Chapter 27
An hour later, and the whole staying-married incident has put me on a high, excitement-wise.
It’s insane. It’s ridiculous. It’s the most alive I’ve ever felt, and I am bursting with joy.
I want to yell and scream and dance around.
I instantly text messaged Matteo to make sure he is sure about what he said. I reread his instant reply.
If you are sure. I am sure.
OmigodOmigodOmigod.
This is happening. This is really happening. My heart is skipping into a sweet shop and bouncing around on fluffy marshmallows.
‘Connie!’ yells Tash. ‘Which floor? I need to press a button.’
‘For frig’s sake,’ huffs Liberty. ‘Get your head in the game, pet. I’ve just asked you five times which floor. You can drool and moon all you want after we get this gig out of the way. And don’t forget. Hank Junior is still loose somewhere in this hotel.’
Liberty brings us all back down to earth with a bump.
Big Sue’s eyes dart to the security camera in the lift that we are currently squashed into. ‘For fuck’s sake, Libs, we may as well hand ourselves in now.’
It’s as though she has tempted fate because, just as the lift doors open on the fourth floor, Hank Junior is waiting to greet us as we step out.
His eyes shoot straight to Liberty. ‘May I have a word?’ he asks politely.
He is dressed casually. No Stetson, no fake moustache and no toothpick.
He is actually really attractive in a quirky sort of way. It’s such a shame he’s a wrong ’un.
A forlorn expression crawls across her face. Her eyes glisten as the sunlight pours into the lift. It is over 30 degrees; the sun is high in the sky and there is a pool party in full swing on the other side of the patio.
We all stand in front of her, hands on hips. We respond collectively with a hard, ‘No.’
Hank Junior stands his ground. He holds his hands up. ‘Just one minute.’
‘We’re due on stage in five minutes,’ I say.
‘I know,’ he says, looking perplexed. ‘Why do you think I’m here?’
‘It’s okay, Big Guy. Leave it to me,’ Big Sue says, stepping forward. Her tall frame is clad in a miniscule sequined bra top and hot pants. Her white-blonde Barbie ponytail is swinging. She’s as far from terrifying as the rest of us. ‘You heard the lady. Back off.’
Hank Junior shakes his head as though he’s losing patience.
‘Why don’t we all discuss the, erm, issue, afterwards?’ I say to placate him.
‘I’d like to discuss the issue now, thank you very much, ma’am,’ Hank Junior says with an expression of incredulity.
‘But what if we don’t want to discuss the friggin’ issue?’ barks Cherry. Her eyes are flashing angrily, her flaming-red hair is swishing and her hands are clamped to her bony hips.
Hank Junior almost jumps at the ferocity in her voice. He immediately holds up his hands again. ‘Okay. Okay.’
‘What’s going on?’ Matteo is striding up to us with a face like thunder.
He squares right up to Hank Junior. ‘Leave these women alone. They’ve told you it was all a misunderstanding.
Why can’t you just accept it and move on?
We’re all sorry for the inconvenience, but for your own good, just drop it. ’
Hank Junior is livid. His face is puce. Liberty steps between them. Hank Junior immediately drops his shoulders. Liberty looks up at him with huge, sad puppy eyes. Hank Junior seems to melt instantly.
‘I’m sorry,’ she says simply.
He can’t take his eyes off her.
‘I thought we had something special. But you weren’t being honest with me,’ she says quietly, her voice breaking.
Hank Junior hangs his head. ‘Is that why you stood me up?’
Liberty nods. ‘Why didn’t you tell me who you really are?’
He shrugs. ‘Would you still have been interested in me, or just what I could do for you?’
Liberty lets out a puff of air while the rest of us hold our breath, watching the scene unfold in silence. I notice Matteo has his fists clamped to his sides, ready to pounce if anything goes wrong.
‘Hank, I never wanted to hire a hitman. I told you about Luke because… well, I just didn’t want you thinking that I was interested in him. That’s all. I didn’t mean for you to “take care” of him.’ Liberty does air quotes. ‘I just wanted to spend time with you.’
This is it. This is the bit where it could all go horribly wrong for us.
If Hank refuses to back down, we are all in serious trouble.
I feel Matteo slip a hand into mine. My eyes flit to his.
We’re a team. He’s got our backs. It would be a lovely poignant moment if we weren’t so dreading Hank’s next move.
Hank is staring at Liberty. Myriad emotions battling it out before, surprisingly, a broad smile almost splits his face in two. ‘Oh, man,’ he says, amused. ‘Hitman? What are you talking about?’
‘You’re a hitman,’ she says, her lip wobbling. ‘Cherry overheard you talking about making hits and being very thorough, and you called yourself the hitman of Hollywood.’
‘No, I ain’t.’ He chuckles. His eyes are sparkling. ‘Well, I am. I do make hits but not those kind of hits.’
‘So, you haven’t…’ Liberty mouths the rest. ‘…killed Luke?’
He looks horrified. ‘No! Why would I do that? I barely know the guy.’
