Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Mike waited for Billy to find where he and Maria were sitting in the NYC Public Library. Maria had texted Billy directions to the mostly secluded spot she had selected, but had led Billy to believe she would be alone. She had agreed with Mike that Billy wouldn’t have come if he knew Mike was present. He was still angry with Mike because of how James had characterized his breakup.

When Billy entered the cavernous room, he scanned it and saw where she sat and gave her a small smile. His expression darkened, however, when he spotted Mike sitting next to her. Billy approached with a deliberate pace, but his expression showed a mix of anxiety as well as hostility.

“What’s he doing here?” Billy rasped.

“Please, sit,” Maria coaxed. “I’ll explain everything to you.”

Billy jerked the chair from the table in anger, scraping the legs across the marble floor and creating an echo that caused patrons’ heads to turn. “Maria, how can you meet with him after what he did to James?”

“Billy…” Mike began.

“Shut up! I wasn’t talking to you,” Billy snapped, raising his voice as much as he could without disturbing others around him.

Maria placed her hand over Billy’s to calm him. “Billy, please listen. I asked you to come here so the three of us could meet unwatched by your father’s henchmen. Mike and I have something important to tell you. But I must warn you, it will be painful to hear.”

Billy’s eyes showed momentary panic. “Did something happen to James? Is he hurt?”

“No, nothing like that,” Mike interjected.

Billy darted his eyes back and forth between the two, then his jaw dropped when he reached a conclusion in his head. He shot visual daggers at Mike. “You can’t be serious. You’re dating Maria now?”

Maria began to choke on a cough as Mike tried to suppress a laugh.

“I’m old enough to be Mike’s mother,” Maria managed after clearing her throat. “What is wrong with you?”

Relief spread over Billy’s face, followed by a scowl. “Well, you said you think he’s attractive. Who knows what this animal would do?”

“He’s not an animal,” Maria scolded. “Do not talk about him that way.”

“Maria, he dumped James for another person just as he and James were getting close. I’d call him something worse, but I’m trying to be civil,” Billy fumed, turning to Mike. “Lucky for you we didn’t meet outside. You may be bigger, but I’m younger and quicker. I’d like nothing more than to kick your cheating ass.”

“Billy!” Maria chastised like a mother.

“It’s okay,” Mike stated, placing his hand on Maria’s arm. “He doesn’t know. I’m glad he cares so much about James.” He returned his gaze to Billy. “I didn’t dump your brother. He broke up with me. James wasn’t being truthful with you.”

Billy’s eyes clouded in confusion. “No. You’re lying. Why would he make that up?”

“To protect you,” Mike answered. “Billy, it’s a long story. Just let me tell you what happened, okay? I’ll answer any questions you have when I’m done.”

“Why isn’t James here to tell his side of things?” Billy pressed.

“Because we didn’t invite him. I’m not sure he would want to see me,” Mike explained.

“Hmm,” Billy huffed, crossing his arms. “Because you did hurt him.”

Mike shook his head. “I promise, I didn’t. Please, let me explain.” Once he saw Billy blink and keep his mouth closed, Mike took it as permission to proceed. “A couple of months ago, I went to see your brother after his matinee. I didn’t know it at the time, but you had been assaulted a couple of days earlier. He never mentioned it. Instead, he told me that he didn’t want to see me anymore. The truth is, I was shocked and hurt. I thought we had something good going, but he assured me it was one-sided.”

“That’s not true,” Billy whispered.

“Unbeknownst to me at the time, James told you a very different version of what happened,” Mike continued.

“But why?”

“Because Billy, when you were assaulted, it wasn’t by two random men wanting to rob you. They were sent to attack you and to retrieve the engagement ring you had purchased. Their intent was to stop you from proposing to Nadia. The reason they beat you was to send a message to James.”

“To James? What are you talking about?” Billy demanded.

“The men were sent by your father, Billy. Your father wanted to stop you from getting married, and he wanted James to know that you were beaten as punishment for him dating me. It was a warning to end it or things would get uglier,” Mike explained. Billy’s eyes went wide with disbelief and hurt. “I’m sorry, but it’s the truth. If you confront James about it, I’m sure he’ll come clean.”

“James knew?” Billy asked, his face contorting like he was trying to process the information.

“Your father summoned him to his house the next day to tell him.” Mike paused and saw a hint of remembrance in Billy’s expression. He realized Billy must have known about James’ trip to visit their father.

“But why wouldn’t he tell me?” Billy murmured. “I don’t understand.”

Maria put her hand back on Billy’s. “Puppy, he didn’t want you to know how cruel your father could be to you. He was protecting you, like he always has. James broke up with Mike the next day. He told Mike that he felt nothing for him because he feared if he was honest with Mike, Mike would insist they stand up to your father. But Billy, your father knows James’ biggest weakness. Your brother would never put you in harm’s way for his own happiness.”

