Chapter 11: Lady Luck

HAYLEY

Hayley paced nervously as she waited for Ric to pick her up and take her to the casino.

Frankie had taken her to a shop that specialized in period costumes to find the perfect dress and accessories for tonight, and Ben and Ava had both given her outfit their approval before leaving for the Venetian.

Still, she’d been bold with her choice of outfit—one part in particular.

She paused to look out the apartment window just as a familiar SUV pulled up to her building. Ric got out, and she hurried down and got into the waiting car.

By the time the SUV pulled up outside a nightclub, excitement and nerves were buzzing in her stomach.

Ric jumped out and helped her out of the car, and she stood looking at the club. Two bouncers flanked the entrance, and its name was in lights.

She smiled at Ric and thanked him, and he nodded before getting back in the car and driving off.

She showed one of the bouncers her ticket and was allowed straight through the velvet barrier, then sent down a dimly lit staircase that led to a hallway. At the end were a pair of open double doors.

When she emerged through the doors, she found herself at the top of another, much grander staircase. She paused to admire the busy room.

It was a full casino, with a stage at the far end and girls holding trays of canapés and champagne.

A coat check attendant took her white 1920s-inspired fake fur coat as she searched the crowd for Luca. When she finally spotted him, her heart hummed.

He was done up in a 1920s pinstripe suit, black-and-white dress shoes, and—of course—the cliché black fedora. He looked amazing.

He also looked like a true gangster dressed like that.

She watched as he spoke to two men she didn’t know at the blackjack table, and then, mindful of her heels, slowly and carefully made her way down the staircase to him.

LUCA

“Just keep me updated,” Luca said to his two soldiers. “I don’t want the Borronis interfering tonight.”

They nodded, but they were both staring over his shoulder, clearly distracted by something. Luca looked behind him to see Hayley walking down the staircase. And like his men, he was totally mesmerized by her beauty.

She was wearing a floor-length gold flapper dress with beading that made the dress sparkle, and her hair was in soft, glamorous waves.

But what caught his eyes was her gold beaded headband. It had pearls that hung to one side, beside her left eye—and it had a feather attached.

“Leave,” he growled to his men, then strode over to Hayley, pausing only to grab two champagne flutes. Her bright blue eyes sparkled at him as he handed her a glass, and she gently took a sip of the champagne.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“You look stunning, Hayley.”

HAYLEY

Hayley’s heart fluttered at the sound of his deep, velvety voice, but she managed to smile at the compliment before looking him up and down.

She met his eyes again, then put the glass to her mouth for another sip of the delicious champagne.

“As do you, Mr. Marcello.”

She couldn’t believe the size of the room they were in. She glanced up at the chandeliers—the place screamed money.

She took in the grand sculptures set into the walls, the expensive drapes that fell from floor to ceiling, and the ceiling itself that was exquisitely painted like the Sistine Chapel.

“Do you like the place?”

The amusement in his voice brought her back to him.

“It’s typical Luca Marcello,” she teased, but inside she was impressed. She had no idea places like this actually existed, or that if they did, she could be within their walls.

She took another sip. “So what’s the purpose of tonight, Mr. Opportunist?” She had to remember to pace herself. If not, she’d be drunk by the end of the night.

Luca took a sip from his own champagne flute, and she bit her lip as she watched his lips on the glass and his Adam’s apple bob with his swallow.

When his eyes locked back on hers, she took a deep breath and pressed her lips together. Was he aware of how much he turned her on?

“The purpose? To have fun.”

His answer was too innocent for Hayley, and she laughed before she drank the last of her glass and placed the empty flute on a passing waitress’s tray.

“Luca,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “I don’t believe for a second there’s no hidden agenda.”

The laugh he gave in response was so carefree, it sounded almost wrong coming from him. But she stayed silent, waiting for his answer.

“Come.” He put his hand on the small of her back and led her through the crowds of guests.

People were cheering and moaning as they won or lost, and Hayley was distracted by the noise and excitement from the games at the tables.

Luca took two more champagne glasses from a waiter and handed her one.

She gently took the glass from his hand and took the moment to admire him, this confusing man who was complicating her life. The fedora threw his face into shadow, but she could still see his beautiful features.

“In this room, there are many influential people,” Luca murmured as his eyes left hers to scope the vast room. “Lawyers and businesspeople. Other families.”

Hayley looked around at the guests. It was hard to see any of them as lawyers or businesspeople, and it was even harder to spot the Mafia men.

