by Jen Davis
“Any one of us could end up in jail for doing something that we never intended to happen. Life is risky, and we’re trying to move the family into more legit businesses, but that way of life is slow to change.” Madison put both feet on the floor. “What I’m saying is life is short, so follow your heart. If you want Jasper, go for it. He’s a great guy who also seems to be head over heels for you. Don’t let someone else take what you want or that little voice in your head tell you that you can’t have it.”
If only it were that easy. It suddenly dawned on her that she did want Jasper. He’d been a spark that’d been lit back in the fall when they’d first met. A few weeks ago, it simmered with the first touch of his hand when they’d been introduced on the job. Now it was a blaze with promises of a future and more. Jackie wanted him with a flame that couldn’t be put out, no matter how much she tried to extinguish it.
Alain knocked on her opened door. He held a couple packages in his arms.
“These are for you.” He set them on the desk and left.
Madison rubbed her hands together. “What did he send you today?”
“Who?” She had an idea but didn’t want to hope. They hadn’t left on good terms last night. She’d been uneasy, and he’d been on edge.
“Jasper, of course. Do you have anyone else sending you things every day?” her boss teased.
“Well, no, but I didn’t want to assume.” There were two packages.
The first one she opened contained chocolate. “To sweeten you up,” it said. Jackie laughed as he always said she was sweet enough. The next contained a bottle of wine from the Wollersheim Winery. It was Blushing Gold. He’d remember her favorite one from the tasting the day before. For so long, she’d tried to prove that he was just a player and only interested in one thing, yet he’d never done anything to warrant that. He’d been persistent but not threatening. He’d been caring and tender with her when there was obviously a dark side to his personality. He killed people! It didn’t get any darker than that.
Did she have that same blackness? Something inside her that wouldn’t stop until those responsible were dead? She had no right to judge him for what he was, or was raised to be, any more than she. Jackie wanted those responsible for her parents’ death dead, even if she had to pull the trigger with her own finger.
Madison picked up the bottle and read the label. “I like how they do the labels with the pairings and sweetness level. We should do something like that.” Madison put it back down and peeked over the desk. “What’s in the last box?”
“What? Oh, I didn’t even see that.” There was a small one similar to the ones the jewelry had come in. Opening it, she expected to see another piece of the collection. It was a Brighton, but instead of being a piece of jewelry, it was a key chain, and there was a key attached.
“A key? What’s it for?” Madison took it from her hand and oohed and aahed. “It’s a Brighton again. Love their stuff. Is there a note?”
“Yes. Here it is.” Jackie unfolded the paper. “It says…” She cleared her throat, and the paper shook in her hand. “‘You already have the key to my heart. Now you have the key to my home.’”
Madison swooned and clutched her hands over her heart. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure.” Jackie sat back in her chair. “I guess I’ll have to follow what my heart says.”
“And is that with Jasper?” Madison wiggled her eyebrows.
“I’ve been trying to resist him but failing miserably. It might be time to jump in with both feet and see where it leads.”
“I’m so happy for you,” she gushed.
“Thanks, but nothing is for certain.” Only time would tell that.
“I know, but I would love it if you became part of the family. I already feel that you are. We just need to make it official.” Madison rose, came around the desk, and gave her a quick hug. “I’d better get going. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
“Okay, see you later.” Jackie walked to her window as Madison left the room. There was a lot to think about.
Everything that surrounded the Caponellis seemed to be about oaths, commitments, and honor, it would seem, but could she really do it? Did she really see Jasper and her in love forever? Sitting, holding hands as their grandchildren looked through old photo albums like they’d done at Frankie’s house? Would they even have photo albums in the future? Okay, now her mind was just rambling and avoiding the question altogether.
Did she care for Jasper?
Yes.
Could she see herself with him forever?
Yes.