‘But you said you’d “take care of him”.’
‘Yeah. As in bribe him to move to a hotel on the other side of town. Far away from you.’
‘But then why wouldn’t you let us cancel the job, so to speak?’
‘Because I had no clue that you thought you’d hired me to do a hit on someone,’ he says, adjusting his hat and stuffing a hand in one of his jeans pockets. ‘Besides, he’d checked out of his room by the time my assistant got round to it, so I figured problem sorted.’
‘Well, what are we talking about?’ she asks. ‘Why were you so angry with us?’
Yes. Wouldn’t we all like to know? I’m not the only one in the group leaning forward. Matteo grips my hand even tighter.
‘You, disappearing on me for our date after we’d…’ His gaze travels the length of the group. We’re encroaching on their space. ‘After we’d said all that stuff to each other. And then suddenly wanting to cancel this gig for my’ – his cheeks are burning red – ‘for my BIG birthday.’
What?
Hank’s chin dips down. ‘Jeez! I admit it. I was looking forward to you girls playing at my party, and I got real upset that you wanted to cancel. And I had no idea why.’ He gives Liberty an earnest look. ‘I like you, Liberty. I really, really like you.’
My hand flies to my mouth. Oh, my effing word. We got this whole thing all wrong.
‘You’re Eddie from Talent Star?’ I gasp. ‘This is your birthday party?’
He nods.
‘And you go by another name because…’
‘To safeguard my privacy and to keep fame-hungry wannabes at bay. Yes, ma’am,’ he finishes for me. ‘It’s hard to know who you can trust these days.’
Isn’t it just?
I think the penny is about to drop by the way Liberty is looking adoringly at him. ‘I never made our date because I fainted when I found out you were a hitman, and by the time I came round, it was too late.’
‘So,’ Hank Junior-slash-Eddie says, ‘you’re still into me?’
Liberty’s cheeks redden.
‘Even though I’m just a boring billionaire talent promoter… and not a hitman?’ He chuckles.
Liberty squeals and leaps into his arms. I think he has his answer.
‘Excuse me,’ asks Big Mand, interrupting their embrace. ‘How big is this BIG birthday exactly?’ She gives Tash a pointed look. It’s like she’s thrown a lit match into a box of fireworks. It releases all the built-up tension as we crack up, howling with laughter.
‘I’m forty,’ he says, holding Liberty close. ‘That too old for y’all?’
Liberty shakes her head. ‘You might be older, but it doesn’t mean you’re old.’ She reaches up on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his lips. ‘I’ll just have to make sure I always keep you feeling young.’
‘On that note. Haven’t you ladies got a show to do?’ he says.
‘Come on, girls. Let’s show these fellas just how entertaining we can be.’ Liberty swivels on her high heels, bum cheeks wobbling like jellies beneath her ridiculously short hot pants. She blows him a kiss over her shoulder, a silly grin spreading across his face.
As we walk away, I glance back to see him and Matteo shaking hands and patting shoulders. Two striking alpha males. Two sizzling hot specimens of—
‘CONNIE!’ yells Ged from his private cabana. ‘Over here!’
We walk over to see Ged and Liam in a state of exhilaration. ‘You’ll never guess what!’ Liam yells as we all gather round.
‘You’re the best best woman in the whole world!’ gushes Ged, clamping his hands together over his heart. ‘Thank you so much. It’s been a dream come true. We couldn’t have wished for a better end to the pre-moon.’
I have no idea what they are talking about.
‘I know we asked you to ask Matteo to pull strings but…’ Liam stops to catch his breath. ‘This is something else.’
The pair of them are gibbering wrecks. ‘What do you mean?’
Before either of them can answer, their faces drop and I find myself staring right into a pair of electric-blue eyes. ‘Hi. I hear congratulations are in order. You and Matteo. He also tells me you ladies are the hottest show in town.’
We all blush at the praise. The Dollz are rooted to the spot. He makes eye contact with them all.
‘I’m looking forward to seeing you perform.’
We have no words. We stare unblinking at our pop idol. It’s definitely not Barry Styles this time.
‘We’re all totally, like, obsessed with you,’ says Liberty. ‘But we’ll have to catch you later. Lasses, let’s get on stage.’
Liberty is very keen to begin showing off for Eddie. Her enthusiasm is infectious and because we are all high on adrenaline from meeting a pop icon and avoiding jail, our confidence is through the roof.
‘For the Dollz,’ says Big Mand, stretching her hand out. We form a circle, each putting a hand over hers. She gives me a knowing smile. ‘Once a Doll, always a Doll.’
My heart swells a thousand times too big for my chest. This moment of powerful friendship is overwhelming. Tears prick at my eyes.
‘For fuck’s sake, Connie.’ Cherry huffs with laughter. ‘This isn’t Benidorm all over again, love, is it?’
‘It is actually,’ I say, wiping a stray tear away. ‘You were there for me then, and we’re all here for each other now. To friendship.’
‘To friendship,’ we all chant as we stride onto the stage to give the show of a lifetime.