed two men standing by a black Cadillac parked across the street. Sensing they were watching him, he crossed the road casually and walked past them. He was not surprised when they stopped him.

‘Michael Castellino?’ one asked.

‘Yeah?’ he said, recognizing the man from the day he’d tried to get in to see Mr G.

‘Mr Giovanni wants t’see you.’

‘Now?’

‘Yeah, now. Let’s go.’

He got into the back seat of the Cadillac. He was apprehensive, but what could Mr G do to him? There was nothing tying him to Roy’s murder. He’d got rid of the gun, weighted it down in a black