Goddess of Vengeance (32 page)

L
ucky had major connections; she could pick up a phone and get through to almost anyone, and if she couldn’t, Gino certainly could. After talking to the New York madam who supplied girls for Armand Jordan, and the Vegas madam, Yvonne Le Crane, a pattern emerged. He booked girls to be seen with, and if sex was involved his preference was to humiliate and debase them.

I knew he was an asshole
, Lucky thought.
Probably can’t get it up.

Then she suddenly decided that she was wasting too much time investigating Armand Jordan’s dumb ass – it was getting boring. He was a sick joke, not someone to be concerned about. She informed Danny to cut off any further digging, adding a terse, ‘Just make sure he never gets into my hotel again. Okay?’

‘Got it, Lucky,’ Danny agreed. ‘I’ll have Jerrod circulate his photo.’

‘Good plan.’ A beat. ‘Did you hear if Max and Bobby got here yet?’

‘They’ve both arrived. And according to Betty, Max’s boyfriend, Ace, turned up unexpectedly.’

‘Nice surprise for her,’ Lucky said, pleased, because she liked Ace a lot, and he seemed to be a good influence on Max. ‘Any of them requesting reservations tonight?’

‘I’ll check with everyone shortly.’

‘Thanks, Danny. You’re always on top of it. I know you’ll make sure they’re all taken care of.’

Danny appreciated getting praise for a job he knew he handled well.

‘Well,’ Lucky continued, ‘I’m about to throw myself into a sauna, so I’ll see you in the morning.’

‘You certainly will,’ Danny said, still unsure about whether he should mention Billy Melina being spotted in her car.

Best not to, he decided. His boss was getting prepared to greet Lennie. Why ruin her evening?

*   *   *

Being a star, in Vegas, with nobody around to protect him except Kev – who was about as helpful as a teenager on crack – was turning out to be a bad idea. Everywhere Billy went, fans surrounded him. Girls with longing and hero-worship in their eyes. Couples from Middle America who requested he pose for a photo with them because their granddaughter was his biggest fan. Gay guys who simply gazed adoringly. Autograph hounds. And predatory middle-aged women who thought that since he’d been married to Venus, he must be into older women.

Kev got off on every fan-filled minute, he was even collecting digits from the fans with the biggest attributes. ‘Didn’t realize you was
this
popular, dude,’ he announced, happily taking advantage of it all. ‘They’re treatin’ you as if you’re Johnny Depp or Brad Pitt.’

Billy was aware that Kev did not understand the price of fame. The loss of privacy, the way people treated him as if he was simply there for their viewing pleasure, the demands they made. It was all too much.

And then there was the touching. Billy loathed the touching. Random strangers throwing their arms around him as if it was their right to do so. Girls trying to feel his hair. Clammy handshakes. Every personal interaction turned him off; it was an intimacy issue he could well do without.

Venus had always surrounded them with bodyguards when they were out in public – now he realized why. When it came to the PR game, Venus was way more savvy than he was.

After attempting to play Black Jack at the casino in The Cavendish, he finally gave it up and went back to the suite where he played with the remote until he found a sports channel on TV, settled on the couch, and tried to recover from the fan-fest.

Kev stayed in the casino, basking in Billy’s fame.

After fifteen minutes of college football, Billy tried Max’s cell again. His call went straight to voicemail.

This street was turning out to be a dead end.

*   *   *

‘So?’ Bobby said, joining M.J. in the coffee shop.

‘So?’ M.J. retaliated, stirring his coffee, a blank expression on his face.

‘You know what I’m asking,’ Bobby said, signalling the waitress who came hurrying over.

‘Yeah,’ M.J. agreed. ‘But I don’t got an answer yet.’

‘Are you telling me you haven’t talked to Cassie about having the baby?’ Bobby said, as the waitress filled his cup with strong black coffee. ‘You
know
you gotta do it.’

‘Uh . . . you could say we’re kinda at an impasse,’ M.J. admitted, staring miserably at the table.

‘Impasse not good,’ Bobby stated.

M.J. gave a weary sigh. ‘Tell me about it.’

‘You gotta grow a pair,’ Bobby insisted. ‘It’s time.’

‘Comin’ from you, that’s sweet.’

