Vincent was not happy about leaving Nando, the ranch, his school, and all his other friends to go live in Houston. Dani assured him they would visit often.
Morgan decided to spend the night in town with Dean. “I’ll leave you girls alone to plot and plan devious women things,” he boomed. “Weddings are the damnedest events. A person has to prepare—especially the ladies.”
“You just want a night of freedom,” Gemini teased, smiling affectionately. “Remember, you can look—not touch.”
Morgan adjusted his Stetson and beamed. “I married a smart woman who understands men. That makes me a very smart man.”
An hour after he left, Moralis phoned. Gemini took the call, although Dani advised her not to.
“He doesn’t frighten me anymore,” Gemini said, a determined thrust to her chin. “There is nothing he can do to me.”
“You should find out where he is and have Morgan call him back,” Dani suggested.
“No,” Gemini said firmly. “He has to hear it from me. He cannot take Nando, and that is final.”
Dani shrugged. She had problems of her own. Vincent was refusing to try on the suit she’d bought him to wear at the wedding. He was behaving like a brat, and Nando was encouraging him. Maybe a break from each other would be good for both of them.
Gemini stayed on the phone for some time. When she emerged from the bedroom, her face was streaked with tears.
“What’s the matter?” Dani asked sympathetically.
“Nothing,” Gemini said, close to tears again. “It’s so damn difficult.”
“What did he say?”
“Everything’s fine,” Gemini said. “He’s agreed to go away.”
“Then why are you so upset?”
“Well, you know, the past and everything. We did experience a passion that is very difficult to forget.”
“Mommy!” Vincent yelled. “Come see Nando’s dog. It’s got huge fleas. Can we get a dog, Mommy? Nando says his dog eats fleas. I wanna dog that eats fleas.”
She hurried outside to inspect the flea-ridden mutt Nando had rescued from the pound.
The dog was enormous, with a big shaggy coat. Vincent had draped himself all over the panting animal.
“Get off,” Dani ordered. “The poor dog is not a horse.”
“You can ride him, Mommy,” Vincent said encouragingly. “I do.”
“Off,” Dani repeated.
“Piss.” Vincent giggled.
“What did you say?” Dani asked, quite shocked.
“Piss off,” Nando said, screaming with laughter.
“Get it, Mommy?” Vincent said, giggling uncontrollably.
“No, I do not get it,” she said sternly. “That is not nice language, and I do not expect to hear it again.”
“Piss off,” both boys shrieked in unison. “Piss off! Piss off! Piss off!”
“Inside! Now!”
They followed her into the house.
Mrs. Braxton, Morgan’s longtime cook, was busy in the kitchen preparing hamburgers and french fries for the boys.
The manicurist Gemini had arranged for was in the dining room setting up her equipment. Gemini had also booked a masseuse, a facialist, and a hairdresser. They would all be arriving any minute.
“It’s the night before your wedding,” Gemini had said. “I am making sure you are thoroughly pampered.”
“Where’s Gemini?” Dani asked Mrs. Braxton.
“She asked me to tell you that she had to pop out.”
“Did she say where she was going?”
“She mentioned she’d be back soon.”
Dani didn’t start to worry until an hour had passed. Then two, then three. By that time she was seriously worried. All the beauticians had come and gone, and it was almost eleven.
Had Gemini “popped out” to meet Moralis? Where else would she have gone?
Dani picked up the phone and called Dean. Neither he nor Morgan was at the hotel, so she left a message for them to call her immediately when they returned.
This was supposed to be a happy time for her, and yet she felt exactly the same as she had the night Emily disappeared. Sick and apprehensive.
She sat in the front room, her eyes shifting from the clock to the front door. Midnight came and went. She tried to reach Dean and Morgan at the hotel again. Still no answer from either of their rooms. They were out celebrating, while Gemini was . . .
She didn’t know.
She only knew that the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach told her that once again something bad had happened.
Something really bad.
Michael—1972
The news that he’d probably shot the wrong man did not sit well with Michael. Although, when he thought it through, he was able to accept it, because all three of them eventually had to pay the price.
He’d killed a man in cold blood. It didn’t seem real to him, and yet he’d done it. And he would do it again if he had to.
For his mother.
For the woman he’d never met.
For her honor.
Bone must’ve figured that by getting him to eliminate Roy, the truth would never come out. The scumbag hadn’t reckoned on Mamie and her big mouth.
Another thought. How had Mamie heard it was him who’d shot Roy? Bone was a dangerous bastard, and he probably had something else in mind. The problem was—who knew what that something was?
What should he do now? Switch sides and move over to the Giovanni family?
Maybe. Vito Giovanni understood what revenge was all about.
It was almost midnight when he arrived back at the house. Catherine was sitting in the front room, knitting a sweater. Like her sister, Catherine was quite beautiful and very young, only she had none of Beth’s fire. “Hi, Michael,” she said, holding a finger to her lips. “Shh . . . Madison’s asleep.”
“Where’s Beth?” he asked, looking around.
“She went out with friends.”
“What time’s she comin’ home?”
“You know Beth,” Catherine said, putting down her knitting. “I can’t control her, and neither can you. Neither of us should try.”
