Illusions of Love

EPILOGUE



The paparazzi swung into action as the car drew up at the foot of the red carpet. Everyone was waiting for the doors to open, waiting to see if the rumours were true. Waiting to see if Hollywood had the happy ending it had wanted after that night in Vegas. A night which had changed lives, and ended one.

The flashbulbs popped, filling the air with a barrage of light and noise as she emerged from the black limo, her long legs covered by dark skinny jeans and knee-high boots with sky-scraper heels, her hair loose and tousled round her tanned shoulders. Was she alone? There was an almost audible sigh of disappointment from the crowd of paparazzi and press; from the mass of people who’d turned up outside the theatre to see if what the papers were saying was true, because nobody really knew. There was no photographic evidence to back up the rumours, no statement from anyone to say that it was true. Someone had just put two and two together and assumed that was the outcome. But surely, tonight, everyone would know.

She stood by the door of the limo, smiling at the photographers, waving to the crowd, but giving no reply to the endless questions being thrown in her direction from anxious reporters, all of them wanting to be the first to get the scoop, the first to get that story, that photograph. But, so far, it seemed as though she had, indeed, arrived alone.

And then she turned briefly to that still-open door of the imposing black car, her smile now directed at someone else, someone who slowly started to emerge from the interior of the spacious limo, and the flashbulbs and clicks of the hundreds of cameras, the questions from the waiting press, they all picked up pace as another figure exited the car. Was it who everybody expected it to be?

The once audible sigh of disappointment gave way to a gasp of expectation as her smile grew wider; her hand sliding into the hand of the person who’d emerged from the limo. It was a Hollywood love story twenty years in the making. That’s how Hollywood itself had been describing it anyway, even though there’d been no concrete proof that it had happened. Until now. Because now it was obvious that all those rumours that had been flying around ever since that night in Las Vegas all those months ago, they were true. The rumours were true. And, as she leaned in towards the man who’d stepped out of the limo, closing her eyes as he kissed her long and slow, it seemed as though Hollywood finally had the kind of happy ending it craved.



***



That night in Vegas – the night of the wrap party at The Amber Palace – was still very fresh in the mind of everyone involved. A chaotic, terrifying night when both India and Charley had feared that Jimmy Cash was, once more, going to take from them people they loved. Because he’d tried. Of course he had. He’d tried.

One shot was all he’d managed to fire at first – one shot that had been forced to veer off-course by Dominic MacDonald, who’d acted with the quickest of reactions to knock the gun from Jimmy’s hand, causing the bullet to skim Vince’s shoulder rather than hit him where it had originally been aimed.

And whilst Dominic’s reflexes had been quick enough to enable him to pick up the gun, allowing him to face up to a manic Jimmy Cash, he’d been no match for a man on some kind of deranged revenge mission. And from then on, things had played out so fast that still nobody was entirely sure how everything had happened. Parts of it were very much blurred, or maybe just deliberately resigned to the backs of people’s minds because they didn’t particularly want to remember. But some things were hard to forget.

Jimmy had pulled another gun, somehow, from somewhere, and as the second sickeningly loud shot had pierced the night air, Dominic had fallen to the ground, the gun slipping from his hands. A third shot closely followed. And then it was over. He was gone. He’d tried, and he’d failed. There was nothing else he could do. It was over. And from that moment on, all that had been left for people to do was to pick up the pieces, and try and get on with their lives.



***



Michael held tightly onto Layla’s hand as they walked the red carpet. She was heavily pregnant but had insisted on coming to this premiere. After all, considering everything that had happened in Vegas during the shooting of this movie, it was a miracle Michael had managed to get it this far. But it was finished, and initial reports were nothing but glowing. The chemistry between the two leading stars was electric, Michael’s direction was being praised for producing a funny and poignant romantic comedy, and all signs led to a box office success. But, in the grand scheme of things, this movie was the least important thing to have come out of that whole Vegas experience.

