Illusions of Love

chapter 39



Vince looked around the club as it started to fill up with cast and crew – everyone from producers to casting agents, movie stars to make-up girls, all of them excited and ready to enjoy the wrap party for a movie the making of which hadn’t exactly been plain sailing.

Epic @ The Amber Palace was – as its name rightly suggested – the biggest club within the hotel complex. It was a place that was both contemporary yet somehow cosy, despite its size, and it was a club that was fast becoming one of the ultra-fashionable places to be seen in Vegas. With its brown, cream and dark red colour scheme interspersed with elements of chrome and black, oversized sofas and mirrored walls, Vince had managed to mix modern with “old school” to create a place that attracted both the young and the not-so-young – people who just wanted a good time with a great mix of music that spanned the brand new to the classics, hip-hop to disco, rock to romantic ballads, depending on the mood. But he had the best DJ’s in the state of Nevada to call that one.

Along with innovative lighting and a drinks menu that definitely stood out from the crowd, Epic also had the added benefit of an outdoor terrace and bar area. This space boasted low-level lighting that gave out a slightly more relaxed atmosphere, but there was still very much a party-feel to the place due to the multitude of concealed speakers hidden within the palm trees and exotic plants of all colours and varieties that meant the music spilled outside for those who wished to party out in the open air.

Vince was very proud of this club. It was one of his favourite places to hang out, out of all the bars and clubs in all of his hotels. He just hoped tonight would be a great night, a night to mark the end of a rough time for all of them. A time to, maybe, kick-start some new beginnings. God knows they needed them.

‘Hey, kiddo. I didn’t see you there,’ Vince smiled as Charley walked over to him, looking elegantly fashionable in a beautiful knee-length turquoise dress that complimented both her tanned skin and her long dark hair that fell down her back in a cascade of curls. ‘Oh, boy, you look stunning. You look absolutely stunning!’

Charley smiled too, wanting to reach out and take his hand but she held back, still a little nervous after everything that had happened, still wary of showing too much affection towards him in case he thought it just a touch too early.

‘What’s the matter?’ Vince asked, sensing something was up. ‘Everything okay?’

She nodded, breathing an inward sigh of relief as he reached out and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her against him.

‘You still worried about Jimmy?’

She nodded, leaning into Vince. ‘Just because he’s been lying low for a while doesn’t mean to say he’s forgotten all about me.’ She took a couple of beats, trying to decide whether or not to tell Vince about the recent phone call she’d received from Jimmy Cash. Was tonight the right time? Was any time the right time?

‘Come on, something’s on your mind and I told you, didn’t I? I told you to talk to me, Charley. Don’t bottle it up, don’t hide things from me. I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s on your mind.’

She sighed, pulling away from him slightly. ‘He called me.’

‘Who did? Jimmy? He called you? When?’

‘A couple of days ago.’

‘A couple of… And? What did he say to you? Come on, Charley. What did he say?’

‘He said something about it almost being over… that we should all take care…’ She trailed off, not knowing what else she could say.

‘Is that all? Charley? Look at me, honey. Is that all he said?’

Charley nodded. ‘That’s all he said. What did he mean, Vince?’

Vince shrugged. ‘I have no idea. But, look, there’s not much we can do tonight, okay? Security are everywhere, nobody’s gonna get in here that shouldn’t be in here, I promise you that.’

She couldn’t help smiling. ‘If your name’s not on the list you’re not getting in, is that it?’

‘Yeah. Something like that,’ Vince laughed, pulling her in for another hug, kissing the top of her head as his expression changed slightly. This wasn’t over yet, that seemed more than apparent but, like he’d told Charley, there wasn’t much they could do tonight, apart from alert security and ask them to be twice as vigilant. But the one thing he didn’t want was for Charley to see he was concerned. She needed to think he was on top of this. She needed to know he was capable of stopping it all. ‘Let’s just try and have a great night tonight, okay? We can worry about everything else in the morning.’ He pulled back slightly, kissing her quickly and giving her what he hoped was a confident smile. ‘We’ll sort this, Charley, I promise you. We’ll sort this out.’

‘Okay,’ she smiled, kissing him back, believing every word he said because she trusted him. She loved him. ‘Let’s just have a great night.’



***



‘Wow! Layla’s pregnant, huh?’ India sighed, sitting down on the stairs. They were just about to leave for the party when Layla had called her with the news, wanting her to hear it from her and Michael before they announced it publicly, once they were back home in L.A.

Dominic sat down next to her. ‘Does it bother you?’

‘No!’ She didn’t miss a beat when answering that question. The only thing she felt was surprise, surprise that it didn’t bother her. ‘No. It doesn’t bother me. In fact, I’m relieved.’ She looked at Dominic, smiling as she reached out to take his hand. ‘I’m relieved because this means that, finally, he’s got someone else to focus on – another child, a new life… a whole new start...’

He squeezed her hand, leaning in to kiss her mouth slowly. ‘A whole new start for all of us, India.’