‘What does
that
mean?’ Bobby said, a frown creasing his forehead.

‘Since you hooked up with Denver, the clubs have taken second place,’ M.J. complained. ‘You’re never here. An’ you’re sure as crap not in New York.’

Bobby could not believe what he was hearing. ‘You
gotta
be shittin’ me,’ he said, still frowning.

‘Just tellin’ it like it is,’ M.J. responded.

‘Goddamnit, M.J. I was here three days ago jerking off the Russians. You got a short memory.’

‘Big of you to drop in.’

‘Fuck
you
. What’s with the attitude?’

‘So now I got
attitude
?’ M.J. said, losing his cool. ‘I’m here every night bustin’ my stones, while you’re camped out in L.A. cozyin’ up with your girlfriend. We’re supposed to be partners.’

‘Jesus,’ Bobby said, annoyed that M.J. was taking his problems out on him. ‘Where the fuck is this coming from?’

‘I dunno,’ M.J. admitted, shrugging helplessly. ‘I’m gettin’ buried here. Don’t mean to rag on you.’

‘Look,’ Bobby said understandingly, ‘I get it. You’re under pressure, you need a break.’

‘What I’d like to do is take Cassie on vacation, get into her head an’ convince her to do the right thing.’

‘Then you gotta do it.’

‘I want this baby, Bobby, an’ I know I hav’ta tell her exactly how I feel before it’s too late.’

‘Then like I said – do it.’

‘I was thinking we could take off after Max’s party. Maybe hit the Bahamas.’

‘Cool with me.’

‘You’ll handle things here?’

‘Sure,’ Bobby said, mentally cancelling all his next week’s plans. ‘And as a bonus – you can even use my plane.’

‘Shit!’ M.J. said. ‘You certainly know how to throw it back.’

‘Oh yeah,’ Bobby said, with a wry grin. ‘I certainly do.’

‘Thanks, man,’ M.J. said, relieved. ‘I’ve been going crazy.’

‘Once again, I get it.’

‘How about dinner tonight?’ M.J. suggested. ‘Just you, me, Cassie, an’ Denver.’

Bobby hesitated for only a second. M.J. was going through a personal crisis, and when a friend was in any kind of trouble, he was there.

‘Sure,’ he said, wondering how Denver would react to this sudden change of plans. ‘How about eight o’clock at the steak-house?’

‘We’ll be there.’

*   *   *

Enjoying another brief casino visit, still closely followed by her bodyguards, Venus ran into Alex Wood on the casino floor. They had worked together in the past and enjoyed a cordial relationship, even though they’d fought like lions on the set of the movie Alex had directed her in.

‘Alex,’ Venus said, throwing him one of her well-cultivated sultry looks. ‘Meet my friend, Jorge. He’s from Brazil.’

‘Your what?’ Alex said rudely, his eyes raking over the studly young Brazilian. ‘Who is he – your son?’

‘Alex!’ Venus scolded, mock cross. ‘Behave yourself!’

‘I would if I could, but you always bring out the bad in me.’

‘Do I now?’ Venus replied, flirting slightly because Alex was such a brilliant director and she wouldn’t mind working with him again.

‘You know damn well you do. Remember our fight-a-minute movie?’

‘How could I ever forget?’ she sighed, playing with a lock of her platinum-blonde hair. ‘You cast Billy in it. Thanks a lot.’

Alex gave a twisted grin. ‘Sorry about that.’

‘Well,’ she said, with a half-smile, ‘I suppose you weren’t to know I’d be foolish enough to turn around and marry him.’

‘Jesus Christ!’ Alex said, shaking his head at the many memories he had of dealing with Billy. ‘That kid was a pain in the ass to work with, but I gotta say – a talented little prick.’

‘Little prick is about the right description,’ Venus murmured succinctly.

Why is it
, Alex thought,
whenever a woman gets mad at a man, the first thing she goes for is the size of his dick?

Growing impatient, he glanced across the packed casino. ‘What’s your game of choice tonight?’ he asked.

‘I was thinking roulette,’ she said, as her bodyguards blocked a steady stream of excited autograph-seekers.

‘Of course you were,’ he replied. ‘Nothing like a game of chance to get the juices flowing.’