Could see find her way to see past some of the things he’d done and would do in the name of the mob? It would appear so, if she was going to be in a long-term relationship. That would mean staying in Genoa, which she hadn’t plan on doing, but the place was growing on her and quickly feeling like home. Just like Jasper was starting to feel like home.
There was only one problem. When he found out her real reason for being here, would he still want her?
Chapter 18
Jasper
A serious relationship was a new thing to him. On the one hand, it was exciting, and it gave him a sense of maturity. On the other, he’d never been so desperate to have a woman fall for him. After dropping off Jackie, he stopped at Dominic’s to see if they had any insight. Stephanie said that best thing he could do right now was give Jackie some space. Jasper had done that, but it was killing him. As each day fell into the next, he was sure he’d lost the battle for her love. He’d given her a key, and she’d yet to use it.
The gifts he had sent Monday were to say he was still there for her and that the ball was now in her court. The wait was pushing him over the deep end. Several times, he’d gone outside, intending to drive over to her place, but stopped. Numerous times, he’d brought the phone out to call, only to throw it back onto the counter or bed. If he kept this up, he’d had to buy a new one soon.
Glancing at the screen for the hundredth time in the last few days, he cursed and shoved it into his pocket. Yesterday, he broke down and called Madison to get the lowdown, but she didn’t have any news, either. At least she said she didn’t. Now, he was even second guessing Maddy, and he had no reason to do that. She’d always been honest and straightforward with him.
Fuck it.
If Jackie didn’t want him, he’d go back to one-night stands. It would never be the same as being with the woman you loved, but at least it wouldn’t hurt so much.
“Jasper?” Arlo weaved his way to their table with a coffee cup in each hand. His buddy placed one on the table in front of him. They were at the Java Shop, and the place was packed. Unfortunately, Jackie wasn’t among the crowd.
“Thanks.” He needed a shot of whiskey, but coffee would have to do at this time of day.
“Grab it and go. Roman wants us at the garage.”
“Why?” Jasper slid his chair back.
“Don’t know. Don’t care. Let’s go.” Arlo was his usual pissed-off self.
They left the Java Shop and were on the road in no time. Even at this time of day, the streets of Genoa were busy with tourists and the early return of wealthy lake homeowners.
Soon, they were turning up dust as they drove down the road to the old shed that they used for mob and MC business.
“Any idea what going on?” There were numerous bikes there already and a couple of the family’s SUVs. The doors were shut, which was unusual. It would be hotter than hell in the metal building, so even if bad things were happening inside, the place was isolated enough that they kept the doors open to keep it cool.
“Nope, but it looks like something big.” They got out of the vehicle and proceeded inside. Both were unprepared for what they were about to see.
Several of the Mayhem Tribe were there, including their president, Forge. Jasper recognized the former prospect, Square, who was now a patched-in member. He nodded, and Square returned the gesture. Roman, Dominic, and some of the other Caponelli c
rew were also in attendance. Arlo had been working with some new bodyguards, and they were with Roman today.
In the middle of the room were two half-naked, beaten and bloodied men tied to folding chairs. Judging by the tattoos, they were Russian mafia. But what the hell were they doing here? Both were missing all their fingernails. Jasper fought back a shudder. He could handle anything, but removing fingernails still gave him the willies.
Dominic wandered over. He wore only boxer briefs, and blood was splattered across his chest. They didn’t usually use Dom for interrogations, as he was the cleaner, but Roman wanted everyone to be well-versed in all duties, in case someone was not available. That might have been why he and Arlo hadn’t been called over sooner. They might have been sent here to clean up this one. He’d done it with Dom several times, so that was no sweat. Heck, he wouldn’t have to worry about ruining his clothes, either.
“What’s with the IVs?” Arlo nodded toward the men in the chairs. Both were barely conscious, and their heads were lowered.
“They lost blood too fast and didn’t talk. We needed to keep them alive longer, so we did a blood transfusion.”
Arlo strode over to study the work that’d been done.
