Free Vendetta: Lucky's Revenge by Jackie Collins Page B

all right?” she asked.
    “Why wouldn’t I be?” he countered in a defensive way.
    “I’m only asking.”
    Morton jumped to his feet. “Got a feeling I’m coming down with the flu.”
    “Bed rest and liquids,” Lucky said sympathetically. “Oh, yeah, and Nate ’n Al’s chicken soup.”
    “Have a nice weekend, Lucky.”
    “I plan to!”
     
    Morton Sharkey left Panther in his pale beige XJS Jaguar convertible—his personal salute to middle age. He drove two blocks before pulling over to the side of the street and speaking furtively into his car phone. “Donna?” he questioned hoarsely when a woman answered.
    “Yes.”
    “We’re nearly there. You’ll have what you want shortly.”
    “Make sure it happens as soon as possible.”
    Click. She hung up without another word.
    He’d met some ice queens in his time, but this one took the prize. She acted like she was ruler of the whole goddamn planet. He hated her attitude. Most of all he hated that she had something on him.
    How could he have been so foolish?
    How could he, Morton Sharkey, have gotten himself caught in the oldest trap of all?
    Morton Sharkey, married, with two grown children, a well-respected member of the business community, a family man with excellent values and a place on the board of several prestigious charity committees. All his life he’d worked hard and given back, helping others less fortunate than himself. His wife, Candice, was still a very attractive woman. More than that, she was a caring, faithful wife, and in twenty-six years of marriage he’d only strayed twice.
    Until Sara.
    Seventeen-year-old Sara with the long red hair and skinny white thighs and bitten nails and smart mouth and expressive lips and tiny breasts and tangerine pubic hair and…
    Oh, God—he could go on and on about Sara. She was the bittersweet dessert of his life, and even now, in spite of what had taken place, he still lusted for her.
    Sara was younger than his daughter.
    Sara was a free spirit.
    Sara was a would-be actress.
    Sara had accepted twelve thousand dollars to set him up.
    And still he loved her.
    Or obsessed about her.
    It didn’t matter which, because there was no way he was prepared to give her up.
    What was that expression he’d heard so many times?
    Ah, yes…There’s no fool like an old fool .
    How very true.
    And yet…when he was with Sara, enveloped by her soft young flesh and wraparound legs, enjoying their fantasies together, nothing else mattered. Not even blackmail.
    He hadn’t wanted to betray Lucky. He’d been given no choice.
    Donna Landsman had promised to destroy him if he didn’t.
     
    Lucky’s house in Malibu was set back from the ocean, with a clear view of the coastline. It was a comfortable Mediterranean-style house, filled with simple rattan furniture and plenty of books, paintings, and objects she and Lennie had collected together. They’d both decided this was the perfect spot to raise children.
    She arrived home just in time to catch little Maria toddling around the living room, looking adorable in a cute orange jumpsuit. Sweeping her daughter up in her arms, she swung her high in the air. Maria giggled uncontrollably—exactly like her mother, she craved action.
    “She wouldn’t go to bed until she saw you,” explained Cee Cee, Maria’s pretty black nanny.
    “Wouldn’t go to bed, huh?” Lucky teased, tickling her daughter until Maria screamed with even more excitement. When she quieted down, Lucky kissed her on the forehead and said, “Mommy’s going away for a few days, so you’ve got to be a very good girl and let Cee Cee look after you nicely.”
    “Mommy go,” Maria said, wriggling out of Lucky’s arms and proceeding to race unsteadily around the room. “Mommy, GO GO GO GO!”
    “Mommy go, but I’ll be back soon,” Lucky assured her.
    “Good Mommy,” Maria crooned, running over and stroking Lucky’s face with her soft baby hands. “Nice Mommy. Mommy good girl.”
    The joy of having such