Double Lucky (54 page)

“Jesus Christ, Grandma.”

“Come,” she said authoritatively.

“Keep an eye on these two,” he muttered to The Grill. “Don't let either of them outta your sight, understand?”

“Yes, boss.”

“And you,” he said to his mistress. “Stay put.”

“Sure, honey,” Emmanuelle purred, although she had no intention of doing so. She was in heaven—she'd never seen so many stars gathered in one place. She already had her eye on Charlie Dollar. Oh yes, Charlie Dollar might be ancient, but he was still raging hot in a Jack Nicholson kind of way. And to Emmanuelle he was a sizzling superstar. She'd seen every movie he'd ever made and she considered herself his biggest fan.

Tonight Emmanuelle was determined to score a piece of Mr. Dollar. Absolutely determined.

*   *   *

“Wow!” Billy said, looking around. “This is quite a star-studded event. Even
I'm
impressed.”

“I told you,” Venus replied. “Lucky sure knows how to pull 'em out.”

“Yeah, and the fact that you're performing later has a little something to do with it too,” Billy pointed out.

“Yes?”

“Yeah, baby,” Billy said, feeling exceptionally close to her. “Face it—you're an icon, a living legend.”

“I'm glad you said ‘living,'” she joked.

“You're living, you're breathing, you're beautiful, and I've been thinking—”

“I know,” she said teasingly. “You've been thinking that you can't wait to get back to the crap tables as soon as possible. How well I know you!”

“That wasn't what I was thinking at all.”

“Hmm … let me see. You want to throw Kev a day-of-the-wedding bachelor party with strippers and lap dancers and—”

“Wrong,” he interrupted.

“Okay, I'm stumped. What
were
you thinking?”

“I was thinking if Kev can do it, why can't we?”

“Excuse me?”

“You an' me, babe. Why don't
we
get married?”

She took a deep breath.
This
was a surprise. “You're not serious?”

“Your divorce is final, right?” he said, thinking that he was expecting a more enthusiastic response.

“Yes.”

“Then there's nothing to stop us.”

“Nothing to stop us from doing what?”

“You know, getting married.”

“Oh,
wow!
You really are serious, aren't you?”

“Yes, Venus, I am. We've been together almost a year, and I've got a strong vibe we should give it a shot. Whaddya say?”

Before she could say anything at all, Bobby and Brigette descended on them.

“Some party, huh?” Bobby said. “Fantastic turnout. Looking forward to your show, Venus. Hope you're planning to sing all my favorites.”

“I'll try, but you'll have to tell me what they are,” she replied, still trying to process Billy's sudden desire to get married.

“You got three hours?” Bobby said. “'Cause if you have, I'll tell you. By the way, you look spectacular, as always. Billy, I hope you realize you're one
very
fortunate guy.”

“Don't I know it,” Billy agreed.

“Y'know,” Bobby continued, “when I was twelve—”

“Stop it!” Brigette interrupted. “Venus is not interested in hearing about your teenage fantasies.”

“They were hot,” Bobby assured her. “Very, very hot!”

“Quiet!” Brigette scolded.

“Uh, Billy,” Venus said, turning to her boyfriend. “Remember that question you asked me?”

“
The
question?” he said, gulping down a glass of champagne.

“Well,” she said slowly, “I've been considering my answer.”

“You have?” he said, swapping glasses with a passing waiter.

“Yes,” she said, smiling. “I have.”

“And?” he said, nervous as hell, for what if she said no? If she rejected him he'd be gutted, his ego would take a giant nosedive. Christ! He'd actually proposed.

“My answer is … yes,” she said, putting him out of his misery.

“It is?” A huge grin spread across his face. “You're sure?”

“I couldn't be more sure.”

“What's up with you two?” Bobby asked curiously. “Something you want to share?”

“Maybe we'll all meet up later,” Billy said, keeping it casual. “We'll share then.”

“Suits me,” Bobby said. “I'll be hitting the tables right after the show.”

