My Mobster

by J. L. Drake

  Oh shit…

  “Yes.”

  “How many?”

  She tried to look at me, but Bobby shook his head.

  I wanted to bump her leg, but Vinnie caught my eye.

  “A daughter.”

  “Tell me this. What happened to your grandparents?”

  Fuck me.

  “They died.”

  “How?” He leaned forward, and I knew he saw it.

  Oh fuck…

  “Car crash.”

  In a flash, he pointed his 9 millimeter in her face. I felt the tip of a rifle dig into my neck as my gun aimed at Bobby. This was a nasty triangle to be in. Mob, mob, Fed.

  “Wrong answer, Sydney.” Bobby shook his head. “Really, after what just happened, you’re going to lie to me?”

  “I’m not lying,” she muttered. “My grandparents were killed in a car accident.”

  Well, that’s true.

  Bobby rubbed his head with his free hand. He lowered his gun as I did mine. Though Vinnie kept his gun pinned to my neck.

  I’ve had enough of this shit.

  “I’m not entirely sure why we’re here this weekend, but I think we’ve overstayed our welcome.” I stood, but Bobby raised his hand, then nodded at Vinnie, who placed two gun shell casings in front of me.

  A weight suddenly lifted off my chest.

  “I knew Charlie,” Bobby muttered. My hands went out to touch the warm steel as his words sank in. Sydney reached for my arm. “He knew about something we were planning and didn’t want any part of it. He left and ended up in Nashville, where he fell in love with some diner bitch.” My eyes stayed locked on the casings. I was afraid to move in case he stopped talking. Answers, I was finally getting answers.

  “Vinnie found him and brought him back, but he didn’t want any part of it. So he left again, vanished. He resurfaced a year later, and he had gotten married in Vegas. When I sent Sly to speak with him to remind him that he had duties to uphold, they slipped away.” Sly shifted. “Not before Charlie left Sly with a…parting gift.” Sly craned his neck, and I saw a scar along his shoulder. “Three years later, they popped up at a party, and their picture ended up in the newspaper. Three days later, I paid him a visit, but they knew we were coming.” His finger traced in Tommy’s blood, spreading it outward. “I’m starting to understand how they were tipped off.” He waited a beat.

  “So, I followed them home one night. Only they caught on and tried to make a run for it.”

  “Into the scrap yard,” I whispered with my palm held up to my face to get a better look at the casings.

  “I knew Charlie would hide the girl, and sure enough, when we were close to her, he showed himself. Vinnie dragged him through the dirt to my feet. He didn’t beg. He was smarter than that. He just closed his eyes and said a prayer. It had never made sense to me, and when I thought I understood it, I was proven wrong.” His glance moved over to Sydney then back to me. “It wasn’t easy, but it had to be done. He knew too much.”

  “How did his wife play into all of this? Why kill her?” My mouth was dry.

  “She saw. If she had just stayed put, I would have let her be…maybe.” He smirked. “But instead she dropped to his side and died right alongside of him. True love and all that shit, I guess. I don’t like loose ends, Agent Colin.”

  I cleared my throat and set the bullets upright. My pointer finger rested above my lip while I chose my words very carefully.

  “One last thing.” I felt an eerie calm pass over me. “How was Charlie connected to you?”

  Vinnie laughed behind me as Sly smirked at Bobby.

  “He was my son.”

  “Hmm,” I mumbled, then in a blink, I grabbed my knife and jammed it in his throat. Sydney grabbed my gun and held Vinnie and Sly at bay. I moved around the marble and watched as the blood squirted from his main artery, soaking his expensive dress shirt and pooling on his lap. His eyes showed me his life slipped from his grasp. “Sorry, Grandfather, but you had to know it would end like this.”

  “Holy fuck,” Vinnie gasped behind me. “He’s Charlie’s boy.” His expression changed as he glanced at Sydney. You could see as it all clicked together for him, “you’re not their daughter.”

  I ignore him and look over, “Syd,” I called over my shoulder, “call it in.”