She looked at him, into those beautiful eyes that were still just a touch too much like his father’s, but she guessed that was something she was still having to get used to. ‘Everything’s so complicated though, Dominic… finding out Michael’s your dad, getting involved with me…’

He reached out to gently stroke her warm cheek, leaning in for another slow, deep kiss. ‘A new start, India. And anyway, if everything was easy it would be boring, wouldn’t it?’

She couldn’t help smiling, closing her eyes as he held her tight and suddenly she wished they didn’t have to go to this party. She didn’t really feel in the mood anymore. It was nothing to do with the news she’d just heard, she was fine with that. Michael making a new start with a new family – once upon a time that would have been news that would have floored her but now, well, it could only be a good thing in the long run. But right now, India just wanted to be alone with Dominic. And maybe that was a knock-on reaction to the news, but she wasn’t going to waste time analysing it. She needed to be alone with Dominic to try and work out just what it was they had together because, despite everything she felt for him, she still wasn’t all that sure. Her feelings were all over the place and she needed to work out why. Before things went too far.

‘Come on, beautiful, ‘ Dominic sighed, still holding her hand as he stood up, pulling her up with him. ‘We’d better get to this party.’

‘Do we have to?’ India groaned, trailing behind him like some petulant child.

‘Honey, we’re the stars of the show. We don’t show up, not really gonna be much of a party, is it?’

‘I hope you said that with your tongue very firmly in your cheek,’ India smiled, checking her reflection in the mirror one last time before Dominic opened the door, held out his hand for her to take again, and led her out into the Las Vegas night, and a party they’d never forget…



***



Kenny leant back against the wall, swigging from a bottle of imported beer, killing time more than anything because he didn’t really intend to stay too long at this party. He wasn’t exactly in a party mood, and although it was the wrap party for his best friend’s film, he didn’t feel much like hanging around watching her acting like some love-sick puppy around Dominic MacDonald all night. No, he planned to stick around for a while, show his face, let India know he was here supporting her, then he was going to sneak away and check out some of his favourite Vegas haunts.

Taking another long swig of beer he noticed India arrive, hand-in-hand with Dominic. She was all smiles, and she looked amazing in a simple yet stunning outfit of skinny black jeans, skyscraper-heeled ankle boots and a white sleeveless off-one-shoulder top, her blond hair piled up on top of her head in that messy-yet-styled look that was practically her trademark. She looked like a beautiful rock chick – his beautiful rock chick. Or that’s what she should’ve been, anyway. If he’d been strong enough to fight for her almost twenty years ago.

He shook those thoughts from his head as he saw her run over to him, putting his beer down on the ledge behind him and opening his arms for her to run into, picking her up and swinging her round.

‘Hey, sexy! How’s the Queen of Rom Coms doing tonight then?’

She straightened her top as he put her down, leaning over to kiss him quickly on the lips. ‘I’m doing fine. You heard about Michael and Layla?’

‘The baby? Yeah, Reece told me. Is that…’ He looked at India as she started fiddling with her leather wrist cuffs. ‘Is that, good news?’

She looked at him, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. ‘Yeah. It’s good news. Come on, Kenny. If these past few weeks have taught me anything it’s taught me that the past really does have to be laid to rest now.’

‘All of it?’

She looked at him again, leaning back against the wall beside him. ‘No. Not all of it. You know which bits I’m talking about.’

‘Yeah. I do.’ He looked over towards the bar where Dominic and Reece were talking. ‘So, is everything okay then? With Mr Movie Star over there?’

She looked over to where he indicated, saying nothing for a few seconds as she watched Dominic. He truly was one of the most incredible-looking men she’d ever laid eyes on, but did she love him? She’d told him she did, but did she really love him? And did it actually matter, in the grand scheme of things? After all, look where love had got her in the past. Maybe she’d just gotten sucked in by everything that had happened here in Vegas over the past couple of months, let her feelings run away with her.

‘Everything’s fine,’ she replied, not entirely comfortable with the fact she was feeling a touch unsettled all of a sudden. Maybe she just needed a drink to relax her.

‘Just ‘fine’? You mean, you’re not hearing those violins or experiencing ridiculous stomach somersaults every time he looks at you?’ Kenny was aware he was being slightly flippant, but he hadn’t been able to stop himself. He could read India like a book, and he was just curious to see if he could gauge anything from her reactions tonight.

‘Maybe,’ she said quietly, still looking at Dominic as he threw his head back and laughed at something Reece said. Her handsome co-star. Her ex-husband’s son.

Kenny took her succinct yet vague reply as a glimmer of hope that maybe all was not the moonlight and roses he’d thought it was in this Walsh/MacDonald relationship, and then mentally reprimanded himself for wishing yet more confusion on his best friend. ‘I just want you to be happy, India.’

His voice shook her back to reality and she turned to look at him – the one man who’d been there for her through thick and thin, the one man who always would be there, no matter what. No matter what. ‘I know you do, Kenny.’

‘It’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.’

She smiled, playing with the collar of his jacket. ‘You look good tonight, has anyone told you that?’

