Dangerous Kiss (52 page)

Fuck them! They were screwing with the wrong person. She'd fix them both.

Chapter Eighty-eight

By carlo's reckoning, Brigette would be over the worst. He'd left her alone because it really was her problem, and he wanted no scandal about his wife.

This way there were no witnesses, no doctors or nurses saying what a bastard he was to have gotten her hooked in the first place. Who knew what she would have told them?

Now that she was straight, he'd still have control. She was his wife, his pregnant wife at that.

He knew how to tap into Brigette and what she needed. She was the original poor little rich girl with no mother to guide her, an absentee father, and a desperation to be loved.

The truth was that he, Count Carlo Vittorio Vitti, was her saviour. He was the only man who'd been able to give her what she wanted, which was discipline.

She'd probably be mad at him when he arrived back at the hunting lodge, but so what? There was nothing she could do about it.

Now that he had Isabella again, he was a different man. He had a goal to work towards - not just getting Brigette's money, but getting enough so that he and Isabella could be together, for she was the only woman who was his match.

He often thought about their first meeting. She with her elderly husband, he with one of the more desirable women in Rome. It had been at a party. They'd had sex in the bathroom. Frantic, anonymous sex. She'd laughed, and gone back to her husband's side and kissed him on the mouth, and winked at Carlo behind her husband's back. It was then that he'd known they were two of a kind. So when she'd asked, he'd helped her get rid of the miserable old man. And where had that got him? Exactly nowhere. Two days after the funeral, Isabella had run off with the fat opera singer.

'I only did it to take suspicion away from us,' she'd explained, 'because if people saw us together, they would have surely known it was you who killed my husband.'

'I didn't kill him,' he'd said. 'I assisted you?

Isabella had laughed. 'Whatever.' She had the most seductive laugh in the world.

As soon as he arrived back in Rome, he got in his car and set off to bring Brigette home.

He had a new plan now, and that plan was to travel with her to New York and get her to transfer ten million dollars into a Swiss bank account in his name.

And if she refused… she'd be very sorry indeed.

Brigette was getting nowhere fast. Exhausted and weak, she navigated a series of dirt roads that led nowhere except into heavily wooded areas. The rain had turned from a drizzle to a steady downpour, and she was soaked through and freezing cold. She started to despair that she was ever going to find her way back to the hunting lodge.

It occurred to her that soon it would be dark, and then what?

She began to panic, pedalling her way to nowhere. Until suddenly she careened into a tree-trunk and was propelled off the bike, hitting her head on the ground.

She lay to the side of the mud road, unconscious.

And the rain poured down.

Chapter Eighty-nine

Claudia ran around the house like an excited child discovering Disneyland for the first time. 'It's wonderful, Lennie,' she gasped. 'Much too grand for Leonardo and me. We can't possibly live here.'

'Yes,' he said, pleased she was so thrilled. 'I've rented it for a year. By that time you will have decided what you want to do.'

'But, Lennie, it is so big.'

'I know,' he said. 'I was thinking… you talked about your relatives in Sicily…

maybe somebody could come visit, a sister or something.'

'My family, they do not talk to me,' she said sadly. 'When I had the baby I was a black sheep… Is that how you say it in America?'

'Yeah.' He nodded. 'But if you call your mother, somebody - the circumstances are different now, you're in America. Surely they'd want to come?'

'I don't know. Lennie, I wish you could live here with us.'

'I told you, Claudia,' he said seriously, 'it's impossible. I have my wife, and my own children.'

'But Leonardo is your son, Lennie. He was born out of love. You and I, when we were together, it was so… special.'

'Claudia,' he said, trying to let her down gently, 'I'm taken. I have the woman for me.'

'I understand, Lennie. But sometimes I dream…'

'You'll meet somebody else,' he said, veering away from a dangerous subject.

'You're a beautiful woman. There's plenty of guys who'd give anything to be with a woman like you.'

'You think I am beautiful, Lennie?' she asked.

He looked into her glowing face. 'Oh, c'mon, Claudia, you know you are.'

'Thank you.' She put her arms around him and gave him a little hug.

He pushed her gently away and glanced at his watch. Lucky would be here soon.

It would not be cool for her to find Claudia hugging him.

