Ophelia #2
“You told me the Crows were in the past, but they’re not.
They’re flapping around the city causing trouble, and my father is the one orchestrating it all.
” More tears fall as I begin to understand the weight of this situation.
I never met my father, but this still feels like a betrayal, in many different ways.
My father has let me down, and so has Aunt Viv by being selective of the truth.
“Innocent people have died,” I say, allowing more tears to fall. “Families are grieving their loved ones, and Ben is behind it all. Why are you lying for him, Viv? He treated us like shit, and you’re staying silent. How much money is he paying you?”
Viv looks at me, her eyes pooling with sadness. “I’m not lying for him,” she eventually says after a few beats of silence. “I’m lying for your mother, to protect you.”
“The truth is always better than lying.”
Viv continues studying me. “How did you find out this information? From Salvatore Moretti?”
“He’s trying to shut this down.”
“Then he is finally doing something right.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“You know what these billionaires are like, dear. They are only interested in protecting themselves. Mr. Moretti falls into that elite category and may be only interested in covering his tracks, but it is still a step in the right direction.”
“What do you mean?”
“Organized crime should be abolished.”
I sit back into the couch, mulling over that statement. A few weeks ago, I would have thought the same thing. But now? I’m not so sure. It takes one form of evil to kill another, and I know Salvatore has what it takes.
“I deserved to know the truth about my father.”
“It’s like you said, dear—the Crows still exist. Ignorance is bliss.”
“No,” I say, rising from the couch. “Ignorance is ignorance.”
I walk out of the lunchroom, passing the client on my way out of the gallery.
I exhale the biggest sigh when I step back onto the street, running my hands through my hair. I never thought I’d see the day where I trust a mafia leader more than my very own family.
To relieve some stress, I decide to head over to Fifth Avenue. Turns out I could use some retail therapy after all to escape the drama for a while.
I catch the subway and hold on tight to the rail as the train screeches through the tunnel.
“Does Aunt Viv ever laugh?”
“Not like she used to,” says my mom as she joins me on the couch. “She used to laugh, quite a lot actually, back when we were kids. She was a menace.”
“I can’t picture that.”
“She would hide my dolls. She thought it was hilarious. And then I took it a step too far and ripped one of her paintings,” cringes my mom.
“She’d been working on that painting all week, but I was too mad about my dolls to give her paintings any thought.
” My mom stares into space, reflecting on something.
“She hasn’t been that way since your father left.
I was only three months pregnant with you at the time.
Ever since then, she stopped with the silly games and started caring.
It was weird. Sometimes I wish that old version of her would come back. ”
“Maybe she doesn’t like seeing you upset.”
“Maybe,” says my mom. “Or maybe she straightened out when her art branch picked up.”
“Running a business sounds like serious stuff.”
“Very serious.”
“So serious that you have to douse your entire apartment in sage every night before you go to sleep.”
“And say a prayer to the moon,” adds my mother.
We both fall into laughter.
The screeching returns to my ears. I hop off the subway and look forward to spending the rest of the afternoon on Fifth Avenue, browsing the racks.
I head into Aritzia, picking out the most gorgeous cable-knit sweater, since fall is only a few weeks away.
Seeing more incredible items, I pullout my phone to give Sapphire a call.
“Hey, those pants you like are on sale.”
“The Agency Pant in Mocha Brown?”
“Yeah, you want me to get you a pair?”
“Hold tight,” says Sapphire. “I’m on my way. Fifth Avenue right?”
“Yeah,” I say down the phone. “I’ll grab them and set up some changing rooms for us. I’m hitting gold today.”
“Let me guess—you finally found your new favorite cable knit sweater in time for fall?”
“Yes,” I gasp down the receiving end of the phone. “And only in the most amazing color.”
“Green like your boss’s eyes?”
“Yes, although this shade of green is lighter, more of a fern than a deep emerald…”
“Dreamy,” laughs Sapphire. “I’m on my way now.”
“We’ll do coffee afterward at Vegepatch,” I say, balancing clothes, my purse and phone in one hand. “We have a lot to discuss.”
