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expression in your eyes.”
    “Really?” Venus sniped. “And what expression would that be?”
    “Are you high?”
    “If I was,” Venus answered grandly, “it would be because my role calls for me to be in that state. You seem to forget that I’m playing a drug addict. If there’s one thing Hugo demands, it’s realism.”
    “I bet he does.”
    “Hugo warned me that it would be a mistake to see you,” Venus said, picking up her glasses. “He told me not to come, and he was right.”
    Lucky realized that there was no reasoning with Venus while she was under the great Hugo’s spell; there was nothing to be gained from carrying on this conversation.
    Venus obviously felt the same way, because she rose to her feet and said abruptly, “I have to go.”
    Lucky nodded and also got up. “So do I,” she said crisply.
    They parted awkwardly, Venus all set to run back to her Svengali, Lucky more than ready to catch her flight back to L.A. and Lennie, who was waiting for her.
    She was somewhat saddened by the state Venus was in. They’d been friends for a very long time, and she hated to see the way Hugo was taking advantage of her. Venus was not an actress, she was an amazing singer, dancer, and performer. Nobody put on a show like Venus. She outpaced them all—including Beyonc é and Rihanna.
    Now Hugo was trying to turn her into a serious actress. Really? Because in Lucky’s opinion, Venus was heading for career suicide, and she hated having to bear witness to the disaster that was bound to take place.
    Still … Venus was a grown woman, and like Lucky, she’d always done things her way, so there was no stopping her. Venus had to figure it out for herself, and when she did, Lucky would be right there to pick up the pieces.
    She checked her watch, realizing that it was time to get to the airport and home to Lennie, the love of her life.
    Before leaving Vegas, she put in a call to her father, Gino—or Gino the Ram as he was once known. Or Gino the Enemy, because they sure as hell had experienced enough crazy knockdown fights over the years. Memorable ones. However, time and age had turned Gino into an almost mellow man, and she loved him dearly in spite of their rocky past.
    “Hey,” she said into her cell phone. “It’s me, your long-lost daughter.”
    “Kiddo,” he responded affectionately. “What’s goin’ on?”
    “How are you?”
    “Breathing.”
    “I want to see you. I miss you. It’s been weeks.”
    “You miss me, huh?” he said, sounding pleased.
    “You know I do. I hate that you’re stuck out in the desert.”
    “Then whyn’t you haul your pretty ass to Palm Springs an’ come visit, ’cause I’m sittin’ here doin’ shit.”
    “I’m so not into Palm Springs,” she said. “It’s way too quiet for me, I don’t know how you stand it. Aren’t you bored? Everyone’s either on their way to being dead or totally gay.”
    “Well, since I ain’t gay, kiddo, I guess that makes me on my way to bein’ dead.”
    “Ha-ha!”
    “You’ve always pushed t’ be smack in the middle of the action, ever since you were a little kid.”
    “Look who’s talking.”
    Gino gave a hearty laugh.
    “Okay, let me run this by you,” she said enthusiastically. “Why don’t you haul your pretty ass to Vegas next weekend? You’re just like me, and I know you miss the action. Plus I’ve got exciting new plans to tell you about.”
    “How exciting?” he rasped.
    “Plenty exciting,” she responded.
    “I’ll think about it.”
    “C’mon, Gino,” she urged. “Don’t think — do . You know you want to.”
    “Lemme check with Paige.”
    “Oh come on ! Since when did you have to check with the wife?”
    “Since I got old,” he said ruefully.
    “You’re not old, and Paige doesn’t have to come.”
    “I’ll tell her you said so.”
    “Don’t do that,” Lucky said quickly. “She’ll be pissed. Anyway, is it wrong that I want you all to myself for a change?”
    “Okay, kiddo,”