Goddess of Vengeance - Jackie Collins [149]
‘What would that be?’
‘You ever done crack, Arnie? ’Cause if you never did, then I’m gonna take you somewhere you ain’t never gonna forget.’ She pulled on his arm, dragging him away from the suitcase stuffed full of money. Leaving it unlocked and open. ‘Let’s go, big boy. This’ll be a night t’remember.’
* * *
Crouching in the bushes near Billy’s villa alongside Ellie and her long-lens camera, Kev experienced a pang of guilt. He and Billy went way back, they were longtime friends, and now he was about to sell him out.
But hey – it was all Billy’s fault. Billy had decided not to trust him, and that was okay. No trust between friends meant all was fair.
‘We could be stuck here all night,’ Kev muttered, not relishing the thought.
‘Okay with me,’ Ellie replied, perfectly cheerful. ‘Whoever is in there with him has to come out eventually, and when they do, I’ve got the shot.’
‘You’ve done this before, haven’t you?’ Kev said, wondering when he should make his move. After all, this was Vegas, and tonight he was definitely getting laid.
‘A few times,’ Ellie replied, a tad sarcastic. ‘Learned from my dad. Now he was one of the greats. He shadowed Jackie O. Captured Elvis fat and thin. Michael Jackson in his pjs. O.J. on the run. Diana and Dodi. Oh yes, my dad nailed it every time. He taught me that the trick is to lie dormant until the exact right moment, then go for it. Kinda like bird-watching. The subject doesn’t even know. Night vision camera, sweet lens. It’s a trip.’
‘I dunno who he’s with in there,’ Kev said for the third time. ‘Could be Venus for all I know. We ran into her earlier.’
‘What a shot that’d be,’ Ellie said, adjusting her camera position. ‘Front page everywhere. Oh my!’
‘He’s been seeing Willow Price,’ Kev offered.
‘Old news. Besides, everyone knows she’s a pussy hound.’
‘Then there was this young girl in L.A.’
‘Young is good,’ Ellie said matter-of-factly. ‘Or black. Or a porn star. The best would be if he pulled a Charlie Sheen, always a winner.’
‘Not Billy,’ Kev said surely. ‘That’s not his scene.’
‘No? One thing I’ve learned in this business, anything is possible.’
* * *
‘I really don’t wanna let you go,’ Billy said, walking Max to the door, his arm around her waist.
‘And I really don’t want to go,’ she responded, reaching up to playfully touch the dimple in his chin.
He opened the door, and they stood there, bathed in the moonlight, not ready to part company.
Billy leaned forward and kissed her on the lips, a long sexy kiss. ‘Night, Green Eyes,’ he said. ‘See you tomorrow.’
‘I guess I should make up with a nickname for you,’ she said, reluctant to leave. ‘How about Dimples?’
‘How about that sounds like somebody’s pet monkey,’ Billy said, snorting with mirth. ‘Dimples, my ass. Think of something macho.’
Giggling, Max wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘What then?’
‘You’ll come up with something,’ he said, hugging her affectionately.
‘Oh yes, I will.’
‘Oh yes, you will.’
And neither of them heard the steady click of the camera lens hidden in the bushes.
* * *
The euphoria that overcame Armand was like nothing he’d ever experienced before. Sharing hits from a crack pipe with these people – his new best friends – was magical. They were his friends.
No. Better than that. They were his loyal subjects, here to do his bidding. Here to help him achieve greatness.
Yes. Greatness. FOR ARMAND JORDAN WAS THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING.
And when he was the ruler, he would transport everyone to Akramshar where they would all live in harmony and peace.
He stared at the two women – Luscious and Seducta. These women were not whores, they were beautiful creatures. Exquisite. He wanted to fuck them. He wanted to fuck them both. He wanted to fuck them forever.
They would all float together in a sea of happiness. Their bodies would be filled with wonderment. It’s the way it was supposed to be.
His heart was on a crazy trip of its own. It was beating so fast he could hardly keep up. And yet the rhythm was comforting, it made