My Mobster Read online

  “Doesn’t appear so, but the car belonged to one of the other business owners that was threatened the same day as Madison by this guy.” Arlo held up the photo that Valentina had sent over with the guy’s stats. No wonder the man had left town and Dom couldn’t find him.

  “I want this guy dead.” Roman hit his fist against the door. “Drive over there. I want to make sure Madison’s okay.”

  The car made a U-turn and headed for Madison’s shop. If anyone touched her, he would skin them alive.

  A crowd had gathered out front and the police were now on the scene. He rolled his eyes when he saw Officer Donovan motioning people back. They drove past the chaos and parked a block away. Cautiously, they approached the burning car. He searched the crowd hoping to spot the guy who did it. So often the person responsible stayed behind to watch the aftermath of their crime, but he was nowhere to be found.

  “Damn,” he said. Dominic needed to find the muscle man before he hurt someone.

  Exhaling, he turned his attention to Bells and Bows and his eyes met Madison’s. The woman drove him crazy. How dare she turn him down after he gave her his ring and his undying love? He didn’t believe for a minute that she’d used him. There was something else going on and when he was done with his enemy, they would talk. Roman never took no for an answer.

  “Roman,” a woman yelled, and ran into his arms. It was Layla.

  “It was awful,” she said. “I just walked by and it blew up.” She was shaking like a leaf.

  “Are you all right?” He disengaged himself from her hold. No blood or burns could be seen.

  She stepped back and glanced down at her clothes. “Yes, but I could feel the heat. It was that close.”

  “Arlo.” He turned to his bodyguard. “Take care of Layla.”

  “Of course.” He ushered her to their car.

  When Roman glanced back at the bridal shop, Madison was gone. He swore and then grimaced as he spied Donovan walking his way.

  “Mr. Caponelli, I’d like you to come down to the station with me.”

  “What for?”

  Another officer now stood by his side.

  “I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

  As if the day couldn’t get any worse.

  “Anything you say.” Roman sighed and followed Ryan to his car. He sent a text to the men and that this late in the day, things were going to have to wait.

  Thankfully, Madison was nowhere in sight. All he needed was for her to see him get into the back seat of a police car. Son of a bitch, could something go right today?

  ***

  Madison

  As hard as she tried, Madison couldn’t get rid of the image of the woman in Roman’s arms. It sure didn’t take him long to find someone else. And the fact that the woman’s appearance was so close to hers didn’t help. Wow, how easily she could be replaced.

  “Steph, I’m going home.” Madison’s stomach jolted, wanting to expel anything in it.

  “What? Are you okay?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “You never leave early.” Her eyes were wide.

  “Well, my mother is back in town. I’ll have her come over.”

  “It’s not that. I’m just worried about you.” Her friend dropped what she was doing and walked to her side. “I may not like Roman, but I know you do. It’s hurts to see you so upset.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be. I wanted a family man, not a man in a mafia family.”

  “We don’t choose the ones we fall in love with.”

  “Since when are you on Roman’s side? I thought you hated him.”

  Her friend shrugged. “I don’t hate him. I was just concerned, and now you can see why. He’s a complicated man and this is a complicated situation.”

  “I guess so. Everything’s a mess right now, and what about the explosion outside? I’m worried about leaving you alone.”

  “Arlo phoned and said they’ll have security stationed outside the rest of the day. No one will get in here that we don’t want to get in.”

  Yes, this was complicated. She’d told Roman off and yet he was still paying for staff to keep an eye on their place. A headache threatened. “I need to go home. I’m not feeling too well.”

  Stephanie hugged her. “Don’t worry, everything will work out. I know it.”

  Madison wiped away the tears before they could fall. “I know.” She avoided looking Steph in the eye as she turned to gather her purse and keys. “I’m going home. See you tomorrow.”

  “Try to relax. See you.”

  As Madison left, some new customers came in. Guilt was already filtering in for abandoning her job.

  She’d barely stepped into her house when the doorbell rang. Madison peeked through the window. It was her mother.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  Connie entered and threw her purse on the nearby couch. “Stephanie called.”

  “Really? What for?”

  “To tell me that you left the store early.” The expression on her face was one of concern.

  “So, I left. What’s wrong with that?”

  “It’s not like you.”

  “How would you know?” she snapped, and her mother frowned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

  “Yes, you did, and I agree. I’ve not been here when you needed me most and that is going to change.” Connie wandered over to the couch and took a seat. “Sit down, Maddy. I want to know what’s wrong and what I can do to help.”

  Madison laughed. “There’s nothing you or anyone can do to help.”

  “There’s always something that can be done. Steph said Roman gave you a ring but you gave it back. I thought you liked the man.”

  “I do, but he’s committed to marrying someone else.” Her lower lip trembled.

  “What?” Her mother jumped to her feet.

  “Yeah, it’s some mafia thing that his father set up. He’s supposed to marry the daughter of some Rinaldi guy to make up for some injustice that was done to the family or something like that.” Madison blew her nose on a tissue.

  “What did you say?” Her mother gripped Madison’s arms like her life depended on it.

