Chapter 19: Before the Game

HAYLEY

“Another vodka please, krasotka.”

“You flatter me, Dmitri.” As Hayley brought another drink to the Russian, her eyes flickered once again to the men in the VIP booths. To one man in particular, if she was being honest.

The bar was starting to wind down—it was 5 a.m. and everyone was either finishing up or heading out back to change and go home for the day.

Ben had already left, and Hayley was wiping down the bar when she sensed Luca approach. She’d recognize that cologne anywhere.

She looked up from the bar she was vigorously cleaning and flashed him a wide smile.

“Breakfast?” he asked casually, and she nodded. “I’ll meet you at the back door,” he said, then answered his phone in Italian and walked away.

When Hayley got to the dressing room, everyone else had already gone. She changed quickly, and when she was zipping up her jacket, she noticed someone was standing behind her.

She jumped, then laughed. “Shit, Siobhan, you scared me half to death!”

“You’re being foolish, Hayley.”

“What?” Hayley was confused by Siobhan’s words.

“I’m not blind, and I’m sure as hell not stupid. You’re not going to accept the job in Paris, are you?”

Hayley sighed. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not ready—I mean I—”

“Bullshit, Hayley, you are more than capable and you know it.”

Siobhan sighed heavily before continuing. “Luca is not a good man. Dammit, I love him like a son, but that doesn’t mean shit. He can’t love, can’t be happy, and he won’t ever drop his Mafia boss exterior.”

“I know all this, Siobhan.” Hayley laughed, shaking her head as she walked past her boss—but Siobhan took her arm.

“I know you do. But never forget who and what he is. He will never put you before his family. He would hurt you first.”

Siobhan let go. “Please don’t say no. Not yet anyway. The offer is open until Adrien leaves, and he’ll be here a little longer to help with planning. Just keep this as an option—a way out if you need it.”

Hayley just nodded. There was nothing more to say. Being a manager was a great opportunity, but she was starting to feel again—something she’d never dreamed would happen.

***

On the way to breakfast, Hayley didn’t mention Siobhan’s little visit.

“We’re going to my mama’s for breakfast,” Frankie said, looking at Hayley in the rearview mirror. “She does amazing food, as you well know.”

Hayley glanced at Luca beside her. Did he even know how to drive? “Isn’t it a bit early? It’s only five-thirty.”

Luca and Frankie laughed.

“Nah, she’s up this early all the time,” Frankie said. “Making food, cleaning, sorting out the family…”

Luca slid his hand into hers and squeezed, and she smiled up at him.

***

Frankie was right. Maria was up—and she greeted Hayley like she was her very own child with a kiss and a hug, then offered everyone cappuccino while she began cooking.

“Uncle Frankie!” little Sam cried joyfully as he ran into the kitchen. He was followed by a very tired-looking Sofia, who went to grab herself a coffee before sitting next to Hayley.

“Hello, little man, you been good for mama?” Frankie asked, slipping the boy onto his lap and drinking his cappuccino with his free hand.

Sam nodded, but Sofia scoffed.

“Good, my ass,” Hayley heard her mutter beside her, and she laughed as Sofia downed her coffee.

Sal walked into the kitchen, followed by Mia, who said hello then goodbye while taking a cappuccino in a travel mug, explaining she had to go to the wholesalers.

A few of Frankie’s cousins walked in through the door as well. They apparently regularly joined Frankie’s parents for breakfast before heading off to their various jobs.

Hayley loved being here with this family. They made her feel so welcome.

They spoke mostly English, but occasionally spoke to each other in Italian. Even little Sam had a good grasp of both languages.

She sat quietly and listened as Luca asked Frankie about the new drivers and bodyguards he was training, and Frankie said they were coming along and were working tonight.

LUCA

Luca appreciated how effortlessly Hayley slipped into his world like she’d always been there. She was so at ease with Frankie’s family and had everyone adoring her already.

He knew letting her get close to him was dangerous, but he couldn’t bring himself to walk away.

After breakfast, he took her hand and led her to the SUV they’d come in. Frankie jumped in the front, and he and Hayley got into the back.

“Join me for dinner tonight. I checked out the schedule, and I know you’re off.”

He wanted to spend as much time with her as he could. She might decide to leave with Adrien—he had no idea what her plans were—and he didn’t want to waste what time they had left.

Hayley laughed. “Stalker tendencies, Luca?”

He placed his hand on her knee and gently squeezed. “Only for you,” he admitted. “Ric will pick you up at 7 p.m.”

When she nodded, he said, “A little safety information, then.”

