Free Hollywood Outlaw: A Hollywood Alphabet SeriesThriller (A Hollywood Alphabet Series Thriller Book 15) by M.Z. Kelly Page A

together. “What kind of proposition?”
    He pushed back in his chair and lowered his voice. “I owe some people some money, and Jessica agreed to help me out.”
    “Money for what?”
    I got another sigh. “I lost a bet.”
    I shook my head. “So, Jessica agreed to pay off your gambling debts if you marry her.”
    “Shh.” His eyes shifted, looking around the room. “I’m stuck…unless…”
    When he didn’t go on, I said, “Unless what?”
    “Unless you can loan me the money. I need twenty grand.”
    I couldn’t believe what he was asking. Charlie knew that I was broke. “I can barely pay my rent.”
    His gaze drifted off. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
    “So, you’re really going to marry her?”
    His eyes found me and he whispered. “I owe money to a guy named Harley Boykin. He’s somebody who you better find a way to pay off what you owe him.”
    I knew Boykin by reputation. He was a loan shark who used physical violence to enforce his debts. “I can’t believe you got yourself into this situation.”
    Despite what I’d said, I could believe it. Charlie had a drinking problem and a history of making bad decisions when he was under the influence.
    “Are you coming?” he asked.
    “To the wedding?” He nodded. “I wasn’t invited.”
    “Consider yourself invited. You’re my best friend.”
    What he’d said made my eyes mist over. I desperately wanted to help him, but didn’t see any way to do that. I reached over and touched his hand. “Of course I’ll be there.”
    ***
    I stopped by the hospital to check on Bernie on my way home. He was doing well and I made arrangements to bring him home in a few days. My friends and I had two days left at the Mission Bell, and when I arrived at the inn, I remembered that we had all scheduled massages for that evening. After entering the hotel’s spa, I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard a familiar voice. It was like nails on a chalkboard.
    “Get over here and get naked, Kate. Let’s see what you’re made of.”
    It was Nana, our eighty-something former landlord. She was on the massage table between Natalie and Mo. All three women were nude. From where I stood, I had the impression that I’d entered Brie Henner’s morgue and found a dead body between my friends. To make matters worse, three male massage technicians were working on them. The look on the face of the masseur tending to Nana reminded me of Bernie after he’d eaten something that didn’t agree with him.
    “Get busy, Johnny,” Nana said to her masseur. “And make sure you use lots of oil. I’ve got some knots in there that are a couple of decades old.”
    Johnny, to his credit, did as he was instructed, even as he grimaced like a rookie cop seeing his first dead body.
    A receptionist came over and gave me a locker key as Natalie said, “We made us a group appointment, Kate. ‘Fraid Nana showed up and took your spot.”
    Nana lifted her head and looked at me. She worked her oversized, loose dentures around in her mouth like an elderly shark looking for a victim and said, “I didn’t take anybody’s spot. I just asserted my ownership privileges.”
    “What are you talking about?” I said.
    Mo moaned like she was having an orgasm, then said, “Nana made an offer for the inn last night. It was accepted a couple of hours ago.”
    “I’m now the Mission Bell madam,” Nana said. “Hey, that gives me an idea. Maybe I’ll turn this joint into a brothel.” She looked over at the receptionist. “Monica, get Rosie in here.” She looked back at me. “You look like hell. Go take your clothes off while Monica gets your masseur. I’m going to have them give you the full Monty, work you over from one end to the other.”
    The last thing I wanted was the full Monty, but the prospect of having my shoulders and back rubbed won me over. I went to the locker room, slipped out of my clothes, and put on one of the inn’s fluffy robes.
    When I rejoined my friends, I said,