‘Hmm . . . don’t think I need a round of roulette to do that,’ Venus replied, with an almost imperceptible nod toward Jorge.

Alex gave a low chuckle.

‘I think the three of us should have dinner tonight,’ Venus said, fluttering her hand on his arm. ‘Since Lucky is all tied up with Lennie, the least we can do is try to amuse ourselves, don’t you agree?’

‘What about the boy from Ipanema,’ Alex asked, motioning toward Jorge. ‘Does he speak?’

‘Not a lot,’ Venus replied. ‘But then again he doesn’t have to.’

‘Will he be joining us?’

‘I promise you he’ll sit quietly.’

‘Okay, Venus, we’ll dine. I got nothing better to do.’

‘Where?’ she asked, delighted she’d convinced him.

‘Asian.’

Venus smiled knowingly. ‘Naturally.’

Chapter Thirty-Five

P
eggy was big on charm, she’d used it all her life to get her own way. The King had fallen under her spell, and then poor old Sidney Dunn, who’d given her the lifestyle she’d desired. Sidney had worshipped her. Peggy’s little secret – lots of flattery and charm mixed with excellent oral sex – could keep a man very happy indeed. Sidney had never had cause to complain, or look at another woman, Peggy had made damn sure of that.

Sometimes, during her years with Sidney, she’d yearned for the days and nights of her youth. Wild sex with Joe Piscarelli. Parties. Recreational drugs. Her one night with the infamous Gino Santangelo. Not to mention the fervent admiration of so many men as she’d paraded across the stage half-naked.

The King had sometimes enjoyed the company of two or three women at a time. Since they were all his wives it never really bothered Peggy; she’d quite enjoyed the softness of another woman’s lips and the silkiness of their skin.

None of this she had ever revealed to Armand – he would be shocked. Her son was quite a mystery, not the warm and nurturing man she had hoped he would turn out to be. Armand had a cold personality, and a certain disregard for women that she could not understand. Surely she was the perfect role model? She’d always been an elegant presence, always available for him.

But no, Armand did not appreciate all that she’d done for him over the years.

Earlier Fouad had called and informed her of their move, and said that they might be staying in Vegas longer than expected. He’d also wanted to know why she’d asked about Gino Santangelo. ‘I thought it was someone I knew,’ she’d lied, keeping it casual. ‘But I was mistaken. Wrong name.’

Fortunately for Peggy, her charm worked on other people, and after starting up a conversation with Paige Santangelo in the beauty salon, she soon had Gino’s wife’s attention as she chatted about New York and what an exciting and vibrant city it was to live in.

‘We had an apartment in New York once,’ Paige mused, a tad wistfully. ‘However, my husband, who’s quite a bit older than me, decided we should live in Palm Springs – so that’s where we’ve stayed. It’s a little boring.’

‘You’re fortunate your husband is still alive,’ Peggy said, playing the sympathy card. ‘I lost my dear Sidney a year ago. He was twenty years older than me. I have to say it’s been quite hard being by myself, but with the help of my son and dear friends, I manage. I do not mean financially – Sidney left me set for life. But women of our age, alone – it’s not easy.’

Before long the two women found they had plenty in common. After a while Paige asked Peggy if she would care to join her and Gino for dinner.

‘I’d be delighted,’ Peggy responded. ‘Tell me where and when, and I will be there.’

*   *   *

Armand flicked through the dossier Fouad had sent him on Lucky Santangelo. The only thing he found interesting was that she had children – two sons and a daughter.

Ah . . . children . . . a weakness he could use against her if he had to. But unfortunately they were not little children; two were teenagers, and one a grown man.

But still . . . children made a person vulnerable. And yes, most people would do anything to protect their offspring. It was a basic human instinct.

Peggy phoned, interrupting his train of thought. He’d forgotten about his mother, she was the furthest thing from his mind.

‘What?’ he said curtly.

Peggy did not appreciate his tone of voice, but she chose to ignore his gruffness.

‘Fouad told me you have moved to a villa at my hotel,’ she said. ‘I hear the villas are lovely.’

Armand was immediately furious. What was wrong with Fouad? Couldn’t he keep his stupid mouth shut about anything? Now he’d have Peggy turning up, infuriating him even further.