Chapter 54: The Good Act

HAYLEY

Hayley sat on the edge of the bathtub and scrolled over the text she’d received last night.

It still hurt to see the photo, but she knew better than to bring it up with Luca. If it was Max who sent it, did he deserve to die for it? After all, she was a rat too.

She used the time to check her burner phone too. Detective Blake had left voicemails and texts after her call the other night.

Most were reminding her of her task and the repercussions if she failed, and a few were telling her he would protect her. She read his last text message.

Adam

Hayley, I promise you will always be safe. We are close to bringing down all three families, you wearing that bracelet tomorrow morning will help us, I won’t ask any more of you, remember if you don’t I can’t protect you.

He said she’d be safe, but his threats were still there in his text. She despised him.

Hayley put the phone back in her toiletry bag, then bathed and got herself dressed. As she curled her hair, she thought things over. Luca was a bad man, period. There was no sugarcoating the truth.

He deserved to be in prison, and that was a fact. However, he always looked out for his family. What would happen to them and their families if they had no jobs?

The detective wouldn’t protect her. He could deport her to her father, send her back to where she ran from.

Or frame her for murder.

But the worst scenario was he could let a file slip into Luca’s hands. She would be dead in a heartbeat.

Obviously she didn’t like any of those options, but like Benny and Luca had reminded her, she was in too deep.

***

“So…” Hayley played with the clutch on her lap as they drove to the hotel Luca had instructed Dom to take them to. “This is a ~real~ charity event.”

Luca laughed and gently took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Yes, Hayley, it’s a real charity event.” He used that smooth tone that never failed to calm her nerves.

They had enjoyed their day together; they’d gone for a walk, bought their outfits for tonight, then had spent the afternoon at the Altera’s.

She was wearing a full-length off-the-shoulder chiffon navy dress with a teal and gold peacock feather pattern across the bodice. And Leo had done a great job on her hair.

“This is a public event, no Mafia business at all,” he promised.

The hotel was spotless, huge, and elegant. Luca led her through a gilded lobby to a huge ballroom, then held her close as a photographer took their picture.

Hayley admired Luca as he spoke to a group of older men. He looked gorgeous—his hair was styled perfectly, and his tuxedo looked custom-tailored.

“Hello, sweetheart.”

A familiar voice made her turn, and she beamed when she saw Siobhan standing there, wearing an off-the-shoulder beaded black mermaid gown.

“What are you doing here?” Hayley asked.

“Come.” Siobhan linked their arms and led Hayley to a bar, then ordered two glasses of champagne. “I always attend the hospital fundraisers, and definitely wouldn’t miss this one.”

Hayley was about to enquire why, but Luca and Nic appeared, saying it was time to take their seats. Nic took Siobhan’s arm, and Luca took Hayley’s.

As they sat at their table, the clink of a knife tapping a glass silenced the room.

An older man sporting a beard and slicked-back graying haircut walked to the podium on the stage and cleared his throat.

“Tonight, we are celebrating the unveiling of our new neonatal intensive care unit. This hospital has always relied on the generosity of our benefactors, and with their help, we have saved and helped thousands of children.

“Last year we celebrated the opening of our children’s physiotherapy unit, and two years prior, our excellent children’s cancer unit.”

Everyone applauded as the man paused to take a sip of his ice water.

“Tonight, we’d like to thank the sole benefactor of the new unit, a man who, with his father before him, has sponsored this hospital for nearly twenty-five years.

“Ladies and gentlemen, our Marcello Wing benefactor, Mr. Luca Marcello!”

Hayley was in shock as Luca stood up and, smiling at the crowd, walked up to the stage and shook hands with the older man.

“Thank you,” Luca said into the microphone. “My family has always been grateful for the work this amazing hospital has done for children all over the city—the fantastic staff and the hardworking patrons.”

Hayley felt a sense of pride as Luca spoke.

“Twenty-five years ago, my brother was a tiny patient here, too small to survive on his own. This hospital saved his life, and my father, myself, and my brother have vowed, for as long as we are able, to support this hospital.”

Luca caught Hayley’s eye, and they smiled at each other.

“My father and brother are unfortunately unable to attend today, but they each wish to thank everyone who, over time, has donated to the upkeep of this hospital.

“Let’s hope the new wing is built swiftly so it can save many more lives like my little brother’s.”

The room erupted in applause as Luca stepped from the podium, then walked back down the stairs to their table, where Siobhan hugged him and kissed his cheek, and Hayley wrapped her arms around him.