Michael Walsh had a new beginning. A new life to look forward to. A life that he very nearly didn’t have because, when he’d seen Jimmy Cash pull that gun on Dominic auto-pilot had kicked in, along with feelings only a father could have. Michael had ran at Dominic, pushing him to the ground, taking the bullet that had been meant for his son. But, with only a slight limp to show for that action, every day Michael counted his blessings that things hadn’t been far worse. For him, anyway. He’d had to put up with Layla yelling at him for how stupid he’d been to put himself in danger like that, but that had been a small price to pay, hadn’t it? All he’d been doing was trying to protect his son, and when she held their child in her arms in just a few days time she’d understand those feelings. Oh, Michael wasn’t kidding himself that those feelings he’d had for Dominic had been instant. He’d wanted nothing to do with him in the beginning, but to stand there and watch your own child in danger – he hadn’t been able to do that.

So, a bullet in the thigh had been a small price to pay for trying to protect his son. Because, if he’d just stood by and done nothing he’d never have been able to forgive himself.

But, it was time to move forward now. Time to try and forget the terrifying events of that night and move on, into his new life. Him and Layla were due to be married just a few weeks after their baby was born, and Michael was determined that, this time, he’d try and be a better father. He’d try and be a better person. He’d try and forgive himself for what he’d done in the past, as others had been kind enough to forgive him. But some things he would never be able to forgive himself for. No matter how hard he tried.



***



Charley clung onto Vince’s hand as though letting go would cause him to disappear. She’d been so close to losing him – really losing him, this time – that night of the wrap party, and no matter how hard she tried to forget it, she couldn’t. She probably never would. Her past had come back to haunt her, and still there it hung, hovering over her like a never-ending nightmare that would never go away because… Well, she was just lucky that Vince was still here. Thinking of what would have happened if Dominic hadn’t pushed that gun from Jimmy’s hand was something Charley didn’t like to dwell on too much. The look on Jimmy’s face, the coldness in his eyes, the passive expression – she’d never, ever forget that. She’d never forget the look of a man who she knew would have stopped at nothing to gain his revenge. And it was quite obvious now that his revenge had been to take away from her the life she loved. To take away the man she loved. Just like he’d done all those years ago when he’d gunned down India’s brother for no reason other than he’d loved Charley.

But he wasn’t going to get the chance to hurt her again. He’d done his worst, and it was over now. She was getting on with her life, with a man who loved her and whom she loved back twice as much.

They were now based almost permanently in Las Vegas, in a beautiful new home in Queensridge, an exclusive neighbourhood situated just twenty minutes west of the Las Vegas Strip. It was a perfect house in a perfect location, somewhere safe and secure for them and their daughter. It was their haven. And she loved it there.

The Beverly Hills branch of Charley’s was now in the hands of a manager, somebody Charley trusted implicitly to oversee things while she concentrated on the Las Vegas salon within The Amber Palace, and the plans to open a third branch of Charley’s in New York. Manhattan, to be precise.

Yes. Exciting things were happening for Charley and Vince. And the memory of that night was slowly being erased as the months passed. The guilt was subsiding, days were getting easier. Charley Maine had a lot to be happy about. And for that, she was truly grateful.



***



Reece and Martha weren’t used to these big nights out anymore. Ever since Vegas they’d made the decision to take things a lot easier, to slow down and enjoy their life more. To enjoy each other because, after that night, it had become more evident – to everybody, not just to them – how precious life could be.

The only reason they’d turned up tonight was because it was Reece’s movie. And they wanted to be there to support India, and Michael. And Charley and Vince. After everything they’d been through.

Family was everything to Reece now. His daughter, his grandchildren, his wife. Which was why he was quite happy to spend more of his time at his Malibu home, looking after those wonderful grandchildren, splashing around in the pool, taking them out to play crazy golf or visit the fair. Normal things. Things that he and Martha could do together. Because being together meant everything.

Reece Brogan, movie star, was finally learning to slow down and let go. Finally.



