Dynasty

by Jen Davis et al.

Jasper wouldn’t mind more shifts there, as he could hopefully get closer to Jackie.

  Collections were easy. Take payment or dole out punishment. However, if they didn’t have the money, it was sometimes a bitch finding the person. The family lent money at high interest. These days, most people in a pinch could go to the bank or just put things on a credit card, but if they were into things that required cash only or didn’t have that option, the Caponellis were their new best friend. If they could pay them back, that was. If they couldn’t, then they were their worst enemy.

  The first time the debtor didn’t cough up the money, it was a warning. Maybe just verbal, sometimes a physical reminder if they became belligerent. The second time always left a mark and often involved a body part being removed or broken. Often a finger or, if the person needed all digits to make money, a toe nipped or a knee bent might be the better option. One guy offered up his ear. That was messy and ruined a nice jacket Jasper loved.

  This was old school mob shit, but it was effective. People were too soft these days. Everyone still thought they could just plead their case and get off easy. The mob never let anyone off easy. That showed weakness and was bad for business. There was no begging or filing for chapter thirteen if they didn’t have the funds.

  One of their stops today would be the person’s third visit. If they didn’t pay, he’d be dead. That’s why Dom worked at Madison’s place in the morning. If needed, he’d be free to clean up their messes later in the day.

  “Who’s first?” Jasper rubbed his jaw.

  “Ricky,” Arlo grumbled.

  “I hate that dick.” Jasper had a knack for identifying lowlifes, and this guy made a snake appear tall.

  “Agreed.” Richard Harrison was a jerk. Hopefully, he wouldn’t pay, and they could rid the world of the bastard. “I called the garage he works at, but they said he was home sick today.”

  “Guess we’ll be making a house call, then.” Jasper scratched his chin and stepped on the gas.

  They drove out of town and down a long winding road. Ricky lived with his wife in an old farmhouse. By the look of it, it’d seen its better days back in the twenties or earlier.

  They parked, and Jasper walked to the front door, while Arlo went around back. If they had a runner, they wouldn’t get far.

  Standing to the side of the door, Jasper knocked and waited. It wouldn’t be the first time someone shot through a door. He wasn’t taking any chances.

  “I’m coming,” someone hollered, and their footsteps could be heard creaking on the weak floor from inside. A blonde woman answered, but he couldn’t see her face.

  “Richard home today?” Jasper tried to see inside.

  “Who wants to know?” She still wouldn’t meet his eyes.

  “He owes me some money, and I’m here to collect.” The woman frowned and finally raised her gaze to meet his. A bruise had recently formed on her face. It was a nasty red color, and her swollen eye watered. There were also a few cuts on her cheekbones. The kind fighters get when a fist causes the skin to split. Jasper tightened his fists. If Ricky did this, his death would be painful and drawn out, for sure. “Did he do this?” He spoke so only she could hear, but the door was suddenly flung open before she could answer.

  “Hey, I was just on my way to see you. Thanks for saving me a trip.” It was Richard. His cheeks were red, and the pupils of his eyes twitched. Only ten in the morning and he was already drunk as a skunk.

  The man slapped a wad of wet cash in Jasper’s hand. He was sweaty and smelled of booze and cigarettes. Flipping through the bills, Jasper was never so disappointed to have someone pay in full. Even the interest was accounted for.

  Damn.

  “It’s all there.” The man belched and crushed a beer can in his hand. “Anything else?” Yeah, Jasper wanted to crush the guy’s skull.

  “No. We’re square.” The door slammed shut. Jasper folded the cash and stuffed it into his pocket. It was time to leave, but he couldn’t get his feet to move.

  “Let’s go.” Arlo was back by the car, and Jasper finally headed his way.

  “You drive.” Jasper threw him the keys and climbed into the passenger seat this time. “Did you see anyone else in there?”

  “No, just the two.” He started the car, and they traveled back down the road, keeping an eye on the rearview mirror. Neither would put it past the guy to shoot them in the back.

  “That his wife?” Jasper crossed his arms over his chest. The urge to give Ricky a black eye burned in his chest.