And he did look good, but then, Kenny always looked good. He always had done, and, despite being the wrong side of forty-five now, he still looked incredibly sexy dressed in dark jeans, black T-shirt and scruffy jacket. His dark hair was growing longer, the beard was back, and India couldn’t help staring at him. He was one hell of a great-looking guy, Kenny Ross. One hell of a great-looking guy.

‘What’s the matter?’ Kenny asked, his eyes locking onto hers, a million wishes flying through his head, but he only really wanted one of them to come true.

‘Nothing’s the matter. I’m just looking, that’s all.’

In what was an almost involuntary action, Kenny reached out and touched her cheek, stroking it with the back of his hand, looking into her eyes, until she brought the moment to an end by taking his hand and moving it away.

‘I’d better get back to Dominic.’

‘Why? What’s the rush?’

She looked at her very best friend, trying to work out exactly what was going on here. ‘There is no rush, Kenny, I… I just want to get back to him, okay? I mean, we’re the two leads in this movie, aren’t we? Me and Dominic. We’re supposed to be mingling.’

‘Then go mingle,’ Kenny said, indicating the room with a sweep of his arm, taking a swig of beer as he did so.

India frowned slightly. What had just happened there? Why had his mood suddenly changed? It was like he’d just flicked a switch or something. ‘I’ll see you later, Kenny.’ She didn’t really feel like sticking around to analyse his behaviour. She just wanted to get back to Dominic. So, winding her way through the growing mass of people, stopping briefly to say hello to more than a few of them, she walked back over to Dominic, sliding an arm around his waist as she leant up to kiss him quickly. ‘My dad gone, then?’

‘Gone to find Martha, yeah. Is Kenny alright?’

India shrugged, sliding a hand round the back of Dominic’s neck, smiling as she pressed herself against him. ‘I don’t want to talk about Kenny. In fact, I don’t really want to talk about anything; I just want to enjoy myself tonight. If that’s okay with you?’

He smiled – that movie star smile, that killer smile, that smile that sent a million and more female hearts racing whenever they watched him up there on the big screen. ‘That’s fine by me, baby.’

India briefly turned back to glance over at Kenny, but he was gone, and she couldn’t help feeling a small stab of disappointment. She hoped he hadn’t left, hadn’t bailed early, because she knew Kenny – if things weren’t going his way he’d just shoot off and find something else to do.

‘You okay?’ Dominic asked, his voice making India jump as she swung back round to face him.

‘Yeah… yeah, I’m fine’’ she smiled, sliding her hand into his. ‘Just a bit overwhelmed, to be honest. This whole experience – it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster.’

He pulled her towards him, lowering his mouth down onto hers in a longer, slower kiss, a kiss that gave India no choice but to go with it, to fall against him and let him take control. A kiss that told her, somehow, the rollercoaster was still running. And she had no idea when it was going to stop.



***



Pulling his Stetson down over his eyes Jimmy leant over the balcony of his terrace, draining his glass of the last dregs of whisky as he watched the lights and the lasers in the distance, listened to the sounds of a party in full swing. It was time. Time to go and do exactly what he’d come here to do – teach Charley Maine a lesson she’d never forget. Once upon a time he’d controlled her, owned her; loved her. Yes, Jimmy Cash had loved Charley, in his own warped and twisted way. And deep down inside he still did, but she didn’t deserve this life, not after what she’d done to him. He couldn’t let her carry on thinking that this was where she belonged, that she could go through the rest of her perfect, privileged life thinking that everything was forgotten. This wasn’t her world. It didn’t suit her. It wasn’t who she was and she needed to know that. She was nothing more than some cheap little English porn star, and she always would be. But that’s what Jimmy had liked about her. That’s what Jimmy liked about all his girls. He liked that Charley had done things that would rock her peaceful, pointless, perfect world to its core. And he missed the days when he’d controlled every aspect of her life, controlled everything she’d done from the minute she’d woken up to the second she’d fallen asleep. He missed that power like a drug. A power she’d taken away from him. She’d humiliated him, made him look like an idiot, and that was something Jimmy would never forget. But she was very much aware of that now. She was once more living her life looking over her shoulder, which pleased him. But she wouldn’t have to do that for much longer.

Putting his glass down on the table behind him, Jimmy walked back into his large and spacious suite within The Amber Palace. He smiled to himself as he threw his jacket down on the king-size bed, opening the wardrobe door and selecting a new jacket from a line of perfectly pressed ones that hung in grey to black colour co-ordinated unison. Vince Maine may think he had the tightest security that Las Vegas could offer, but Vince Maine wasn’t quite as clever as he thought he was. Did he know that Jimmy had managed to acquire this rather well-appointed suite within his brand new flagship hotel without anyone asking any questions? No, of course he didn’t. And did he know that at least half of the security he’d hired tonight were actually working for Jimmy? Although, to be fair, they had no idea just what Jimmy’s motives were for gate-crashing this party, they just knew to let him through when he arrived. Well, that’d teach Vince Maine to be so trusting with his delegation. Maybe he needed to take a long hard look at his security staff because one or two of them had had their heads turned way too easily with just the promise of a few extra dollars.

