Lovers and Gamblers

by Jackie Collins

  ‘Do you realize what you just said? I think a remark like that calls for dinner tonight. I’ll pick you up at eight. Where?’

  ‘Same place, different apartment number.’

  Again they both found themselves grinning foolishly.

  ‘Hey – I’ve got a press conference to get on the road here,’ Cody said at last. ‘You’re taking my mind off everything!’

  ‘So sorry – what’s it all about anyway?’

  ‘Announce the movie… you know Dallas has become some huge star from that one TV series.’

  ‘You don’t have to tell me. I have made a small fortune from my pictures of her. They sell again and again and again.’

  ‘A fortune, huh? You mean you’re rich?’

  ‘Well, you always did say I was a bright lady!’

  ‘Ouch! You never forget.’ He kissed her lightly on the cheek. ‘Time to bring on my two superstars. How about you staying on after and getting some exclusive shots?’

  ‘If you don’t think they’ll mind…’

  ‘Mind! Dallas will be delighted, she’s always talking about you.’ He didn’t want to confess that so was he. ‘See you in a minute.’

  He vanished inside the house, and Linda couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. She felt ridiculous really, standing there grinning like an idiot, but there was nothing she could do about it. Seeing Cody again just made her feel so good.

  She glanced around at her fellow photographers and journalists. They were chatting, drinking, setting up tape recorders and cameras.

  Suddenly a hush fell over the gathering. Framed in the patio doorway stood Al and Dallas.

  What a couple they made. Somehow Dallas was softer than before – more glowingly beautiful. She was wearing a very simple white dress which emphasized her suntanned body. Her luxurious wild hair cascaded down over her shoulders, and her huge green eyes gleamed with a hidden danger. She looked incredibly sensual and vulnerable all at the same time. An irresistible combination. That was the new ingredient – Linda decided – the vulnerability. It had every man in the room falling instantly in love. They didn’t know whether they wanted to rape or protect her. She had them bewitched.

  Linda also noticed a change in Al. A big change. The arrogance had gone and had been replaced with a look of deep satisfaction. For the first time since she had known him he looked like a contented man. And who could blame him? The two of them sparked off enough electricity to light up the house. Al was thinner than she remembered, and very darkly tanned. Also he had stuck to the beard he had grown in the jungle, and it gave him the look of a gypsy. His jet hair was long and unruly, and on his forehead there was a thin scar – a souvenir of the jungle.

  Whereas before Linda had always thought his sex appeal somewhat manufactured – now he looked like the real thing.

  The photographers and journalists surged forward – and was it her imagination or did most of them surge in Dallas’s direction? She wasn’t sure but she could have sworn a look of resignation swept over Al’s face.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen of the press,’ Cody announced proudly, ‘I give you Dallas and Al King.’

  JACKIE COLLINS

  There have been many imitators, but only Jackie Collins can tell you what really goes on in the fastest lane of all. From Beverly Hills bedrooms to a raunchy prowl along the streets of Hollywood; from glittering rock parties and concerts to stretch limos and the mansions of the power brokers – Jackie Collins chronicles the real truth from the inside looking out.

  Jackie Collins has been called a “raunchy moralist” by the late director Louis Malle and “Hollywood’s own Marcel Proust” by Vanity Fair magazine. With over 500 million copies of her books sold in more than 40 countries, and with some thirty New York Times bestsellers to her credit, Jackie Collins is one of the world’s top-selling novelists. She is known for giving her readers an unrivaled insiders knowledge of Hollywood and the glamorous lives and loves of the rich, famous, and infamous! “I write about real people in disguise,” she says. “If anything, my characters are toned down – the truth is much more bizarre.”

  Jackie Collins started writing as a teenager, making up steamy stories her schoolmates paid to devour. Her first book, “The World is Full of Married Men,” became a sensational bestseller because of its open sexuality and the way it dealt honestly with the double standard. After that came “The Stud,” “Sinners,” “The Love Killers,” “The World is Full of Divorced Women,” “The Bitch,” “Lovers And Gamblers,” “Chances,” and then the international sensation, “Hollywood Wives” – a #1 New York Times bestseller, which was made into one of ABC’s highest-rated miniseries starring Anthony Hopkins, Stefanie Powers and Suzanne Somers.