But what did she expect them to look like? Luca looked normal—other than his exceptional handsomeness—yet he was probably darker than all of them.

“Tonight my men can socialize, have fun. But they can also find out if we have any problems, find any potential rats. And I can build on any alliances I’ve formed.”

Hayley nodded as she took a delicate sip from her glass.

“Then why invite me?” The question came out of her mouth before she had time to reconsider.

Luca took a sharp inhale, then paused a moment.

“Because I wanted to.”

When he didn’t add anything else, she nodded slowly. But what had she been expecting?

Luca then guided her to an area where a group of tables sat facing a stage, and Hayley lit up when she saw Evelyn dressed in full 1920s regalia. The expressive singer was performing a hauntingly romantic ballad.

Luca leaned in close to her ear. “I hired her because I know how much you like her,” he whispered, sending shivers down her spine.

As they listened, Hayley felt like Evelyn was singing just for them, like she and Luca were the only two people in the room.

She turned and met his eyes, and he reached out to brush her hair back from her face.

“You’re mesmerizing,” he murmured, and her heart melted.

LUCA

After taking some time to enjoy Evelyn’s impressive talent and Hayley’s satisfying reaction to it, Luca continued to guide Hayley through the casino.

As he introduced her to lawyers, judges, and other important people, he took in her wide-eyed innocence. Clearly, this type of life wasn’t what she was used to.

The people in the room were the epitome of evil—deceitful and violent. Some were hired to kill, some to lie, and others to rig court decisions.

And many of them were on his payroll.

Here in this place, Hayley stood out even more than usual. Her bright heart lit up the room—and the darkness his world brought into it.

“Come.” He took her free hand and guided her to the roulette table, then asked the dealer for some chips for her.

“Marcello!”

Luca looked up, then sighed when he saw the young blond man standing on the other side of the table.

“Jackson.”

The Texan’s eyes slid from Luca to Hayley. “Hello! You must be…”

“I’m Hayley.” When she beamed her warm smile at the guy, Luca narrowed his eyes.

Why did she have to be so gorgeous? And friendly?

His eyes wandered to her headband, and he remembered the words she’d said, that he would never be allowed to touch her unless she lowered herself to wear a feather. Was this her letting him in?

“Well, Hayley,” Jackson drawled. “I’m Will. Pleasure to meet you.” He placed a bet on black to win, then turned back to Hayley. “Are you having a go?”

She looked down at her small stack of chips, then looked wide-eyed at Luca.

“Just petty cash, Hayley,” he murmured softly in her ear.

HAYLEY

His voice, and his breath against her ear, made her insides tremble. She ~seriously~ had to learn to control herself.

She wasn’t sure what to do, so she started to move all her chips to number eight.

“Hayley, that’s twenty grand,” Luca said in a low voice.

She paused, still leaning across the table. And when she glanced at Will, he seemed just as surprised at Luca’s words as she was.

She laughed and shook her head, then finished pushing them all in.

“I’m an all-or-nothing type of girl,” she said before standing upright and looking into Luca’s wide eyes. “Plus, eight is my lucky number.” She winked, then noticed Frankie had come over.

He took one look at her bet and laughed.

“Well, Boss,” he said. “You’ll be bankrupt by the end of the night if you let her bet like this.” His shoulders shook as he took a sip of his scotch.

Hayley stuck her tongue out at him, but that only made him laugh harder.

“No more bets,” the dealer announced, then spun the wheel. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the white ball.

Hayley suddenly felt sick. What had she been thinking, risking so much money? Was she crazy? She held her breath as the roulette wheel slowed to a stop.

“Black, number eight,” the dealer said.

Her mouth fell to the floor in shock as people cheered around her.

“Well done!” Frankie said. “That was unbelievable!”

Hayley turned to Luca and grinned.

“Impressive!” Will said to her, then turned to Luca. “Can I have a private word?”

Luca gently took Hayley’s elbow. “You’ll have to excuse me, bella. Jackson is a business associate I rarely see. I won’t be long, and Frankie will stay with you.” He gave Frankie a look, then nodded to Jackson before the pair left together.

Frankie came up beside her. “So, where else shall we take your luck?” he asked, scanning the room.

Hayley watched Luca walk away until he and Will disappeared through a door marked Staff Only, then turned to Frankie and laughed.

“I have no idea! I’ll just have to follow your lead.”