Billy nodded as he absorbed the information, seemingly open to the plausibility of what he was hearing. “But even if he wanted to keep it from me that Father was behind my attack, he still could have told me the truth about his breakup with Mike. He could have said he was afraid of what Father would do, and it would have made sense to me.”

Maria shook her head. “Billy, you were pressing him to stop letting your father control him. Do you think James could trust that you would accept him walking away from Mike? You would have pushed him to fight for himself, and you might have engaged Mike to help. But Puppy, James knew things you didn’t. He knew how ruthless your father could be, and he saw with his own eyes the measures he was willing to take to get his way.”

Billy sank his head into his hands for a couple of moments. When he uncovered his face and looked to Mike, the expression of confusion had returned. “How do you know all this? If James made excuses to break up with you, then he didn’t tell you.” He looked over to Maria. “Did James tell you? Did you tell Mike?”

“No,” Maria replied. “I was in the dark, too. James would never have laid that burden on his family.”

“James told his co-star, Emily Hunt,” Mike clarified. “He requested that she not share the information, but she could see he was struggling. She told her agent, who happens to be your brother’s agent too. Emily thought it might be helpful for their agent to know in case James imploded from the pressure and the crap he was enduring.”

“And their agent called you?” Billy asked with an expression that showed he found that odd.

Mike chuckled. “No, of course not. But it turns out, James’ agent is very good friends with my agent, Bob Daly. Bob shared with me that my break-up with James became a topic of conversation during a golf outing. Once Bob found out what happened, he told me the whole story. He knew I was down in the dumps, and he wanted me to know that I hadn’t misread my relationship with your brother.”

“Oh,” Billy whispered. “So, that’s it? Why are you even telling me? James didn’t want me to know, so what gives you two the right to betray his wishes?”

Mike sighed. “Because that’s not the end of the story. In this very small world we live in, turns out my agent’s wife, Ginny, is good friends with the New York District Attorney, Alyson Hansen. Once Ginny learned of what your father had done, including how your father once institutionalized James for making disparaging comments in public about him, she felt obligated to report him to Ms. Hansen.”

“Shit,” Billy mumbled.

“And this is the part that you and James may never forgive me for. I can tell you that I did it because I care about you both and I thought it might be best.” He saw Billy was waiting without the need to interrupt, so he continued. “Hansen approached me to ask if I would participate in a sting operation to bring down your father.”

“What?” Billy gasped. He glanced at Maria and she nodded, confirming Mike’s statement. Billy gave Mike a look to carry on.

“Seems your father owns a portion of the Cherry Hill Marksmen. His business partner, Stan Lyons, owns a greater share. When we were together, James had shared with me that your father wanted all the shares. The D.A. and I thought we could play on that. We brought Lyons into the know about what we planned to do, and he agreed to let us convince your father that he was caught with underage girls by a private investigator I had hired. Lyons didn’t love that angle, but we assured him it was just a ploy to ensnare your dad and it would be made clear in any court, if we were successful, that there was no truth to the allegation and that Lyons cooperated to bring about justice. I used the lie to convince your father that I had blackmailed Lyons into selling me his shares.”

“Why? What does that have to do with his crimes?” Billy asked.

Mike continued, “It set the stage. I set up a meeting with your father to let him know I was his new partner. As expected, he wasn’t happy—at least not until I made him see how he could profit. I used the information that James had shared with Emily to trick him. I told him I knew about his connections and that if he used them to protect my interests, I’d hand over ten percent more of the team, plus twenty percent of my restaurant businesses. He took the deal, acknowledging he has connections with organized crime, the police and fellow legislators. Your father wanted me to know that if I crossed him, it would not end well for me. He pointed out that if he could have one of his sons put in an institution and have his other beaten that he would have no qualms about doing something worse to me.”

“Jesus,” Billy muttered. Then he grimaced. “Shit, what good is any of that? It will be your word against his. I know you wouldn’t have been allowed in his house while wearing a wire. He even has me and James searched before he talks with us.”

Mike smiled. “I didn’t need a wire. There was a hidden camera and mic in your father’s office. Everything was captured and handed over to the District Attorney’s office.”

“How could anyone from outside bug the office without Father knowing?” Billy challenged. “It would be like getting into Fort Knox.”

“True. That’s why it was done by someone on the inside.” Mike grinned. “I informed Ms. Hansen that we had an ally in the mansion.” He shot Maria a small smile.

“Maria?” Billy gasped.

Maria grinned proudly. “They taught me how to set it up. I felt like I was in a spy thriller.”

“This isn’t funny, Maria.” Billy gaped. “Who knows what he could have done to you? Still could, if he finds out you were involved.”

Maria shrugged. “I am an old woman. It was worth the risk for my boys.”

