Dangerous Kiss (35 page)

He'd been paying ever since.

'Don't fuck with me,' he said sharply. 'This happens t' be important shit concernin' both of us. Can you come over?'

'Why should I come there?' she sneered.

' 'Cause it's about your son.'

'Oh,' she said sarcastically. 'Do you mean the son you insisted on having custody of? That son?'

Once a bitch always a bitch. 'Quit breakin' my balls, Ginee.' He sighed, hating the fact that he had to talk to her again after all these years.

Her voice curled with sarcasm. 'Still got 'em, have you?'

With great difficulty he kept his cool. 'If it's easier for you, I'll come there.'

'Have your ass here in ten minutes,' she said shortly. 'I havta go out.' And, true to form, she hung up without waiting for his answer.

Swearing to himself, he grabbed a jacket and hurried out to his car, because if he knew Ginee she wouldn't wait.

On the drive over to her apartment on Wilshire he listened to some vintage Al Green, attempting to get his head in a better place. Nothing worked. By the time he got there he was ready to explode. He needed a joint and a drink. And he needed them like an hour ago.

Ginee met him at the door clutching a miniature French poodle in her arms. The surprise was that his once gorgeous ex-wife must have piled on over a hundred pounds. She was now a big fat mama with dyed strawberry blonde hair and an even more belligerent attitude than he remembered.

Mountains of flesh came towards him, clad in patterned leggings and a purple knit top. Huge jiggling breasts, wobbly thighs, and incongruously thin calves balanced on red patent hooker heels. What a sight!

He pretended not to notice her tremendous weight gain. She knew that he did and it infuriated her. 'S'pose you think I put on a pound or two,' she said, challenging him to say yes.

A pound or two! Was the woman nuts? She was a walking, talking mountain for Chrissakes.

'Can I come in?' he said.

'Ha!' she snorted. 'Too goddamn famous to stand out in the corridor.' She spun around, and he followed her mammoth ass into the apartment.

Her taste level was the same as when they'd parted company. Pink, pink, and more pink. Oversized pink couches, fancy pink cushions and rugs - even a large shell-shaped pink coffee table. Above the fireplace hung an enormous oil painting of a much thinner Ginee wearing a diaphanous gown and leaning on a grand piano. The outrageously vulgar portrait dominated the room.

'You, Price Washington, are a mothafuckin' bastard,' she announced, before he had time to take a breath. 'You ruined my goddamn life, my gorgeous figure, my everything!'

Bad-assed, foul-mouthed drama queen. Nothing had changed about Ginee -

except her weight.

'Teddy's in trouble,' he said dourly, sitting down on one of her overstuffed pink couches.

'What kinda trouble?' she demanded, heavy false eyelashes fluttering above her small eyes like a series of trapped birds.

'He's bin involved in a shooting.'

'I knew you could never be a decent father to that poor boy,' she shrieked. 'You got him runnin' around in gangs shootin' people. It ain't right!'

'He's not in a gang.'

'Then what in hell was it? A drive-by?'

'Ginee, I repeat, he is not in a gang. This has to do with some girl gettin' hold of him an' leadin' him astray.'

'What girl?' she asked suspiciously.

'Mila.'

'Who's she?'

'My housekeeper's daughter.'

'Jeez? Ginee exclaimed. 'That Russian witch. I coulda told you her brat would turn out no good. You shoulda fired her skinny ass years ago.'

'Well, I didn't,' he answered patiently. 'An' it's not Irena's fault.'

'Nothin' was ever that cow's fault,' Ginee muttered, double chins quivering with indignation as the dog struggled to escape from her suffocating embrace. 'She musta bin blowin' you stupid with all the shit you let her get away with.'

He focused on the reason he was there. 'Can we concentrate on Teddy?' he said gruffly.

'Sure, honey,' she replied, with a sugary smile. 'All you gotta do is tell me what you want, an' then I'll tell you exactly how much it's gonna cos Money. C was ever free.'

Money. Oh, yeah, he'd almost forgotten: with Ginee, nothing was ever free.

Chapter Fifty-eight

Carlo gave Brigette what she needed, and after a while she felt ready to face the world. She changed her dress, touched up her makeup, piled her hair on top of her head, and after she'd done all that, they left for the party.

'Now you look like my adorable Brigette,' Carlo said, taking her hand in his and squeezing it reassuringly as they walked outside to the waiting limo. 'Come, my darling, you must be looking forward to showing me off to all your friends.'