  “As far as I know. I knew Rick was a no-good prick, but I never heard any word about him being abusive,” Arlo grumbled. He must have glimpsed her from the window as well.

  “Money problems cause people to do stupid things, but that’s never an excuse to hit a woman.” Jasper shook his head.

  “Agreed. I was hoping he wouldn’t pay.”

  “Me too, but it’s all here.” He patted his pocket.

  “We could throw it out the window,” Arlo joked.

  “Yeah.” Jasper chuckled. “Wonder where it came from? He didn’t have it the last two times, and suddenly, it’s all accounted for.”

  “Hard to tell.” Arlo raised his hands off the wheel as he shrugged his shoulders.

  The rest of the morning went just as easy. Each person paid, and it looked like Dominic would be having the afternoon off.

  It was almost one o’clock when Jasper strolled into the winery. Ricky’s wife still weighed heavy on his mind, but there was nothing he could do. Maybe she really had fallen and he was mistaken that the injuries had been caused by Rick, but it was doubtful.

  “Hey, Angel.” Jasper wandered into Jackie’s office and set a cup and bag from the Java Shop on her desk. “I stopped in for coffee and thought you’d like one too.”

  “Wow.” Her eyes widened, and she dropped the pen on the desk. “Ah. Thank you. That was really nice of you.” She peeked in the bag. “My favorite. You should play the lottery. You guessed spot on.”

  “No, I didn’t.” He lowered himself into the chair in front of her desk. “I asked if they knew you. They told me which drink and pastry you liked the best.” Jasper shrugged. “The many joys of living in a small town. Everyone knows your business.”

  “Yes.” She took a sip of the cappuccino. “Caramel mocha with vanilla. Thanks again, but you really didn’t need to do that.” Her smile made it all worthwhile.

  “Yeah, well, I had an ulterior motive.”

  “Really?” Her pretty eyes looked up over the top of the mug.

  “I was wondering if you might be free tomorrow night.” He flashed her a grin.

  “Why?” She focused on her laptop again before glancing back his way. Her brown eyes were a soft hazel, and there were a few freckles on her nose and cheeks.

  “I’d like to take you to dinner.” He smiled, lowered his chin, and glanced up. That move always seemed to work on the ladies, for some reason. The kind of puppy dog look they loved. Her cheeks pinkened, and the freckles drew his eyes. Talk about puppy dog. He was the lovesick one. First, he noticed her fingers. Now, he was checking out her freckles.

  Jackie coughed and dabbed her lips with a napkin. She had the prettiest lips, and they’d look great working their way across his body. And that thick dark red hair. It looked so shiny and smooth. His hands itched to reach out and touch the silky strands.

  “I can’t.” Her voice interrupted his daydream.

  “Other plans?” Jasper flicked at a piece of lint that had worked under his fingernail. “Are you seeing anyone?”

  “No and no.” She took a bite of the pastry.

  Jasper almost groaned when she licked the powdered sugar from her mouth. “So, why not go out?”

  “Because I’ve heard you’re a major player.” Jackie narrowed her eyes. “I don’t do one-night stands.”

  He placed a hand on his heart and raised his eyebrows. “Me? Where did you hear something like that?”

  “From everyone. Like you just said, ‘th
e many joys of living in a small town.’ Your reputation is well known. Is there anyone in this county you haven’t gone out with?” Her eyes were wide and her cheeks an even brighter pink.

  “Yeah, you.” Jasper leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.

  “Well, I’m sorry, but like I said, I have no interest in casual hookups.”

  “And you think that’s all I’m looking for?”

  She lifted one eyebrow. “Isn’t it?”

  “No. I’ve matured.” He winked, and she rolled her eyes. “Everyone has a past, but I see you in my future.”

  Her mouth opened, but she paused before speaking. “You’re quite the charmer, Jasper, but I’m looking for a man who will treat me like my father did my mother. She was his world. They loved each other more than anything. I won’t settle for anything else.”

  “Me too.”