***



JJ Foster was happy for his ex-wife. Happy that she was safe, happy that her movie was destined to be a hit. Happy that they’d managed to stay friends, managed to stay in each other’s lives, and after everything that had happened, he was even more grateful, knowing she was always going to be around. For Ellie’s sake, rather than his own. Although, he’d always love India, and she’d always love him, she’d told him as much. Just, not in the way they’d used to love each other.

She had a new life now, but then, so did he. Everyone was moving on, and he was no exception. He was in love again, with a wonderful woman. And, after just five months of being together, Cathy Carlton, a very talented but very private TV actress, had just moved into his Brentwood home. A whirlwind romance, maybe, but it felt right. And JJ was happy, being in love again. Having somebody there who cared about him, who needed him. It may have happened quickly, but things were going okay, so far. Things were going better than okay. In fact, for the first time in a long time JJ was feeling as though a veil had been lifted from his eyes and he could see everything clearer. And it felt good.

This premiere was his first public outing with Cathy, their first appearance as a couple, and although India, Reece and Michael were very much the ones people wanted to see tonight, Hollywood loved any kind of gossip, especially if it involved a new relationship that could take up headline space – even if they were only following that relationship to see how long it lasted. This was Hollywood. JJ had a handle on these things by now. He knew the way it worked, so he held tightly onto Cathy’s hand and smiled for the cameras. All in the name of another night’s work.



***



The car door swung open and Dominic stepped out onto the red carpet, shielding his eyes from the glaring flashes of the bulbs, the barrage of noise that met him hitting him head on. This was crazy! But it was also something that had so very nearly not happened. For him, anyway. If Michael hadn’t pushed him out of the way that night who knows what the outcome might have been.

Michael Walsh. Dad. A name that Dominic still couldn’t bring himself to use, but he was finally beginning to see Michael for what he was – his father. Whether he liked it or not. And after what had happened in Vegas, things were finally changing for the two of them.

For Michael to have put himself in danger in order to save him, well, Dominic couldn’t forget that. That was one hell of a brave thing for Michael to have done, and Dominic couldn’t begin to tell him how grateful he was for everything that had happened that night. He’d saved his life. Probably.

So, what else were they supposed to do other than try and build some bridges and make an effort to get to know one another. Try and start building some kind of relationship. It was pointless trying to fight it any longer. Dominic didn’t think he had the energy anyway.

After Vegas he’d come back to L.A. and spent some time getting his head together. Time he’d needed to spend alone. But, after a couple of weeks, he’d finally contacted Michael and the two of them had begun a journey that neither of them expected to be easy, but it was a journey they both needed to take. And anyway, Dominic quite liked Michael. Despite everything he knew about him. He was a man who was trying to change, trying to get his life back together, and Dominic wasn’t so different. The life he’d wanted after Vegas wasn’t the life he’d got, but he was learning to live with that, learning to accept that what Dominic MacDonald wanted, Dominic MacDonald didn’t always get. And it was quite a liberating feeling.

The playboy he’d once been had gone – finding India had taught him that that wasn’t the way he’d wanted his life to go. He wanted to settle down, find that person he could love and who’d love him back. He’d thought he’d found her in Vegas, but the events of that fateful night had put paid to any chance that relationship had had of working out. And maybe it was for the best. Maybe everybody finally had the life they’d been looking for. It was just going to take a lot longer for some of them to get used to the way the dice had rolled.



***



India clung onto his hand as they walked the red carpet, a walk they’d done so many times before, this was no new experience for them. But it had been a long time since they’d experienced a red carpet walk like this. And it felt slightly alien. Despite their history. Despite the fact that no two people could ever feel more comfortable in each other’s company than Kenny and India. The hot new Hollywood couple on the block. A pairing the world of movies had been waiting to see for over twenty years, and it had finally been given to them after that night in Vegas.

When Michael had pushed Dominic out of the line of fire, causing the gun to drop from his hand and skid along the tiled terrace, Kenny had reacted with lightening speed, picking it up and immediately aiming it at the man who’d murdered India’s brother all those years ago. And without thinking twice, without giving Jimmy a second to even register what was going on, Kenny had fired the fatal shot.