“I don’t want to,” he said pointedly.
“Yes you do.”
Sometimes Catherine got on his nerves. “Did she happen t’ tell you we were talkin’ about gettin’ married?” he said, thinking that would shut her up.
“No, she didn’t mention it.”
“Didn’t mention it, huh?” he said, aggravated. “Gee, she must’ve been really excited.”
“Michael,” Catherine said in a sanctimonious, annoying tone, “Beth adores you in her own way. But you have to understand that when our father was arrested and taken off to a political prison, it kind of put her out of control.”
“How’s that?”
“She’s always been a little wild, but after that . . . well, you do know you’re not her first man?”
“You’re lucky she already told me,” he said sharply, “ ’cause if she hadn’t, you’d be way outta line.”
“Sorry,” Catherine said, quickly getting up. “Shall I give Madison her bottle when she wakes, or do you want to?”
“What I want t’ know is where my fuckin’ girlfriend’s gone. The mother of my child,” he said, full of frustration. “Who are these friends she’s out with?”
“People from the fashion institute.”
“Girls? Boys? What?”
“A mixture.”
“If I ever catch her with another man,” he said ominously, “I’ll kill her.”
“Don’t say things like that, Michael.”
“I mean it.”
“Anyway,” Catherine said crisply, “she’s not with another man, she’s merely having fun.”
“Fun, huh?”
“It’s not easy for her, Michael. She has a baby to care for, a house to run, and—”
“C’mon, Catherine,” he interrupted. “Cut the bull. You do everything around here. Beth gets dressed up and goes o
ff to some fancy school with her fancy fuckin’ friends, an’ now she’s out all night with them.”
“I’m sorry I told you.”
“Yeah, well, I needed to know the truth.”
“How was your father?”
“The same old loser,” he said restlessly. “Look, I’m not sittin’ around here waitin’—I’m goin’ out.”
“I’m sure Beth will be home soon.”
“Hey, she wants to do her thing, that’s okay—I’ll do mine.”
He left the house filled with anger, drove around for a while, and eventually went to a neighborhood bar, where an attractive girl with huge breasts sat down next to him.
“I’m a lingerie model,” the girl informed him with an inviting smile. She had pearly white teeth, curly auburn hair, and a snub nose. “How about coming back to my place for a nightcap?” she suggested. “I promise I won’t bite. Not unless you ask me to!”
The invitation was there, staring him in the face.
He simply wasn’t interested. Beth was the only woman he wanted.
After throwing down another couple of Jack Daniel’s, he went home alone.
Beth was still out.
He lay down on the bed, switched on the TV, lit a cigarette, and fumed. Eventually he fell into a restless sleep.
In the morning Beth was asleep beside him, her dark hair spread out across the white sheets, one long leg stretched out and exposed.
He was angry and turned on, all at the same time. Without saying a word, he got on top of her.
“Michael,” she murmured, half opening her eyes. “What’re you doing?”
“Fucking you,” he said forcefully. “Is that okay?”
“No, it’s not okay,” she said, beginning to struggle. “Get . . . off . . . me.”
He was having none of it. Pinning her arms back, he pounded into her until he came.
Afterward, he was regretful. He’d just committed a purely selfish act. It wasn’t her fault he was jealous.
Jesus Christ! She had him out of control.
He glanced over at her. She’d moved away and was lying with her back toward him.
“We’re announcing our marriage this week,” he said gruffly. “That’s the way it’s gonna be.”
“I hate you,” she said, rolling over to face him, big brown eyes flashing undisguised anger.
“No you don’t.”
“Yes I do. You . . . you rapist!”
“Sorry, baby,” he muttered. “Dunno what came over me.”
“Ha!”
“Miami stunk, an’ when I got back you weren’t home,” he said, making excuses.
“I told you I’d be out.”
“I know that.”
She moved a little closer to him. “I suppose seeing your father upset you?”
“No,” he lied.
“Yes, it did.”
“Okay,” he admitted. “It made me crazy.”
“I knew it! Told you I should’ve gone with you.”
“You were right. You’re always right,” he said, nuzzling close to her. “How come for someone so young you’re pretty damn smart?”
“Just lucky, I guess.”
“Sorry if I was rough with you. I didn’t mean it. It’s . . . I dunno . . . guess I missed you.”
“Did you, now?”
“Ain’t that something?”
She sighed and cuddled closer. “I like it when you miss me, Michael. It means you care.”
He sat up and reached for a cigarette. “I never felt this way about anybody before, Beth. Never. You’re it.”
She flashed him her seductive smile. “Good.”
“You’d better believe it,” he said. And to make up for before, he began caressing her breasts the way he knew she liked.
“That’s nice,” she sighed. “Umm . . . very nice.”
He slid down the bed, spread her legs, and began tonguing her the way she’d often asked him to, though he’d declined, because going down on a woman didn’t seem a very manly act. And yet . . . if you loved that woman, and she did the same for you—why not give her pleasure?
Her excitement and her smooth, firm thighs turned him on again. He resolved to stop with the jealous crap and start treating her better.