“So will I,” Brigette said, joining in. “What's the point of having all this money if I can't lose it!”

“You're my kind of heiress,” Billy quipped, still feeling nervous but in a kind of ecstatic way. She'd said yes! Venus had said yes! He was marrying a superstar!

No. Big correction. He was marrying the woman he loved.

“Is that an offer?” Brigette joked. “'Cause I'm available.”

“
Now
she tells me,” Billy said, still grinning.

“Venus, is he making me an offer?” Brigette asked, all big blue eyes and innocent expression.

Venus smiled. “Right now I truly suspect that it's highly unlikely.”

*   *   *

“I'm going back to the suite before the show,” Alex said. “Forgot my watch.”

“I'll come with you,” Ling said.

“You don't have to.”

“I want to.”

“No, you go ahead, save our seats.”

“But Alex—”

“Ling. I am perfectly capable of going to the suite by myself.”

“Very well,” she said, giving him the pissy look he couldn't stand.

“Where's Lucky?” he asked.

“Why?” Ling sniped. “You wish
her
to go with you?”

“Oh, for chrissakes!” he snapped. “Get over this thing you have against Lucky. I merely need to ask her how the fuck I get out of here without doing that red-carpet press shit.”

“I'm sure someone else can help you with that,” Ling said. “It doesn't
always
have to be Lucky.” She paused, glared at him, then added, “Or maybe it does.”

“Piss off, Ling,” he said, stalking away from her.

*   *   *

“Gino Santangelo,” Francesca crowed, wrinkling her forehead. “So many years, so much time. Surely you remember me?”

Peering at the old woman, Gino realized there was something vaguely familiar about her. “Sorry…” he muttered. “You're gonna havta remind me.”

“Francesca Bonnatti,” she said, tilting her chin. “And this my grandson Anthony Bonar.”

Gino felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Of course, Enzio's wife, and now widow. What the hell was
she
doing at the opening of Lucky's hotel? And he'd never heard of Enzio having a grandson named Anthony.

Why was Francesca here? And even more important—what did she want?

“Long time, Gino,” she said, her eyes vindictive and glittering with hate. “Long time—much water under the bridge,
sí?
”

He had nothing to say to her.

“And your daughter, Lucky, she the one built this hotel,
sí?
”

Gino's mind started racing. His onetime partner and Lucky's godfather, Enzio Bonnatti, had arranged for the murder of his wife and son, and in retaliation Lucky had shot Enzio.

Francesca and he were both well aware of these past events. They were two families pitched against each other forever. Two endless vendettas. The Santangelos and the Bonnattis. They hated each other.

Now Francesca was standing in front of him as if nothing had happened in their dark and ominous past.

“You and me,” Francesca mused. “We go back
molti
years, Gino.”

“What do you want?” he said guardedly. “What are you doing here?”

“I come to see.”

“See what?”

“To see the end of the Santangelos,” Francesca said with a hoarse cackle. “You and your family are cursed—
maledetto
. This hotel is
maledetto
. May the ghost of—”

“Grandma, we gotta go,” Anthony interrupted, pulling her by the arm, refusing to even look at Gino.

Gino's black eyes checked out Anthony Bonar. The man was not good news, he sensed it immediately. Gino had always possessed dead-on instincts when it came to summing people up, and this one was a bad human being, he had no doubt of it.

What the hell are the two of them doing here?
he thought for the second time.

Whatever the reason, it wasn't good.

He should warn Lucky. Francesca Bonnatti and Anthony Bonar were unwelcome guests. It was obvious that as far as the Bonnattis were concerned, the Bonnatti/Santangelo vendetta was still very much alive.

 

CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR

“Hi,” Ace said as Cookie opened the door to their room.

“Hey,” Cookie responded.

“Uh, is she around?” Ace asked, hovering in the doorway.

“Is who around?” Cookie asked, thinking that Max had found herself a
real
hottie, this dude was majorly
handsome
.

“The queen of England,” Ace deadpanned.

“Oh, you must mean Max.”

