"Can we go fishing?" she asked very quietly, very calmly.
A while later, when he got over his shock, her father sat her down and talked to her in a low, quiet voice. "You wil tel nobody what happened here today, do you understand me?
You wil tel nobody, because if you do, they wil put you in prison and throw away the key and you wil never be free again." He took her by the shoulders and shook her vigorously. "Deena, are you listening to me? Do you understand what I'm saying?" Blankly she nodded. "Yes, Father. Can we go fishing?"
He shook his head in despair.
The woman in his bed was a hitchhiker he'd picked up earlier that day. Nobody had seen him with her. There was nothing to connect the two. He made Deena help him wrap her in the sheets until she was nothing more than a bundle of blood-soaked linens, then they wrapped the sheets in plastic and placed the body in the trunk of his car.
When it was dark, they took her down to the river. Her father weighted the body with bricks, and final y they threw it in the cold, dark water.
"This never happened," her father said fiercely. "Do you understand me, Deena? This never happened."
"Very wel , Father," she replied. "Can we go fishing tomorrow?"
"Yes," he said.
Neither of them had ever mentioned the incident again.
Deena could afford to be patient. She knew Venus Maria had to come home eventual y.
And when she did, it would al be over.
Nobody crossed Deena Akveld.
Chapter 102
Lonnie prowled around the house a few times. He had no idea where Lucky was, or where anybody else was, for that matter. Even Miko had failed to appear. Some reunion, he thought rueful y.
He raided the fridge, discovering cold roast beef and potato salad, which he wolfed down.
Now that he was back he couldn't wait to talk to Lucky. But it seemed he was going to have to. He should have cal ed and warned her he was on his way. Shit! Dumb move.
By eleven o'clock he was tired. He decided he'd do what she had done to him in New York, so he entered their bedroom, stripped off his clothes, and got into bed. Before doing so, he removed the light bulb so she wouldn't be able to spot him when she came home. This way he'd surprise her. She'd get into bed, and there he'd be!
He figured he'd lie down and close his eyes for a few moments, but before long he fel into a deep sleep.
Eventual y it had to happen--Venus Maria spotted Emilio before Ron was able to have him and his loud girlfriend removed. She stared at the offending couple across the room and real y began to steam. "Ron. What the hel is he doing here? Get him out. And fast. He's a sniveling sneak. I never want to set eyes on his fat face again!"
Ron summoned two security guards and pointed out Emilio and Rita.
"Get rid of them discreetly," he instructed the guards--which would have been O. K. if Emilio had harbored any intention of going discreetly.
But no--this was not to be. "Get your hands off me!" Emilio yel ed, when, after trying to persuade him to leave quietly, the two guards shifted into action.
People turned to observe.
"Excuse me a moment." Suddenly Venus Maria jumped up from her table and marched over to them. She glared at her brother.
Rita offered a futile little wave. "Hi, my name's Rita. Emilio said it was O. K. for us to come here tonight. I'm a big fan.
I'm--"
Venus silenced her with a steely glare. "Emilio," she said in a cold voice, "get the fuck out of my party. And do it now."
"Hey--little sis--what've I done?" Emilio whined plaintively.
"Nothin' so terrible, huh?" He added a hurt expression. "I'm your brother. We're family. It's like we should be close. In faCt I think we--"
She hauled back and slapped him across the face. "That's for sel ing. Me out," she said fiercely. "Goodbye, Emilio.
Don't bother coming back."
Emilio snapped. Public humiliation was not for him. "Who the fuck you think you're talkin' to?" he yel ed, red in the face. "You ain't no big star to me. I know al about you--an'
I'm gonna spit it out to the highest fuckin' bidder. So watch out, little sis--I'l get your high-an'-mighty ass. An' I'l get it good."
Venus Maria turned her back on him. "Take him away," she ordered the guards.
They attempted to grab Emilio, but he shook them off. "I can walk outta here," he said harshly. "But that don't mean I won't be back."
