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

really impatient. ‘What exactly are you trying to tell me, Dean?’

‘You’re a smart woman, Dani,’ he said quickly. ‘However, as I’ve told you many times before, you have to think about your son as well as yourself. You cannot allow yourself to get caught in a situation that puts you and Vincent in danger.’

‘Danger! Why would you say such a thing?’

‘Don’t hate me for telling you this, Dani, but there is a strong possibility that Michael Castelli, or Castellino, as he was formerly known, murdered his girlfriend.’

‘What?’

‘Shot her in the back of the head.’

The colour drained from Dani’s face. ‘Are you crazy?’

Dean picked up a large manilla envelope. ‘It’s all here in black and white. Read it for yourself.’

‘I–I don’t understand what you’re talking about.’

‘You’ll know when you read the newspaper clippings. Yes, he was acquitted, but that was only because he had high-powered lawyers–paid for by his powerful Mob boss in New York.’ A beat. ‘I’m sorry to say this, Dani, but there’s a chance that he may be guilty.’

‘Oh…my…God,’ she said, feeling faint.

‘If this man has genuine feelings for you, he would have told you everything when you first got together.’

‘I…I thought he did.’

‘How long have you been seeing him?’

‘Three months.’

‘Three months, and he hasn’t found a moment to mention this? I think that seems highly suspect, don’t you?’

‘You–you don’t know him. He’s—’

‘He’s what, Dani? According to the newspapers, he’s a hit man for the Mob, who shot his girlfriend in the back of the head because he thought she was seeing someone else. This woman was the mother of his child. Is that the kind of man you’re going to throw your life away for?’

‘Give me the clippings and let me out of here,’ she said, hardly able to breathe.

‘I’ll drive you home.’

‘Don’t bother,’ she said, getting up. ‘I’ll take a cab.’

‘Dani, I only found this out for your own good.’

‘You think this is for my own good?’ she said, tears filling her eyes. ‘Can’t you understand? I love him.’

‘You must do what you see fit,’ he said, following her from the restaurant. ‘Only, I beg you, think of your son. He should come before anyone. Vincent is your priority, Dani. Do not put him or yourself in peril.’

Chapter Thirty-nine

Michael: 1982

‘Where’s your mom?’ Jamie asked. She was a cute, flaxen-haired eleven-year-old girl with a pronounced overbite.

‘Asleep,’ Madison replied. She was also eleven, tall and gangly, with long dark hair and an inquisitive face. ‘She sleeps a lot.’

‘Why?’

‘Dunno,’ Madison replied vaguely, not that interested.

‘I’m starving!’ Jamie announced.

‘C’mon,’ Madison said. ‘Let’s go in the kitchen. I think the cook’s made brownies.’

‘Yum,’ Jamie said. ‘If I stay over, are we allowed to watch Remington Steel?’

‘We can do whatever we want,’ Madison replied airily. ‘Dad’s away, and Mom doesn’t care what I do.’

‘Lucky you,’ Jamie said enviously.

‘Yes, lucky me,’ Madison agreed, although she often wished for a mother who paid her more attention.

‘My mom’s all over me,’ Jamie said, following Madison into the kitchen. ‘She hardly ever lets me watch TV.’

‘That sucks,’ Madison said.

‘You bet,’ Jamie said. ‘My mom thinks I should still be playing with Barbies. She doesn’t understand that boys are much cooler.’

‘’Cept the boys in our school,’ Madison remarked, pulling a face. ‘They suck.’

‘When does your dad get home?’ Jamie asked, helping herself to a warm brownie.

‘Soon, I hope,’ Madison said. ‘He always brings me a ton of presents.’

‘I told you,’ Jamie said enviously. ‘You’re the luckiest girl I know.’

‘You think?’ Madison said, munching a brownie.

‘Oh, yes,’ Jamie said.

Later that afternoon, Michael surprised his daughter and arrived home early. Just as she’d boasted to Jamie, he was loaded down with presents.

‘Hey, girls,’ he said, greeting Jamie too. ‘What are you up to?’

‘Waiting for you, Daddy,’ Madison said, her big green eyes staring up at him, filled with love.

‘Good. ’Cause I’ve bought you plenty of stuff.’

‘What have you got me this time, Daddy?’

‘Well…’ he said, teasing her ‘…I was gonna get you a lynx coat or a Cadillac. Then I thought you might prefer this Sony video recorder, and a Radio Shack colour computer.’

‘Daddy! That’s so cool! You are the best!’ she said, throwing her arms round him.

‘There’s a bunch of other things in my bag,’ he said. ‘Records an’ books. Take your pick.’

‘Oh, Daddy, you always spoil me so much.’ She sighed, shooting a glance at Stella, who had just emerged from her bedroom.

Stella stood in the doorway, surveyed the two girls, gave them a weak smile, waved at Michael, and retreated back to the bedroom, murmuring that she had a headache.

‘Mommy’s got another headache,’ Madison announced, in case he hadn’t heard.

‘Yeah?’ Michael said. ‘What else is new?’

Madison giggled. Michael grinned at his precious daughter. She was smart. As smart as any boy. He loved everything about her.

‘You girls had dinner?’ he asked. ‘If you haven’t, I’ll take you out to 21.’

‘I don’t think!’ Madison said, still giggling.

‘Hey, one of these days I will. When you’re old enough.’

‘I wanna go to 21, Daddy,’ Madison pleaded. ‘I hear it’s the finest restaurant in town.’

‘Listen to you, madam,’ he said, laughing at her way of putting things. How many other eleven year olds would come out with a sentence like that?

‘Do you get the best table, Daddy? Do they treat you like a king?’

‘Of course they do, sugar.’

‘Your dad is sooo good-looking,’ Jamie said admiringly, when they reached the privacy of Madison’s bedroom, dragging all the loot behind them.

‘Looks like a movie star, doesn’t he?’ Madison said proudly.

Jamie nodded. She so envied her best friend, who got to do everything she didn’t and had such a great-looking dad.

‘He’s cool, too,’ Madison added.

‘The coolest,’ Jamie agreed.

Madison went over to her record collection and started riffling through it. ‘Cyndi Lauper or the Go-Go’s?’ she asked.

‘The Go-Go’s!’ they both yelled in unison, and collapsed giggling on the floor.

Michael walked into the bedroom. Stella was lying on the bed leafing through Harper’s Bazaar.

‘Another headache?’ he said.

‘A migraine,’ she replied,