  “Oh, please.” She laughed but not in a condescending way.

  “No. Hear me out. Isn’t everyone looking for a love like that? Come on. Just give me a chance.” He straightened back in his seat. “Maybe I’m the man for you.”

  “I doubt it.” Jackie smiled and picked up her phone. “But thanks again for the snack.”

  “It’s okay.” He was being dismissed, and Jasper rose to his feet. “So, there’s really no way you will go out with me?”

  “Nope. Not ever.” She said it, but did she really mean it?

  “Ouch. That hurt.” He leaned against the doorway.

  “Sorry, but you’re just not my type.”

  And what was her type? Jackie still hadn’t looked up from her phone.

  “I’ll make you a bet.” He wasn’t giving up.

  “What? A bet?” That seemed to get her attention, and she met his gaze. “Why?”

  “Because I don’t give up, and I think we’d be good together.” Jackie still didn’t look convinced. “I bet in one week you’ll go on a date with me.” He would need Madison’s help with that one.

  “No, I won’t.” She smiled.

  “No, you won’t go out, or no, you won’t take the bet?”

  “Both.” Jackie leaned back in her chair and crossed one leg over the other.

  “Well, I guess you’re not the woman I thought you were. I thought you were more adventurous.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Makes me think you don’t want to take the bet because you know you’ll cave.”

  “What? Never.” Jackie put her cell down and crossed her arms in front of her chest. She was wearing a sleeveless green sweater that made her light skin appear golden.

  “Then it’s a bet.” He held out his hand to seal the deal. “If you agree to go on a date with me, you have to go on a second one.”

  She wrinkled up her nose. “Ah, sure. I’m not going to, so what do I win?”

  “Free coffee and pastry from the Java Shop every day for a month.”

  “This is crazy.” Jackie laughed. “I’ll get fat if I eat there every day.”

  “Okay, any day you want for two months.” He smiled. The woman didn’t know who she was up against. “Deal?”

  She finally got to her feet and took his hand. “Deal.”

  Jasper bent at the waist and kissed the top of her hand. “I like a deal that’s sealed with a kiss. Next time, it’ll be on the lips.”

  The look on her face was priceless. It was a mixture of surprise and attraction, but he knew she’d never admit it. Her skin was flushed. She pulled her hand back and stuck it in her pocket.

  “I look forward to our date. Both of them.” He turned to leave but then stopped. “See you later, Angel.”

  ***

  Jackie

  “If I’m an angel, then he’s the devil.” A demon with a breathtaking smile and tons of charisma. Jasper had caught her eye last year at the book signing. A coworker noticed her staring and was quick to share his reputation with the ladies. Jackie couldn’t blame the women that lined up to date him. Date? From what she’d heard, it was usually only one night, yet there was never a bad comment said about the man. There were no scorned ex-girlfriends, that she’d heard about anyway. That didn’t excuse the fact that the guy was obviously involved in illegal activities if he worked for the Caponellis.

  Heck, she worked for a mob boss’s wife. Something Jackie said she never would do. Ever. The woman had bodyguards, for goodness sake. And yet, here she was, an employee of one of their businesses, and loving every minute of her new job.

  “Jackie?” Madison just buzzed her.

  “Yes?”

  “Can you find Jasper? I need him to help me with something, but I’m waiting for a call. I just saw him head toward the storage room.”

  “Sure, I’ll go there right now.” Jackie took one more drink from her coffee cup. It was a thoughtful thing for him to do, but she still wasn’t going to let it persuade her.

  Jackie wore heels today, as she knew they would be working inside. Her heels clicked on the tile as she went in search of Jasper. The lights were on in the large room, but he was nowhere in sight. “Huh.” She called out his name, but the place was empty.

  Madison must have been mistaken because this was the only way out and he was nowhere in sight.

  Chapter 6

  Jasper

  The next day, he was back at the winery. Their secret store room had filled up nicely. Jewelry, furs, and guns. They’d just returned from loading a van with merchandise amounting to over $1 million. This new venture was on a trial basis, but so far, the numbers were good.