"Wel ," commented Ron, watching Emilio depart, a pathetic Rita trailing behind. "I guess that takes care of him." He gestured to the watching guests. "Let the party continue."
Then he turned to Venus Maria. "Are you al right?" he asked sympathetical y.
She nodded. "Hey--one less brother to worry about. He's history."
Lucky, Cooper, Venus, and Martin al began to leave the party at the same time. Ron escorted them to the door.
"You real y pul ed this off," Venus Maria said affectionately, throwing her arms around his neck. "And my presents--what an amazing haul. I can't wait to rip 'em open!"
"Come by in the morning and we'l do it together," Ron suggested, dying to take a look at her gifts. "Don't you dare touch anything. I know you!" "As if I would."
"Honestly! It was the best night of my life, Ron. I had the greatest time."
Lucky agreed. "Fantastic party."
"Apart from Emilio," Ron said with a grimace. "Forget it."
Venus Maria shook her head. "He's nothing."
"I notice it didn't take your father long to get connected,"
Cooper said dryly, looking at Lucky.
She smiled. "Ah . . . the great Gino. In the good old days his nickname was Gino the Ram. He's probably been connected more times than you, Cooper." Everyone laughed..
"I do believe he was coming on to me earlier," Venus Maria said. "He's got those sexy dark eyes. Wow! He sure must've been something when he was young."
"Oh, yes," Lucky agreed, nodding.
"So, how are we doing this?" Cooper asked. "Maybe I'l take Martin. Lucky, you go with Venus. And Ron, you can end up with whomever you want."
They al laughed again.
"Seriously, though--" Cooper put his arm around Lucky's shoulders--"you're not driving back to the beach by yourself.
I'l take you."
"I'm perfectly al right. I've got a car and driver somewhere."
"I said, I'l take you," Cooper repeated.
She felt particularly vulnerable. And there was something about Cooper. . . . "Wel --as long as you don't expect me to ask you in for coffee."
"What is it with al you women lately? I take Venus home, she tel s me nothing's going to happen. Now I escort you, and before we're even in the car you're giving me the same speech. Have I lost my touch or what?"
"I'm a married woman."
"Yeah, I can real y see your husband around al the time."
"That's not the way it is."
"So I'l drive you home. Nothing's going to happen."
Once upon a time plenty would have happened. Cooper was an incredibly attractive man. But Lennie was stil on her mind.
"Where's Ken?" Ron looked around peevishly. One of the parking valets offered the information that Ken had left with Antonio.
Ron did not take the news wel . "Are you sure?" "Yeah--I know who Ken is. They were in Antonio's Cadil ac."
Venus Maria sensed Ron's pain. "Just remember--he was never good enough for you," she whispered, squeezing his arm.
Ron tried to hide the hurt he was feeling. "You're right," he said. "I spent far too much money on him. The next fortunate contender wil have to be richer and older. I want to be taken care of, for once."
"Quite right," Venus Maria concurred. "Go for it, Ron. You deserve the best."
Martin was waiting for her by the limousine."
She glanced over at him and then back to Ron. "Would you like me to stay?" she asked. "I wil if you want."
"No. I'm a big boy. I can handle it," he replied, putting on a cheery face. "You run alo
ng. Mr. New York is waiting."
"Let him wait," she said recklessly. "I don't care." "Happy birthday," Ron said, 'kissing her on the mouth. "We've both come a long way."
"We certainly have," she agreed, before joining Martin.
Meanwhile, Lucky got into Cooper's Mercedes. Ron turned and walked slowly back into his house. As far as he was concerned the party was over.
When Johnny Romano was horny there was no stopping him. In his limo on the way home he was al over Warner.
She attempted to push him off, but he was having none of it.
"Spread 'em, baby," he said, and then laughed at his own joke. "Isn't that what you say to al the criminals? Spread
'em."
"Johnny, don't." She attempted to keep her dignity, but her skirt was so short he had it up around her waist with no trouble.
With one hand he expertly removed her panties. "What about the driver?" she objected.
