Sweet Revenge

some dealing. Trust me. We’ll have them in the palm of our hand inside of six weeks.”
    “I hope so.” She squeezed her eyes tight. “I’ve been away for so long, so much has changed.”
    “Pack your bags and head out by the end of the week. I’ll take it from there.” Her name alone would make the deals, he decided. If she bombed, he’d still make a bundle. Then, there was the kid. He had a feeling the kid was going to come in handy.
    “I don’t have a lot of money.” She set her jaw, determined to brazen out the shame. “I’ve sold some jewelry, and it’s enough to keep us for a while, but I need most of it to pay for a good school for Adrianne. I know how expensive it is to live in L.A.”
    Yeah, the kid was going to come in handy. As long as she was in the picture, Phoebe would be willing to do anything. “Didn’t I say I’d take care of you?” He drew down the zipper at the back of her dress.
    “Larry—”
    “Come on, sweetheart. Show me you trust me. I’ll get you a part, a house, a nice school for the kid. The best. That’s what you want, isn’t it?”
    “Yes. I want Addy to have the best.”
    “And you too. I’ll put you right back in the spotlight. As long as you cooperate.”
    What difference did it make, she asked herself as he stripped her. Abdu had taken her body whenever he had liked and given nothing back, not to her, not to Adrianne. With Larry there was a promise of protection, and maybe a little affection.
    “You’ve still got great tits, honey.”
    Phoebe closed her eyes and let him do what he wanted.

Chapter Eight
    Philip Chamberlain listened to the swish and thud of tennis balls and sipped his long gin and tonic. He looked especially good in tennis whites since he’d developed a smooth tan in the three weeks he’d been in California. Crossing his ankles, he looked onto the courts through mirrored sunglasses.
    Making friends with Eddie Treewalter, III, hadn’t been all that pleasant for Philip, but it had paid off with invitations to Eddie’s country club. Philip had come to Beverly Hills on business, but it never hurt to enjoy a little sun. Because he had let Eddie trounce him in the last two games of their match, the young American was in a very expansive mood.
    “Sure you won’t have lunch, old man?”
    To Philip’s credit, he didn’t wince at the “old man,” which clearly Eddie believed to be the height of camaraderie among the English.
    “Wish I could. But I’m going to have to run in a moment if I’m to make my appointment.”
    “Hell of a day to think of business.” Eddie pushed up his amber-tinted sunglasses, a thick gold watch glinting on his wrist. Teeth that had given up their braces only two years before flashed as he smiled. He had a nickel bag of prime Colombian pot in his monogrammed leather tennis bag.
    As the son of one of the most successful plastic surgeons in California, he hadn’t had to work a day in his life. Treewalter, II, nipped and tucked the stars while his son yawned his way through college, dealt drugs as a hobby, and scored at the country club.
    “You’ll be at the party tonight at Stoneway’s?”
    “Wouldn’t miss it.”
    Eddie downed his vodka on the rocks and signaled for another. “The man makes lousy pictures but knows how to throw a party. There’ll be enough snow and grass for an army.” He grinned. “I forgot. You don’t indulge, do you?”
    “I prefer to indulge in other things.”
    “Suit yourself, but Stoneway serves coke on silver platters. Very chic.” His glance passed over a thin blonde in tight tennis shorts. “You could always indulge in that. Give little Marci some nose candy and she’ll fuck anything.”
    “She’s a teenager.” Philip used the gin to wash the taste of disgust at Eddie’s youthful arrogance and stupidity out of his mouth.
    “No one in this town’s a teenager. And speaking of easy lays.” He nodded toward a lush redhead in a sundress. “Old reliable Phoebe.” He snickered. “The name’s not Spring for nothing. I think even my old man’s bounced on her. A little shopworn, but great tits.”
    Perhaps, Philip thought, exploiting Eddie’s companionship wasn’t worth the price. “I’d better be off.”
    “Sure. Hey, she’s got her daughter with her.” Eddie ran his tongue over his lips. “Now, there’s a kid who’s going to be a prime piece of ass, old man. Pure and sweet. She’ll be ready for plowing soon. Mama won’t let her come to the party