  His phone rang. It was Arlo. “Hey.”

  “The garage in forty-five minutes.”

  “Gotcha.” He didn’t need to ask which one. They had just talked about Ricky earlier at their morning meeting. The guy needed cash again. The forty-five-minute agreed upon time was actually thirty, and Arlo picked him up on the way.

  They stopped at the man’s place of employment with the excuse of their SUV making an odd noise. Ricky came out and looked under the hood.

  “I need more cash.” He clutched a wrench in his hand.

  “You could barely make it last time.” Arlo handled the negotiations, and it took everything Jasper had in him not to punch the mechanic in the face.

  “I got things under control. Just need enough to get by until the weekend.” Ricky checked a few things to make it appear he was looking the vehicle over.

  “How much?” Arlo questioned.

  Jasper circled around but remained within ear shot.

  “Ten thousand,” Ricky muttered.

  It was on the tip of his tongue to ask what the cash was for, but it didn’t matter. That was not their business; lending and making money was.

  “You know where to go. It’ll be waiting for you.” Arlo stepped back. Ricky shut the hood and strutted back to the garage, his step lighter than when they’d arrived.

  “You got that, Jasp?” Arlo was in a mood. Ever since he got back from Chicago, the man had been a bitch to work with. Rumor had it, the guy had the hots for Layla, Madison’s half-sister.

  “Yeah.” Jasper was already typing the info in code into the phone. There was a pickup spot for the money, and when Richard Harrison got off work, the money would be waiting for him. “Let’s go. I can’t stand the sight of that guy.” It wasn’t like they dealt with Boy Scouts in their line of work, but some people rubbed him worse than others. The types they dealt with were usually the dregs of society, but he just couldn’t abide men that hit women.

  After finishing, they drove through town. Tourism was starting to pick up, and the lake homes were being opened up for the season.

  “Hey, pull over there.” Jasper pointed.

  “You see something?” Arlo did as he was told.

  “Yeah.” He was out of the car before it was in park. The woman sitting on the park bench had drawn his attention. It was Ricky’s wife. Jasper approached slowly. Her head was down, and her hands were on her lap. “Mrs. Harrison?”

  Her gaze turned up at him. The bruise on her face had darkened. “Yes?”

>   “Do you remember who I am?”

  She nodded.

  “Do you mind if I sit?” Jasper motioned toward the spot next to her.

  She picked up the purse by her side and put it on her lap.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Connie.”

  “I’m Jasper.” He kept his distance on the bench and noticed Arlo watching him from the car.

  “You’re the loan sharks who came to the house.” It was said as a statement and not as a question.

  “I do collections,” he corrected her.

  “You should have come earlier in the day. He didn’t have the money then.” Connie let out a loud sigh.

  “And you know what happens if people don’t pay, right?” Did she really want him dead?

  “Yes.” Connie twisted his way. “I was going to leave him. Been planning for months. He found the money I’d saved up and did this.” She pointed to her face. “The rest of the marks you can’t see.” Her voice shook.

  “Has he hit you before?” The anger toward the woman’s husband was growing by leaps and bounds.

  “I’ve lived with the abuse for some time.” Connie sniffled. “A person never plans on living like this, but sometimes, things happen, and you just can’t escape.”

  “Is there anywhere you can go? Someone you can stay with?”

  “I don’t want temporary. I want out.” She wiped away a tear.

  “He just borrowed more money again.” Jasper exhaled.

  “I know. The guy thinks he’s going to make big money betting on a game tonight. He thinks he can’t lose because he’s selling my car on Monday.”

  “You’re getting a new car?” That seemed surprising.

  “No, he takes everything, and I never get anything but abuse. This time, he’s getting his.” She met his gaze. “I made a fake profile agreeing to buy the car. If he loses the money, that’ll be it. There’s no one coming to pay, and we don’t have any more cash.”

  “I see.” Jasper looked at Arlo again. “Are you going to be okay? We have to make three attempts to make him pay.”

  “He can’t pay. You only need to come once.” She placed a hand on his arm.