  I looked back at the man I hunted for years. I knew he was connected, but I never had enough proof, until now.

  “This is Agent Sydney Claire, badge 768 with the Santa Monica agency.”

  I looked down at my blood-soaked hands, then at a body that struggled to live, and finally at the woman I love who agreed to help me with this case, and follow me through until the end.

  “I can’t believe I’m looking at Charlie’s boy,” Vinnie grunted as he tossed his gun at my feet in a state of defeat. “He would have been—”

  Pop, pop! Two bullets burrowed into his flesh. I turned to Sly and did the same. No loose ends.

  I bent over Bobby’s lifeless body and pulled his ring free of his fat finger and slipped it on my own.

  I looked at Sydney, who gave me a wicked grin and joined me at my side.

  I finally got what I wanted—justice and my seat at the head of the family table.

  I had mafia ties, and I planned to use them.

  The End

  About the Author

  J. L. Drake was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, later moving to Southern California where she now lives with her husband and two children.

  When she is not writing she loves to spend time with her family, travelling, or just enjoying a night at home. One thing you might notice in her books is her love of the four seasons. Growing up on the east coast of Canada, the change in the seasons is in her blood and is often mentioned in her writing.

  An avid reader of James Patterson, J.L. Drake has often found herself inspired by his many stories of mystery and intrigue. She hopes you will enjoy her books as much as she has enjoyed writing them.

  Facebook:

  https://www.facebook.com/JLDrakeauthor

  Twitter:

  https://twitter.com/jodildrake_j

  Website:

  http://www.authorjldrake.com/

  Goodreads:

  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8300313.J

  _L_Drake

  Periscope:

  http://www.periscope.com/author_drake

  Prologue

  Madison

  “What the hell was that?” Stephanie cried.

  A blast from outside rattled several picture frames on the bridal shop wall.

  Madison Miller rose and carefully removed the pins that lined her mouth from tacking up a gown’s hem on the window mannequin. Her coworker’s eyes were the size of saucers.

  Footsteps trampled by the front door of the shop. Madison rushed to throw it open to see what the commotion was about. Fire roared, tearing up a car only a few shops away. The red flames licked the air around it, threatening everything in a three-foot radius.

  “Holy crap.” Stephanie, her best friend and assistant, was at her back craning to see.

  A shopkeeper held a fire extinguisher and pointed it toward the blaze. Its small puffs of white barely touched the pyre that started off a typical retail day with a bang. A huge crowd started to encircle the inferno, keeping at a distance. Saturday shoppers got more than they bargained for today.

  “Do you think anyone was in the car?” Stephanie hugged her arms across her chest.

  “I don’t know.” Madison chewed her bottom lip.

  “Did the gas tank explode?”

  “I don’t know,” Madison snapped louder.

  “It could spread.” Stephanie continued watching the scene as she leaned heavily on Madison’s back. She was right. The entire string of stores could be engulfed in flames, not leaving out the bridal shop Madison managed for her mother.

  Thankfully, it was early and her typical influx of customers didn’t show up until after lunch. She was just as intrigued and fearful as St
ephanie and the rest of the bystanders. Within moments, sirens rang out and she exhaled. The town’s warning siren blasted, calling all the volunteer firefighters in the area to service. Finally, after several minutes, help was on the way. A shiny red fire truck soon roared by and firemen began to fight the fire with a vengeance.

  The buzz of the people on the sidewalk caught her attention. The horrific scene was difficult to tear away from, but her gaze darted into the onlookers and she froze. A tall, dark man in a finely tailored suit made her breath catch in her throat. She knew him. Seeing him again ignited a feeling that she wished to bury deep inside her—a combination of lust and alarm. It made her look away. Her heart pumped erratically at the quiet disruption of harmony in the little town of Genoa caused by both the fire and by this man. Comforted only with the authorities’ arrival on the scene, Madison tugged on Stephanie’s arm.

