Love and War

by Jackie Chanel

  “They were stealing from you,” Caprice replied casually.

  “They’re professional sluts,” Domani snapped. “That’s Paolo’s call to make. He has people to take care of shit like that. You are not one of those people, Caprice.”

  “I want in.”

  “Why?”

  Caprice’s eyes wandered around the restaurant before they finally landed back on her father’s face. His face was expressionless, like someone had just asked him about the weather.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I meant why?” Domani answered. “This isn’t some HBO show. This is real life. A dangerous life. It’s my life and Nico’s life. It doesn’t have to be yours.”

  Caprice shrugged her shoulders. “It’s the family business. I’m tired of being the pretty girl on campus. I’m tired of being coddled like I’m a baby. You brought me here and exposed me to all of this. Now I want in.”

  Caprice spent a lot of time watching her father from the sidelines. When Domani entered a room, he owned it and everyone in the room. It wasn’t his customary steel gray suit or his 6’4” height. It wasn’t his permanent sneer or his mysterious dark eyes that made rich men clear a path for him. Domani Bonatelli was powerful. He possessed the two most important weapons a man could have.

  Money and power.

  Caprice knew that she could finish college and continue to make money. Money was easy to come by, especially since she’d been making money since she was a kid. Money wasn’t what she craved with every inch of her soul. It was power.

  The ability to control every situation. To have people listen when she spoke…to do what she said without question. She wanted people to fear and respect her because they had no other choice…just like they did for her father.

  She could be CEO of her company and make millions but that wasn’t enough for her. She needed her father to bring her into his organization and let her rise through the ranks. She wouldn’t ever be the Don because Nico was next in line. She was happy with that. She’d do anything to prove to her father that she was ready.

  “I have ideas,” Caprice finally spoke. “You know I’m smart. I know things, Dad. We aren’t back in the thirties bootlegging and doing business out of the back of a speakeasy. Those days have been over. It’s time to think outside the box and do things differently. Who cares if I’m a girl? Step out of the stone age, please.”

  Domani was silent as a waitress brought his usual veal piccata and Caprice’s eggplant parmigiana. The girl poured two glasses of dark red wine and hastily left the area.

  “You are not a killer,” Domani’s voice was grave when he spoke to his daughter.

  “Neither were you until you had to be,” Caprice countered. “Face it, the Black Diamond Mafia is not only trying to cut into our percentage, but they are trying to run us out of Queens. Nico is good, but he needs help. I just want to help.”

  Caprice eyed her father with the same intense stare he was giving her. “He’s my brother.”

  “Aries is heavily protected. His people are dirty and grimy, and won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your chest.”

  Caprice smirked. “From what I hear, Aries is a man with a weakness for pretty girls with big asses. He’s weak. I can take him.”

  “Eat your food. Go to class. Graduate from school and get a job. Be done with this. My answer remains the same.”

  Caprice unfolded her arms as the shock of what he said registered on her face. She thought she had given a compelling argument. She wasn’t prepared for him to say no…again.

  “No?”

  Domani nodded. “That’s right. You can play gangster at the shooting range with Nico. You can take your frustrations out on the heavy bag at the gym, but I am not authorizing your involvement in anything that Nico does. Do not challenge me. If I hear anything about you and Nico again, you will be back in Miami so fast, your pretty little head will spin. Got it?”

  Caprice sighed and picked up her fork. She didn’t have to be one of them to understand that . Domani’s word was law. However, she wasn’t defeated. She just needed to come up with a more convincing plan…which she would.

  “Well, can I at least get my own car then?” she asked. “I’ve been driving since I was sixteen. The least you can do is not make me depend on Nico or one of your drivers to take me wherever I need to go.”

  Domani grinned. “We’ll get you one tomorrow. Eat your dinner.”