Slipping on a freshly dry-cleaned black jacket he looked at his reflection in the mirror as he checked his pockets, making sure he had his cigars and his hip flask. He was sure he’d need a drink at some point tonight and he was almost certain that, after what he planned to do, he wouldn’t be welcome at the bar. Far wiser to bring his own refreshment.

Finally, everything was set. He had everything he needed to proceed. It was going so perfectly it almost scared him, but then, in reality, nothing scared Jimmy Cash. Nothing. And nothing ever would. Because, if Charley thought that him killing Terry had been an horrific payback that could never be repeated, she was wrong. And she was about to find out just how wrong she could be.



***



Michael sat by the bar, downing his bourbon far faster than he should have been. In fact, he shouldn’t really have been downing it at all – doctor’s orders. Lay off the alcohol, the saturated fat, the sugar… Jesus, was there anything in the way of fun left for him to enjoy? He looked over towards Layla who was talking to one of the assistant directors, beautiful and positively glowing in a pale green dress, her blond hair loose around her shoulders. Yeah, of course there were still things out there to enjoy. A new beginning, that’s what. Another chance to begin again with a woman who’d proved that, on more than one occasion, she wasn’t going to give up on him without a fight, and he’d be stupid to ignore that. Again. He’d be stupid to ignore that just so he could waste time concentrating on something that was never going to happen.

He was slowly starting to accept that India really was never going to come back to him. But this time it felt different. This time there was almost a feeling of inevitability about it. This time it was going to be easier because that heart attack had changed him, changed the way he thought about things. He’d been given a second chance to make things right and he wasn’t going to waste whatever was left of his life chasing an impossible dream. Not when he had someone as beautiful and as loyal as Layla by his side. No, this time he was going to start living the life he should have started living a long time ago. A life that didn’t consist of him waking up every morning wishing India was there with him, because he didn’t. Not really. Not anymore. He didn’t wish she was there with him. Not all the time. She wasn’t his first waking thought or his last sleeping dream; she was just India – mother of his son, somebody he could never cut out of his life but somebody he was finally learning to love in a completely different way.

Taking another sip of bourbon he glanced over towards his ex-wife. She was cosying up to Dominic MacDonald as they chatted to a group of interns who’d been acting as on-set runners and seemed slightly overwhelmed that the movie’s two main stars were giving them the time of day.

Dominic MacDonald. The son he’d never known he had. Michael sighed, pushing a hand through his hair, leaning back against the bar, closing his eyes for a few seconds. Part of him was curious to get to know this young man that had crash-landed into his life in the most unexpected of ways, but part of him still felt there was a need to keep some kind of distance, after all, Dominic had hardly expressed a strong desire to start calling him daddy, had he? He’d all but warned Michael off. But he was his son, and that actually meant something to Michael. Now. So, maybe it was going to be up to him to make the first move. Up to him to try and make a complicated situation that little bit easier to deal with.

‘You okay? You look tired.’

Michael swung round on his stool to find India standing beside him. ‘Oh, erm, yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. Just been a long few months, that’s all. I think it’s all finally catching up with me.’

She smiled, sliding up onto the stool next to him. ‘Tell me about it. We certainly don’t do things by halves, do we?’

He smiled back, clasping his hands together on the bar in front of him. ‘No. I guess we thrive on complicated, huh?’

‘Hmm. You might be right there, Mikey.’

His heart lurched in his chest as she called him by the name she’d always used to use when they were happy – in love. Together.

She turned to look at him, almost reading his mind, catching him totally by surprise when she spoke. ‘Take a look at me, Michael. Take a really long, hard look. Because I’m not the person you think I am. I’m really not. I’m not this perfect image you had me down as; I’m not even that nice a person…’

‘India…’

‘No. Please, let me speak, Michael. I changed. When I came over to L.A. from England, that shy and quiet twenty-two-year-old, she disappeared real quick, believe me. All too fast she turned into this movie star creation that sometimes believed her own hype, that forgot who she was on more than one occasion. She turned into someone who hurt people around her without stopping to think twice about what effect that could have on the rest of their lives. And at times I really didn’t like myself. I didn’t like what I was doing, especially to Kenny. He didn’t deserve the things I put him through, nor did Reece. And, in reality, Dominic should also be giving me a wide berth because I’ll only end up hurting him too, in time. Like I end up hurting everyone, eventually. You see, I played the victim far too much when it was actually me who was dishing out the shit. I wasn’t always the one receiving it, even though that’s how I made it look sometimes. But I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over the past few months, Michael. And things are going to be very different from now on. Very different.’

Michael frowned. ‘I don’t understand, India. None of what you’re saying…’

She sighed heavily, looking down at the bar. ‘When I get back to L.A. I’m going to spend some much-needed time alone. Well, not exactly alone, I’ll have the kids with me. But, alone in the sense that… that there’s no man around for me to hurt. No man around for me to use or fall back on or… Just, no man.’

