Goddess of Vengeance - Jackie Collins [95]
This street was turning out to be a dead end.
* * *
‘So?’ Bobby said, joining M.J. in the coffee shop.
‘So?’ M.J. retaliated, stirring his coffee, a blank expression on his face.
‘You know what I’m asking,’ Bobby said, signalling the waitress who came hurrying over.
‘Yeah,’ M.J. agreed. ‘But I don’t got an answer yet.’
‘Are you telling me you haven’t talked to Cassie about having the baby?’ Bobby said, as the waitress filled his cup with strong black coffee. ‘You know you gotta do it.’
‘Uh . . . you could say we’re kinda at an impasse,’ M.J. admitted, staring miserably at the table.
‘Impasse not good,’ Bobby stated.
M.J. gave a weary sigh. ‘Tell me about it.’
‘You gotta grow a pair,’ Bobby insisted. ‘It’s time.’
‘Comin’ from you, that’s sweet.’
‘What does that mean?’ Bobby said, a frown creasing his forehead.
‘Since you hooked up with Denver, the clubs have taken second place,’ M.J. complained. ‘You’re never here. An’ you’re sure as crap not in New York.’
Bobby could not believe what he was hearing. ‘You gotta be shittin’ me,’ he said, still frowning.
‘Just tellin’ it like it is,’ M.J. responded.
‘Goddamnit, M.J. I was here three days ago jerking off the Russians. You got a short memory.’
‘Big of you to drop in.’
‘Fuck you. What’s with the attitude?’
‘So now I got attitude?’ M.J. said, losing his cool. ‘I’m here every night bustin’ my stones, while you’re camped out in L.A. cozyin’ up with your girlfriend. We’re supposed to be partners.’
‘Jesus,’ Bobby said, annoyed that M.J. was taking his problems out on him. ‘Where the fuck is this coming from?’
‘I dunno,’ M.J. admitted, shrugging helplessly. ‘I’m gettin’ buried here. Don’t mean to rag on you.’
‘Look,’ Bobby said understandingly, ‘I get it. You’re under pressure, you need a break.’
‘What I’d like to do is take Cassie on vacation, get into her head an’ convince her to do the right thing.’
‘Then you gotta do it.’
‘I want this baby, Bobby, an’ I know I hav’ta tell her exactly how I feel before it’s too late.’
‘Then like I said – do it.’
‘I was thinking we could take off after Max’s party. Maybe hit the Bahamas.’
‘Cool with me.’
‘You’ll handle things here?’
‘Sure,’ Bobby said, mentally cancelling all his next week’s plans. ‘And as a bonus – you can even use my plane.’
‘Shit!’ M.J. said. ‘You certainly know how to throw it back.’
‘Oh yeah,’ Bobby said, with a wry grin. ‘I certainly do.’
‘Thanks, man,’ M.J. said, relieved. ‘I’ve been going crazy.’
‘Once again, I get it.’
‘How about dinner tonight?’ M.J. suggested. ‘Just you, me, Cassie, an’ Denver.’
Bobby hesitated for only a second. M.J. was going through a personal crisis, and when a friend was in any kind of trouble, he was there.
‘Sure,’ he said, wondering how Denver would react to this sudden change of plans. ‘How about eight o’clock at the steak-house?’
‘We’ll be there.’
* * *
Enjoying another brief casino visit, still closely followed by her bodyguards, Venus ran into Alex Wood on the casino floor. They had worked together in the past and enjoyed a cordial relationship, even though they’d fought like lions on the set of the movie Alex had directed her in.
‘Alex,’ Venus said, throwing him one of her well-cultivated sultry looks. ‘Meet my friend, Jorge. He’s from Brazil.’
‘Your what?’ Alex said rudely, his eyes raking over the studly young Brazilian. ‘Who is he – your son?’
‘Alex!’ Venus scolded, mock cross. ‘Behave yourself!’
‘I would if I could, but you always bring out the bad in me.’
‘Do I now?’ Venus replied, flirting slightly because Alex was such a brilliant director and she wouldn’t mind working with him again.
‘You know damn well you do. Remember our fight-a-minute movie?’
‘How could I ever forget?’ she sighed, playing with a lock of her platinum-blonde hair. ‘You cast Billy in it. Thanks a lot.’
Alex gave a twisted grin. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘Well,’ she said, with a half-smile, ‘I suppose you weren’t to know I’d be foolish enough to turn around and marry him.’
‘Jesus