Why had Gino wanted her to have these photos? It was puzzling. Was she supposed to destroy them? Or did he expect her to keep them should she ever need to use them? The ones of Paige she decided to keep, just in case. Everything else she returned to the boxes to be dealt with at another time.

It was all too much, and with everything going on, she didn't care to think about it until things were calmer and she could concentrate. She had other matters to concern her. Beverly had asked her to arrange a money transfer for Bobby's bail. Chris Warwick had texted to say he was on his way back from Palm Springs with information. At least she'd spoken to Max, and that was a relief.

She buzzed Mrs. Crisp, returned the boxes to the safe-deposit wall, then got in her Ferrari and headed home.

On the way she received a text from Danny telling her that Lennie, Gino Junior, and Leo were at the house. He also mentioned that he was busy securing accommodations for everyone, plus putting together funeral services at the Magiriano and organizing a huge celebratory party, which would take place after the funeral.

Who was coming?

The family first and foremost. And there were so many friends and acquaintances who would expect to be there.

Suddenly she was overcome with a wave of emotion. Pulling her Ferrari to a stop by the side of the road, she took a few moments to reflect on everything.

Gino ... Gino ... Gino. Was he now reunited with Maria, the love of his life? Was he peaceful and content? Was he watching over her and his grandchildren, protecting them all from harm?

She wanted to cry, but she couldn't. Once again, she knew that she had to be strong. Above all else, she had a job to do. And that job was to find Gino's killer.

"Gotta get back to work," Lennie was quick to tell her when she returned home. "Everyone's in the editing bay except me, and it's my movie."

"How was lunch?"

"Those boys ate like a couple of cowboys coming off a weeklong fast," he joked. "They sure got big appetites."

"Glad to hear it."

"The good news is they're doing okay. They're a couple of tough little shits."

"Of course they are," she said with a soft smile.

"And you, my beautiful wife-how about you?"

She shrugged. "I guess I'm surviving," she replied, feeling the sadness envelop her like a heavy cloak.

"Always the survivor, right?"

"You got it," she said with a wry smile. "I've decided that's going to be my mantra from now on."

"How come you didn't tell me you were going out? Where'd you go?"

"I drove down the coast. Had to clear my head."

"Listen, Lucky," he said, giving her a long stern look. "Do me a favor and don't go doing that again without security. We're in a scary situation. Somebody's out to get this family, and who knows-you could be their next target."

"C'mon, Lennie," she said, summoning her strength. "Stop being so dramatic."

"Bullshit," he shot back at her. "You know I'm right."

"What you should do is get back to work," she insisted. "Everything's fine."

"In your world it always is."

"Okay," she said, determined to change the subject. "Bringing you up to date, I should tell you that I posted bail for Bobby, and I spoke to Max."

"About time. Is she on her way back?"

"I told her it was best if she flew home for the funeral. Right now she's in Rome doing some big-deal modeling campaign that she's all excited about."

"That's great. As long as she's happy, that's all that matters."

"She sounds as if she is."

"Okay, then, so she'll come back for the funeral. When will that be?"

"As soon as they release Gino's body I'll set a firm date. So now-please-get your ass out of here and go edit your movie. You know you want to."

"Only if you're absolutely sure you don't need me," he said, putting his arms around her.

"I don't," she said, gently pushing him away. "I can assure you that everything's under control."

"You-my beautiful, stubborn wife-are something else," he said, shaking his head as he turned to leave.

She gave a wan smile. "I know."

By the time she went looking for the boys, they'd bonded with two of the security guards. One of the guards asked if they could take the boys surfing. She gave her permission and off they all went.

How resilient the young were. Whatever life threw at them, they bobbed right back. She remembered that at sixteen she'd been exactly the same.

She called Beverly to inform her that the wire transfer had been sent. Beverly promised that she'd have Bobby out of jail within the hour.

Danny was in his makeshift office. He handed her a long list of people who'd called offering their condolences. She studied the list for a moment before deciding that the only person she felt like calling back was Venus, although there were many others she knew she should talk to. Eventually. Not now. It was too soon.

She headed for her study. It was her favorite room, filled with books, DVDs of movies she'd enjoyed, and family photos. French doors opened onto a spacious balcony overlooking the ocean. The tide was in, and the waves were breaking close to the shore.

The Malibu house was a place filled with peacefulness and love. It was her special retreat away from the craziness of Vegas.

Taking out her phone, she was happy to reach Venus.

"You do know how much I loved Gino," Venus whispered softly. "He was always my secret crush from the very first moment I met him."

"I know," Lucky replied, glad that Venus sounded like her old self. "I had to practically handcuff you to keep you away from him."

