Vendetta: Lucky's Revenge (26 page)

PALM SPRINGS WAS A PLEASANT HAVEN. GINO WAS
crazy about his grandkids and spent every moment with them while his wife, Paige, sat back with an indulgent smile. Paige, who was in her fifties, was still an extremely attractive and very sexy woman.

On Sunday she and Lucky sat out by the pool, watching Gino splash with little Maria in the shallow end while baby Gino kicked his legs on a blanket under a striped beach umbrella.

“You should bring them here more often, Lucky,” Paige said, sipping a piña colada through a straw. “Gino loves spending time with them.”

Lucky gazed out at the world through black Porsche shades. “You’re right, I will.”

“It’ll make him so happy.”

Lucky picked up a Diet Coke. “Y’know, Paige,” she said reflectively, “seeing you and Gino together makes me feel good, you’re really great for him. You keep him in line, and that ain’t easy!”

Paige smiled softly. “Gino’s the love of my life,” she said simply. “I can’t imagine why it took me so long to make a decision.”

“Well, you did have a husband in the way,” Lucky pointed out.

“Yes…that was a touch difficult. However, your father is a
very
persistent man.”

“
Nooo?
” Lucky joked.

“I wish I’d known him when he was young,” Paige continued. “Or maybe not, I’d probably never have lived to tell the tale.”

Lucky agreed. “He told me the other day I should make a movie of his life. I said there wasn’t a rating that would cover it.”

They both laughed.

Gino walked over, holding Maria’s hand. “The kid an’ me, we’re goin’ shoppin’,” he announced.

“Shopping? It’s ninety-two degrees,” Paige said, her copper-colored hair hidden beneath a large straw hat. “Why not wait until later?”

Gino patted her on the thigh—a move not lost on Lucky. Ah…Gino the Ram—he’d probably still be at it when he was ninety!

“The kid an’ I are gonna buy a puppy,” Gino said, fixing Lucky with an accusing look. “It seems you promised.”

“I forgot,” Lucky said with a sudden flash of guilt.

“Gonna get a doggie, Mommy,” Maria singsonged proudly.

“Shall I come, too?” Lucky asked.

“No, kid, stay here with Paige—discuss girl things. Maria an’ me—we got a lot to talk about.”

Maria giggled uncontrollably.

“Okay, honey, let Cee Cee put you in your shorts and top, then you can go with Grandpa.”

“Doggie!” Maria screamed excitedly, jumping up and down. “We go get doggie!”

Lucky watched Maria run off to change. She was trying hard to relax and clear her mind. It was difficult letting go, but she was determined to have these few days
of peace before battle. And there
would
be a battle—for she had no intention of allowing her studio to be taken over without a fight.

Before leaving L.A. she’d tried calling Morton Sharkey at home
and
his office. He’d changed his home number, and an embarrassed secretary in his office informed her that Mr. Sharkey was unavailable.

Yeah. Sure
.

Morton Sharkey was behaving like a very naughty boy. And naughty boys got punished. Big time.

When Maria was dressed, Lucky walked out to the car with her and Gino. “Don’t choose a large dog,” she warned Gino as he lifted Maria into his blue station wagon, securing her in her own special car seat. “I can’t deal with some giant monster roaming around my house.”

Gino cocked his head to one side. “What’s the matter, kid—you don’t trust me?”

She laughed and hugged him. “Of course I do,” she said, feeling sentimental.

“Then leave it to us, we got good sense.”

When she returned to the pool, Paige asked if she wanted to go to the golf club for lunch. She declined. Much as she liked Paige and found her amusing company, sitting around at a golf club eating lunch with the ladies was not exactly her idea of a good time.

Besides, she had too much on her mind.

Nobody was getting away with taking Panther from her. Nobody.

Venus was rehearsing. Clad in a white leotard, her hair piled on top of her head, and wearing no makeup, she sweated along with her talented troupe of dancers. She loved shooting her videos—discovering the right moves, creating a mini scenario. She
regarded her videos as three-minute movies. It was always a challenge coming up with something new, raw, and exciting.

This time she was using Dorian Loui, a young Chinese choreographer recommended by Ron. Dorian had created a smoky, mysterious bar setting in which Venus would slink up and down the line from man to man, seducing them one by one, dropping an item of clothing at each stop. Exactly the kind of deal she was into. Sinful sex, glossily packaged. The secret of her brilliant career.