When he was nice it was almost as if she imagined his bad moods. She smiled dreamily. Everything was peaceful. Everything was good… except that soon she would have to face Lucky and, much as she loved her, in a way she was dreading it, because Lucky was the only person who could see right into the depths of her soul.

You're a big girl, a voice said in her head. Lucky doesn't control you. You control your own destiny.

No, another voice argued. Carlo controls everything you do. You are completely under his influence.

'Carlo,' she said, settling into the plush leather seat in the back of the limo.

'Yes, my dear?'

'I want you to promise me that you'll be nice to Lucky. It's important to me. She and Lennie, their kids and Gino are my only family.'

'Brigette, Brigette,' Carlo said, shaking his head in a pitying way. 'I am your family now. You've told me how you were treated when you were growing up. You had a mother who was never around. Your father was long gone, and you were raised by a series of nannies. I am the one who will look after you now, Brigette. I am closest to you. This Lucky woman is nothing more than a friend.'

'She's my godmother, Carlo.'

'That means nothing - trust me. She will see you are fine with me, and if she doesn't,' he gestured with his hands, 'too bad.'

'Promise you'll be nice,' Brigette said anxiously, dreading the evening ahead.

'Of course, my contessa, I am nice to everyone.' And he smiled his superior smile and patted her reassuringly on the knee.

Lennie finally put in an appearance. By the time he did, Lucky was simmering.

First of all, Brigette was unforgivably late for her own party, and Lennie, leaving Lucky to cope with all the guests by herself, had infuriated her.

'Nice of you to join us,' she hissed, as he passed by. 'Sure it's not too much trouble?'

'I've had it with you making all your own decisions without including me,' he said, in a low, angry voice. 'We're married, in case you forgot.'

'I told you, Lennie, I do not require permission to do what I want.' And she turned her back on him and hurried over to the bar, where Gino was surrounded by an admiring group listening to him tell tales of his early days in Vegas.

'Everyone having a good time?' she asked, falsely cheerful. It was almost nine o'clock. The party had started at seven thirty. The caterers kept badgering her about what time she wanted them to serve dinner. Normally she would've had them start at nine, but since the guest of honour had not yet arrived, she instructed them to try to hold off.

'Where's Brigette?' Gino demanded. 'I'm waitin' to see the kid.'

'She'll be here any minute,' Lucky assured him, thinking that it wasn't like Brigette to be so rude.

Lina strolled over, hand in hand with Charlie Dollar. They looked like a couple.

'Well, well, well,' Lucky said. 'What's this? A new you two?'

Charlie chuckled. 'Do not tell Dahlia,' he said, like a naughty little boy caught sneaking candy.

'As if I would,' Lucky said.

'Lina's in my movie,' Charlie explained. 'And she's pretty damn sensational.'

'Oooh!' Lina squealed, thrilled. 'Do you really think so?'

'Wouldn't say it if I didn't, doll.'

Lucky shook her head. 'Charlie, Charlie…' she murmured.

'Yes?' he said, with a big, wide, shit-eating grin.

She shook her head again. 'Nothing.' It was no use warning Charlie that Dahlia would not be pleased if he was photographed with Lina. Dahlia suffered the little unknowns who shared his bed for a night or two, but there was no way she'd accept Lina, who was far too high-profile.

'So, where's Brig?' Lina asked. 'I'm dyin' t' see 'er.'

'You tell me,' Lucky said.

'Hmm… she's not usually late,' Lina said. 'Did you tell 'er I was 'ere?'

'No, you're the big surprise.'

'I think you'll find Carlo is the big surprise,' Lina said, rolling her eyes. 'Can't wait to see 'im again. He's absolutely gorgeous, if you like that type, but I gotta feelin'

'e's a bit of a bastard. I dunno… you'd better form your own opinion.'

'Oh, I will,' Lucky said. 'I certainly will.'

Steven's partner, Jerry Myerson, was delighted to be in Los Angeles - even more delighted to be at a genuine Hollywood party filled with glamorous women.

Recently divorced for the third time, Jerry was acting like a horny teenager let loose in the girls' locker room. Steven was embarrassed: age did not slow good old Jerry down - he was after action with a vengeance.

'Who's that?' he kept asking, every time an attractive woman walked by.

'Hey, slow down,' Steven said, thinking there was nothing worse than a fifty-something divorced man with a permanent hard-on. 'You've got the rest of the night in front of you.'

'Jesus!' Jerry exclaimed. 'How can you live here? The women are too fucking much.'

'You get used to it,' Steven said calmly.

'Nothing fazes you, does it?' Jerry said, winking at an over-endowed redhead.