“About Salvatore?”
“About fucking everything, including the fundraiser I attended.”
“That looked like a cash cow if I’ve ever seen one.”
“You bet,” I say, ending the call. “See you soon.”
I end the call, turn around, and stumble back into the rail.
“Watch your step,” says one of the workers in passing, flashing me a smile. “Are you okay?”
“Fine,” I gasp…
I couldn’t be further away from fine.
Since when does David Hale shop in Aritzia? And why is he looking at me like I have shit all over my face?
I compose myself, walking over to him, shaking his hand. That feels like the normal thing to do… I think.
“Mr. Hale,” I begin, fighting to keep my voice level. “Here to shop the summer sale?”
“Who were you speaking to on the phone?”
“What?”
“Just then—I heard every word. You have a lot to discuss?” David folds his arms across his chest, smiling at people in passing as they recognize him. “Care to explain.”
“I was talking to my friend about the sale, sir.”
“Lying doesn’t get us very far in life, Miss Bennett,” says David. He uncrosses his arms, watching me curiously. “You and Salvatore have crossed quite a few lines. Tell me, Miss Bennett, are you sleeping with him?”
“Uh, my private life isn’t really your business, sir.”
“If you’re gossiping to your friends about the Crows, we will all fall, including Salvatore himself.
” David places his hand on my back, guiding me away from the floor where there are less people walking.
“Thankfully, I caught you before you made a mess of everything. I’m sure if Salvatore was here, he would be telling you the same.
If you love him, you should shut your mouth. ”
“Excuse me?” I bat my lashes.
The David Hale I know never loses his temper and would certainly never tell someone to shut their mouth.
“Gossiping about the Crows will get everyone in trouble, including yourself,” says David.
“Before you know it, our faces will be plastered across every news cast in the city. And then what? There is no fixing a mistake once it has been made, the same way there is no taking back the word once it has been said. You must tread very carefully, Miss Bennett.”
“Of course,” I scoff. "God forbid you ruin your reputation.” I fold my arms over my chest, taking him in.
David is respected by everyone in this city, but he lost my respect at the fundraiser.
People who commit murder should not be raising money for charity, pretending they are good people, standing in the spotlight and being congratulated. At least Salvatore knows he is bad. David Hale on the other hand? He’s a delusional mess.
I narrow my eyes down on him. The truth is starting to look crystal clear.
“Do you carry around a guilty conscience, or just the Louis Vuitton keep all?” I glance down at the bag, grimacing. A man as rich as him should have better taste in fashion. This is tacky.
“I beg your pardon?” says David, stepping closer.
“Would it be so bad for the world to see your true colors? Fair enough—building a mafia is bad, but pretending to care?” I grimace at his face, which is even more disastrous than the bag. “Stealing people’s good, hard-earned money is a bigger crime than what Salvatore is doing.”
“Regardless of whose crime is bigger,” counters David, “we all go down, including your family.”
“I don’t care about my father. He never cared about me.”
“Oh, not your father, sweetheart,” laughs David, shaking his head. “I’m talking about your aunt.” David turns around on his heel, flashing me one final glare before turning around to the family behind him, asking for his signature.
I rub my temple, returning the fern cable knit sweater to the racks.
“Hey, can you open up a fitting room?” I say to the worker, handing over the Archer pants. “The name is Sapphire—she’ll be here in a minute.”
I blow out a breath, heading back out onto the streets, sending a text to Sapphire.
ME: Hey, sorry, I have to take a rain check. The pants are in the fitting room for you.
I glance across the road, considering taking the subway back to Aunt Viv’s gallery.
If David said Viv goes down, that means she has something to hide.
She knows about my father, but is her secret serious enough to take to court?
I shake off the thought and stroll through the city, heading back to Salvatore’s apartment. Much to my surprise, I find him home.
“Don’t you have a body to kill?” I say, strolling in.
“No,” he says, looking down at my hands. “But I have an assistant to punish. Where are your bags?”
“I didn’t find anything.”