True to her word, she’d included Rodriguez in the video. He was man number eight—the last in line. He’d arrived at rehearsal dressed as if he were going to lunch at the Bistro Gardens. She’d taken one look and sent him out to get rehearsal clothes. Now, clad in a tank top and shorts, he was really into it. And Dorian was really into him.

“Forget it,” she whispered in Dorian’s ear during a break. “This one is definitely straight.”

“Damn!” exclaimed Dorian. “And such manly thighs!”

She hadn’t heard about her test yet. Freddie said he hoped to know by Monday. “It’s a done deal, Freddie,” she’d wanted to tell him. But she’d held back; wouldn’t do to look too cocky.

Since she’d thrown Cooper out, career-wise things seemed to be moving in a better direction. She was delighted with the video of
Sin—
it should be another controversial sensation—exactly what the public expected from her. And if she landed the role in
Gangsters
, it would give a new dimension to her career. Working with Alex Woods was a definite coup; it sent out the message that if she was good enough for Alex Woods, she was good enough for anybody.

She’d invited Ron for lunch. He arrived on the set
five minutes after Anthony, who’d appeared with her mail and phone messages.

“I believe you two know each other,” she said, throwing a towel around her neck as she strode from the set.

Ron caught up with her on the way out. “You’re a naughty little girl,” he scolded. “What
are
you trying to do?”

“You know
exactly
, Ron. Harris Von Steppe is old, boring, and controlling. You’re too young to hang out with the over-the-hill gang.”

“He’s an extremely powerful man,” Ron said.

She stopped walking and stared at him challengingly. “You’ve got a great career going, why do you feel you need a powerful man behind you?”

“Hmm…” Ron said, unable to come up with a suitable reply.

“Listen, Ron,” she continued, “I learned a lesson when I dumped Cooper. I could have stayed and accepted his infidelities. Instead, I decided to be true to myself. It works.”

“And you don’t miss Cooper?”

“No,” she lied. “Anthony’s joining us for lunch. Ask him out for a drink later. What’ve you got to lose?”

There was a pizza restaurant in the shopping complex beneath the studio. Everyone convened there for lunch.

Venus commandeered a corner table with Ron, Anthony, and Dorian. “Three fags and a superstar,” she joked. “Who’s the odd one out?”

“It’s always you,” Ron remarked sagely.

“Talking of odd ones out,” she said, “guess who turned up at my house last night?”

“Let me see,” Ron said, waspishly. “Pacino? Stallone? De Niro? Stop me when I’m getting warm.”

“Try Emilio.”

“He’s back?”

“Unfortunately. I had to give him a thousand bucks to get rid of him.”

“Mistake.”

“He wouldn’t have left otherwise. I told him I was calling the police, and he said, ‘Go ahead.’ I didn’t know what to do.”

Ron nodded. “The truth is, you’re screwed. If you let him back in, he sells everything about you to the tabloids, and if you shut him out, he’s still got a story.”

“Maybe my lawyer can get him to sign a release saying he can’t sell anything to the press if I pay him a couple of thousand bucks a month. What do you think?” she asked hopefully.

“I think Emilio is about as trustworthy as a rabid dog.”

Rodriguez appeared at the door of the restaurant, pausing for effect.

“Take a look at
that
,” Ron said, staring admiringly.

“
That
, my dear,” Venus said with a possessive smile, “is Rodriguez.
My
Rodriguez.”

Lucky awoke with a start. She’d fallen asleep by the pool. Gino was still out with Maria, Cee Cee had taken baby Gino inside for his nap, and Paige had gone off to the golf club for lunch.

God! Falling asleep in the middle of the day. What was happening to her?

The sun was impossibly hot. She stood up, feeling slightly dizzy, and dove into the pool, swimming several lengths before surfacing.

This was insane. Her life was falling to pieces and she was sitting around a pool in Palm Springs getting a tan. When Gino arrived home, she’d tell him she’d been summoned to an urgent meeting in L.A. and had to leave immediately. The children could stay, there was no need for them to rush back.

Boogie hadn’t called. It was unlike him to lag behind
on an assignment. He’d better have plenty to tell her tomorrow, because she was getting extremely restless.