"Ah ... if only I could've gotten rid of Paige..." Venus sighed.

"If only," Lucky agreed. "Although having you as my stepmom would not have been my lifelong dream."

"And having Paige as a stepmom was?" Venus said archly.

"Don't even go there," Lucky warned. "That woman is toxic. Her true colors are finally shining through."

"Can't wait to hear."

"The funeral service and following party will be in Vegas at the Magiriano," Lucky said, refusing to linger on the subject of Paige. "You'll be there?"

"What do you think?" Venus replied. "And if you need me before that, I'm around. Still shooting in Vegas. You can call me any time of the day or night."

"I might do that."

Lucky clicked off, contemplating how comforting it was to have her friend back-the Venus she knew and loved.

It occurred to her that she'd never had many close friends-plenty of acquaintances and business associates, but true loyal friends were hard to come by. Unfortunately, most people wanted something from her, and that wasn't cool.

Not that she'd missed out on anything. Lennie was her very best friend, and he and their family came first, then her work. Whether it was running a movie studio or building hotels, she had a passion for both. Now she was planning on combining them. She was going to build an amazing complex incorporating a grand hotel, luxurious apartments, and, most exciting of all, a magnificent state-of-the-art movie studio.

Once again she thought about how much Gino would've loved this concept. She'd so looked forward to telling him, listening to his advice and ideas.

The sad truth was that the dream was no longer possible. Gino was gone. Forever.

Danny knocked on the door. "Chris is here," he said.

"Tell him to come in," she replied, impatient to hear what Chris had come up with. He'd never let her down, and she was sure he wasn't about to start now.

It was time to find out the truth.

And when she did, it would be time to take her revenge.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO.

The desk clerk returned Bobby's belongings to him, throwing him a contemptuous look, as if to say, You'll be back, rich boy.

Bobby felt his jaw tighten, but he said nothing. What was the point?

Beverly was there to meet him. She was accompanied by two burly security men, and even though she'd warned him that he was all over the newspapers, he was not prepared for the onslaught of press waiting to pounce when they stepped outside. They came at him like vultures claiming their last meal.

Keeping a firm grip on his arm, Beverly instructed him not to say a word as they pushed and shoved their way to the car.

He didn't. He stared straight ahead, not even blinking as a flurry of flashbulbs blinded him while several snarky TV reporters shoved mics in his face.

Jibes about his family were thrown at him.

"Read that your gangster granddaddy just got his head blown off. Care to comment?"

"How's your mama doin'? Wasn't Lucky accused of killing someone way back?"

"Wassit like to be connected?"

"You kill that girl, Bobby?"

"Think you're gonna walk on this one?"

Beverly and security hustled him into the back of an SUV with blacked-out windows. He slumped down, feeling like shit. Over the years, he'd managed to keep a low profile. He'd never courted the press or done publicity to gain attention for his clubs. M.J. had been the public face of Mood, while he'd always stayed in the background. Occasionally he'd been mentioned on Page Six of the New York Post as one of the most eligible bachelors in town, but usually he flew under the radar.

This was different. This was a game changer, and he realized that he was going to have to deal with it whether he liked it or not.

It was more than upsetting considering that everything he'd achieved, he'd managed to do without any help from his family. Sure, he was privileged and came from great wealth, but so what? That didn't mean he was automatically guilty. Things had been going so well, and now this had happened.

He sat in the back of the SUV mulling over how he should have dealt with the girl in the red dress. Was there anything he could have done differently?

First off, why the hell had he agreed to drive her to the hotel? Why hadn't he summoned a member of the waitstaff to do so, or one of the parking attendants?

Oh yeah, deep down he knew why. Because she was hot.

Damn it, he hadn't planned on making a move, yet she'd acted so persuasive and seductive that he hadn't been able to resist driving her himself. Bad move.

Even worse, when they'd arrived at the hotel, he'd accompanied her upstairs to her suite. Why had he done that?

Because she'd fed him some pathetic story about being scared-was that why?

Shit! In the back of his mind had he been planning on fucking her?

No! Definitely not.

His inner voice piped up in his head: You sure about that?

"We're here," Beverly said.

"Where?" Bobby muttered.

"Your hotel. I thought you'd want to take a shower and get something to eat before we go to the airport."

"I can leave the state?" he asked, surprised.

"The state, not the country. You're going to have to surrender your passport."

"Jeez!" he said, caustically. "Just as I was planning on running off to Bora-Bora."

"Glad to see you haven't lost your sense of humor," Beverly drawled.

Bobby gave her a wry smile. "It's about all I got left right now."

The SUV pulled up in front of the hotel where he and M.J. were staying. More TV crews and photographers were gathered outside jostling for the best position.