"He ain't watching," Johnny said, thinking to himself, He's seen it al before.
And then with one quick lunge, he was on top of her, thrusting away as the limo proceeded down Sunset Boulevard.
On the one hand, Warner enjoyed it. On the other, she kept thinking, Oh, God, I hope we're not pul ed over and stopped. The embarrassment of being arrested for doing it in a car would be too much to bear.
"If that little rat writes anything, I'l sue his ass," Martin muttered as the limousine sped down the hil . "Who?"
Venus Maria asked, snuggling up to him. "That asshole Bobo Adam Grant, or whatever his name is."
"Bobo's harmless."
"He's about as harmless as Johnny Romano's cock!"
"Martin!" She broke up laughing. "I never knew you could be so funny."
"Neither did I," he said grimly. "Look, I may as wel tel you, I made Deena a firm promise that I wouldn't see you this trip.
If Bobo prints anything, she's going to be mad as hel ."
"So what? You're leaving her, aren't you?"
"Yes, but I'd like it to be amicable. And I don't intend to end up giving her half my money."
Is that al he ever thought about--money? "Legal y you wouldn't have to do that, would you??'
"No, but once a woman gets mad she gives her lawyer incentive to kil . I made her a promise, and I suppose I should have kept it."
"A little late to be thinking of that now, Martin." "You're right."
"I'l tel you what," she suggested. "I'l cal Bobo in the morning and give him an exclusive on something else. I'm sure he'l listen to me if I ask him to lay off us. Does that please you?" *
"Yes. But it stil pisses me off. I warned Ron, no press."
"Nobody regards Bobo as press. He's like part of the scene."
"He's not part of my scene. What's he doing out here anyway? He's usual y in New York."
"Show Bobo a party and he's there."
. The limousine drew smoothly into her driveway. "You should have a better place than this," Martin remarked.
"There are no electric gates. Anyone could fol ow you in."
"I have an alarm system."
"That's not enough protection for someone like you. And it's certainly not enough for me. Tomorrow you'l start looking for a new house. My birthday present to you."
Didn't he realize she was a working woman? "I don't have time. You find one."
"Why don't we look together? I'l have a real estate person line up some suitable properties. We can do it next weekend."
She wasn:t sure she wanted to move. She liked her house.
"You're staying tonight, aren't you?" she asked. "Of course."
They dismissed the limo and entered the house. "So, Mr.
Swanson." She turned to face him. "It's my birthday. What have you got for me?"
Martin smiled. "What haven't I got for you. Come here."
She walked slowly over to him, putting her arms around his neck and pul ing him very close.
He managed to peel down the top of her dress, touching her breasts.
"Oooh, I love the way you do that." She shivered with anticipation. "Touch me like it's my birthday. And don't let it happen too soon. Let's take our time. Tonight I want to do it slowly. Very, very .. . slowly."
He began to kiss her in earnest.
She gasped softly and fel back onto the couch. "Unzip me."
He did as she asked. Underneath she wore nothing but minuscule black bikini panties.
Martin shrugged his way out of his jacket, loosened his tie, and bent to kiss her again.
Neither of them heard Deena enter the room.
Venus Maria threw her arms back over her head and sighed voluptuously. "Oooh, Martin, I real y get off on the way your mouth feels. I adore it when you touch me. . . ."
Neither of them heard the click as Deena took the safety catch off the gun.
Venus Maria reached for his pants and pul ed down the zipper. "Satisfaction . . . guaranteed . . ." she teased, releasing him.
"Oh, God, I love you," he groaned, as she began to please him with her tongue.
Martin's words struck Deena like a lethal blow. He loved her?
Martin loved The Bitch?
Impossible.
Unthinkable.
The ultimate betrayal.
"I've been waiting to hear you say that," Venus Maria murmured softly. "Do you mean it, Martin? Do you real y mean it?"
"Oh, yes, baby, oh, yes."
The sound of a gunshot drowned out any further conversation.
Chapter 103
Atte you're not driving fast enough," Lucky said.