Michael looked at her, watching the way she fiddled with her watch strap, a nervous habit she’d had for as long as he could remember. ‘And what does Dominic think about this?’

She looked up, her eyes meeting those of a man she’d once loved so much. Was that love still very much there? Had she just transferred it to his son, meaning that she felt just that little bit closer to a man she could never really forget?

‘He doesn’t know how I really feel,’ she said quietly, glancing quickly over at Dominic as he continued to give the still-very-much surprised group of interns attention they couldn’t even have dreamed of before now. ‘How could he? When I was never really sure how I felt myself. Until now.’

‘Is it over, then? Between you and him?’ Michael asked, quite enjoying the fact he wasn’t experiencing some ridiculous feeling of hope that she was declaring herself single. Leaving the way open for him. He didn’t feel that anymore. And it felt quite liberating.

India shrugged, resuming the fiddling of her watch strap. ‘I don’t know. I guess that all depends on how he feels about everything.’ She looked back up at Michael who, despite all those once-familiar feelings of obsession and hope having now deserted him, couldn’t take his eyes off this woman. This mixed-up, complicated woman. ‘I’m just not sure, y’know? Whether or not to move forward with… with whatever it is that we have.’ And now that she’d said those words out loud, she knew it was what she’d been thinking for a while now. And she knew why. So it was only fair to Dominic that she backed off from whatever relationship it was they had, before she hurt him even more.

‘Yeah,’ Michael sighed, pushing a hand through his hair again, turning away from her to look over towards his son. ‘I know exactly how you feel.’

‘Anyway,’ India said, her mood suddenly changing as she slid down off her stool, straightening her top. ‘I’m sure things will make a lot more sense once we’re all back in L.A., away from the crazy goings-on of the past few months. Things will probably seem a lot clearer back home.’

Michael smiled, a feeling of relief washing over him as he looked at her, all blond hair and blue eyes, a tiny hint of the young and naïve woman she’d been almost twenty years ago peeking through the Hollywood exterior she’d created over time. Relief that his life was no longer going to revolve around trying to make her love him again, but also relief that she wouldn’t be out of his life completely. How could she be? When they had Ethan. A link that would always be there, forever. And he was thankful for that. But now all he wanted for India was for her to be happy. He just wanted her to be happy. ‘Yeah. Maybe you’re right. Things do tend to make a lot more sense when you’re in your own back yard.’

She leant over and kissed him quickly on the cheek, a kiss that reminded him so much of the days when she’d seen him as nothing more than some kind of father-figure; the days when he’d let that dangerous obsession grow into something it should never have become. ‘I’d better go find Charley. I said I’d join her for a drink outside. See you later, Michael.’

He watched her walk away from him, her head slightly down, her shoulders tense. As usual she had more than a few things on her mind, and he couldn’t help wondering, if she just stopped thinking about everything so much would she not be a whole lot happier? But it wasn’t his job to sort that out anymore. She’d find her own way, eventually. He just hoped it wouldn’t take too long because she deserved to be happy. She deserved that.

‘Is she alright?’ Kenny asked, joining Michael at the bar, leaning back against it and folding his arms, watching India until she disappeared outside onto the terrace to join the al fresco party.

‘She’s fine,’ Michael replied, looking at Kenny through slightly narrowed eyes. ‘Why wouldn’t she be?’

Kenny shrugged. ‘She’s been talking to you, hasn’t she?’

Michael ignored that comment and finished his drink, standing up, shoving his hands in his pockets. ‘I’ll see you later, Kenny.’

Kenny watched him walk away, over to Layla who looked spectacular tonight, there was no denying that. Could she have been his if he’d just tried that little bit harder? Jesus, that was the story of his life, wasn’t it? Should have tried harder. India, Layla, Casey – all amazing women that could all have been his, if he’d just tried that little bit harder. But Kenny had reached a point where he was sick of trying. It just wasn’t him. He didn’t have the energy anymore; he was just no good at it. He was destined to be Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor for the rest of his life and he was just going to have to get used to that.

Suddenly, his attention was caught by a tall, dark haired woman walking past the bar. She was dressed to kill in a figure-hugging silver dress and matching heels, her cat-like eyes catching his as she sashayed past. Kenny smiled. Maybe there were some perks to be had as Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor. And he’d be one crazy son-of-a-bitch to ignore that.



***



‘You’re tense,’ Martha said, gently massaging Reece’s shoulders as they sat at a table out on the terrace, making the most of the warm night air as all around them music blasted out from speakers that seemed as though they were hidden in the bark of palm trees or concealed underneath the patio. And given that this was Las Vegas that could, quite possibly, be the case.

‘I’m just keen to get back to Malibu,’ Reece replied, letting Martha’s expert fingers work their magic on his aching shoulders. Even through the material of his shirt he could feel her hands easing the tension he had, indeed, been feeling. Because he just wanted to get away from Vegas now. He wanted to get back home, back to normality. Whatever that was.