“What’s the deal? Why are the Russians here?” Jasper wondered out loud. “Are they the ones that took the guns?”
“Not sure yet. Caught them by accident.” Dominic picked up a screwdriver from the work table. It appeared to be the same one he’d used to stab his opponent with in a fight to the death last year.
“And?” Sometimes, Dom’s lack of conversation drove him up the wall.
“They got a little rough with one of the girls who works in the club’s brothel.” The Tribe owned a whorehouse out in the country. “Not sure how they even got in.”
“Why. Are. They. Here.” Jasper’s patience ran thin.
“That’s what we’re trying to find out, asshole.” Dom pointed the tool at him.
“Dickhead.” Jasper took the screwdriver from his hand and threw it back on the work table.
“You cut them too deeply,” Arlo said. “If you don’t want them to bleed out so fast, don’t go so deep, and for fuck’s sake, avoid the arteries. Remind me to get you an anatomy book.”
“Since when are you a fucking doctor?” Dom placed his fists on his hips. “You know I don’t like this shit. I like dealing with the ones who don’t talk back.”
Jasper watched the battle between the two and rolled his eyes. Over the heads of the crowd, he could see Roman in deep conversation with Forge. Something was up, but he still had no clue.
“Dammit, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.” Arlo slipped out of his clothes until he was wearing nothing more than Dom.
“I’m starting to feel over-dressed,” Jasper joked, but neither of his companions seem to think it was funny.
“Shut the hell up.” Arlo marched over to Roman. After a few words with him, Arlo went over to the Russians and slapped them awake. “Names.”
Shit was about to get real, and everyone moved closer to the action, including Jasper, who now stood behind Arlo.
“Yegor and Dima,” one of the Russians mumbled.
Dominic marched over and whispered in Arlo’s ear. “They already said that.”
“I’m starting a line of conversation. Back off.”
Jasper put his hands in his pockets and enjoyed the show while his two friends battled it out. Dominic didn’t usually get riled, but he still got agitated by crowds, a lingering effect from too many years in an illegal fighting ring that he wasn’t part of by choice.
There was also way too much testosterone in the room right now. Everyone wanted to be the one to crack the mystery of why these men were in their territory and show who had the biggest dick.
“Why are you here?” Arlo yelled in their faces, but neither answered. One appeared incapable of speaking. His eyes rolled around in his head, and there was blood and drool coming out of his mouth. “You will be dead today.” Arlo walked over to the work bench as he spoke. “You have two choices. Speak up and go quickly or remain silent and linger for hours as I…” He stopped and picked up a cheese shredder. Where the hell had that come from? It was rusty and old. Arlo glanced up, and Jasper could have heard a pin drop. “As I shred the skin from your body.”
The Russian who drooled threw his chair backward and his head cracked on the concrete. He’d decided to kill himself rather than endure another moment of torture. Well, that one wasn’t going to talk. Dominic jumped behind the other before he could do the same. Arlo returned to his victim’s side and made a quick brush of the kitchen tool up the man’s arm. His victim screamed as his skin fell off in small pieces. Blood dripped to the floor.
“Stop. Stop.” The man pleaded as tears now ran from his eyes. “Stop. I’ll tell you what I know.” With the torture from Dominic and now from Arlo, they’d broken him. “Please. Stop.”
“Speak up.” Arlo slapped the man’s face again. If they didn’t get him talking soon, the guy might go into cardiac arrest. Jasper had seen it happen. Guys too stressed and pressed so hard that their heart exploded.
“Okay, okay,” he slurred. Roman stepped in front of the man now. “We were sent from Chicago to find someone. We were stupid and ended up at the brothel instead.”
“Who are you trying find?”
“Alexander.” Dima spit some blood as he spoke.
“Who?” Roman demanded.
“He’s the brother of my boss. The guy’s bezumnvy. He’s crazy. Alexander beat up several whores who work in our houses. Everyone looked the other way until Alex took the boss’s favorite girl.” The man stopped to catch his breath. “He left her body outside of town. It was a message.” Jasper’s gaze locked on Arlo’s. This was the girl Ryan had told them about.
