Read Online Double Lucky by Jackie Collins - Free Book Online

enormous fortune.
    Ever since that fateful marriage, there’d been a lull, and for the last few years Brigette seemed at peace. All the same, Lucky kept a close eye on her.
    Bobby, on the other hand, was Mr. Cool. He had a Kennedy-esque air about him—great looks and charmingly self-deprecating. Girls fell at his feet and he took his pick, working his way through the pack.
    â€œYou’re my hero,” Gino Senior told him every time they got together. “Screw the Stanislopolous bloodline—you’re a Santangelo all the way, an’ doncha forget it.”
    Gino, who resided in Palm Springs with his decades-younger wife, Paige, was crazy about all his grandchildren, especially Bobby, who reminded him of his own womanizing youth.
    Lucky felt fortunate to have such a great family, but having a family didn’t mean sitting around doing nothing. Money had never been a problem for Lucky—her name said it all, plus she was a savvy businesswoman with all the right instincts. She was totally psyched about getting back into the hotel business. The last hotel she’d built was the Santangelo in Atlantic City—a fine hotel—but Atlantic City wasn’t Vegas, so after a few years she’d sold it, garnering almost three times her investment. Now, in Las Vegas, she had created the Keys complex—a hotel casino with luxury apartments. It was her dream hotel, and she couldn’t wait for opening night, which was in a few weeks’ time.
    In the meantime she had Gino’s ninety-fifth birthday party to plan. She wanted it to be ultraspecial, so she’d hired a party planner to take care of all the details. Gino would love being the center of his own party; he lived for action. At almost ninety-five he was as active as ever, full of energy and a zest for living.
    Gino the Ram was his nickname when he was a teenager running riot on the streets of Brooklyn.
    As a kid, Lucky couldn’t wait to hear all about Gino in his wild days—clawing his way up from nothing, making his fortune, scoring with dozens of beautiful women, until one day he’d met Maria, and she’d turned out to be the love of his life.
    Maria. Lucky’s mother. Brutally butchered and left for five-year-old Lucky to discover floating on a raft in the family swimming pool, the blood draining from her lifeless body.
    Her mother’s death had forced Lucky to be strong and independent. It had taught her how to be alone and to never be scared again.
    The violent and unforgettable tragedy had taken away her childhood and all the good memories, but screw it—even after Dario was murdered and then Marco, she’d never allowed herself to get beaten down. Never.
    No. Lucky’s power was in her strength, and nobody could take that away from her.
    Nobody dared.
    *   *   *
    Early Thursday evening Max bounced into the den where Lucky was busy working on the security list for Gino’s party, and Lennie was jotting down random notes on the script of his upcoming movie.
    â€œHey, Mom,” Max said, employing her best conciliatory tone of voice. “I just came up with a totally cool idea.”
    â€œReally?” Lucky said, hardly looking up.
    â€œYes,” Max replied. “Y’see, I have the perfect solution.”
    â€œYou do, huh?” Lucky said skeptically.
    Max nodded, full of confidence. “I’ll drive to Big Bear tomorrow, then come back Sunday morning like way in time for Grandpa’s party. How’s that?”
    Lennie glanced up from his script. “You’re going to Big Bear?” he said. “I used to love to ski.”
    â€œAnd your lovely daughter doesn’t,” Lucky said crisply. “Besides, Max, there’s no way you can miss dinner tomorrow night. Gino’s driving in from Palm Springs, and Bobby and Brigette are coming from New York. It’s a big family reunion dinner, and I’m cooking.”
    Max groaned