Chapter 7

Nadine couldn't believe her mother when Susan told her that she was going to dance in the casino of the Diamond Dell, and the amount of money she would be paid as a performer. Susan had expected her daughter to fly into a fit of shamed rage over her contemplated, semi-nude act, but the voluptuous young blonde had reacted exactly the opposite. She had been both excited and delighted with the thought of her mother in show business, and had even suggested that one day they might be on the same billing together.

Of course, Susan knew different... knew that had she not been forced into the role in order to protect her daughter and Jamey, as well as pacify Max Bovino, that she never in her most remote dreams would have considered such a thing. Nevertheless, she was pleased that Nadine was in favor, rather than offended by the idea; at least, that was going to make it somewhat easier. But next, there was Jamey, and she couldn't forget Max's warning. "Don't ever see that fink, Halo, again. That's an order!" Somehow, she had to cool their association without letting Jamey know the truth, even if she had to hurt him to do it: there was no telling what Max might do to all of them. God knows, he wasn't a man to be taken lightly, she was thinking as she picked up the telephone receiver and dialed Jamey's number, and she had only to refer her mind to the light soreness between her legs for emphasis of that fact... yet, thinking about it, she couldn't contain the tiny feelings of memorable provocation that rippled through her, either.

"Jamey... ? This is Susan," she greeted. "Nadine said you called..."

"Hi," he replied thickly. "Yeah... but she said you worked until eleven."

He was drinking, and by the sound of his voice, rather heavily, Susan decided. She said: "I do ordinarily, but I'm not going to work in the dining- room anymore. I start in the casino tomorrow night, Jamey... dancing."

There was a moment of silence, then, he said: "Y-You what? Did I hear you right, Susan?"

"Yes... I'm sure you did, Jamey. I'm going to dance in the Diamond Dell casino," she said evenly.

"You... you mean topless... naked?" he questioned incredulously.

"Well... somewhat, I guess.

"You guess? Jesus Christ, don't you know what those girls have to do? Have you ever seen a show there... or any of their props?" he blurted, his voice assuming a fevered pitch. "Now, listen to me, Susan, you can't."

"Yes, I can Jamey," she snapped, cutting his words short, "I can, and I will. I've already made up my mind and have talked with Max Bovino about it..."

"Max Bovino! That godamned crooked bastard!" Jamey half- screamed into her ear. "Listen to me, Baby, you don't know what you're getting into! That hood is poison. I won't let you get mixed up with him. You've got to listen to me, Susan, for God's sake... think of Nadine if you don't care anything about my feelings. What's she going to believe once she finds out her mother's dancing bare-assed in front of the whole god damned world..."

"Jamey... Jamey! Now, you hear me!" Susan said, interrupting him again, and with a determined voice. "I've told you that it's all settled. I start tomorrow night... and you let me worry about Nadine. I'm sorry if I've hurt you," she added, biting at her lower lip, a little tear popping into her eyes, "but my mind is set. Now... I'm going to hang up.