Playing Jasper (Genoa Mafia Series Book 4)

by Ginger Ring

  Jackie bit her lip before finishing off her wine. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time, everyone but her. Before, she was hurt and disappointed, but now it had changed to anger. How dare he stand her up with no explanation? Sure, he was supposedly in the emergency room, but what did that mean? Had he been drinking with friends and someone fell off a bar stool? Standing up, she brushed some imaginary crumbs from the skirt of her dress. The phrase “all dressed up and nowhere to go” kept ringing through her brain.

  “Jackie?” Madison rushed up. “I got things under control, if you wanted to go.”

  “What?” Obviously, her boss could tell her head was no longer in the game. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Everyone’s just going to mingle while the workers clean up.” When Jackie hesitated, Madison kept talking. “Look, I feel really bad about the ways things ended up. I wanted this to be a fun night for you.” She shoved a box and a bottle into her hands. “It’s more cake and wine. Go home, relax, and I’ll see you Monday.”

  “Thanks.” Jackie raised the bottle up. “I will.”

  Weaving her way through the crowd that seemed to want to stay and mingle, she finally made it outside. The evening air had cooled, but she was heating up. How dare he lead her on all week, only to drop her like a piece of day-old bread? Jackie unlocked her car and tossed the wine and cake onto the passenger seat.

  If he thought he could get away with leaving her high and dry with no explanation, the guy was in for a surprise. Jackie put the car in gear and headed to Genoa’s only hospital.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jackie

  Dammit, she’d forgotten her flats at Firenza. The aching in her calves just added to her aggravation as she stomped across the granite floor of the hospital. Now that she was here, it didn’t seem like such a wise notion anymore. The man was here for a reason, and she had nothing to do with it, nothing to do with him. There was no good reason to cause a scene in a place like this, even though his no-show hurt like a bitch.

  Wringing her hands, she started to turn around. This was a bad idea, and she needed to leave before anyone saw her. It was probably the talk of the town already that she’d been stood up at the dinner tonight. But what if he had been hurt? He was at a hospital.

  Ugh!

  That man had her upside down and inside out. Still, it was probably best to just leave quietly.

  “Jackie?” Crap. It was Jasper. So much for leaving quietly. “Jackie.”

  “Yeah.” She turned and immediately regretted her anger toward him. There were shadows under his eyes, and even his perfect hair looked off kilter.

  “I can’t believe you’re here.” Before she knew it, he’d pulled her into an embrace. “You have no idea how much it means to me that you’re here.”

  “Really? Why are you here? What happened?” Jasper pulled back, took her hand, and led her to a nearby couch.

  “My grandfather took a bad fall.” He motioned for her to take a seat and sat down beside her.

  “Your grandfather?” That was the last thing she expected to hear. She had to stop thinking the worst of this man when he’d done nothing to warrant it except for being a ladies’ man. In a way, it was how she was able to keep him at arm’s length, when all she really wanted to do was get closer.

  “Yes. When I got the call, I raced over here, and I’ve been waiting ever since.” He ran his fingers through his thick, shiny hair, ruffling it more, and the effect made him sexier yet. “I can’t believe I never got your number. That’s why I had to contact Maddy. It was a jerk thing to do, but I was worried sick.”

  “It’s all right.” It was the first time she could recall him being truly vulnerable, and it made him even more appealing. “Have you heard anything yet?”

  “No, just that he hit his head on the way down and that they’re doing some tests.” Jasper rested his elbows on his knees.

  It was all she could think of to say. “What’s his name?”

  “Frankie. He raised me after my mother died.” His voice broke. “He’s the only blood relative I have left.”

  Oh dear, here he’d been sick to death with worry and she’d thought the worst. Jackie took his hand in hers, and his dark eyes met hers. “Tell me about him. About your family.”

  “You’re a reporter, so I know you have a good idea who the Caponellis are.”

  “I used to be a reporter,” she corrected, “and I’m talking about your family, not theirs.”

  “Once a reporter, always a reporter. That means you’re curious, and you don’t do anything without knowing what you are getting into.”