  “The Stud,” “The World is Full of Married Men,” and “The Bitch” were also filmed – this time for the big screen. And Jackie wrote an original movie, Yesterday’s Hero, starring Ian McShane and Suzanne Somers.

  Readers couldn’t wait to race through “Lucky,” her next book – a sequel to “Chances” – and the story of Lucky Santangelo, an incredibly beautiful, strong woman, another New York Times number one. Oprah had one word for the book “Lucky,” and that was – “Hot!”

  Next came the bad boys of Hollywood in the steamy “Hollywood Husbands” – a novel which kept everyone guessing the identities of the true-to-life Hollywood characters.

  Jackie then wrote “Rock Star” – the story of three rock superstars and their rise to the top, followed by the long-waited sequel to “Chances” and “Lucky” – “Lady Boss” – tracking the further adventures of the smart and powerful Lucky Santangelo as she takes control of a Hollywood studio.

  Both “Lucky” and “Chances” were written and adapted for NBC television by Jackie, who also executive produced the highly successful six-hour miniseries Lucky/Chances, starring Nicollette Sheridan and Sandra Bullock.

  In the nineties, she produced and wrote the four-hour miniseries, Lady Boss, which became another huge ratings success for NBC. Lady Boss starred Kim Delaney.

  Next came “American Star,” a love story, which the Los Angeles Times described as “classic Collins.”

  Then the dangerously close to the truth “Hollywood Kids” – a story of power, sex, danger and ambition among the grown offspring of major celebrities.

  In 1996 “Vendetta – Lucky’s Revenge” was published – and became an immediate New York Times bestseller.

  And in 1998, Jackie hosted her own daily television show for CBS, Jackie Collins Hollywood. A combination of fun, style and interviews, Jackie talked to everyone from George Clooney to Jennifer Lopez.

  After that she wrote “L.A. Connections” – a four-part serial novel published one per month – “Power,” “Obsession,” “Murder” and “Revenge.”

  In 1999 came “Dangerous Kiss” – the return of Lucky Santangelo in a bestselling novel about relationships, addiction, fear and lust.

  In the year 2000, “Lethal Seduction” became the first bestseller for Jackie Collins in the new millennium. This tale of erotic suspense and glamorous intrigue featured Madison Castelli, a character first introduced in the “L.A. Connections” series.

  “Hollywood Wives – The New Generation” became a blockbuster bestseller in 2001, following in the footsteps of the original “Hollywood Wives.” “Hollywood Wives – The New Generation” featured a brand new cast of characters and a totally fresh perspective on how women pursue power, love, sex, and success in Tinseltown today.

  In 2003 Jackie produced the TV movie of Hollywood Wives – The New Generation for CBS. Wives starred Farrah Fawcett, Robin Givens, Jack Scalia and Melissa Gilbert.

  In June 2002, New York flash, L.A. trash and a Mafia don meet head-on in “Deadly Embrace.” This sexy tale of dangerous passion and suspense features heroine Madison Castelli and is both a prequel and a sequel to her adventures in the bestselling “Lethal Seduction.”

  In 2003 came another New York Times bestseller, “Hollywood Divorces,” the story of three
very different women. Followed in 2005 by “Lovers and Players” – a story of family conflicts, three brothers and their billionaire father, a beautiful heiress, a hip-hop mogul, Russian call girls, illegitimate children and two murders. This all takes place over seven days in New York, and yet again hits the New York Times bestseller list.

  “Drop Dead Beautiful – The Continuing Adventures of Lucky Santangelo” was published in 2007. Lucky came back with a vengeance – bolder and more beautiful than ever! In “Drop Dead Beautiful” Lucky meets old friends and enemies, and deals with her wild teenage daughter, Max, who is as stubborn and strong as her mom. Lucky plans to return to Las Vegas and build an amazing billion dollar hotel complex. But when she does… the trouble really begins…

  Next came “Married Lovers,” a powerful look at the ins and outs of marriage in L.A. It’s also the story of an under-age Russian girl who becomes involved in the sex trade, and eventually arrives in Hollywood and causes major trouble.