Leonardo had gone straight out by the pool, and was sitting on the edge, gazing into the water.

'I hope he can swim,' Lennie said.

Claudia shook her head vigorously. 'He does not swim. Will you teach him?'

'Sure,' he said easily. 'We can all be friends. Once you get to know Lucky you'll love her, and she'll love you. And the kids - well, the kids are something else.

Gino and Maria will teach Leonardo to swim in a minute. He needs to spend time with other children.'

'He can't be with other children, Lennie. Because he doesn't hear them, they tease him, call him names.'

'I talked to the doctor. He thinks there's something they can do about his hearing.'

She clasped her hands together. 'Oh, Lennie, that would be so marvellous!'

'It would, wouldn't it?' he said, hoping that everything was going to work out.

Duke had parked his car on the street near the house. It was not his car, it was another stolen one. This time he'd taken a Mercedes - striving for a more classy image.

He'd followed Lennie and the woman and the child from the hotel, wondering where they were leading him. And when they'd arrived and parked in the driveway of what seemed to be an empty house with a for-lease sign outside, he couldn't have been more delighted.

This meant he could achieve both of his objectives, do away with Lennie Golden and satisfy himself with the woman.

Of course, if the woman saw him shoot Lennie, he'd have to get rid of her too.

But Duke didn't mind. There was nothing to connect him with either of them. He would never be caught.

He waited five minutes before leaving the Mercedes, locking it carefully behind him. Then he walked up to the house.

The front door was slightly ajar. What was wrong with these people? Didn't anyone consider that there were bad elements in the world who were out to do them harm?

He'd instructed Maybelline never to let her guard down. She carried mace, a lethal hunting knife and a stun gun. He'd even taught her some karate.

He pushed open the door and walked inside, straight into a spacious hallway that led through to a huge living room overlooking an azure lap pool.

The boy was sitting outside by the pool. Duke had forgotten about the child. He stared at the boy for a moment, wondering what he should do about him. Then he decided he would face that problem when the time came.

He could hear voices coming from the back of the house.

He took out his gun.

First he would rape the girl.

Then he would kill Lennie Golden.

An audience would make it all the more fun.

Chapter Ninety

'I can only stay a minute,' Lucky said, running into the production office.

'Why?' Alex asked. 'Where are you rushing off to?'

'I told you, I'm meeting Lennie.'

He nodded. 'Okay, that's good - I guess. Will you call me later?'

'Will I call you later?' she said mockingly. 'I told you, I'm meeting Lennie.

Hopefully I won't be calling anyone later. Where's Venus?'

'She went home. Cooper's getting edgy, says she's spending too much time here.'

'Ah… she's giving Coop a taste of what it's like. He was the biggest playboy of all time.'

'Nothing wrong with that,' Alex said.

'Anyway, I just wanted to drop by and go over a few things with you,' Lucky said.

'And to tell you that I definitely approve of Billy Melina. You're right. He's fantastic'

'Yeah, Billy's got a quality,' Alex said. 'And this is just the beginning. Once I get my hands on him…'

'Oooh, I've heard what happens when you get your hands on actors. They become nervous wrecks and end up in the psychiatric ward.'

'Yeah, but do I get a performance out of them?'

'You certainly do, Alex.'

'Now listen,' he said, 'how about a drink before you go?'

'Do you think I need one?' she asked, amused.

'Wouldn't do any harm. C'mon, spend a few minutes with me.

'I don't want to be late. Lennie is showing me the house he's renting for the Sicilian and the kid.'

'Now there's a title for a movie - The Sicilian and the Kid?

'Don't make fun of me, Alex. I'm very vulnerable right now. I'm not used to feeling like this.'

'No, you're not, are you? Lucky Santangelo, mobster's daughter. Fearless in the face of anything.'

'Will you stop? I have a good mind to sue them.'

'Yeah?'

'Why should they be allowed to say whatever they want about people?'

' 'Cause they know they can get away with it. It'll cost you more money and more time to sue them, so forget about it, it's yesterday's newspaper. Somebody's using it to clean up the rat shit.'

'You're right.'

'How does Gino feel about it?'

'Oh, you know Gino. It's kind of given him a higher profile amongst his friends down in Palm Springs.'