"Are we in a hurry?" Cooper asked, glancing over at her, a quizzical expression on his handsome face. "It's one o'clock in the morning. I have to be back at the studio'in six hours."
"So do I. Wouldn't it be convenient if I stayed the night?"
She began to laugh. "Didn't I tel you? No staying the night.
No coming in for coffee. No nothing. I'm a married lady."
He reached out and placed his hand lightly on her knee.
"You're a very beautiful married lady."
"Let me ask you something," she said, deftly removing his hand.
"Go ahead."
"Do you always feel obliged to make a pass at every woman you find yourself alone with?"
He smiled. "Why not? When you've got my kind of reputation, women expect it. If I don't make a move, women begin to wonder what's wrong with them. And the last thing I want is you thinking you're unattractive."
She burst out laughing again. "Cooper, I can assure you I'm a very secure person. You don't have to worry about me."
"Oh, but I do."
"Such a gentleman!"
"Thank you."
"Anyway," she said, "I'm very intuitive." "Yes?"
"And I know you like Venus."
"She's my friend," he said defensively.
"She's your friend and you like her a lot, right?" "Venus is with Martin."
"Oh, yeah, he's a real prize."
"They're very happy."
"Come on, Cooper. You and I know it's not a match made in heaven. How long before he starts screwing around again? That's his way of operating, isn't it? Make a conquest and on to the next. A lot of high-powered businessmen are like that. It's the chase that turns them on."
"Maybe," he said careful y.
"Listen, trust me, I know what I'm talking about. I used to be like that myself."
"Like what?"
"Oh, you know--the thril of the conquest was everything, and then on to the next. My father was always tel ing me I conducted myself just like a guy. If a man came along I wanted, I'd have him. It was the don't-cal -me-I'l -cal -you syndrome. I didn't want to get involved. Of course, that was in the good old seventies, when it was safe to sleep around. Now not only do you have to get a Dun and Bradstreet on them, you also have to know their medical history for the last seven years. Not to mention keeping your favorite condom manufacturer in business!"
"You're a straight talker, aren't you?"
"Sure, it's the only way."
"It's refreshing."
"Thanks."
"In fact--"
"Yes, Cooper?"
"Can I cal you one of the boys?"
She laughed. "Sure. Cal me anything you like. Lennie and I wil be your new best friends."
"I'd like that."
If he ever comes back, she thought with a deep sigh. The Mercedes roared down the Pacific Coast Highway.
"Make a left here," she instructed. "The house is in the Colony."
Cooper made the turn and asked if Gino was returning home.
"I sincerely doubt it," she said. "When he and Paige get at it there's no tel ing when they'l stop." "You mean . . . at his age?"
"You should be so fortunate."
"Hmmni."
"Thinking it over, you probably wil be."
He pul ed the car to a stop in front of her house. "O. K.," she said firmly, "you can come in for a cup of coffee, but that's al you're getting."
He smiled. "I appreciate your generous offer, but I'm not taking you up on it."
She smiled back. "Good night, Cooper."
He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "Good night, Lucky."
She got out of the car, walked over to the front door, waved and let herself in.
Cooper waved back, revved the engine, and took off.
Neither of them noticed the black sedan slide past and stop a few yards down the street.
She hadn't been inside the house two minutes when the doorbel rang. Thinking it was Cooper, she flung open the door.
She had no chance to defend herself. Link grabbed her before she could scream, roughly covering her mouth with his arm.
Frantical y she tried to bite him.
He hauled back and smashed her in the face with his other fist.
Lucky slumped into unconsciousness without a sound.
Chapter 104
Rita ranted and raved al the way home. "I've never been so embarrassed. How could you do this to me? There were important connections at that party, Emilio, and you got us thrown out. How could you?"
"Don't worry, you'l read al about the dumb party in Truth and Fact," Emilio said sourly. "I'm going to expose every one of these uptight assholes. Show 'em up for the phony bums they al are. Nobody throws Emilio Sierra out."