  “Poor Little Bitch Girl” followed “Married Lovers,” another New York Times bestseller. It is the story of three very different women who all went to high school together. Denver Jones – a twenty-five year old kick ass associate lawyer in L.A. Carolyn Henderson – assistant to a powerful married Senator in Washington. And Annabelle Maestro – daughter of movie star parents, who has carved out a niche for herself as a much in demand New York madame running call girls.

  And then there is Bobby Santangelo – Lucky’s Kennedyesque hot sexy son, with mucho style, great looks and plenty of money. Everyone wants Bobby…

  Throw into this mix a raunchy agent, a sixteen-year-old gangbanger’s girlfriend, an older superstar on the prowl, a lethal murder… and “Poor Little Bitch Girl” becomes a guilty pleasure for everyone to enjoy.

  Jackie’s next novel “Goddess of Vengeance,” is the continuing adventures of Lucky Santangelo – much beloved by Jackie’s legion of readers – who makes a triumphant return in this story of lust, power and revenge set between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. The Daily Mail called “Goddess of Vengeance,” “The book of the year.” Also returning in “Goddess of Vengeance” are Lucky’s gorgeous son, Bobby, with his girlfriend, Denver, and Max, Lucky’s wild little teenage daughter. And along for the thrilling ride is Armand Jordan, and to quote Jackie – “Armand is the nastiest villain I have ever created. But he was fun to write!”

  And then comes the sexy sun-drenched thriller, “The Power Trip,” set on a state-of-the-art luxury yacht off the coast of Cabo San Lucas. A tropical getaway with a cast of global power brokers and celebrities.

  In “The Power Trip” you will meet Aleksandr Kasianenko, a billionaire Russian oligarch, as he sets sail on The Bianca with his sexy supermodel girlfriend, whom The Bianca is named after. Also five dynamic, powerful and famous couples invited on the yacht’s maiden voyage: Hammond Patterson, a driven Senator, and his lovely but unhappy wife, Sierra. Cliff Baxter, a charming, never married movie star, and his ex-waitress girlfriend, Lori. Taye Sherwin, a famous black UK footballer and his interior designer wife, Ashley. Luca Perez, a male Latin singing sensation with his older decadent English boyfriend, Jeromy. And Flynn, a maverick journalist with his Asian renegade female friend, Xuan.

  You will also meet Russian mobster, Sergei Zukov, a man with a grudge against Aleksandr. And Sergei’s Mexican beauty queen girlfriend, Ina, whose brother, Cruz, is a master pirate with orders to hold The Bianca and its illustrious rota of guests for ransom.

  “The Power Trip” explores the decadent playgrounds of the super rich… and leaves you hungry for more.

  After “The Power Trip” Jackie wrote “Confessions of a Wild Child” – the super adventures of Lucky Santangelo as a wild, out-of-control teenager with aspirations to follow in the footsteps of her father, the notorious Gino Santangelo.

  Lucky manages to rock everyone’s boast as she explores the world of boys, sex, rock ’n’ roll and fun.

  “The Lucky Santangelo Cookbook” is out now, a different kind of cookbook Jackie describes as decadent and delicious!

  Currently she is currently writing her next novel, “The Santangelos,” and is also working on a memoir, “Reform School or Hollywood,” and a coffee table book “Hollywood Snaps,” filled with celebrity photos she has taken over the years.

  Jackie has three grown daughters and she lives in L.A. She refers to herself as a popular culture junkie and a major TV addict. Her hobbies are music – everything from soul to rap, taking photographs and visiting exotic locations so that she can write about them later.

  Jackie firmly believes that the truth is always much stranger than fiction.

  CONNECT WITH JACKIE COLLINS

  Facebook.com/jackiecollins • @jackiejcollins • jackiecollins.com

  CHAPTER ONE

  How does a girl get through school stuck with the name Lucky Saint? How does a girl answer questions about her family when her mom was murdered and her dad was once an infamous criminal known as Gino the Ram?

  Beats me. But if I have to, then I absolutely can do it. I’m a Santangelo after all. A freaking survivor of a major screwed-up childhood. A girl with a shining future.

  Now here I am—a week before my fifteenth birthday—about to be packed off to L’Evier, which I’m informed is a very expensive private boarding school in Switzerland, so I’d better like it or else.