“Yeah, that's exactly who I mean. I was supposed to pick her up and here I am. I put on a white shirt for the occasion. I feel like an idiot. Does it look okay?”

“It's totally happenin', dude, but I thought you were meeting her outside the spa.”

“Why would I be meeting her there? I arranged to pick her up here.”

“You left a message half an hour ago that she should meet you outside the spa,” Cookie said, wondering how he liked the skimpy purple dress she'd decided to wear.

“I didn't leave a message,” Ace said.

“Yeah, the guy at the desk called and said her cousin wanted her to meet him.”

“Did you say ‘cousin'?” he said, getting concerned.

“Yeah. Max explained that you were playing some game pretending to be her cousin.”

“Fuck!”

“Wassamatter?”

“This is bad,” he said. “It could be that maniac.”

“
What
maniac?” Cookie asked, her eyes widening.

“The dude who kidnapped her in Big Bear.”

“
Whaaat?
”

“Yeah,” he said urgently. “Let's go. We gotta find her before he does.”

*   *   *

“I have to talk to you,” Venus said, cornering Lucky. “Alone. Now.”

Excusing herself from Cole and his rock star boyfriend, Lucky concentrated on Venus. “What's on your mind?” she asked. “What's with the ‘alone' and ‘now' bit?”

“We're getting married,” Venus confided, somewhat breathlessly.

“
Excuse
me?” Lucky responded with a look of surprise. “Did I just hear you say the M word? I mean, isn't that the word you swore you'd never use again after Cooper?”

“Yup,” Venus confessed. “You're right. But Billy finally asked me.”

“I don't believe this!” Lucky exclaimed.

“Believe it,” Venus responded.

“Is it what you want?” Lucky asked.

“I think so.”

“You
think
so?” Lucky said, shaking her head. “You'd better be sure.”

“Well, I've said yes, so it's too late to
not
be sure.”

“Man!” Lucky grumbled. “Like I don't have enough going on, now I've got a wedding to plan. When we get back we'll—”

“No!” Venus interrupted. “You don't understand. We're doing it tonight, after the concert. So if you're planning anything, you'd better do it fast!”

*   *   *

“Mr. Dollar,” Emmanuelle said, sidling close to the famous movie star, thrusting out her considerable assets. “I'm your biggest fan.”

Charlie Dollar checked the young blonde out. She was certainly succulent, and he was certainly into succulent. Young too. Yes, this one was just his type.

“Hi, there, chickadee,” he said. “What's your name?”

“Emmanuelle,” she answered, reaching up to touch one of her recently acquired diamond earrings.

“Oh,” Charlie said with a knowing chuckle. “Like one of those dirty movies from the seventies.”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“You wouldn't. Too young. Are you even legal?”

“I'm twenty, and I've been on sixteen magazine covers,” she boasted.

“No shit?”

“Sixteen covers,” she said proudly. “But I bet you've been on more than that.”

“Well, little lady,” he drawled, “I'm mucho older than twenty.”

“I just wanted to say how much I admire you,” she gushed.

“That's very smart, young lady,” he said, scratching his stubbled chin.

“I'm here with somebody tonight,” Emmanuelle continued. “But I was wondering if you'd give me your number so that when I come to L.A. I can call you.”

“You're with somebody tonight, huh?” he said, peering at her over the tops of his tinted shades.

“That's right.”

“A guy?”

“I'm not a
lesbian
, Mr. Dollar,” she said coyly.

“Shame.”

“Excuse me?” she said, toying with her necklace nestled cozily in her cleavage.

“Uh … nothin'. Where's your boyfriend?”

“Somewhere around. I'm sure he'll find me in a minute.”

“
Then
what's he gonna do, beat my ass?”

“He might,” she giggled. “He
is
kind of the jealous type.”

“Why is it that you jailbait little hussies always manage to target Charlie?” he complained. “You got any clue how many times I've had one of you poptarts come on to me, an' then some asshole boyfriend or husband appears ready to beat the shit outta me?”