Chapter 25: The Man Named Artem

HAYLEY

Hayley had organized her leaving day with Adrien and Siobhan, and her last shift at the club would be Halloween, with two days off after to prepare for her departure. It all seemed so real—and so soon.

When she’d arrived in New York, she wanted it to be her new home, and for a moment or two, it was. She’d loved most of her time here, and even Luca had contributed to those good times.

Like their day together in New York, the night of the casino party, and the times she’d spent with Frankie’s family. But it was time for her to move on.

First, though, she had a few more shifts at the Venetian to get through.

***

When she arrived at the club, she was told to head to the staff room as soon as possible for a meeting.

She was leaning against a counter next to Ben—the other girls and bar staff either sat on the couches or stood nearby—when Siobhan breezed in.

The girls were in different stages of dressing for the night. Some were in the full outfit and some, like Hayley and Ava, had just arrived, so were still in street clothes.

“Okay,” Siobhan said, going to stand in the center of the room. “Tonight, we’re going to be busy.” But her face looked hard, like this wasn’t a good thing.

“Luca Marcello and his associates will be in the VIP section, and they will have a guest. So please, be on your best behavior.

“However, there have been some…problems. All outside of the club, but still, I’m asking you to please have your eyes and ears open at all times.”

Hayley nodded, as did everyone else.

“Something to do with the Borroni family,” she heard another bartender whisper to Ben, and her breath caught when she heard the name.

“Ava, Arianna, Rebecca, and Chloe, you’ll be the girls in the VIP area.” Siobhan held up a file Hayley knew contained the schedules and the floor area. “They want girls they already know and trust tonight.

“So Talia, I need you to take Ava’s podium pole, and Rhea will dance Arianna’s spot. Megan, take Rebecca’s, and Kaitlin can do Chloe’s.”

Siobhan then looked at the husky guys sitting around the table. “Security, I need you to be hyperaware of any unfamiliar faces. You’ll be working alongside Frankie Altera. I have to be in the upstairs club tonight.”

“Right, then. Let’s get started,” she said, clapping her hands together, and everyone hustled out of the staff room to get ready for the night ahead.

The dressing room was already abuzz when Hayley arrived.

The girls selected for the VIP lounge were excited for a night with the big spenders, and the girls taking their regular spots knew this was a perfect opportunity to get noticed.

Hayley put on a red corset with gold embroidery, then dug through her drawer for a red-and-gold matching featherless mask. As always, she wore black short-shorts and thigh-high stockings with black heels.

She walked onto the club floor and straight past Luca and Nic.

LUCA

Luca was surprised by Hayley’s coldness—though he probably shouldn’t have been. She just walked right by without even looking in his direction.

“Is the club secure?” he asked Nic as they walked up the stairs to the VIP lounge, where some of his men already were.

“Yes. I’ve had Frankie briefing the security team here, and our guys are armed for any trouble.”

Luca put his hand on the railing and eyed the lower part of the club, where things were getting underway. Some of his men were scattered among the regulars. His eyes went to Hayley. He didn’t want her here, not tonight.

Last night he’d officially declared war on the Borronis by killing Lorenzo’s cousin. Tonight, Lorenzo could retaliate big time and attack the club. And he would shoot to kill.

Luca watched as Hayley made drinks for the guys propping up her bar, the same ones who always sat around her.

“Frankie will also meet Artem at the entrance,” Nic said, “get him a drink at the bar, and get one of our men to watch him while we set up in Meeting Room One.”

This is what Luca liked about his cousin: he was efficient and organized, unlike Luca’s useless sibling Marco, who only worked in the legit clubs.

“Then Frankie will lead him up to the meeting room, where you and I will be. Frankie will wait right outside the door. Armed, of course,” Nic added.

“Very good,” Luca said, his eyes remaining focused on Hayley. “It’s just a waiting game now.”

HAYLEY

“When, my dear, are we going to see you strutting your stuff up there?” Mike slurred, pointing to the main stage where Amelia was dancing.

Hayley looked at her regular and laughed. “I’ll do that…” She watched as he sat up with interest at her words. “When you go right up to Luca Marcello and kiss him on the lips.”

Mike pondered this, then shook his head, just as Hayley knew he would. The man was drunk and crazy, but he wasn’t about to be killed to see her shake her ass.

Frankie walked up to her with another man beside him. “If you could just wait here,” he said to the man, “Hayley will get you a drink. On Mr. Marcello, of course.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll let him know you’re here.”

Frankie left the bar to walk up to the VIP area, and Hayley looked at the man. He must be the guest Siobhan had made such a big deal over.

