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WOUNDED - Chapter 04
Spinelli rushed into the apartment and slammed the door, startling Jason.“Where were you? And why are you dressed like that?”
“I went to see Maximista.” Spinelli grinned from ear to ear, brushing off his suit with pride.
“By the look on your face, I take it things went well.”
“I was supremely confident and went after what I wanted.” He bounced up and down on his toes. “And I got it!” He giggled.
Jason patted him on the back. “I’m happy for you. But do you think we can get some work done?”
“The Jackal is at your service!” Spinelli sat down at the desk and opened up his laptop.
-
Maxie stared at the clock. It was almost time to leave for the day. Spinelli had called a few minutes earlier and asked her to meet him at The Metro Court in a couple hours. She smiled to herself. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so giddy. It was good that Kate and Lu Lu had already left. She imagined she looked pretty ridiculous. She was wondering whether to go home and change or just buy something fabulous from the boutique downstairs. The elevator rang and she turned to see Claudia Zacchara.
“Hello, Maxie. Are we alone?” She looked around. “I need to speak with you about our little arrangement.”
“Claudia. Hi. Listen, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. I--”
The dark haired siren held up her hand to stop her. “I need you to step things up a little.”
“I’m sorry, I changed my mind. I can’t help you.”
“Excuse me?” Claudia gave her a withering glare.
“I can’t seduce your brother.”
“Uh no, I don’t think so, Maxie. You will follow through with our agreement.”
“Excuse me? I’m not a prostitute!”
“Coulda fooled me! You were willing to sleep with my brother for money! What the hell do you call that?”
“Look, I wanted to do it, and not just for the money. I like Johnny and I hated Lu Lu. But things have changed. Plus I’m sort of seeing someone. I don’t want to hurt him.”
“You’re seeing somebody? Who?”
Maxie shrugged. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m going out with Spinelli.”
Claudia laughed. “You and Spinelli?” She shook her head. “Whatever. Fine. You don’t have to have sex with Johnny. Just make it look like you did.” She pulled out a small glass vial full of white powder. “Slip this into his drink and put yourself in a compromising position. I’ll make sure Lu Lu shows up. There’s a room key waiting for you at the front desk. Johnny will meet you in room 428 in one hour.”
“But I have plans tonight!”
“Then work fast!” Claudia held out the drug.
Maxie hesitated, but took it from her. “And if I refuse?”
“Do you really want to find out?” Claudia smiled sweetly and walked away.
Maxie felt sick to her stomach.
---
One hour later, Spinelli walked into the Metro Court lobby. He wanted to meet with Jax about tonight’s special dinner arrangements. He saw Maxie at the front desk and tried to catch her attention but she ran off before noticing him. She had a card key in her hand! She got them a room? He excitedly ran up to the man behind the counter. “Hi Marty!”
“Hey Spinelli, what’s up?”
“Special plans with Maximista tonight,” he said happily.
Marty looked at him in confusion. “You and Maxie?”
“Indeed.” Spinelli was about to explode with excitement. “Would you tell me which room she just acquired?”
“Um, yeah… it was 428.”
“Most grateful thanks,” Spinelli said as he half twirled away.
Marty shook his head in amusement.
Spinelli decided to change his plans. Dinner in their own private room would be much more romantic than the balcony at the Metro Court. He smiled brightly and headed to the gift shop.
---
Maxie entered the room and found it already set up for a seduction scene. Claudia sure worked fast. There were candles lit and champagne chilling. She poured a couple glasses. Johnny would be there any minute. With shaky hands she spilled the white powder into the full glass. She kept hers half empty so she could easily identify them. She heard the door and quickly set the glass down.
“Maxie?” Johnny called out. “You needed to see me about Lu Lu?”
Maxie took a deep breath and turned to face him. “Yeah, she’s been acting crazy. I’m really worried about her.”
Johnny looked around. “Why meet here? Hey, wait a minute? Are you trying to seduce me? Cuz I’ll tell you right now I’m totally committed to Lu Lu.”
Maxie cleared her throat and tried to think up some excuse. “Oh! No, I uh… Spinelli is meeting me here later.”
Johnny’s eyes widened. “You and Spinelli?”
“Why does everybody keep saying that?” She shook her head and sat on the bed. “I think Lu Lu’s about to crack. I don’t know if she can keep the secret about Logan’s death anymore. What are we gonna do?”
“Maybe I could get her outta town for a little while so Claudia can frame somebody else.” He sat down on the bed next to her.
“That’s a great idea!” Maxie jumped up and grabbed her Champagne glass, taking a sip. She picked up the other glass. “Want some?”
Johnny shrugged. He took the drink and gulped it down in one swig.
That was almost too easy. Within a few seconds Johnny was obviously feeling the effects of the drug. He shook his head and rubbed his face. “You okay?” Maxie asked. “You look weird.”
“I feel weird,” he admitted.
“Maybe you should lie down for a minute. It’s okay. Spinelli won’t be here for another hour or so.”
Johnny followed her advice and rested his head on the pillow. “Maybe… for just a… minute.” He was out cold as soon as the words left his mouth.
Maxie went to work. She removed Johnny’s shirt and managed to get him under the covers. Then she opened the door a crack, got undressed and slipped into bed beside him. “Hurry up, Lu Lu,” she grumbled, wanting to get this over with. She heard the door open and pulled Johnny’s arm around her. “Oh, Johnny,” she moaned and giggled. She heard a gasp and turned around in surprise. Spinelli was standing there looking like he’d been punched in the gut. A bouquet of red roses slipped from his hand as he slowly backed away. Maxie sat up holding the sheet over herself. “Spinelli, wait! Let me explain!”
He didn’t seem to hear her, but he couldn’t turn away. He bumped into a wall, startling himself. He shook his head and ran out the door with a small cry.
“Spinelli!” Maxie yelled. She wanted to go after him, to tell him she wanted only him and that this wasn’t what it looked like, but she knew he would be long gone by the time she got dressed. She might as well stay and finish the stupid plan. She would explain things later. She only hoped he would believe her. If he didn’t it would probably be what she deserved for going along with Claudia in the first place. Maxie lay back and wiped the tears from her eyes.
---
Lu Lu was about to enter the hotel when Spinelli came stumbling out another door. He looked like he was crying. She called to him, but he just ran. She watched in stunned silence as he ran out into the street. At that moment a car came speeding around the corner. “Spinelli, watch out!” Too late. The driver tried to slow down, but the impact threw Spinelli head first into another car. He lay sprawled in the middle of the road. A crowd gathered, but Lu Lu pushed through them and dropped to his side. “Spinelli, talk to me!” She touched his battered face with a trembling hand. A pool of blood formed beneath his head. “Oh, god. Oh, god. Don’t you dare die on me!” Sirens wailed in the distance. She closed her eyes and prayed.
---
Maxie glanced at the clock. Lu Lu should’ve been here awhile ago. If she didn’t hurry up, Johnny might come to and the whole plan would be a bust. Suddenly her phone rang. She took a peek at the screen and saw that it was Lu Lu calling. What the hell? “Hello?”
“Maxie, it’s Lu Lu. You need to get to the hospital right now!”
“Why? What happened?”
“It’s Spinelli—“
Maxie didn’t need to hear anything else. She dropped the phone and scrambled to get dressed. To hell with Claudia Zacchara.
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