  They both watched a nurse go into the ER before speaking again.

  “That may be true, but in this case, I really don’t know what I’m doing.” She took a deep breath. “I took the job at the winery for a change of pace, but I’m really not sure what I’m doing with my life, and I haven’t for a long time.”

  “You know you work for a mob boss’s wife, right?” Jasper leaned back and rested his hands in his lap.

  “As much as I try to deny it, I know. I figured the winery was safe, though.”

  “Wait here.” Jasper got up and walked down the hall. He returned a few minutes later with a cup of coffee in each hand. “I know it’s not from the Java Shop, but it’s warm.”

  “Thank you.” The heated drink hit the spot. He’d added creamer and sugar to hers, just the way she liked it.

  “You asked me about my family. Well, this is between you and me. It’s off the record, as they say.” She nodded. Off the record, meaning it stayed between the two of them and no one else.

  “My father grew up in the mob, as did his father,” Jasper nodded toward the ER, “and his father before him.”

  “So it’s in the blood. Heritage so to speak.” This was the last thing she wanted to hear, but Jackie had known in her heart all along that it was true.

  “Yes. Born in blood, die in blood, as the saying goes.” He took a sip of his coffee and set it on the table. “My dad died when I was pretty young. Shot to death in a turf war.” She reached for his hand, but his engulfed hers first. It was calloused and rough but warm and comforting. Just the thought of that hand trailing along her skin and up her thigh had her shifting in her seat. Now was not the time and place to think along those lines.

  “I’m so sorry.” It must have been tough losing a parent so young. She knew firsthand how it felt when one was older, and it had changed her life forever.

  “Me too. I didn’t really know him that well, but I could tell my mother loved him very much, so he must’ve been good to her.” He squeezed her hand. “She said I look a lot like him.”

  “What happened to her?” Jackie’s heart broke asking the question, but the urge to know more about him got the best of her. “You said your grandfather was the only relative left.”

  “I happened to her.” Jasper let go of her hand, stood up, and walked over to a window.

  “What do you mean?” She followed.

  Indecision marred his face, but he finally spoke. “I was a pretty wild kid. My grandfather, of course, kept me in line as much as he could, but my mother spoiled me.”

  “I’m imagining a younger version of you. The puppy dog eyes. I bet you had the ladies fawning over you, even at that age. How could a mother resist spoiling you?”

  He didn’t deny it. “I didn’t always listen to her when I should’ve, and she died because of it.” Jasper placed his palms on the windowsill.

  “What? No.” She placed a hand on his back. His body warm but rigid.

  “Yes. I was ten, out playing out in the street, kicking a ball around.” He shook his head. “She kept yelling at me to come in and that it was too dangerous to be out there. That I could get hit by a car.”

  “What happened?” Jackie asked softly.

  “She came out to get me.” The muscles in his jaw twitched. “I can still see her, fists on her hips. I was being a smartass and refused to move.” Jackie could feel the tension coming of
f him in waves. “Out of nowhere, this truck came barreling down the street. My mom yelled at me to move, but I was frozen. She ran out and pushed me out of the way.”

  “Oh, no.” Her eyes closed. One didn’t need to hear the rest to know how the story ended. “She didn’t make it.”

  “No, and the bastard in the truck never stopped.” He turned and wrapped his arms about her. He needed a hug and he would get one.

  “She sounds like an amazing woman, and she obviously loved you very much.”

  “Yes, she was. No woman can ever replace your mother. I think that’s what I’ve been doing all these years. Looking for a love that’s so unconditional that you’d give your life for each other. So far, I haven’t been so lucky.” Jasper cupped her cheek in his palm. “Maybe you’re the one.” The flirty Jasper was back, or was it just his way of pushing sad emotions down below the surface?

  “Maybe.” For the first time since meeting him, she started to believe it. The man had many layers, and the ones she’d seen were winning her over.

  “Jasper?” A blonde rushed her way with Dominic following behind. “What happened? We heard you were here.” Jasper hugged the woman and did the half shake hands, half man-hug with Dom.