“What kind of message?” Arlo kicked the man’s leg. “And who do you work for?”
“Fedor Dubnikov. Like I said, Alexander’s crazy. He means to make the boss look weak. Cause conflict.” Dima paused again. “The girl was a strike to his heart. Leaving her here in your territory was a strike to his power.”
“How so?”
“Fedor wants to take over the Caponelli and Rinaldi territories. That Alexander can commit a crime on your turf and get away with it means he should be boss and not Fedor.”
“The Tribe’s had their eyes on you for days. You bought stolen guns just recently.”
This time, it was Forge who spoke up. “We tracked down where you were staying. You’ve been here for weeks. Much before that girl was found.”
“We were sent here before that.” The story kept changing.
“Why were you here before they had you looking for Alexander?” This time, it was Roman who asked the question.
“They want to kidnap your women. We were to keep an eye on them. Learn their routines and places they go.”
“What women? Who did they want to take?” Roman loosened his tie.
“Your wife, her sister, and your sister.” Arlo grabbed the man by the throat, and Roman pulled him off. As hard as he tried to deny it, everyone knew Arlo had the hots for Layla, but taking any one of those women would have everyone up in arms.
“Who ordered this?” Roman remained calm, but there was no doubt his boss wanted blood. The veins on his forehead pulsed.
“I told you. The boss, Fedor Dubnikov.” The guy didn’t hesitate to answer now. If fact, he seemed eager to talk, but once he had nothing more to say, it was lights out.
“Where can we find him?” He stuttered some Chicago address that Roman sent off to the tech guys.
Jasper stood close as they continued the questioning. It was soon obvious that this guy didn’t know much more but did finally reveal the location of the stolen guns. The fact that the two men would stop at a whorehouse belonging to a known ally of the Caponellis spoke volumes. They were idiots. Stealing guns from a motorcycle club reinforced that notion, as well.
After questioning him for ten more minut
es, there was nothing left to find out. They untied Dima. He did a weak sign of the cross before Arlo easily snapped his neck.
They left the dead men where they lay as Roman gathered everyone around. “Thank you Forge and members of the tribe for bringing this to my attention. We wear different uniforms, but we are brothers underneath.” Several bikers nodded, and a few cheered. “A strike at our territory is a strike on yours, as we work together here. Be vigilant. If they are coming after our women, they may be coming after yours.” A few curses followed. “Thank you again, and we’ll keep in touch.”
Jasper stayed in the background as he witnessed members of the tribe shaking Roman’s hand before they left. Soon, the loud rumble of bikes thundered outside. The shed doors were wide open now as Dominic backed his van up to the shed to gather the bodies. They’d soon be taking them to the funeral home they were connected with to incinerate the dead.
No bodies. No witnesses. No crime. No DNA.
“Do you need help, Dom?” Jasper volunteered.
“Depends. Are you going to remain quiet the whole time?” Dominic asked while wiping the blood from his body and donning a clean pair of overalls.
“Probably not.”
“Then the answer is no.” Dominic did allow him to assist in getting them into the van, but it was clear he’d reached his limit of social activity for the day.
After Roman finished talking to his bodyguards, he returned to speak to Arlo. “From this time forward, we need two men with Madison at all times.”
“Yes, sir,” Jasper spoke for them both.
“What about Layla?” Arlo wiped his hands on a towel.
“That’s Rinaldi’s problem. He’s her father and not our responsibility.”
“She’s your sister-in-law.” Arlo wouldn’t give up. “That makes her family.”
“Not in this case. If Rinaldi wants our help, he will ask for it, but she should be fine under his protection where she is.” Roman placed one hand on his soldier’s shoulder. “Until then, we keep an eye on our own, and that means Madison is never alone. Understood?”