  Chapter Two

  Domani sat behind the big desk in his lawyer’s office shuffling through a mound of building permits, vendor contracts, and licensing requirements, everything he needed to turn his money into his very first fully legitimate business. In his hands was the paperwork for a business that would be passed down to his kids, their kids, and their kids’ kids. C&N Enterprises, the framework of all Bonatelli businesses, was going legit and building the best Atlantic City hotel and casino that fifty years of mob money could buy.

  He would be the happiest man alive if his son and daughter would jump on board. If they would forget about something as petty as Black Diamond Mafia and their tiny drug operation. Except he knew that his son wasn’t the type of man who let shit go. Not without a fight. Apparently, Caprice was turning into a female version of her brother.

  Or her father.

  He couldn’t decide.

  C&N Enterprises would break ground on the casino in thirty days. It would take another two or three years before the casino was up and running. Despite their complaints, Nico and Caprice were moving to Atlantic City to run it. His plan was to stay behind and deal with everything else. He’d be happy if the situation worked out as smoothly. He could finally do the one thing his father and grandfather weren’t able to do. Get his kids out of the life.

  “So, what do you think? Everything look okay?”

  Peter Poleski, Domani’s trusted and well paid attorney, walked into his office and stood across from his most notorious client.

  “I don’t know what half of this shit means,” Domani replied.

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ve been working for your family for thirty years,” Peter laughed. “Everything is legit. You know as well as I do that money talks.”

  Domani nodded and stared at the pile of papers.

  “Your dad would be proud of you,” the lawyer added. “He dreamed about this day.”

  “Yeah. Too bad my kids aren’t going to feel the same way.”

  “They’ll come around. They are lucky that you’re doing this for them.”

  Domani knew differently. “Speaking of the kids, they’re on their way here. Your office is clean, right?”

  “Just had it swept yesterday?”

  “And the Feds?”

  “They’re off your ass for the time being. Like I said, money talks.”

  As soon as the attorney finished his sentence, the door opened. Paolo led the way into the office followed by a red-faced Caprice. Nico was holding a bloody rag against the left side of his face.

  “I’ll leave you alone.” Peter hurried out of the office.

  “What the hell happened to you?” Domani barked at Nico.

  “What do you think happened?” Caprice shouted.

  “Watch your tone, girl,” Paolo demanded.

  “Don’t talk to me, old man. I’m talking to my father.”

  “Nico, sit,” Domani ordered. “Caprice, shut up. Tell me what happened.”

  “I got blindsided by a couple of Aries’ new recruits. It’s nothin’.”

  Caprice’s head snapped up. She glared at her brother and forgot that her father wanted her to remain silent. “Bullshit! You have a three inch cut on your face. That’s hardly nothing!”

  Nico chuckled. “You should see the other guy. It’s nothin’, sis.”

  While Caprice fumed, Domani leaned his head back and exhaled a deep sigh. “God, I wish you were more like your mother,” he said to his daughter.

  “Well, I’m not,” Caprice replied. “And this little incident should be enough for you to
reconsider your position on my proposal. Aries has to go!”

  Domani’s eyes passed over his son and daughter. His problems were bigger that the two of them. Some federal agents were asking questions around town. There was a great possibility that the IRS was looking into his affairs, and there was a multi-million dollar project in the works. On top of all of that, the Russians were targeting Paolo’s girls for their own profit. He didn’t have time to entertain Nico and Caprice’s vendetta against an insignificant street gang. He was tempted to let them do whatever they wanted just so they’d shut up about it.

  “What’s your plan?” he asked Caprice.

  “It’s simple. I get close to Aries and get him to tell me all his secrets. Then I put a bullet in his head and Nico tosses the body in the East river.”

  “That’s your plan, girl?” Paolo laughed. “We don’t need you for that.”

  “Stop calling me girl. I have a name. Use it.”

  Domani completely ignored Caprice and Paolo. He didn’t have time for their shit either. “Nico, are you okay with your little sister doing this?”

