anything, and half of it on the fact India was due on set any second.
The last time they’d spoken hadn’t exactly left them on good terms, but he was sure he could turn that around. He knew that she hadn’t been in contact with Dominic at all over the past few days because he hadn’t followed her to L.A., as Michael had thought he would. So maybe he’d finally got the message. When it came to India you couldn’t win against Michael. It would never happen, Michael wouldn’t let it. Maybe Dominic was finally starting to realise that.
Dominic MacDonald – his son. Michael still couldn’t get his head around it. He had a thirty-six-year-old son and he’d had no idea. His whole relationship with Dominic’s mother was a blur if Michael was honest. It had happened during a time when he’d been struggling, when alcohol and recreational drugs had been his best friend; a time when he’d let very few people in. He’d have made a crap father if the relationship had lasted, but that was no excuse. Maybe knowing Dominic would have changed all of that, who knew? Who knew what might have happened if things had been different.
But things weren’t different, and that’s what he had to deal with. The present, not the past. And if India hadn’t responded to any attempt Dominic had made to contact her then surely that was a good sign? She knew Dominic had used her, because that’s exactly what he’d done. Used her as some kind of pawn in some kind of game, a game of one-upmanship against a man who never lost. His son wasn’t quite as clever as he was, nor would he ever be. And it seemed India had learnt that.
Michael smiled to himself, suddenly feeling as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Whatever India had said to him back in L.A., she’d been angry. With good reason. It was to be expected. But she’d calm down, and that’s when Michael had to be ready to make his move – again.
‘What’re you finding to smile about?’
Michael swung round at the sound of her voice, coming face-to-face with India who was now out of make-up and ready for the scene they were about to film that morning. Her naturally tousled blond hair fell loosely over her shoulders, her long slim legs revealed in all their incredible glory in a short white dress and strappy heels. She looked stunning.
‘I’m just happy to be alive on another beautiful Las Vegas morning,’ he replied, giving her the famous Michael Walsh grin.
She didn’t respond, in fact, her face was stoic as she continued to look at him with an expression bordering on suspicion. ‘Whatever. Have you seen my dad? You called him to set this morning too, didn’t you?’
They were filming out on the famous Las Vegas Strip that morning so security was tight and a whole section of The Strip outside the hotel had been cordoned off in order to accommodate filming, but already hoards of tourists, paparazzi and any showbiz reporter worth their salt had gathered by the barriers, waiting to catch a glimpse of the dysfunctional family this movie now seemed to be showcasing.
‘Reece is in make-up. No sign of Dominic?’
‘I know what you’re playing at Michael, and it won’t work. I have no idea of Dominic’s whereabouts because this will be the first time I’ve seen him since I left for L.A. three days ago. And you already know that.’
‘Do you think you’ll be able to cope?’ Michael asked, balancing his reading glasses on the end of his nose as he looked at her, sticking a pencil behind his ear.
She stared at him through narrowed eyes. ‘Cope with what, for Christ’s sake?’
‘Working alongside Dominic. I mean, you two were… close, shall we say. Until everything happened…’
‘He lied, Michael. That’s all. He lied to me, he didn’t kill anyone, so I think I’ll be able to cope just fine, thanks. And let’s not forget, you lied too. So don’t try and make out he’s the only bad guy round here. Like I said when you turned up in Malibu, you’re both as bad as each other. Like father like son.’
Michael wanted to retaliate, he wanted to tell her that whatever had happened with Dominic, that would never happen with him. Dominic had used him too, after all. He’d kept things secret from Michael, decided to keep the truth from him even though he’d known for a while that