Crossing Roman (Genoa Mafia Series Book 1) Read online

  “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.

  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 guy
s 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.

  His mother strolled over and sat in the chair nearest him. “I know, and in time, I hope you can forgive him for what he asked you to do.”

  There was a knock at the door and Arlo walked in.

  “It’s time.” His enforcer was dressed also in a tux. He was like a brother and he needed the man he trusted most in the world beside him today. Roman knew that underneath his suit, the man was carrying at least two guns and a few knives. Would there be trouble today? Probably not, but one didn’t get to be old in his line of work without being careful.

  “I’ll be right down.” Roman took a deep breath. Never had he been so nervous before. Facing down a deadly enemy seemed insignificant compared to this.

  “I brought you this.” Arlo produced a glass from behind his back. “Just in case.”

  Roman eagerly took it and tossed the drink down in one gulp. His mother and Arlo both found it funny, but it just pissed him off more. He hadn’t seen Madison in a week and it hurt like hell. It ached to think of her.

  “Let’s get this over with.” He slammed the glass on a nearby table.

  “Roman, you are supposed to enjoy your wedding.” His mother now stood in front of him with her arms across her chest.

  “Weddings are for women. The wedding nights are for men.” He scoffed, wishing the whole fucking thing was over. His foul mood was getting the best of him. And then there were all the people he had to deal with afterwards. Make polite conversation with members of the Rinaldi family when all he wanted to do was punch them in the throat and seek out the woman he loved.

  “Oh, Roman.” His mother put her arms around him. “Try to enjoy the ceremony. Forget everything that has happened and start everything over today. You have a beautiful woman waiting d
own there for you. Don’t leave her waiting too long.”

  “Don’t worry. I will be on my best behavior.” Or at least try to be.

  “Good.” She cupped his jaw in her palm and kissed his cheek. Arlo held his arm out for her and she accepted.

  “We will see you downstairs.”

  He nodded and wandered back to the window. The guests were all in their cloth covered chairs waiting for the ceremony to begin. The Rinaldis had spared no expense. Bruno’s daughter would have a wedding fit for a queen. If it had been up to him, his wedding would have been a private affair back in Genoa at Firenza and Madison would be by his side.

  Swearing loudly, he shoved his arms in to his jacket and headed for the door.

  ***

  Roman and his groomsmen stood at the front of the aisle while all the guests faced them. It felt a little like a lineup at the police station or a firing squad to him. The priest weaved back and forth at the center of the aisle. Perhaps Roman wasn’t the only one who’d had a drink before the show began. The sun gleamed above and white fully clouds floated by.

  The ushers snapped out and rolled the white cloth runner for the wedding party to enter on. A couple of his cousins escorted the grandparents and parents of both families down the aisle and to their seats. His mother beamed as she walked down, trailed by his father. Roman avoided eye contact with the man, and seethed at seeing his face. Rinaldi’s new lady friend was escorted to her seat up front by one of his lieutenants. Her elaborate hat blocked the view of her face. He quickly turned his gaze away, annoyed at the world.

  Music floated in the air, signaling the ceremony had started. A quartet played Pachelbel’s Canon in D. That was one of Madison’s favorite songs. The ache in his heart started anew and a forceful longing welled within him. A pair of geese flew overhead. They mated for life, but would he?

  All eyes turned to the back as the wedding party started to filter out from the house. A flower girl, the daughter of one of Rinaldi’s captains, was greeted with smiles as she wandered down the white runner dropping peach colored flower petals from her basket. Behind her, the first of the bridesmaids started down the aisle, each of them dressed in a strapless peach color floor length gown and long ivory gloves. He didn’t know all of them and really didn’t give a shit who they were. He focused on what they wore to keep his mind on something before he went crazy.