  “Let’s go in. The firetrucks are here. They will take care of it.”

  She dragged a reluctant Stephanie behind, but Madison stopped up short when her friend stood her ground.

  “Hey, look.” Stephanie pointed. Madison rolled her eyes. She’d seen enough and her anxiety level was at an all-time high. Biting her lower lip, she followed the direction Stephanie indicated only to freeze once again not at the sight of a man, but of a woman. Standing within the crowd, the young lady’s profile made her go icy. The woman had shoulder length brown hair, light skin, and could basically be her sister. The lady even seemed to match her height from what she could tell from a distance.

  “She could pass for your twin, Maddy.” Stephanie still had her hand extended and Madison slapped her arm down.

  “Come on. We have work to do.”

  “But.”

  “No buts. Let’s go.”

  Madison shook everything off. The morning proved to be eventful and it was going to be a struggle to keep her mind on all of the dresses they had to great ready for upcoming weddings and fittings. It’s just easier to shove it all down than deal with the bizarre goings on in town and in her life. Maybe later, at night, in the safety of her home, she’d think about it.

  She stepped over the threshold of her shop with Stephanie in tow. Even inside the warmth of the store, goosebumps rose on her arms. What was happening to her town?

  Chapter One

  January

  One Month Earlier

  When Madison got the call that they’d have to find a new place for bridal event, she wasted no time in driving over to discuss it face to face with the owner.

  “What is the meaning of this?” She was on the verge of a breakdown. Her mother may have owned the only bridal store in the small town of Genoa, Wisconsin but that didn’t mean their annual fashion show wasn’t vital to attracting new customers. “I’ve booked your banquet center every year, year after year.” She sat back in the chair and crossed her legs. “I paid the deposit months ago. What do you mean it’s been cancelled?” Agitated, she swung her foot back and forth.

  “Oh, I almost forgot.” Mr. Gilmore, the club’s owner, retrieved a check from his drawer and slid it across the desk. “Here’s your money back.”

  “To hell with the money.” Madison pushed the slip of paper back in his direction. “My spring wedding fashion show is always held here the second week of February.” Her voice shook as the panic rose.

  Find a new venue? Everything was set, from the DJ to the caterers. Heck, the ads were already in the paper. The cost alone to change them was going to hit her mother’s pocketbook hard.

  “We’ve had it here, for what?” She waved her hand in the air angrily. “Ten years in a row. How in the world can you say less than a month before the show the place is now booked? By who?”

  “I’m sorry.” The jerk thrust her deposit back in her direction and at least had the decency to look sheepish. “It can’t be helped.” His tone was firm.

  This was a nightmare. It might be January, but it was still going to be a struggle to find a new place at this short of notice for her family business bridal show, the catalyst that drew new business every year. Not to mention her chance to show off some of her dress designs. It had been her lifelong dream to be a dress designer, but that dream was losing some of its sparkle. Her heart just wasn’t in it as much as when she was younger and it was getting harder and harder to come up with new and exciting ideas.

  She let her breath out loudly and shook her head. “You’ve put me in a horrible position. This show generates a massive portion of our revenue.” Her voice shook with contempt at such a callous man. “All the new brides who got engaged over the holidays are looking for dresses and it’s our chance to showcase our goods.”

  “I know.” The dismissive idiot had the nerve to agree. “We’ve enjoyed hosting it all these years. I wish I could help out but my hands are tied.” He folded his long fingers across his ample stomach.

  His apology did zero to ease her misery. The asshole didn’t realize how quickly this could spiral the bridal business she ran with her mother into the red. Nothing about this made sense. Madison snatched her check, shot to her feet, and rushed to the door.

  She grasped the door handle to leave but made one final attempt to solve this wretched mess. “Do you know anyone, anyone at all who could host our event at this short notice?”

  He leaned forward hesitantly and paused before saying, “Why yes. I do.” The guy’s smile spoke volumes. He was glad she was leaving.