“That was amazing,” she whispered in his ear.

He pulled back from her and kissed her before they all sat down.

After the three-course meal, Luca held Hayley as they slowly danced to the band—who didn’t have anything on Evelyn.

“You surprised me today,” Hayley confessed, looking up into his warm chocolate-brown eyes.

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Can a man not give to charity?”

“Yes, but it hardly fits the image of a Mafia boss,” she whispered nervously, and he chuckled.

“Here, I am the boss of the Marcello empire of clubs, shipping companies, and hotels,” he explained.

Hayley nodded.

“I only hurt those who deserve it, Hayley. But giving to charity gives me a sort of peace, like every bad thing I do is offset by my good actions.”

Was this his way of apologizing to the universe? Hayley pondered that. Did he feel some guilt for his bad dealings after all?

She sighed and changed the subject. “Your brother was sick?”

“Very,” Luca replied. “This hospital not only cared for him when he was born, it also helped him when he had problems growing. His organs were weak, but they made him better again.”

“I think—” Hayley began, but a voice cut in.

“Well, hello there.”

Luca stiffened and stopped dancing, pulling her into his side.

“Detective,” Luca growled quietly.

Hayley’s heart pounded in her chest when she recognized Detective Blake. He was dressed in a smart suit and looked like he’d fit in with any Mafia family.

“Can I help you?” Luca said through gritted teeth.

“Not at all. I’m just here as a guest on behalf of the NYPD. Congratulations on the wing, Mr. Marcello. How many men did you have to kill for that kind of money?”

Luca chuckled wickedly. “You’re clutching at straws, Detective ‘Blake.’”

The detective didn’t utter a word.

“You have nothing on me,” Luca added.

“Yet.” The detective’s words made Luca’s face harden. “I have nothing ~yet~. However, that will change. Borroni didn’t kill the rat himself—he made sure he was seen by my officers the entire night.”

“But you and Matteo Genovese? Well, that’s another avenue we’re investigating.”

“Have fun. You won’t find a thing on me. Just like in my casino.”

The detective huffed, and to Hayley’s relief, he said no more before stalking off.

Hayley and Luca resumed dancing, but Hayley still felt unsettled by Detective Blake’s sudden appearance.

After their dance, she excused herself while Luca spoke to a hospital surgeon and his wife. And as she walked toward the bathroom, she noticed things were starting to wind down, though there were still some guests enjoying the gala.

Someone suddenly grabbed her elbow and yanked her into a closet of some sort, and as they shut the door, she used her free hand to smack the person straight in the face. He swore under his breath as Hayley hit the lights.

It was the damn detective.

“What the hell are you doing?” she whisper-shouted.

“I needed to talk to you,” he said through his hands as he clutched his nose.

She hoped it was broken. “I could get caught!” she hissed.

“Benny Conti has hijacked the cameras, and Max is busy stalling Luca and Nic until I’m done with you.”

“I can’t do this anymore.”

“You have no choice,” he said, dropping his hands. “I’m too damn close to the end for you, Benny, or any other fucker to turn back now.”

“I—”

“I promise, just one more thing from you before our final meeting on the thirtieth.”

“But—”

“Don’t be fooled by tonight, Hayley. This is all a goddamn act. All crime bosses do it to show a nice face to the public. One good act doesn’t cancel out a million bad.

“He killed an informant who was trying to do good. He’d kill you too if he knew.”

She knew all this, but it didn’t make the pill any easier to swallow.

He pulled out a passport and handed it to her. “That’s yours.”

She looked at the passport. It had her name on it. It also held a visa.

“The visa can be for wherever you want us to send you. A home will be found for you, and work. Just one thing I need from you—track him tomorrow morning.”

Detective Blake took the passport and visa and placed them back in his pocket.

“He’ll know,” she whispered, shaking her head.

“Then make sure he doesn’t, because if you don’t do it, he’ll kill you anyway. He has cops on the inside, you know.” The detective walked past Hayley to the door. “Good luck.”

His meaning was as clear as a bell—do what he said and the cops would look after her. She could leave the U.S. for somewhere like Australia or New Zealand.

But if she betrayed him, he would make sure Luca killed her.

She was just a pawn in this mighty chess match, powerless and easily disposed of.

Luca had done so much bad, and no amount of good could correct that. So why did the thought of betraying him hurt so much?

“Hayley?”

She could hear him calling for her in the distance. She wiped away a tear, then walked out of the closet and down the hall to find him waiting for her with a smile on his face.