Read Double Lucky for Free Online Page B

children. Wasn’t that enough? She was a mother , for chrissakes; he didn’t fuck mothers.
    Besides, he had other things on his mind, and making Grandma happy was a number-one priority.
    When he’d told Francesca his plans for finally taking action against the Santangelos, her long, thin face had lit up. “At last you have the balls of your grandfather,” she’d exclaimed. “You make me a very happy woman, Anthony.”
    â€œWhatever I’m doin’, it’s for you,” he’d said. “’Cause you care so much.”
    â€œNo!” she’d said sharply. “Not for me. For the Bonnatti name . For the Bonnatti honor . Your stupid half-brother couldn’t do it. Nor could Donatella. Now it is your duty to ruin the Santangelo family once and for all.”
    â€œHey, it’s gonna happen,” he’d promised.
    â€œIt better,” she’d answered sharply. “You hear me, Anthony? It better.”
    â€œWhat? Ya don’t believe me?”
    â€œIt’s taken you long enough.”
    â€œJesus Christ! I do everythin’ for you, an’ still you doubt me.”
    And so the screaming had started. Always the screaming.
    Anthony was used to it. In a strange way it was his only true comfort zone.
    *   *   *
    Sitting outside under a leafy tree in the garden of their house, Irma watched the two gardeners at work. One was an older man, his lined face grizzled from the sun. The other was a much younger man, with a muscled body and brooding features. Irma stared at him, observing his dark, bushy eyebrows, thick lips, and muscular arms. He reminded her of her first boyfriend way back in Omaha when she was a mere fourteen. Andy Francis, a very possessive boy who’d slugged other boys simply for looking at her. Well, she thought with a slight smile, I was the prettiest girl in school .
    Memories of Andy brought back feelings of her first sexual stirrings. Andy’s hard little kisses, his fifteen-year-old tongue stuck firmly in her mouth thrusting and twisting. Andy’s eager hands exploring under her sweater, unfastening her bra and clumsily fondling her breasts. Andy’s frustration when she refused to allow him to go any further.
    Irma found that she couldn’t stop staring at the younger of the two gardeners. He was new, she’d only seen him a couple of times before.
    Suddenly he glanced up and met her gaze. His eyes were full of suspicion, but he didn’t look away, and neither did she.
    It was a moment that set her thinking. Was this destined to be the man she had an affair with? This lowly Mexican gardener who probably stank of sweat and wine and would handle her roughly, because in his eyes he surely must see her as a beautiful blond lonely American princess.
    She experienced a shiver of excitement, followed by a moist feeling between her legs.
    Oh God, it had been so long since Anthony had touched her. Right now she was suffused with desire.
    She couldn’t take her eyes off the man, his rippling muscles, his stoic face. Yes, she had to have him. And why shouldn’t she? Anthony thought he was so clever with his secretive ways, but she knew about his mistresses—the Italian whore he kept in a penthouse in New York, and the so-called model in Miami. Besides, he’d taken her children from her, and that wasn’t right.
    She also knew plenty about his business dealings. The drug shipments, the many meetings, his associates in Colombia and Bolivia whom she’d met.
    Damn Anthony. He was forcing her to go elsewhere for the sexual satisfaction she craved.
    The old gardener turned and began a slow trudge toward the greenhouse. The young gardener stayed where he was.
    Irma couldn’t stop watching him. After a few moments she acted on impulse and beckoned him over. He headed in her direction, a wary expression on his face.
    What am I doing? she thought. This is crazy . But her heart was beating