  I am totally pissed. My brother, Dario, is totally pissed. The truth is we’re all we’ve got, and separating us is simply not fair. Dario is younger than me by eighteen months, and I’ve always felt that I should look after him.

  He’s sensitive. I’m not.

  He’s artistic. I’m a tomboy.

  Dario likes to paint and read.

  I like to kick a football and shoot baskets. Somehow our roles got reversed.

  We live in a huge mausoleum—sorry, I mean house—in Bel Air, California. A house filled with maids and housekeepers and tutors and drivers and security guards. Kind of like a fancy prison compound, only our backyard features a man-made lake, a tennis court, and an Olympic-size swimming pool. Yeah, my dad has a ton of money.

  Yippee! Luxury. You think?

  No way. I’m kind of a loner with very few friends, ’cause my life is not like theirs. My life is controlled by Daddy Dearest. Gino the Ram. Mister “Everything I say is right, and you’d better listen or else.”

  It sucks. I am a prisoner of money and power. A prisoner of a father who is so paranoid that something bad will happen to me or Dario that he keeps us more or less locked up.

  So I guess being sent off to boarding school isn’t such a bad thing. Maybe a modicum of freedom is lurking in my future.

  However, I will miss Dario so much, and believe me I Know he feels the same way.

  We’re very different. I resemble Gino with my tangle of jet-black hair, olive skin, and intense dark eyes, whereas Dario inherited my mom’s calm blondness.

  Yes. I do remember my mom. Beautiful Maria. Sunny and warm and kind. Sweet-smelling with the smile of an angel and the softest skin in the world. She was the love of my father’s life, even though he’s had legions of girlfriends since her tragic death. I hate him for that, it’s so wrong.

  I miss my mom so much, I think about her every day. The problem is that my memories are akin to a frightening dark nightmare because I am the one who discovered her naked body floating lifelessly on a striped raft in the family swimming pool—the pool tinged pink with her blood.

  I was five years old, and it’s an image that never leaves me. I remember screaming hysterically, and people running outside to see what was going on. Then Nanny Camden picked me up and hustled me inside the house. After that everything is a blur.

  I do remember the funeral. Such a somber affair. Everyone crying. Dario clinging to Nanny Camden, while I clutched onto Gino’s hand and put on a brave face.

  “Don’t ever forget you’re a Santangelo,” Gino informed me with a steely glare. “Never let ’em see you crumble. Got it?”

  Yes,
I got it. So I managed to stay stoic and dry-eyed, even though I was only five and quite devastated.

  Ah, yes, fond memories of a screwed-up childhood. Now the limo sits outside the Bel Air house, idling in our fancy driveway ready to spirit me away to the airport.

  Dario has on a sulky face—which does not take away from his hotness. My brother might only be thirteen, but he’s almost six feet tall, and once he gets some freedom, girls will be all over him.

  It pisses Gino off that Dario doesn’t look like him. He always wanted a son—a mirror image of himself—instead he got me.

  Ha-ha! I’m the son he never had.

  Too bad, Daddy. Make the most of it.

  Gino is sending me away to school because he’s under the impression I’m a wild one. Just because I occasionally manage to escape from the house and hang out in Westwood—driving one of the house cars without a license—does not label me as wild. It’s not as if I do anything crazy, I simply wander around the area checking out what it would be like to be a normal teenager. And yeah, I have to admit that sometimes I do get to talk to a boy or two.

  Unfortunately, one memorable night I was pulled over by the cops and that was a disaster. When Gino found out he went loco. “I’m sendin’ you off to a school that’ll drill some sense into you,” he yelled, having conferred with my Aunt Jen. “What you need is an assful of discipline. I’m not puttin’ up with your crappy behavior anymore. You’re drivin’ me insane.”

  That’s my dad, so unbelievably eloquent.

  Marco is standing next to the limo, speaking with the driver. Marco is kind of Gino’s shadow and a total babe.

  He’s way over six feet tall, lean and muscular, with thick black curly hair and lips to die for. He’s old. Probably late twenties. It doesn’t matter because I have a major crush. He’s handsomer than any movie star and major cool. Problem is that he talks down to me, treats me as if I’m a little kid, which I suppose in his eyes I am.