  “Grandfather fell. Just waiting to hear.” He pulled Jackie closer. “Do you know my girlfriend, Jackie?”

  Both Stephanie and Dom’s eyes widened.

  “We’re…I’m not—” she tried to start before he interrupted.

  “Well, she isn’t yet, but I keep trying.” He grinned and winked her way. The gesture caused her belly to heat and her heart to melt. This was bad, but it felt too good to argue.

  “We met last fall at the book signing.” Jackie held out her hand. “I worked for the paper then, but now I work with Madison at the winery.”

  “Oh, yes, I’m sorry we never did have that interview.” Stephanie wrapped her arm around Dominic’s waist.

  “Well, I’m no longer with the paper, but I’d still like to hear more about the story. If you ever want to do lunch, just let me know.”

  “I’d like that.” Stephanie’s head turned to Jasper’s, then back to her. “Any friend of Jasper’s is a friend of ours.”

  “Jasper Lencioni?” a doctor called out.

  “Here.” He grabbed Jackie’s hand, and they rushed over to the man.

  “Mr. Lencioni said you were his grandson.” The man’s nametag said, “Doctor Taylor.”

  “Yes, how’s he doing?” Jasper tightened the grip on her hand.

  “He’s awake. Your grandfather has a mild concussion, and we’re keeping him overnight for observation. He’s asking to see you now.”

  “So he’ll be okay?”

  “In time, yes. He’s had a bad fall and needs to take things easy for a while, but I expect a full recovery.”

  “That’s great.” Jasper smiled, and Jackie could almost feel the tension leaving his body. “I’d love to see him.”

  “Of course. Nurse Schlosser will show you the way.” He nodded toward the woman in scrubs beside him.

  “Great. Thanks.” Jasper turned, and Dom and Stephanie were right behind them.

  “I’m sorry, but he needs his rest, which means only a short visit and only family.” The man was firm on that.

  “Call us later,” Dom said, and Stephanie gave Jasper a kiss on the cheek before stepping back.

  “Yes, let me know also,” Jackie added.

  “Don’t go.” Jasper took both of her hands in his. “Please stay and come say hi. He’d loved that.”

  “But they said only family and that he needs his rest.” It didn’t seem right to intrude.

  “Please.” It was hard to decide on which Jasper was harder to resist, the flirty, confident one, or the vulnerable, caring one. Either way, she was a goner. Jackie nodded, and the smile he gave her clipped even more of her icy resolve away. There was no way he wasn’t going to break her heart, but it was too late to fight it now.

  They followed the nurse down the hall to his grandfather’s room. The head of the bed was raised a little, and he was drinking some water from a straw.

  “Grampa, you scared the shit out of me.” Jasper took the water bottle from his hand and kissed him on the cheek.

  “It’ll take more than a fall to keep me down.” Despite the head injury, the man seemed tough as nails. His grandfather suddenly noticed her presence, raised an eyebrow, and glanced at his grandson. “And who’s this?”

  “Jackie, meet my grandfather, Francis ‘Frankie’ Lencioni. Frankie, this is Jackie.”

  “It’s a pleasure.” She held out her hand and took it in his.

  “The pleasure’s all mine. She’d a looker, Jasp. I always did like redheads.” He winked and let go of her hand.

  “I can see where Jasper gets his charm,” Jackie teased as she sat in the chair next to the bed.

  “You’re both dressed up.” He waved his hands. “Don’t tell me that my being stupid took you away from a date.”

  Her gaze met Jasper’s. “Well, we did have something, but if you’re doing okay by tomorrow, I plan on making it up to her.”

  “You think so, huh?” It was a given he would, but it didn’t hurt to have him sweat a little. “Maybe that was your only chance, and you blew it,” she said.

  “Well, you did make a bet and lost.”

  “What?” Her mouth dropped open.

  “Don’t you remember? You agreed to go on a second date if I got you to go on the first one.”

  “But we didn’t actually go on a date. You bailed.” She smirked and crossed her arms over the chest.