‘We’ll be there before you know it,’ Martha smiled, reaching round to plant a quick kiss on his mouth before giving his shoulders a giant squeeze that caused Reece to both shout and laugh out loud as she managed to almost punch out a knot of anxiety. But it made him instantly feel better. It was like a weight had, literally, been lifted off his shoulders.

‘Y’know, you could make money doing that,’ Reece smiled as Martha sat down opposite him, taking a sip of her vodka and lime juice.

‘I think I’ll keep my services strictly private, if you don’t mind,’ she smiled back, gently rubbing her leg against his as the music changed to a slower, more soulful Usher track, taking over from the heavier Gavin DeGraw song that had previously been playing.

‘Well, maybe that’s for the best,’ Reece said, still smiling. ‘After all, I’m not too good at sharing.’

‘There we go. A nice, relaxed Reece Brogan. That’s what I like to see.’

He laughed, sitting back in his chair, taking a look around him as the party – which was now in full swing – continued to gather pace. The atmosphere was heady with excitement and fun as everyone around them danced and drank and enjoyed themselves. And all of a sudden that’s exactly what he felt like doing too. Oh, not so much the dancing part, but the drinking and enjoying himself, he could do that.

‘I’m really glad you stuck around, Martha. Because I know the way I acted…’

She leant forward, shutting him up with a kiss. ‘It’s over, Reece. You know the truth now. There are no more secrets, so, let’s just move forward, okay?’

He nodded, kissing her back, taking her hand in his and squeezing it tight. ‘Yeah. I like that idea. Moving forward with no looking back… Martha, do you think India…?’

‘Sweetheart, India is a real big girl now, she’s gonna be just fine. You’ve just got to allow her to make her own mistakes but let her know she can come to us if she needs to. For whatever reason. Okay?’

‘Okay,’ Reece smiled. ‘Learn to let go, huh?’

‘Well, she’s forty-three-years-old now so I think it’s about time, yeah. Come on, I need another drink. Let’s find a waiter and order some champagne. I’m in the mood to celebrate.’

‘Celebrate?’ Reece frowned. ‘Celebrate what?’

‘Us, Reece. I want to celebrate us.’

And, as far as Reece was concerned, he couldn’t think of anything worth celebrating more.



***



‘Charley, will you stop it, please? You’re making me feel nervous,’ India said as Charley looked over her shoulder for about the tenth time in five minutes. ‘It’s almost like you’re expecting something to happen.’

‘Like what?’ Charley asked, biting down on her bottom lip, her voice dripping with nerves. ‘Do you think something is going to happen?’

‘Charley, what the hell are you talking about? What do you think is going to happen?’ India laughed, smiling her thanks at the barman as he handed her a fresh drink.

‘In case you hadn’t realised, India, Jimmy Cash is still out there, somewhere. And I have no idea what his next move is going to be, so, excuse me if I’m slightly on edge right now.’

‘He’s not going to do anything here, tonight though, is he?’ India replied, shuffling about in her chair because anything to do with Jimmy Cash made her more than a touch uncomfortable, considering what he’d done to her brother. ‘I mean, come on. Even Jimmy Cash can’t be stupid enough to try anything here, not with the amount of security Vince has got in place.’ India wasn’t actually sure who she was trying to convince now – Charley, or herself. Jesus! She really didn’t want to talk about Jimmy Cash tonight, and she didn’t think Charley should be dwelling on it either. This wasn’t the time.

‘Yeah. Yeah, you’re right.’ Charley breathed a heavy sigh of relief, running her fingers through her hair and shaking it out, almost as if that would rid her of any remaining tension. ‘Vince said not to think about all of that tonight.’

‘Maybe you should listen to him then,’ India said, taking a sip of her Jack Daniels. ‘Vince knows what he’s talking about.’

Charley smiled, crossing her legs and hugging her knees. ‘I can’t believe I could have lost him, India.’

‘But you didn’t, did you? I’m not denying what you and Kenny did wasn’t stupid but, Jesus, come on. Who the hell am I to lecture anyone on stupid decisions? I’m the bloody expert on all things stupid.’ India looked at her friend, reaching out to take her hand, squeezing it gently. ‘Look, it’s over, Charley. Vince is a good, good man. The best. And he loves you, so much, so just forget about you and Kenny and concentrate on you and Vince. He’ll make sure this Jimmy business goes away…’

‘How though, India? How is he going to do that? How can he possibly deal with a man like Jimmy Cash?’

‘He just will, Charley. Vince won’t let you down. He won’t do that, I know he won’t. And I also know he’ll move heaven and earth to sort this out so just listen to him, okay? And trust him. You do that, and before you know it everything will be back to normal.’

‘Do you think so?’ Charley asked hopefully.

‘Yeah,’ India smiled. ‘I think so.’

‘I really hope you’re right,’ Charley sighed. ‘Because every morning I wake up hoping this has just been one long, unwelcome nightmare. But when I see the way Vince looks at me sometimes, I know it isn’t. And I just want it to be over. I want it to be over soon.’

And it would be. Sooner than anyone expected.