  “That he’s supposed to marry some other girl or they’ll kill him. That’s why I broke it off. If he doesn’t marry the daughter of Bruno Rinaldi, he’ll be killed because he went against the family. It’s barbaric.” She waved her hand in the air.

  Her mother’s face went white.

  “I know, I never should have gotten involved with him, but I couldn’t help it. I love him.” She sobbed and collapsed on the couch. Her mother’s arms were now cradled around her and they rocked back and forth together.

  Connie sighed loudly and pulled her daughter away so she could look her in the face.

  “Listen to me and listen good. We don’t always fall for the ones we should, but no one, and I repeat, no one is going to tell my daughter who she can or can’t marry.”

  “No one told me I couldn’t marry him, but when I overheard that he would be murdered if we did get married, I just couldn’t do it. “ Her sobs continued. “I know we haven’t known each other long, but I know in my heart we were meant to be together.”

  “And together you two shall be.” Connie stood up and grabbed her purse.

  “What are you talking about? It’s a done deal.” Madison cried.

  “A long time ago, I fell for your father. A guy I shouldn’t have fallen for, but I loved him with all my heart. I let someone convince me that he wasn’t the one. I am not going to let that happen to you.” Connie marched to the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To set things right.” And with a slam of the door, her mother was gone.

  Madison shook her head, completely heartbroken. She dragged herself off the couch and into the bathroom. A hot bath and a glass of wine was all she could muster.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Roman

  “What a fucking mess,” Roman mumbled as he punched the bag again, hard.

&nb
sp; He’d been tied up for hours at the police station answering stupid questions about where he had been when the car had blown up. Since they didn’t have any leads, they were targeting him, looking at the wrong man. Unfortunately, Roman couldn’t tell them the real guy behind it all because when that bastard went missing, they could tie it back to him. Nothing would stop him from bringing this fucker down. No one messed with his town and his woman. No one!

  He hugged the bag to his chest. In a short time, the small town had grown on him. He wanted to keep it the way it was as much as Madison did. If that meant he had to kill anyone who wanted to destroy it, he would. The thug was trying to buy up all the businesses by threatening people and then he would turn around and sell them to the highest bidders. It was also in his plan to open a strip joint and other cover businesses to move drugs in and out. It would flip the town and run the good people out. This asshole had to go, and tonight, he would.

  Arlo strolled into the gym.

  “Everything is set for tonight and Dom’s already got everything in place.”

  Roman gave the bag one more revenge-filled hit.

  “I’m going to shower and then we’ll go.”

  Leaving his fitness room, Roman grabbed his cell phone. He knew that Madison was at home. The guy assigned to watch her said she’d left the shop early, gone home, and hadn’t left. The only activity had been her mother visiting briefly and hurrying away with tires burning rubber. It wouldn’t surprise Roman if they were arguing.

  His finger hovered over the call button. He was good at what he did, but there was always a chance he wouldn’t come back alive, and he needed to hear her again.

  The call connected.

  “Hello.” Just the sound of her voice caused his pulse to race.

  “Madison.”

  “Yes.” Her reply came out like a cry filled squeak.

  “I wanted…” This was harder than all the bad shit he’d ever done in his whole life. To hear her voice did something to his insides. It made an ugly monster with a sympathetic heart well up from his stomach and claw at his throat.

  “Wanted what?”

  “To make sure you were okay.” There was so much to say and he struggled to find any words.

  “I’m okay.”

  A sob echoed on the line and the monster winced.

  “I’m glad you are all right.”

  Again there was silence.

  “I have to go.” He choked as he remembered the words she spoke to him when she broke things off. “I love you, Madison.”

  “Roman, I…” She sniffled and it was agony to his ears.

  “You know I don’t take no well.”

  “I…”

  “I called because I love you.” The line went dead.

  He knew the break-up was bullshit. She did love him. He would get her back, but first he had to deal with his enemy.

  ***

  The Genoa infiltrator had the nerve to buy an estate only four houses down. It wasn’t as big as Roman’s but it was still huge. Valentina had sent over floor plans along with the name on the deed. It was under a corporation, but the signature was of someone he and the family had been in bed with for years. No more.

  It was dark and he was dressed in all black. Instead of taking the sidewalk along the lake, he had kept to the shadows and had gone around the back. The house would have cameras, but he had taken a page from the enemy’s book and had his hackers delay the footage at the right time so he wouldn’t be seen stepping on the grounds. Luckily, the guy didn’t have dogs either.

  Dominic had done his part and his gift had been delivered earlier. Hopefully, Roman would be there at the right time to see him unwrap it. Gazing at his watch, it was time. He slid through the side fence right where his men had left an opening. He patted the gun under his coat once—a habit.

  There would be few men on site tonight and the guys who’d be coming in the front would take care of them. A light came on in the large four-car garage. The gift had arrived and the guy in the garage was his to kill.

  The camera feeds were paused to cover his entrance. He kept away from the lights and sneaked closer to the garage. Stopping briefly to let his eyes adjust to the bright light, he zeroed in on his target in front of a large wooden hull boat.

  “Fenetti.” Roman stalked toward the guy who’d betrayed his family. “Looks like you are really settling into the area. I didn’t know we were neighbors and here you have a custom boat already.” Roman seethed.