He had a slim build and was wearing a suit—~that~ wasn’t anything new—and he had dark blonde hair and a fashionable layer of stubble. He also wore a deep frown.

“So, what can I get you?” she asked him. “If Mr. Marcello is buying, I suggest a really good bourbon that we reserve for special guests. Sold only by the bottle, so I could pour you a glass now and send the rest up to you later.”

She let a grin light up her face, and the man’s frown was replaced with a warm smile.

“I think that sounds great, Hayley.” His voice was deep, and he had an accent.

As she opened the expensive bottle and poured the man a drink, she tried to pinpoint his accent. It had sounded Ukrainian—or Polish.

“There you go.” She winked as she handed him his drink, and he lifted the glass.

“Cheers,” he said in perfect Russian.

She stiffened, but she just kept smiling as he knocked the drink back, then poured him a second.

“So…” She rested her elbows on the bar, amplifying her cleavage, and looked up through her lashes. “What do we call you, and where are you from?”

The guy seemed captivated, and his gaze darted back and forth between her cleavage and her eyes. “Artem…” He cleared his throat. “And I am originally from Ukraine, but I moved to the United States two years ago.”

His mobile rang, and he sighed before looking at it.

“Excuse me.” He smiled apologetically as he answered the call, then began to speak in Russian.

Hayley turned her back to him and acted busy, pretending she wasn’t listening to his phone call.

“~Yes, I am inside now. … No, they don’t suspect a thing. I am meeting the boss. … I know, I know, I must kill him at all costs. I owe you my life, and I will do this for you. Goodbye until the next life, yes?~”

He then ended the call, but Hayley’s heart continued to race at what she’d just heard.

“Come, the boss is ready now,” she heard Frankie say, and she froze for a second, realizing what that meant.

When she turned, Artem and Frankie were already on their way to the staircase. She had to warn Luca! She rushed around the bar and took off after them, but was stopped multiple times by other staff members and drunk customers.

Couldn’t they see she was in a rush? When she finally reached the stairs, she took them two at a time, only to be blocked by Arianna, who was standing with her hands on her hips.

“You’re not supposed to be up here,” Arianna spat.

There was no time for this! “I have to get through, Arianna,” Hayley said, breathing hard but trying to be polite.

But Arianna just laughed. “Hayley, these guys want feather girls, not frigid bar girls. That’s why you’re never invited to play.”

Fuck manners! Hayley shoved Arianna to the side—hard—and she fell into a booth of Marcello men, but Hayley didn’t stop until she reached the last booth.

Ric stood up as soon as he saw her.

“Hayley?” Ava said, looking up from her seat in the booth, a confused expression on her face.

Ric went to take Hayley’s arm, but she stepped back quickly. “Luca called down for me,” she lied.

He peered at her suspiciously for a moment, then sighed and stepped to the side.

“Thanks!” she said as she hurried past. She pushed open the door that led to the short hallway, and there Frankie stood.

“What the hell are you doing here?” he whisper-shouted. She could hear Luca’s voice in Meeting Room One. “Go back downstairs!”

But Hayley had to get in and warn Luca before that guy struck. So when Frankie grabbed her shoulders, she said, “No time to explain. Sorry!”—and then she kneed him in the groin.

He fell to the floor, clutching his manhood. “Why?” he whimpered as he groaned in pain.

LUCA

When they heard a fuss beyond the door, Nic and Artem both pulled out their guns, and Artem rose from his chair. But Luca didn’t move from his position—sitting facing Artem with his back to the door—choosing to remain calm.

“Luca!”

At the sound of Hayley’s voice, he jumped up and turned, and his eyes caught hers as she burst through the door. Nic put away his gun when he saw who it was.

“Hayley!” What the fuck was she doing here? He strode over to her and roughly grabbed her arm. “Go downstairs.” His tone was sharp, and her bright eyes were wide and frantic as she looked up at him.

He glanced out into the hallway where Frankie struggled to his feet, clutching his balls. Idiot. He better hold on to them while he could, because Luca would remove them himself for allowing Hayley to get past him.

“I should have shot her,” Frankie groaned. “My balls…”

“Frankie, take Hayley downstairs. And make sure she stays downstairs,” Luca said through gritted teeth.

Frankie hobbled toward Hayley and took her by the arm, but she fought him. “No! Luca, you have—”

“Hayley!” Luca barked as he roughly grabbed her shoulders. “Get the fuck downstairs.” He was losing all patience with her.

But she shook her head. “He’s going to kill you!” she shouted and pointed at Artem, whose face turned hard. “I heard him on the phone!”

“Stupid bitch,” Artem hissed as he lifted his gun.