***



Jimmy pushed his Stetson down further over his eyes, walking at a brisk pace towards the sounds of the party. The lights and lasers still lit up the night sky and the pounding music grew closer as he slowed down slightly to light up a cigar, stopping briefly to take a deep draw, blowing smoke into the star-filled sky.

He looked up at the blackness for a few seconds, feeling not one ounce of regret for what he was about to do. Charley had to know that she would never be free of him, she had to know that. Oh, he’d given her a bit of respite, some time to see what a normal life could be like but that was over now. He’d been way too generous as it was. She needed to know now. She needed to know that this world she lived in, she didn’t deserve it. She’d ruined his life and now it was his turn to ruin hers. Charley Miles – porn star. That’s all she ever deserved to be. That’s all she ever would be.

Taking one last deep draw of his cigar he exhaled the smoke and threw the rest of it down on the ground, stubbing it into the concrete path with his boot, probably with a touch more venom than was really necessary, but Jimmy was fired up now. He was ready.

Shoving his hands into his jacket pockets he took a quick look around, but the few people who were walking through the gardens were too engrossed in their own worlds to take any notice of him. They didn’t know or care who he was; nobody did, really – except Charley.

Smiling to himself he picked up the pace again and strode towards the main body of the hotel. They wanted a wrap party to remember? Jimmy Cash was about to give them exactly that. And blow the consequences.



***



‘What’s the matter?’ India asked, reaching out to gently stroke Dominic’s face, cocking her head on one side as she looked at him.

‘Nothing.’

She pulled her hand away, still looking at him. ‘Y’know, I really hate it when people say “nothing”, especially when it’s quite obvious something’s up.’

‘Where are we going, India?’

She frowned, her head still cocked on one side. ‘What do you mean?’

‘You won’t marry me…’

‘No, because you asked that question without even stopping to think about this whole situation in a realistic way, Dominic. Come on. I can’t marry you. With my track record? I think you’re crazy for even contemplating it. We’ve only known each other five minutes; you should run a mile, in my opinion.’

He narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. ‘Why would I want to do that?’

She sighed, leaning back against the wall. ‘I’m bad news, Dominic. Every man who comes near me gets hurt in some way or another. Why would you want to put yourself through that?’

‘Because I love you.’

‘Because you think you can be the man to change the pattern, huh?’

‘Why not?’

She took a sip of Jack Daniels, looking around the still-crowded terrace area, the music still thumping, the lights still flashing. ‘You can’t, alright? That man will never exist.’

‘You never struck me as a quitter, India.’

She looked at him over the top of her tumbler as she downed the last of her drink. ‘Who said I was quitting anything? I just need you to know how things stand, Dominic. I’m a mess – I always have been, always will be. And you need to be certain that you can deal with that.’

‘We could get married here, in Vegas. Before we go back to L.A.’

‘Oh no,’ India laughed, putting her empty glass down on a table behind her. ‘No. No way. Just leave it, Dominic. Okay? Nobody is marrying anybody, least of all here in Vegas. You got that? It’s a bloody ridiculous idea.’

He smiled that killer smile and India couldn’t help but smile back, letting him pull her against him, closing her eyes as he kissed her deep and slow, her resolve weakening with every movement of his mouth on hers. She shouldn’t be doing this. And she shouldn’t be doing this because she now knew she was doing it for all the wrong reasons, but he was giving her no choice here. Would it be such a bad thing to just kick back and have fun tonight? Maybe things would look different in the morning.

‘Yeah. I got it.’

She pulled away slightly, running her fingertips over his mouth, staring deep into those almost cobalt-blue eyes of his. ‘I mean it, Dominic. I can’t marry you, and that’s for your own good rather than mine. I’ll only hurt you, just like I’ve hurt every other man who’s got involved with me.’

‘Self-pity doesn’t suit you, India. And credit me with some sense, okay? I’m a big boy now. I think I’m quite capable of making my own mistakes.’

‘Oh, so I’m a mistake now, am I?’ she asked, a smile still playing at the corners of her mouth.

‘You said so yourself, baby. And, like I said, I’m a big boy now.’

‘Yeah,’ she whispered, her mouth resting on his as she spoke, ‘I know you are.’

‘Wanna go start a private party of our own?’

‘You’re such a bad influence on me, Dominic MacDonald.’

‘Takes two to tango, beautiful. Come on. Let’s get out of here.’



***



‘What do you want to do when we get back to L.A.?’ Layla asked Michael as they sat outside on the terrace, glad of the slight breeze that had just appeared, taking the edge off the stuffy Vegas night air.

‘What do you mean?’ Michael asked, sitting back in his chair, glancing briefly over at India and Dominic who seemed engrossed in some kind of intimate conversation. He ignored the tiny stab of jealousy. Nobody had said that forgetting her was going to be immediate. It was still a work-in-progress, but at least he’d stopped fighting for the impossible now.

‘I think you should make an honest woman of me, Michael Walsh,’ Layla smiled, taking his hand.

He looked at her, smiling too. She made him smile. She’d always made him smile; he’d just never really allowed himself to enjoy her. Something he was starting to regret a little now. ‘An honest woman, huh? Layla… you do know how old I am, don’t you?’