'But, then, pussy has never been your burning passion.'

Steven threw him a cold look. He did not think it appropriate that Jerry was discussing women with him so soon after Mary Lou's death.

Carioca had run off to play with Maria. He wished she hadn't, he would sooner have spent the evening with his daughter rather than talking about women with Jerry. Sure, Jerry was his friend and partner, but he didn't need this crap.

'Holy shit!' Jerry exclaimed, eyes popping. 'Now that's what I call a sexy broad.'

'You're giving away your age,' Steven remarked. 'Broad is not a politically correct term any more.'

'Who gives a shit?' Jerry said. 'Look at her - it's that supermodel, Lina. What a body!'

The name sounded vaguely familiar. Steven followed Jerry's rapt gaze, and immediately recognized the girl Jerry was staring at. He'd met her at Venus's party when he'd been standing outside the guest bathroom with Carioca.

'Yes, that is Lina,' he said.

'Don't tell me you fucking know her?' Jerry asked, practically salivating.

'Sure, I know her,' Steven answered casually.

'I think she's with Charlie Dollar,' Jerry said. 'Jesus! You can't turn around here without bumping into a star.'

'That's Hollywood for you,' Steven said.

'So if you know her, introduce me,' Jerry said, gulping straight bourbon.

'I'm not about to go over there and interrupt her.'

'You don't have to,' Jerry said, smoothing back his reddish hair. 'She's on her way over here.'

And before Jerry could say another word, Lina was upon them. ' 'Ello,' she said, with a huge smile directed at Steven. 'Fancy bumping into you again.'

Jerry edged forward, dying to be introduced, while Lina gave Steven the famous Hollywood kiss on each cheek. She smelt exotic and womanly. For a moment Steven thought about Mary Lou and the way she'd smelt - sweet like spring flowers. It was a painful memory.

Lina was obviously waiting for him to say something. 'Uh… nice to see you again,' he managed. Jerry gave him a sharp dig in the ribs, his somewhat bloodshot eyes begging for an introduction. 'This is my friend and partner, Jerry Myerson, he's visiting from New York.'

'Hi, Jerry,' Lina said, without much interest .

'I'm a big fan,' Jerry said, standing tall. 'Big big fan.'

'Thanks,' Lina said casually, barely looking at him.

'Saw your photos in a Victoria's Secret catalog. My God, they were sensational.

You're the best.'

Steven threw him a why-don't-you-shut-up? look, but Jerry was on a roll and kept going. Steven moved away: he'd spotted Venus across the room and was anxious to talk to her.

'You're a bad boy, Steven,' Venus scolded, when he came over. 'You never answer my phone calls.'

'Sorry,' he said. 'I've been so busy at the office, then on weekends Carioca and I usually take off.'

'I'm glad to hear you're spending more time with her,' Venus said, licking her succulent bright red lips. 'You should bring her over to spend the night with Chyna.'

'Can we talk about Price Washington and his son?'

'God!' she said. 'When Lucky told me the boy was involved, I was completely shocked.'

'It'll hit the news any moment,' Steven said. 'I don't see how they can keep it quiet much longer.'

'Oh, yeah, the tabs'll go all the way with this one.'

'Do you know his son?'

'Met him once. Price brought him to one of my concerts. He seemed like a nice enough kid.'

'Did he look like a gang member?'

'A gang member? No, why would you say that?'

'I'm confused. Lennie insists it was the girl who pulled the trigger, while the boy stood there watching. Which makes him an accessory. But what I'm hearing from Lucky is that the girl's accusing him of doing the shooting.'

'I feel sorry for Price,' Venus said. 'He's a nice guy. This must be such a downer for him. Can you imagine?'

'It might be bad for him,' Steven said harshly, 'but think about what happened to Mary Lou…'

'I know, Steven,' Venus said softly. 'We all know.'

Chapter Fifty-nine

The woman was young and voluptuous, perhaps in her mid-twenties, and although quite beautiful in a raw and natural way, she was cheaply dressed and nervous-looking. Hanging on to her hand was a five-year-old child - a boy - with dirty-blond hair and green eyes.

The two of them hovered across the street from the valet parking area of Lucky and Lennie's house at the beach. Nobody took any notice of them - if anybody had noticed them, they would have dismissed them as a couple of fans trying to get a glimpse of the parade of famous people arriving at the house in the Malibu Colony. The boy was tired and hungry, he kept indicating to his mother that he wanted a drink. She shushed him. She was tired and hungry herself, for it had been a long day and she had not expected to get to the house and find a big party in progress.