  “It’s a good plan,” Nico admitted. “If she can find out who’s been cutting him a deal, we can take them down too. I’m hearin’ that the new guy is Jamaican, but I don’t know which one. That city is crawlin’ with Jamaicans. Shooting them all isn’t an option.”

  “I think this is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard,” Paolo added his two cents to the conversation.

  “No one asked you,” Caprice mumbled under her breath.

  Domani continued to ignore the petty argument and stared at his son...his only son. When Nico was born, Domani had great plans for him, plans that had not included this. Still, when Gianni Bonatelli insisted that his grandson “earn his keep”, Domani gave Nico a task that he could handle. When the father spoke, the son listened. It had always been that way.

  Ten years later, his son was sitting in front of him, bloody and practically begging for his father’s help.

  What would Gianni have done?

  The answer to that question was simple. Gianni Bonatelli would do whatever needed to be done in order to protect the family and the empire that was theirs. Gianni did not tolerate disrespect from anyone. Domani’s decision was final.

  “Get that cut taken care of,” he said to Nico. “Caprice, start looking for a place in Queens. You can’t live with Nico since you’re going to be Aries’ girl, can you? I’ll authorize your involvement in this, and only this.”

  Caprice began to smile, but her smile was short lived when she noticed the stern frown on her father’s face.

  “You’ll go by Burke, like you’ve been doing,” Domani continued. “And you will meet me and your brother at this office every three days and give us an update. Every three days until Aries is a dead man. Do you understand me?”

  Adrenaline coursed through Caprice’s veins as she nodded. This was her moment. She’d been brought off the bench. She was determined to be the MVP. No one was going to treat her like Daddy’s little girl anymore.

  “I understand.”

  “What about me?” Nico asked. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Just keep your eye on your sister. The minute she’s in trouble, you better be there to get her out of it. When you find out who the mystery man is that is cutting Aries a better deal, bring him to me. Now go. Leave me and Paolo alone.”

  Domani watched his kids leave the office. Nico stayed close to his sister and she welcomed it. Domani knew that Nico would kill for her. She would die for her brother. That kind of loyalty couldn’t be bought. It was bred.

  As soon as the kids left, Paolo stared at Domani. The frown on his face was so severe that the wrinkles on his brow aged him ten years.

  “I gather you have not consulted with Fausto on this.”

  “I no longer consult with my grandfather on family matters,” Domani stated. “With him being in solitary now, it’s too hard to get information through to him. If he wanted to stay up on things, he shouldn’t have knifed that guard.”

  “I’ve worked for your grandfather and your father for many years. I’ve witnessed some reckless behavior, but this tops the cake, son. A female?”

  Domani leaned forward in his chair. Many others would have crumbled at the intimidation that was seeping through his pores. Paolo did not. Never had.

  “Are you more concerned about the fact that Caprice is a woman, old man? Or that my daughter is risking her life for our cause?”

  Domani didn’t wait for Paolo’s response. He already knew what the answer would be. He was sick of Paolo’s unwarranted hatred towards his child. Sure, Paolo had started doing jobs with Gianni in the late thirties, when they both were barely teens. They lived through the Lucky Luciano and Al Capone days. However, Caprice was right. Those days were over. After the knife job she’d pulled on Paolo’s two hookers, Domani knew his girl had the balls to take on Aries and the Black Diamond Mafia.

  He didn’t need Paolo’s approval to do anything. Domani Bonatelli was the Don. Anything he put on the record was law. Paolo did what he was told. He gave the old man liberties that no one else was privileged to have because Paolo had served the Bonatelli family well over the years. He sought the old man’s council on many business matters. But, when it came down to his children, not even his wife could tell Domani what to do.

  Chapter Three

  Caprice sat in front of her floor length mirror, combing the tangles out of her thick hair and singing along to Lil Kim’s La Bella Mafia. She checked her phone for the twentieth time that night. There it was, the text she had been waiting on.

  I’m outside. Hurry up.

  Caprice scrambled to her feet and ran out of her room. She didn’t give a second thought to her appearance. In shorts, an old concert tee, and Walmart flip flops, only a few people were special enough to see Caprice dressed down in her casual clothes.