  The man tried to appear calm, but his fingers were shaking. “Just keeping up with the Joneses, as they say, or in this case, the Caponellis. I heard you had a boat on order too. I might have to find a local girl to keep me warm at night, as well.”

  “My boat’s not done yet.”

  “Yes, I wasn’t expecting this so soon, but it came in.” The guy walked around it, obviously trying to keep the vessel between them.

  Roman rested a palm on the hull with the ease of someone who held the winning hand.

  “What are you waiting for? Climb up and take a look,” Roman urged.

  Fenetti pulled at the lapels of his suit jacket and tucked at his shirt collar.

  “Don’t mind if I do.” He snatched the nearby step ladder and set it by the boat. He steadied it with an air of resolve and took a few steps up. Fenetti’s face went white, his breathing labored. Triumph pumped through Roman.

  Fenetti stumbled down the ladder, fear on his face. The vein at his throat pulsated so vividly Roman could see it from where he stood.

  “Something wrong?” Roman shoved aside the ladder offhandedly, never taking his eyes off his enemy. Fenetti was shaking from his shiny slicked back hair all the way to his ugly crocodile boots.

  Dominic never failed to disappoint him. Roman knew what lay on the deck of the boat. The only thing left of the man who’d terrorized Madison—his tattooed hands. The severed limbs lay on the surface of the fresh wood, marring it with oozed blood that had probably dried to brown by now.

  “Looks to me like you have all hands on deck,” Roman joked. He voice rang with a sinister edge.

  “What do you want, Caponelli?” Fenetti hissed like a stray cat backed into a corner.

  “Why did you have to get greedy? We treated you well.”

  “I wanted more and I wasn’t born into royalty like you were,” Fenetti barked.

  “You think I haven’t done my share of the fuckin’ dirty work?”

  At that, Fenetti at least had the decency to turn away. Roman had worked his way up from the bottom. His father taught Roman how to be what he’d become. A complex businessman who wasn’t afraid of doing whatever needed to be done. Evidence of that was lying on the deck of the boat beside him. His father made sure he knew what it was like to work the streets and move up by earning. The only difference was that Roman could now pay for the dirty work to be done. His empire had grown to the point where even this piddly shit didn’t need to be done by him, but Roman never liked to take a backseat. So many empires had crumbled from the emperor hiding behind the castle walls.

  “I didn’t say that,” Fenetti mumbled nervously. “But you’re on my turf now.” The guy rushed over to the door of the house. Roman followed calmly. Fenetti pushed a panic button.

  “There’s no use,” Roman said on a bored sigh. “No one’s going to save you.”

  Fenetti struggled with the doorknob, but it was locked. “My men will be here in a minute and you’ll be dead. Then this whole town will be mine and so will the girl you’ve been banging.” Roman’s nostrils flared as Fenetti rambled on his bullshit. Scared, he retreated to the corner. His eyes searched for help that wasn’t going to come. “Hell, maybe I’ll bang her, then take her out myself.”

  Fenetti crossed the line by threatening Madison, his one true love. Roman’s eyes turned murderous as he lunged. His large, strong hands wrapped around Fenetti’s throat. The man wrestled, but Roman was too strong. He thrashed and sucked in a sharp gasp that fueled Roman’s bloodlust. His feet kicked
out and connected with a metal trash can.

  This was it.

  There was no going back.

  Roman squeezed as Fenetti’s knees gave out and he completely collapsed. Fenetti’s face had turned bright purple, but Roman didn’t care at all. This was Roman, the mobster. Fenetti had threatened his family, his empire, and his woman.

  Roman dragged a slowly dying Fenetti into the cover of darkness, down to the dock, never loosening his hold around his neck. A tiny wave rolled in and the boat beside them clipped the side of the dock. Fenetti’s thrashing slackened as unconsciousness claimed him, but Roman didn’t let go until he felt his body become completely limp and the life left his eyes.

  Dominic was there, waiting. Roman tossed his former friend’s body down in front of him and walked away into the darkness of night.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “You look so handsome.” His mother straightened her double strand of pearls as she stood beside him in front of the mirror. “You remind me of your father on our wedding day.”

  “You look beautiful as always, Mother,” Roman replied as he tugged at his collar. It was a custom made tuxedo, but it felt like he was choking. The ivory vest would match the bride’s gown and the peach corsage of the bridesmaids’ dresses. Neither of which he’d seen or really cared about. His stomach protested with a pit of regret and hopelessness.

  “What’s wrong? You should be happy. It’s your wedding day.” His mother turned to face him.

  “Yes, I should.”

  He wandered over to the window. They were at the Rinaldi mansion. The wedding would take place in the garden below. “I just can’t believe that my father, of all people, would force me to marry someone I don’t love.” He turned around, feeling defeated and angry. “To spend my life in a loveless marriage,” he mumbled with spite.

  “Shh. Let’s not talk about it anymore. Your father did what he had to do.” She waved her hand. “We all do what we have to do for the good of the family.”

  “And I will do what I have to do to for the family, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.” His voice was louder than he intended it to be.