They both laughed.

'Come into my office,' Alex said. 'I'll fix you a Scotch on the rocks, set you up for the night.'

'I guess I could do with a drink.'

'How'd it go this afternoon?'

'Things are plodding along. The media is there in full force. And those two kids are sitting up there like little superstars surrounded by their lawyers. And Steven

- Oh, God, I forgot to call him. He wanted to talk to me about something, and we didn't get a chance in court. Can I use your phone?' she asked, following him into his office.

Alex was not the neatest person in the world. There were scripts and CDs, tapes and books stacked everywhere. At the centre of it all was his desk, a huge sprawling dark-wood affair, also piled high with scripts.

He passed her the phone, and opened a desk drawer.

'Somewhere in here I've got a bottle of Scotch,' he muttered. 'Don't keep it out in the open because everybody drinks it.'

'What're you - stingy?' she said, laughing.

'Naw, don't like to tempt people.'

She quickly reached Steven's number. A woman answered. 'Jen?' she said.

'No, who's this?'

Lina? she said. Lina's thick Cockney accent was unmistakable. 'Lucky, is that you?'

'Lina. What are you doing at Steven's house?'

'Oh… I think we're supposed to be a secret.'

'Whats supposed to be a secret?'

'Me and Steven.'

'I'm not quite following you here. Are you telling me that you and Steven are an item?'

'I guess so,' Lina said, with an embarrassed giggle. 'Never thought I'd get into this 'ole domestic bit, but I'm 'ere, supportin' him through 'is time of trouble.

Making 'im scrambled eggs, massaging 'is feet, an' giving him anything 'e needs.'

'Who'd believe this?' Lucky exclaimed. 'Lina and Steven.'

'What's so 'ard to believe?'

'Well… I mean I didn't think Steven was planning on getting involved with anyone.'

'I'm not just anyone, am I?' Lina said cockily.

'That's true,' Lucky said. 'I guess he was going to tell me, because in court he said he wanted to talk to me about something.'

'Probably me,' Lina said. 'I'm talkable about, aren't I?'

'You certainly are. Wow! This is a shock. But I'm real happy for the two of you. In fact, it's great! Is it serious?'

'I moved in,' Lina stated. 'Given up me modelling gigs for a while.'

'Let's have dinner, we should celebrate. Will you tell Steven I called?'

'I'd better not. I'm sure he wants to tell you about us 'imself. 'E should be 'ome soon. Give us a buzz later.'

'I'll do that.' She put down the phone, still in a state of shock.

'Guess what?' she said to Alex, who was busy pouring her an extra large tumbler of Scotch.

'What?' he said.

'My brother has a girlfriend.'

'Your brother Steven?'

'I only have one brother, Alex, and easy on the Scotch. I hardly want to stagger in to see Lennie.'

'Good for Steven,' Alex said.

'I didn't expect it to happen so soon,' Lucky said.

'It's not that soon. And I'm telling you, a man needs a warm body beside him in bed. Especially when you're not so young and horny any more.'

'Is that why you're thinking of marrying Pia? By the way, I meant to ask you, have you mentioned this marriage thing to her?'

'I'll tell her when I'm sure you're not coming back.'

'Very romantic'

'Who is Steven's new girlfriend?'

'Even more peculiar. It's Lina. You know, the supermodel?'

'Holy shit!' Alex said. 'Steven and the supermodel. He seems so… kind of laidback and quiet.'

'Before he was married, Steven was a big player. He settled down when he met Mary Lou. It is kind of a strange duo, but Lina's really nice, and a lot of fun.'

'Maybe it's exactly what he needs right now,' Alex said, handing her the drink.

She took a couple of gulps and almost gagged.

'Wow! This is strong,' she said. 'Don't you believe in adding water and ice?'

'What do you think this is? A bar?'

She laughed. 'I appreciate the drink, Alex, but I have to go now. Let me know what happens with you and Pia.'

'No, Lucky,' he said. 'You let me know what happens with you and Lennie.'

'I'll speak to you tomorrow,' she said. 'What are you doing tonight?'

'Pia is cooking me dinner.'

'There, you see - she is the right girl for you. Not only a warm body, but she cooks, too!'