He sighed. He had to do this. She was going to be in one of his heavy SUVs without him, and she needed to know how to protect herself, just in case.

“Like Frankie has told you before, these cars are heavy. There are weapons everywhere—in the trunk, under the seats, in the seats—I mean everywhere. If you need to, protect yourself first.

“Also, if I am unable to make it, I will let you know personally. I will always call, never text.”

HAYLEY

The wine was great, but it appeared to be the only company Hayley was getting tonight.

She’d been sitting here for almost an hour, watching the clock above the restaurant’s dark wood bar as the minutes passed.

Her phone lay on the table beside her wine glass, and the restaurant was quiet, just a couple in the corner and a table of four middle-aged women sitting by the window.

The restaurant was one of Luca’s, and it had an old, rustic Italian feel—of course.

Hayley’s fingers drummed the table impatiently, and she took another long swig of the expensive wine the host had gotten for her. Apparently, it was a personal favorite of “Mr. Marcello.”

The next time the waiter passed her table, she caught the older man’s attention.

“Yes, miss?” he said with both professionalism and warmth.

“Has Mr. Marcello called the restaurant to say when he’s arriving?”

He shook his head, and Hayley sighed.

“I’m sorry, miss. I heard from Mr. Marcello at lunchtime to confirm the table, but that is all. I’m sure he won’t be much longer. Another glass of wine?”

Hayley shook her head fiercely. She was embarrassed—and a little pissed. He hadn’t called to say he would be late, and if he’d just forgotten…well, that was worse.

“No thank you.” She grabbed her bag and rummaged for her wallet. “I’ve had enough of waiting.” When—or if—he did eventually show, she didn’t plan on being here.

“Miss, I’ll just put the wine on Mr. Marcello’s bill,” he said, and she nodded.

She could see sympathy in the man’s kind eyes, and she almost broke down right there.

“I’ll get your coat.”

He returned almost instantly and held her jacket out, and she slipped her phone into the pocket of the jacket before letting him help her put it on. She then thanked him and left the restaurant.

She was about to hail a taxi when a black SUV pulled up. A young man jumped out of the driver’s side.

“Miss Tate!”

The man looked younger than Hayley. She looked more closely at the car—it had one of Luca’s trademark license plates.

“Hayley, please,” she corrected, and he laughed and flashed a boyish grin.

He seriously couldn’t be old enough to drive.

“Yeah, sorry,” he said as he approached her. “Frankie said you prefer to be called Hayley. It’s just the boss called you Miss Tate, and he was pretty, um, graphic about how you’re to be treated.”

Hayley rolled her eyes. Poor guy—first night on the job and already Luca had threatened God knows what.

“The boss is held up. Business.” He shrugged, like this didn’t surprise him. “He instructed me to pick you up and drive you home, and he’ll see you there.”

She sighed and walked to the huge SUV. The young guy ran ahead and opened the back door for her, then slipped into the driver’s seat.

Hayley let her head fall back onto the headrest, exasperated. All he had to do was call to let her know he was busy. But maybe…he couldn’t?

She remembered him saying that he would let her know if he couldn’t make it. And it wasn’t like him to forget anything.

Maybe whatever business he had was too dangerous to call? Her heart began to race. Could he be in danger?

She stuck her hand in her pocket for her phone, but it wasn’t there.

She knew—in fact she could swear—that she’d put it in her jacket pocket right before the waiter helped her put it on. She had trouble imagining that kind, warm man stealing her phone, but what other option was there?

Her stomach churned. Her phone taken in the restaurant, Luca not calling to cancel, and now a new driver? Something seriously felt off.

She gently slipped her handbag off the seat, and when the driver looked at her in the rearview mirror, she sighed dramatically and went to retrieve it.

She remembered Luca telling her his cars had weapons under the front seats, so she felt around to check, but there were no weapons.

She picked up the bag and sat upright, then inched over to the door and quietly tried to open it. It was locked.

Heart racing, she let go of the handle and clutched her bag, then noticed slashes on the back of the seats. Had the driver removed the guns? This was bad; she could feel it.

The driver stopped in front of a warehouse, looking straight out the windshield at a single person standing there. They were nowhere near Luca’s home or her own. Did Luca even have a warehouse?

The driver said nothing, did nothing.

Hayley knew Luca was crazy and that he was a mobster. But deep down she knew he’d never tell his men to bring her here.

“This is a trap, isn’t it?” she asked, her voice weak.

The driver didn’t say anything, and Hayley was just about to lunge over the seat and grab him when the passenger door opened.