Watching Jimmy Cash fall to the ground like a rag doll hadn’t shocked him in the slightest, all he’d felt was a numbness. No feelings had been there at all, because the man was a monster. He was evil, intent only on wrecking lives and Kenny had waited a long time to get his own payback. He’d never forget kneeling on the ground in the middle of a road in downtown Los Angeles, cradling the head of India’s dying brother. He’d never forget that. It had always haunted him, always been there. The guilt that he could have done more to stop all of that from happening would always prey heavy on his mind but now – now he’d finally got his own kind of revenge. A suitable payback. For everything that man had put so many people through.

The following months had been tough. Of course nobody had been charged with anything – it had been self-defence, pure and simple, and with more witnesses than the police needed there was no way it could have been anything other than that. But it had still taken a long time for Kenny to get his head around what he’d done. He’d killed a man. And, even though that man had been a sick and evil twisted bastard, it still didn’t sit well with Kenny.

It took a long while for him accept that what he’d done was save lives. He’d put paid to a recurring nightmare. He’d given people their lives back. Given people peace and a sense of justice, no matter how warped that justice may have been.

But the one thing that night had taught him was that you get no second chances. You have one life, and you have to live it to the full, do your utmost to get what you want and not give up without one hell of a fight. And, in the end, he hadn’t really had to fight all that hard, because that night had also taught India a thing or two. It had taught her that, sometimes, the person you need to be with has been right there, under your nose, for as long as you can remember. And the realisation that you’d probably always been in love with that person, no matter how much you thought you hadn’t been, had hit her hard. She’d always thought Michael was the man she could never forget when, in reality, it had always been Kenny.

So she’d known her and Dominic were never going to work. Despite the feelings she had for him. He was a wonderful man, but he was Michael’s son, and that was the problem. He was too close a reminder of a man she was always going to have feelings for, no matter what, and that rendered any relationship she could have with him off-limits. It just wouldn’t have worked. It couldn’t have worked. And she hadn’t really wanted it to work in the end. Because there was Kenny.

Just weeks after returning from Vegas she’d changed her name back to India Steven, and that had been the catalyst that had started the rumours of her romance with Kenny. They’d never given anyone anything in which to fuel those rumours, they’d just continued to do what they’d always done – act as the best friends they’d always been when out and about, whilst behind closed doors they were getting to know each other all over again. As lovers.

They’d just bought a new house in Pacific Palisades, kept a smaller beach house in Malibu, and both of them had just signed on the dotted line to star in another movie together. Life was looking up once more. And this time it felt right. It really felt right, in a way India couldn’t explain. There was no uncertainty, no feelings of doubt. She was in love with Kenny Ross, and she probably always had been.

‘Happy?’ Kenny asked, sliding his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in next to him.

‘Are you kidding me?’ India smiled, clinging onto his waist. ‘I’m ecstatic!’

He laughed, leaning over to kiss her quickly, an action that – once again – started up a flurry of camera activity as flashbulbs popped like tiny fireworks around them.

‘We’re gonna be okay, aren’t we, Kenny?’ she asked, looking up into his dark eyes, his handsome face with the ever-present beard and the unruly long hair something she’d never get tired of looking at.

‘We’re gonna be better than okay, baby. Me and you, it had to happen sometime. We just can’t seem to do anything without taking the most complicated route possible.’

And wasn’t that the truth?

She smiled again, still holding tightly onto him. ‘Yeah. We’re gonna be better than okay.’

She closed her eyes as his mouth touched hers again, the kiss long and deep as all eyes remained on them. Questions were being thrown at them from every angle as they were hurried along, past the waiting crowd and the eager press, all keen to find out how long it had been going on. Well, that was an easy one to answer, as far as they were concerned. Forever. That’s how long it had been going on. Kenny Ross and India Steven. It had been going on forever.

THE END.