  “Firenza.” Gilmore’s response caused Madison to groan inwardly. “I believe it is available. The new place…you know, where the ball was held last year.”

  A flood of emotion tingled down her neck as she remembered the dance and the tall, dark, dangerous man who’d been there.

  Mr. Gilmore leaned back in his chair. The wooden back screeched with his weight. “I was sure I saw you there. The company you kept was…interesting.” What nerve. How dare he point out he saw her and insinuated about who she was with. “It would be a perfect spot.”

  “Thanks.” She gritted her teeth. “I’ll be sure to give them a call.”

  Madison mumbled to herself on the walk to her car. Give them a call. Never had she been so mad. If she were a gambling person, she’d bet it all that Roman Caponelli paid off Mr. Gilman to force her hand to reach out to his sister’s venue, Firenza, for the bridal event.

  Fastening her seat belt, she beat her fist against the steering wheel. Roman Caponelli, a man whose advances she’d rejected. Mafia, my ass. He’d just moved to town in the fall and was already trying to run the place.

  She’d danced with him on the dreamlike night of the ball. Images of them gliding across the dance floor with his arms tucked around her made her lightheaded. The scent of his costly aftershave was forever locked in her brain. Just a whiff could make her knees weak.

  But Madison did what she did best. She stuffed down the feelings he’d awoken in her because no matter how much electricity hummed between them when they were together, it didn’t change the bottom line—that he was a front runner in the mafia.

  She put the car in drive and hit the gas. Flying around the parking lot faster than she should, Madison came to the exit and slammed on the brakes. The heavy pile of snow on her roof slid down over her windshield.

  “Damn,” she muttered. “Can this day get any worse?” Her shoulders sank and she put the car in park. Huffing with annoyance, she got out of the car and flung the heavy snow off her car with the scraper. Usually she was careful about cleaning it all off the roof, but she’d been in a hurry knowing that her entire year’s work was going down the toilet.

  Settling back in her car seat, Madison backed up and parked her car. She didn’t want to give up, and called a few of the other venues that were already programmed into her phone. Hope died more and more with each call. They were all booked. Of course they were all spoken for, because this was the type of luck she was having.

  The last call was to Bells and Bows Wedding Shop, her mother’s business.

  “Stephanie, how’s it
going there?” Madison asked, hoping she’d have better news.

  “I’ve got two wedding parties looking at dresses but other than that, things are under control. Did you get the venue straightened out?” Tittering women’s voices could be heard in the din through the phone.

  “No, we are S.O.L.”

  “What? The show is next month.”

  “I know.” Madison sighed. “I’m at my wit’s end.”

  “Did you try some of the others?”

  “I called everyone I could think of and everything is booked. Maybe we can have it at the playground at McDonald’s.” Madison’s breath frosted the tiny confines of her car and she stabbed the defrost button to clear her foggy windows.

  “I hate to ask but…what about Firenza?” Stephanie knew the subject was a touchy one with her. She’d also been the first one to warn her of the Caponelli family reputation. Roman Caponelli, the man who’d swept her off her feet at the ball was the son of a mob boss and nicknamed Romeo for a reason.

  Madison groaned out loud. “It looks like I don’t have a choice.”

  “No, it doesn’t. Sorry.”

  “Do you want to come with me?” The thought of seeing Roman again had her shaking in her knee-high boots.

  “No. He knows how I feel about him so that probably isn’t a good idea.”

  Madison’s chin hit her chest. “Okay. I can do this. I can fix this.” Madison wasn’t actually sure whether she was reassuring herself or Stephanie.

  “Good luck. Oh, and the cheese factory that’s providing the hors d’oeuvres had a salmonella outbreak.”

  “What?” Madison widened her eyes. “Are you serious?”

  “Afraid so.” More laughter from the shop’s customers sounded over the phone.

  “I’ll add that to my list.” Madison groaned. “Well, I’d better go. I have to solve the first problem before I can think about the rest.” A dull ache started to form in the back of her neck. Stress was building. No venue, no show, no money.