  “It was an emergency.”

  Frankie’s head went back and forth between the two as if he were at a tennis match. Jackie worried with the injury, he’d get nauseous.

  “Please,” Frankie held up a hand, “don’t make me feel any worse than I already am for ruining your evening.” They both reassured him that he hadn’t.

  “So are we on for tomorrow night?” Jasper glanced down at her with those intoxicating eyes. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

  “You better.” Jackie crossed her legs and swung her foot.

  “Believe me. It’ll be a night you’ll never forget.” He dazzled her with those brown puppy dog eyes again. “I promise.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Jasper

  Normally, he’d be all up for a job. Sparring with an opponent kept his skills sharp, kept him on his toes, kept him alive. Today, he just wasn’t feeling it. Jasper could feel the bruise rise around his eye. It hurt like a bitch, and it was the last thing he needed when he had a date tonight. Exhaustion had him sluggish. After seeing Jackie home and stopping at his place for a change of clothes, he returned to sleep in a chair by his grandfather’s hospital bed, just in case he needed anything. Frankie was doing fine, but still, he couldn’t help but worry.

  Arlo woke him early with a call and asked to meet him outside the hospital. Roman had been asked to do a favor for the local MC club, the Tribe of Mayhem, which meant they were the ones to get their hands dirty. A rival gang member had broken into their warehouse and stolen a bunch of guns. They’d located the guy, Ray, and it was now up to Arlo and Jasper to get the guns back.

  Some jobs where supposed to be easy, but those seldom were. A dog ruined their surprise attack at the man’s house. That’s where a fist to the face had almost fractured Jasper’s eye socket. For a skinny fucker, Ray was quick on his feet but not fast enough to get away from the two of them. Now he was tied to a folding chair in the middle of a shed.

  Jasper held his palm to his cheek, hoping the coolness of his hand would help with the swelling. Unfortunately, it was hotter than hell, even in the morning, especially in the closed garage, where they’d brought the man to interrogate and work him over. Jasper hadn’t been here since Dominic had to fight to keep Stephanie, and now, they were getting married. How quickly things had changed.

  Roman was on his way, and with a glance out the door, Jasper could see his boss’s SUV
blowing up dust along the way. Oscar was with him today, and they were being escorted by several of the Tribe crew.

  “How can one place be so damn cold one part of the year and hotter than hell the rest?” Arlo wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. “Kind of like a certain woman I know,” he added under his breath.

  Jasper chuckled as he walked to Roman’s car. Arlo had it bad for Layla. Jasper didn’t really know her that well, but she was Madison’s half sister and the ultimate mafia princess daughter to a rival family in Chicago. It would take a miracle for those two to get together, but stranger things had happened. Such as the fight to the death that Dominic had won to break the marriage contract Stephanie had been bound to with a Russian mafia family. Dating in the mob was not for the faint of heart.

  Roman stepped into the garage and tucked his sunglasses into his suitcoat pocket. It could be 200 degrees out and the guy would still be decked out in an Armani suit and tie. The man was his idol.

  “Has he said anything?” His boss came to stand beside him.

  “We haven’t asked yet. Figured we’d wait and see what you wanted us to do.” Jasper followed Roman and the club members over to Ray.

  The club’s president, Forge, stood in front of Ray. His face was bright red, but it was most likely not from the heat. They’d have handled this themselves, but because it involved the guns bought from the Caponellis, they wanted Roman’s crew to be there also.

  “Where are they?” Forge narrowed his eyes.

  “Where’s what?” Ray struggled in the chair.

  “We have video tape of you breaking into our building and stealing our guns.”

  This time, Ray looked away. His tough attitude was slipping now that reinforcements had arrived.

  “Where are they?” Forge shook the guy.

  “I don’t know shit,” he spat.

  Forge stepped aside, and Roman motioned Jasper to get to work. Walking over to a work table, he surveyed what was available. Putting on some rubber gloves, he picked up a pair of tools. Some preferred shoving needles under people’s fingernails and stuff like that, but he was old-school. If it worked, why change?