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

pointing at Michael, her voice rising. ‘He murdered my Roy. My own cousin. You’re not lettin’ him get away with it, are you?’

‘Retribution is a strange an’ wonderful thing,’ Vito said. ‘It always has a way of comin’ back an’ bitin’ you on the ass.’

‘You’ll pay for this,’ Mamie screamed at Michael, as Luigi took her arm and began leading her from the room. ‘You’ll pay good.’

‘Women–you can never trust ’em,’ Vito said, as soon as she was gone.

‘I’m sorry—’ Michael began.

Vito held up his hand. ‘No apologies. You did what ya thought was right. Only now you’d better take care of Bone.’ He laughed drily. ‘You might’ve got yourself a new job.’

‘What job would that be?’

‘You wanna be a hitter? You’ll get paid plenty.’

‘It’s not what I do,’ Michael said slowly.

‘You’re happy to be nothin’ but part of a crew in the Lucchese family, huh?’ Vito said, cradling his drink.

‘I got no complaints,’ he said, not about to reveal his other lucrative business.

‘I was thinkin’ you might wanna work for me again,’ Vito said. ‘There was a time I had big plans for you.’

‘That’s what I thought,’ Michael said, ‘so as soon as I got outta the joint, I came t’see you. Problem. I was told I had to make an appointment six weeks in advance.’

‘Didn’t know nothin’ about that.’

‘I would’ve come back to work for you, even though it was Tommaso an’ Roy set me up.’

‘They did?’

‘You must’ve known about it.’

‘Shit, no.’

Michael wasn’t sure whether he believed him or not. ‘Where is Tommaso anyway?’ he asked.

‘In the hospital,’ Vito said. ‘Poor bastard got caught in the crossfire.’

Michael nodded. A couple of weeks ago he’d read in the newspaper about a shooting outside a gambling parlour. Apparently the shooter had missed Vito, and the bullet had caught Tommaso in the shoulder. Too bad it wasn’t a direct hit.

‘How about it?’ Vito said. ‘You comin’ back?’

‘I’m makin’ good money where I am.’

‘You’ll make better money with me.’

‘I always liked being close to you, Mr G. I felt a loyalty. Thing is, when I couldn’t get near you, it kinda soured me.’

‘Loyalty,’ Vito said, rubbing his hands together, ‘that’s what’s important. When you got power, you gotta have people watchin’ your back. People who care.’

Michael nodded his agreement.

‘You wanna think about it?’ Vito said.

‘I’ll do that.’

‘Good, good. Only don’t make me wait. I’m not a patient man.’

There was something Michael had to do, and much as he dreaded it, he got on a plane and flew to Miami, where his father had taken up residence in an oceanside apartment. He knew exactly where Vinny was living, he’d kept tabs on him over the years, even though they’d not spoken since Vinny had packed up and left him with three hundred dollars and nothing else.

When he told Beth he was planning on visiting his father, she’d pleaded to go with him.

‘No,’ he’d said. ‘It’s not necessary.’

‘Oh, yes, Michael, please!’ she’d said, throwing her arms round his neck. ‘It is necessary. Miami. The sun. The music. The food.’ A long, meaningful pause, and then that seductive smile of hers. ‘The sex.’

‘No, Beth,’ he’d said firmly. ‘You’re stayin’ here.’

‘Does he know about Madison?’ she’d asked, playing the family card. ‘Surely he’d like to see her? After all, he’s her grandfather.’

‘Vinny’s not the grandfather type. He’s…y’ know, got a bad attitude. Besides, I don’t want him knowin’ anythin’ about Madison.’

‘That’s not fair,’ she’d said, sulking. ‘I want to come to Miami. It’s a cool place, it’ll give me inspiration for my designs.’

‘Sorry, honey. Fair or not, you’ll just have to live with it.’

‘Fuck you, Michael,’ she’d said, brown eyes flashing major danger signals.

One thing about Beth, she certainly had spirit. And a mouth. She was completely different from any woman he’d ever known, and he loved her for it. ‘I’ll be home tonight,’ he’d said. ‘Don’t wait up.’

‘Like I’ll be waiting up,’ she’d said scornfully. ‘I’m going out. Catherine will babysit.’

‘Why can’t you stay in?’

‘Why should I? You’ll be in Miami without me.’

‘What’s that got to do with anything? I’m seein’ my dad.’

‘I know, Michael, so while you’re there, I’ll hit the town with friends. After all, as you pointed out, we’re not married.’

Why had he suddenly felt jealous?

There was something about Beth that made him want to keep her all to himself.

Miami was hot and humid. Michael took a cab from the airport straight to Vinny’s apartment. It pulled up outside a sturdy old building painted a lurid pink. He paid the driver and walked into a musty lobby. Then he got into the elevator, which smelt of overcooked cabbage and stale cat piss. It slowly creaked its way to the third floor, where he got out and knocked on the door of Vinny’s apartment. He was startled when a woman opened it.

‘Yes?’ the woman said, in a none too friendly tone. She was in her mid-forties, thin, with lank brown hair and a long nose. She wore an old flowered housecoat and once pink fuzzy slippers on her feet.

‘I’m lookin’ for Vinny Castellino,’ he said, wondering if he had the right address.

‘You’re not the only one,’ she said sharply.

‘Excuse me?’

‘If you’re lookin’ to collect on a debt, you’re outta luck. He went bankrupt last week, so screw off!’

This was not exactly the greeting he’d had in mind. ‘I’m Michael,’ he said quickly, blocking the door with his foot before she slammed it in his face. ‘Vinny’s son.’

‘Oh,’ she said. ‘In that case…you got any money? ’Cause your daddy’s stone broke.’

‘How can he be broke? He sold the house an’ the shop. He must have plenty of money.’

‘Medical bills,’ she said vaguely. ‘Crap like that.’ A weary sigh. ‘An’ then there’s the gambling.’

‘Gambling?’

‘A man’s gotta have some pleasure in life, don’t he?’

‘Is he around?’

‘You’d better come in,’ she said, throwing open the door.

The apartment was bright enough. So bright that he immediately noticed thick layers of dust on all the surfaces, and a kaleidoscope of stains decorating the worn carpet. A large balcony overlooked