A few nights later he drove down to the fashion institute to pick her up. He planned to surprise her, take her to dinner at their favorite restaurant, and present her with the ring he’d gotten her—a five-carat diamond direct from Tiffany’s via a friend of Warner’s in the jewelry business.
Beth emerged shortly after five—his beautiful, soon-to-be child bride.
She was arm in arm with a young guy, not much older than her. They were so busy talking and giggling that she didn’t even see him waiting patiently in his car, like dumb schmuck of the year.
Beth. His Beth with another man.
A black fury overtook him. He could barely see straight. He wanted to smash the asshole’s brains in.
Instead he did nothing. He watched them walk out of sight, and then he went home.
Catherine had gone to stay with a girlfriend for the weekend, leaving a baby-sitter in charge of Madison. As soon as Michael arrived home, he paid the girl and told her she could leave.
“Where’s the baby-sitter?” Beth asked when she got home, two hours later, and found Michael sitting in the kitchen bouncing a gurgling Madison on his knee.
“Sent her away,” he replied. “Figured we didn’t need her.”
“You know I need help when Catherine’s away,” Beth complained, shrugging off her short, embroidered jacket.
“Got a hunch you’ll manage for one night.”
“Damn, Michael,” she complained, opening the fridge. “I wish you wouldn’t do things like that without checking with me.”
“Like what?”
“Sending the baby-sitter home when I need her.”
“Why d’you need her, Beth?” he asked, barely able to contain his anger.
“ ’Cause I’m tired,” she said, pouring herself a glass of milk.
“Tough day at school?” he said, scrutinizing her face.
“As a matter of fact, yes.”
“How come you got home so late tonight?”
“We have finals coming up. I’ve got to present my first collection on paper.” Her brown eyes sparkled. “It’s so exciting. Next year I’ll be designing actual clothes.” She took Madison from him and began showering her with kisses. “What a cute baby!” she said, grinning. “Who’s the most gorgeous little girl in the world?” Madison rewarded her with a gummy smile. “Guess what?” Beth continued, hugging her baby. “Daddy’s going to bathe you tonight. Won’t that be fun?”
“Can’t,” he said abruptly. “Gotta go out.”
“You’re kidding?”
“No. Gotta take care of business,” he said evasively.
“You know I hate being here alone when Catherine’s away.”
“I forgot.”
“That’s not fair.”
“That’s the way it goes, babe.” A beat. “By the way, how was school today?”
“You’ve asked me that already. And besides, it’s not school, Michael,” she replied, placing Madison in her bouncy chair. “It’s a fashion institute.”
“Anything interesting happen?”
“Yeah,” she teased. “I gave a blow job to three of my teachers. Is that interesting enough for you?”
“Beth!” he said sharply. “Watch what you say.”
She giggled. “You’re such a prude!”
Nobody had ever called him that before.
“Well,” she said, “I suppose that since you’re deserting me, I’d better get this little angel to bed.”
“You do that,” he said, simmering about her blow job comment. Maybe that’s exactly what she’d done with the jerk he’d seen her leaving the institute with. His Beth with another man. He couldn’t take it.
She looked at him curiously. “Is something the matter, Michael?”
“
Why d’you think that?” he snapped.
“You seem kind of—pissed off.”
“I was thinking,” he said, regaining his composure. “I should meet some of your friends. We could all go out for dinner one night.”
“You wouldn’t like them,” she said quickly, dismissing the idea. “They’re not your kind of people.”
“They’re not my kind of people, but they’re yours, huh? Is that what you’re tellin’ me?”
“No, it’s simply that I have something in common with them.”
“And I don’t.”
“Michael,” she said mockingly, “I didn’t know you wanted to start designing clothes, too.”
He hated it when she came at him with attitude. “Hey, Beth,” he said coldly, “have a good evening. I’ll see you.”
“Please don’t be late,” she said, picking up Madison again. “If you’re very lucky, I’ll wait up.”
“Don’t bother,” he said, and left the house with no idea where he was going; he only knew he had to get out before he exploded.
Tomorrow he’d confront her.
Tonight she could suffer—let her wonder what was wrong.
He ended up at the social club, hanging out with Gus.
Bone was still on the missing list. According to Gus, he hadn’t been around for several days. “He’s probably trackin’ a job for Lucchese,” Gus said when he asked. “Why you interested?”
“Who’s interested?” Michael replied. “It’s a pleasure not to look at his ugly face.”
“Yeah,” Gus said, laughing. “He’s a plain motherfucker.”
“Where’d he get the scar on his cheek?”
“Told me his dad cut him when he was a kid.”
“Then he’s had it a long time?”
“Yup,” Gus said, getting impatient. “Are we playin’ poker, or what?”
“Count me in.”
There’d been too many shots of Jack Daniel’s, he’d lost his ass at poker, and on top of everything else he felt like crap.
When he got home he was going to ask Beth what the fuck kind of game she was playing. He’d had enough. If she was screwing around on him, she’d better confess.
Then what?
Shit! Falling in love was not for weaklings.
All he really wanted to do was hold her in his arms and stay close. She was part of his life now, with her seductive smile and sassy comebacks.