She got out of the pool and went over to the bar where she fixed herself a Scotch on the rocks.

Great! Now she was drinking in the middle of the day. Could things get any worse?

Picking up her purse, she extracted a cigarette, and without really thinking, opened the zippered compartment where she kept the photographs of Lennie she’d found in his hotel room.

She took them out and stared at them.

Why torture yourself?
a little voice screamed in her head.
Why not tear them up and throw them away?

No. There was something about the pictures. Something not quite right…

She kept staring at them. What was it that bothered her? Was it the blond? The way Lennie was standing? He seemed almost startled as the blond wrapped her naked body around him.

It was time to find out exactly what Lennie had done on the day before the accident. She had a feeling it was important to know.

Alex sat at an outdoor patio table at The Four Seasons with Dominique and Tin Lee. He didn’t know how he’d gotten there. Somehow it all seemed to have been arranged without him. “You’re taking your mother to lunch on Sunday,” Lili had informed him. “With Tin Lee.”

If he was forced to see Dominique, he may as well have Tin Lee along, so he’d agreed.

When he’d arrived, both women were already sitting at a table, chatting away. His mother appeared quite cheerful for a change.

Tin Lee was positively glowing. “Alex,” she said, jumping up and kissing him on the cheek.

“You look tired,” Dominique said, her critical eye sweeping over him.

Ah, yes, that was his mother—quick with the compliments as usual.

“I’m in preproduction,” he pointed out. “There’s always too much to do. I need another ten hours a day.”

“I’ve left several messages over the last few days,” Dominique said, concerned only with herself.

Didn’t she listen to him? “Been busy,” he explained again, signaling the waiter and ordering a vodka martini.

“It’s lunchtime,” Dominique pointed out, crimson lips pressed together in silent disapproval.

“Hey—guess what?” he said dryly. “I’m over twenty-one.”

“And you look it,” she responded.

Tin Lee placed her hand on his arm. “Alex, it is so good to be here with you,” she said. “I’ve missed you.”

“You see,” said Dominique as if she were personally responsible for Tin Lee’s feelings. “The poor girl has missed you.”

“Thank you for the beautiful roses,” Tin Lee said. “And your nice note. I’m sorry you had to stay in Las Vegas. If you had asked me, Alex, I would have flown up there to keep you company.”

He wasn’t impressed that his mother and transient girlfriend were obviously bonding.

“Tin Lee and I have been talking,” Dominique said. “Did you know, Alex, that she comes from a very good family in Saigon? Her father was a surgeon.”

“Before the troubles,” Tin Lee said quickly. “I was a baby when the troubles began.”

“That’s irrelevant, dear,” Dominique said, quieting her with a look. “The point is, you are well bred.”

Tin Lee nodded. The waiter came over with menus. Alex ordered eggs, potato pancakes, and smoked salmon.

“Fattening,” Dominique said disapprovingly. “You’re putting on weight, Alex. You should be on a diet, you’re of an age where you could get heart disease.”

Jesus Christ! Why did he have to put up with this shit?

Somehow or other he managed to get through lunch.

When the waiter served coffee, Tin Lee stood up and said, “I’m going to the little girls’ room.”

As soon as she left the table, his mother started. He was expecting the usual complaints. Instead, she said, “Alex, you’ve finally made an excellent choice.”

“Excuse me?” he said, by this time on his third martini.

She patted her lips with a napkin, leaving a deep crimson stain. “Tin Lee is an extremely smart girl from a good family.”

Was he hearing right? “Huh?”

“It’s time you were married. This is the girl for you.”

Was she fucking
crazy
?

“I’ve no intention of getting married,” he said, almost choking on his martini.

“You’re forty-seven,” Dominique admonished. “People are starting to talk.”

“Yeah? What’re they talking about?” he asked belligerently.

“A woman at my bridge club asked me the other day if you were gay.”

“Gay!” he exclaimed. “Are you fucking out of your mind?”

“Kindly do not use foul language in front of me,” she said haughtily. “I do not appreciate it.”

“Listen,” he said, endeavoring to remain calm. “I am
not
getting married, so banish that thought. Besides, what happened to ‘All Asian women are hookers’?”

“Tin Lee is a
very
nice girl,” Dominique repeated. “You could do a lot worse.”