‘When did we start talking about age? I don’t care how old you are, Michael. All I care about is that I finally get to be with the man I love – without having to share him. Because that’s all over now, isn’t it?’

He nodded, squeezing her hand, still smiling at this incredibly beautiful young woman in front of him. He was lucky to have her. He was very, very lucky to still have her. ‘It’s all over, Layla. I promise.’

She leant over to kiss him, his heart skipping that proverbial beat, making him feel about sixteen again. And it felt good. It felt good to be having those feelings for someone other than a woman he’d thought he could never be without. But he’d been wrong. He could live without her. Of course he could.

‘Then let’s start as we mean to go on, Michael. Make an honest woman of me and let’s give this new baby the family he or she deserves. What do you say?’

He was still smiling, a smile that came from the heart, because he was genuinely happy. No more pretending, no more settling for second best. He was happy. With Layla. With the prospect of a whole new start. With life.

‘I’d say, Layla Boyd, will you marry me?’



***



Kenny finished yet another bottle of beer and watched as Yasmin, the stunning model-turned-actress he’d met at the bar earlier, sashayed sexily onto the dance floor, joining her friends in some moves so provocative they wouldn’t look out of place in a strip joint. He wondered if that skill was listed on any of their CV’s. Certainly looked as though they’d had some practice.

Grabbing another bottle of beer from the barman he slid down off his stool and left Yasmin and her gang of sexy but empty-headed model friends to their writhing. She wouldn’t miss him. She seemed to be quite happy entertaining herself – and anybody else who was watching. He was sure she’d still be around if he felt like taking her back to his suite later. The night was still young, and he’d already surprised himself by hanging out at this party longer than he’d originally intended.

Wandering out onto the terrace area he looked around, trying to spot India amongst the crowds of people all grabbing themselves some fresh air, the noise of chatter and laughter resonating above the thumping bass of a Lady Gaga track. He finally spotted her hanging around the sidelines, almost hidden behind a clutch of palm trees, up close and personal with Dominic MacDonald.

He took a long swig of beer and turned away, beginning to make his way back inside before thinking better of it. He wasn’t really in the mood for Yasmin anymore. Maybe it would be better if he hung around out here for a bit. Grabbed a bit of time to himself. On his own. Something Kenny Ross was fast getting used to.



***



Charley watched as Vince walked back over to her, a smile on his face that made her stomach do a double-flip, because it looked genuine. Things were getting easier; she couldn’t say they were perfect – he’d forgiven her for what had happened with Kenny, but she couldn’t expect him to forget quite so quickly. She didn’t expect miracles. But it was good to see flashes of her wonderful husband’s incredible smile light up his face.

‘Hey. I’ve missed you. Where’ve you been?’ Vince asked, circling Charley’s waist with his arm, pulling her against him.

‘I’ve been talking to India,’ Charley replied, playing with the collar of Vince’s shirt, glad of the cool breeze she could feel against her back because the heat of the night had started to become quite stifling.

‘She actually left Dominic’s side for a few minutes then, did she?’

‘Well, if you ask me, I’m not entirely sure everything’s quite as perfect in that relationship as we may have been led to believe.’

‘Oh yeah?’ Vince enquired, raising an eyebrow. ‘What’s she been saying?’

Charley shrugged. ‘She hasn’t actually said anything. Not to me, anyway. I just know her, that’s all.’

‘She just needs to let herself be happy, Charley. Because that’s a lesson I’ve learnt myself over the past couple of weeks.’

Charley looked up at him, into his eyes. She loved this man so much. So, so much. He’d saved her, made her forget that world that had almost destroyed her and given her a new life that she still sometimes thought was too good to be true. She should never have risked that. Never. Not for anything. And she’d never, ever do it again.

‘We can be happy, Vince. Can’t we?’ she said quietly, still fiddling with the collar of his shirt until his hand closed around hers, stopping her.

‘We are happy, Charley.’

She was still looking into his eyes, searching his face for the tiniest hint of something that might make her think he was only telling her what she wanted to hear. But she couldn’t find anything. He was telling her the truth.

‘Yeah,’ she whispered, closing her eyes as his mouth lowered down onto hers. ‘We are. We are happy…’



***



Nobody took any notice of the man in the Stetson, except the tall, blond-haired security guard who stood aside to let him in, both of them exchanging a brief nod of recognition.

Nobody noticed him walk across the crowded dance floor; it was almost as if he didn’t exist, as if he was just some apparition that nobody could really see. Nobody paid him any attention.

Nobody cared about this face in the crowd as he strode through the club on his way to the outdoor terrace area, because that’s where they all were. All of them. All in one place. Just how he’d wanted it to be. And they’d made it so easy – so unbelievably easy.

Nobody noticed him. Nobody tried to stop him. Even as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the small but powerful hand pistol, nobody seemed to notice him, nobody seemed to be aware that this party was about to be brought to an abrupt and terrifying end. Nobody had any idea. Until it was too late…