  Rocco was very special and he liked her that way; clean and stripped of the glamorous mask that she lived behind.

  “Maria’s going to text me when they leave the theater,” Caprice said as she climbed into Rocco’s Escalade. “They probably haven’t even made it across the bridge yet, so we have plenty of time. Let’s go to your place.”

  Rocco eyed Caprice from head to toe. His heart began to pound in his chest. How long could they keep up these secret meetings without someone finding out and squealing to the Boss?

  Rocco leaned slightly towards Caprice and touched a few strands of her still damp hair.

  “What did I tell you about leaving the house with wet hair? You’re gonna get sick.”

  “You took too long to text me and it’s Wednesday. I wash my hair on Wednesday.”

  “Didn’t think girls like you washed your own hair.”

  “Don’t be a jerk,” Caprice frowned. She put her elbows on the center console and kissed Rocco on the cheek. “You’re not the boss of me.”

  Before he backed out of Nico’s driveway, Rocco put his arms around Caprice and pulled her close. She closed her eyes and parted her lips, waiting on him to kiss her. It had been way too long.

  Rocco’s kiss was quick and disappointing. Caprice only allowed it because she knew that better things were coming when they got back to Rocco’s.

  There was one thing she had to do first.

  “Had a meeting with my dad yesterday,” she announced. “You know what happened to Nico, right?”

  “That little scuffle? That was nothin,” Rocco laughed. “You worry too much.”

  “Regardless, my Dad wants Aries and the Black Diamond Mafia out of the picture.”

  “All of them?” Rocco scoffed.

  Caprice nodded her head. “Just Aries. Cut off the head and the body will fall, right?”

  “Nico hasn’t said anything to me. You know the plan, don’t cha?”

  Caprice nodded. “I am the plan.”

  “Fuck!” Rocco shouted. Caprice jumped in her seat. She expected Rocco to be upset, but she had to do her part. Eventually
he would have to understand.

  “It is what it is, babe,” Caprice replied. “Shouldn’t take too long. I just need to find out who his new supplier is, and then find out what he plans to do about us. From what I know about Aries, he wants to be on top and...”

  “And that means taking the Bonatelli family down. Last time I checked, you’re a Bonatelli.”

  “He doesn’t know that. When I meet him, he’ll know me as Caprice Burke. NYU student, part-time model, and way out of his league. I’ll have that boy wrapped around my finger in no time.”

  Rocco pulled the SUV into the Seaview Apartments and parked in the garage. He didn’t say anything to Caprice until they were safely inside his place.

  Caprice started flipping through dozens of take-out menus before deciding on pizza. Rocco never asked her to cook for him. She knew that his previous girlfriends had been typical Italian girls who had the recipes for sauce and pasta seared into their brains. She wanted to cook for Rocco. She even had Maria teach her how to make perfect cannelloni from scratch. She wanted to prove to Rocco that she was more than a pretty face. She wanted to show him that she could take care of him, but he wouldn’t let her. Caprice was certain that he thought she was too prissy to get her hands dirty in the kitchen or too selfish to do for him the same things that Maria did for Nico.

  “I’m assuming from your silence that you aren’t cool with the plan.”

  “Don’t really have a choice, do I? Questioning the Boss is above my pay grade.”

  Caprice handed the pizza menu to Rocco. “Dinner’s on me.”

  “No, it’s not,” Rocco said. “I can pay for dinner. Do you have to chop my balls off every chance you get, or is that part of your charm?

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Whatever.”

  “You’re really pissed off about me working with my brother?”

  Rocco sat next to Caprice on his leather sofa. No matter how hard he tried, he could not wipe the look of contempt from his face.

  “Am I not supposed to be pissed off that you’re deliberately going to be with another man? Am I not supposed to take that as a slap in the face? Especially since that man is the same asshole I’ve been beefin’ with for two years?”