Mike placed a reassuring hand on Billy’s arm. “He won’t know it was her. Maria has cleaned his house for years and she’s never crossed him. Knowing your father’s bigotry, I’ll bet he wouldn’t think she’s capable of setting up the equipment. There are lots of people on his staff that have access to the office. He’ll spend the rest of his life wondering which one betrayed him. Ms. Hansen promised the information wouldn’t be divulged, even to your father’s lawyers, as it isn’t relevant—all a grand jury needs to know is that the D.A.’s office was able to infiltrate and record your father.”

“But…”

Maria cut him off. “Billy, I know what you’re thinking. Yes, the D.A. knows my immigration status. In return for my cooperation, she isn’t contacting ICE. And Mike offered to hire me once I resign from your father’s residence. Mike is going to help me secure my green card and work my way towards American citizenship.”

“That sounds great, but won’t it appear suspicious to my father when you resign?” Billy asked.

“Why wouldn’t I resign? I assume that your father will be going to prison and losing most of his assets. All I need to tell him is that I will be looking for other opportunities. I’m sure me leaving will be the least of his worries. Of course, I won’t tell him that I’ll be going to work for Mike.”

Mike grinned at her. “Maria, I thought we agreed? You’ll be on my payroll, but you won’t be working. I think you deserve a nice retirement.”

Though Mike and Maria were smiling, Billy was biting his lip, still working through the possible consequences of his friends’ actions. “So, it will come out that my father had me beaten? That he did horrible things to James and people he was close to?”

“I would think so,” Mike affirmed. “Billy, neither you nor James should be ashamed. There wasn’t much you could do, and I can’t imagine decent people being anything other than empathetic for your situation. In fact, it’s almost a blessing you and James were victims of your father’s crimes, I am sad to say. Nobody will think you two were complicit or supportive. You can avoid the fate that Bernie Madoff’s kids had to endure where people questioned whether they were involved.”

Billy grimaced. “Yeah, I’m so lucky.”

Mike nodded. “It’s going to be tough as all this comes out, but at least you and James will be free from your father once and for all.”

Billy scratched his head. “I wonder how James will handle hearing what you two did to entrap Father. Who’s going to tell him?” Billy looked at each and from the change in his expression, it became clear when he realized the answer. “Oh.”

Mike offered an empathetic half-smile. “He won’t meet with me, Billy. You should talk to him as soon as possible. Ms. Hansen was kind enough to hold off on the indictment until you and James were given a heads up. The charges they can make stick right now are orchestrating an assault and robbery, as well as accepting a bribe to commit additional crimes. Of course, the D.A. is more concerned about the corruption surrounding your dad. She is involving the DOJ as well, because she thinks there are federal crimes…even international ones where your father is hiding assets overseas. With all that will be hitting him, she thinks he might accept a deal to flip on his many high-powered connections.”

“And while he’s out on bail awaiting trial, are any of us safe?” Billy questioned.

“That’s another reason I kept you and James out of it,” Mike noted. “Your father has no reason to retaliate against you. You didn’t do anything. You may have to testify about the incident, but you wouldn’t be directly incriminating him. All you can do is describe the assailants and share that you’ve been told third-hand that it was orchestrated by your father. It isn’t like eliminating you as a witness would help his case. Everything is on tape. Who knows? They may not even need you to testify at all.”

“I guess.” Billy frowned. “What about James? And you?”

“I doubt the D.A. will pursue charges regarding the false institutionalization of James when he was younger. I think the statute of limitations has expired, so I don’t see James needing to testify. Still, I’m sure it will be revealed in court to demonstrate an ongoing pattern of abuse by your father. As for me, I think I’ll be safe. Eliminating me doesn’t rid your father of the recorded exchange between us. It would just add a potential murder charge to the mix. Nevertheless, I’m taking precautions. Ms. Hansen offered police protection for all of us. Considering your father’s ties with the NYPD, though, I thought we’d all be happier and safer with my own security team.”

The three of them sat for a few minutes, allowing Billy to absorb everything he had heard. Mike was surprised when a small smile started to form on Billy’s lips.

“So, this means you and James can get back together,” Billy noted.

Mike shook his head. “I don’t think that’s wise. While I believe we’re safe, until your father is neutralized, I don’t want to poke the bear. He’ll be angry enough without us resuming our relationship. Plus, I’m not sure your brother wants to be with me. Listen, I know the main reason we split was to protect you, but I sensed he was relieved to have an excuse. He was acting a bit off after he and I…”

Billy waited, then whispered, “Fucked.”

“Billy!” Maria chastised.

Mike blushed, but nodded. “Yeah. Well, he warned me he doesn’t do relationships. I’m not sure that’s all about your father.”

He saw Billy register something that looked like affirmation, and it cemented Mike’s decision to let sleeping dogs lie.