Playing Jasper (Genoa Mafia Series Book 4)

by Ginger Ring

  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 crew 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 house
s. 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 minutes, 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?”

  “Yes, sir,” they answered in unison.

  “Get this shit cleaned up, and I want you two back at the winery.” He pointed to Arlo and Jasper. “I’ve got one guy there now, but they’re new. I want only the best by my wife.”

  After helping Dominic clean up the floor, Arlo washed up and dressed quickly. Before long, they were back on the road to town, and Dom was on the way to the crematory.

  The whole thing reeked of bad news. For right now, things were kept on the down low, but soon, the Russians would notice two of their men were missing in Caponelli territory and then what? Clearly, Arlo was worried about Layla. He had a white-knuckle death grip on the steering wheel. “You know everyone’s going to call you ‘the shredder’ now.” Jasper tried to lighten the mood.

  “I don’t give a shit. If anyone harms a hair on Layla or Madison’s head, I will tear them apart, piece by piece.”

  “We all will.” They drove into the winery parking lot, but it was pretty bare. His heart dropped when he noticed Jackie’s car was no longer there. He missed her, but she’d be safer if she wasn’t mixed up with him. Never would he forgive himself if something happened to her because of who and what he was.

  But it wasn’t up to him. He’d left it to her, and she had one more day to decide. He wasn’t waiting any longer.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Jackie

  Her head throbbed. So much so that she’d asked to leave work early. It was just too much to deal with in such a short time. Starting a new job was stressful enough without a larger-than-life handsome man pressuring you to make a lifetime decision in less than a week.

  Jackie glanced at the new watch on her wrist. It was the latest gift. A Brighton silver-plated watch with the infinity design and Swarovski crystals. The latest in the collection arrived with a note saying time was running out.

  It was. She was running out of time to find her parents’ murderers and running out of time with Jasper. He was never supposed to have been a part of this, but now he was front and center.

  The warm water ran down her face. The shower had helped ease the pain in her head but not the one in her heart. If she left without seeing where things went with Jasper, it could be the biggest regret of her life. The more she stewed over it, the more she wanted to be with him, even if it was for just a short time.

  Toweling off, Jackie took a good long look in the mirror. He seemed to see something in her that others didn’t. Somewhere between the watch and the shower, the decision had been made. Jackie just didn’t want to admit it, but she had.

  Dressing quickly in a matching pink bra and pants, a sundress, and all the jewelry he’d given her, Jackie slipped on a pair of high-heeled sandals. As much as she tried to fight it, she wanted to be with Jasper. Wanted to feel love, even if it wouldn’t last. The key he’d given her lay on the table by her bed. Clutching it to her heart, she found her car keys and proceeded out the door.

  Her confidence wavered when Jasper wasn’t there when she arrived. Since he’d given her the key, Jackie used it to let herself in. Her heels clicked on the floor as she roamed around the empty space wringing her hands. Her throat was dry, and she opened the fridge for something to drink. An open bottle of wine seemed like a good choice, and she chugged it straight from the bottle. So much for being ladylike, but it worked. The liquid warmed her, and she took a second drink. Visiting the winery together was a romantic date she’d never forget. It was also where she’d learned he’d killed someone.

&
nbsp; Jackie jumped when the sound of a car door slamming outside brought her back to the present. She risked one more sip, replaced the cork, and put the bottle back where she’d found it. From the window, she saw him turn toward her car but couldn’t see his face. The doorknob wiggled as he put the key in. Wringing her hands, she wondered what his reaction to seeing her in his place would be. They had really not talked all week.

  Jasper entered and shut the door behind him. Spying her across the room, his mouth lifted in a flirty smirk. “I hope this means you’re mine.” He tossed his keys and phone on the counter and started her way.

  Her knees shook as she took a step closer. “I’m really not sure what this means. I just know I couldn’t go any longer without being with you.” With trembling fingers, she unzipped the dress and let it fall to the floor. Jasper stopped. His eyes widened as his gaze drifted slowly from the tips of her toes to her eyes. Her hand fluttered to the necklace around her neck—the one he had given her. It seemed weird, but it felt like he possessed her now. Not because of the gifts but because of the feelings and thought behind them. He wanted forever. She wanted him, even if it was for just one night.

  Jasper took off his jacket and laid it across the back of a chair. He loosened his tie and tossed that aside. Who knew unbuttoning the cuffs of his shirt could be so sexy, but she’d practically melted right on the spot. Was this his way of making her wait as he had been waiting for her? She licked her lips as he removed his shirt, and it joined the jacket. His brown eyes never left hers. Jasper took another step. So near that the scent of his musky aftershave tickled her nose. Jackie reached to put her hand on his hair-roughened chest, but he grabbed it in his. A fierce expression crossed his face before being replaced with one full of love and what could only be called adoration.