Page 4 of Capone (Sinful Warriors MC #6)

Chapter Three

CAPONE

“ I t was nice doing business with you, Mr. Carter.” Cara stood as she shook hands with our sixth client of the day.

We all followed suit as he and his client, Mercedes, made their way out.

Mr. Carter had just hired two of our guards for six months while Mercedes went on her very first tour.

She was an up-and-coming singer who always drew large crowds.

With her going on tour, it was bound to get worse.

But we could handle it. I already knew which of my guys I would be sending.

We had sealed the deal with every client so far today. Every last one of them had signed contracts for security for at least three months. Business was booming. The girls were geniuses. To watch them up close and personal was surreal.

I never thought I would build the life I had for myself. Growing up, my life had been planned from the time I took my first breath. There were no questions like what do you want to be when you grow up?

From the time I was eight years old, my father had started to groom me to take my rightful spot as my brother, Enzo’s, underboss, as he took his position as the Don.

That’s right, my father was the head of the Ferrari Mafia.

My father ruled New York. When I was younger, I couldn’t remember a time when I could just be a kid.

There were no playdates, and I was only allowed to have a few friends. I wasn’t able to live a normal childhood. My life was always at risk. And for that, my father always made sure to keep a detail on me, my brothers, and my mother.

The older I got, the more I began to resent my father. I didn’t want any part of that life. Every time I tried to voice that, my father would just say you don’t have a choice. It's you and your brother's birthright to step up once I step down.

For years I went through all kinds of tests to see if I was capable of being a feared and respected boss. It wasn’t until I was fifteen years old that I started planning my escape.

Our family was leaving a restaurant when we were ambushed. My father caught a bullet to the chest, and Enzo… he was shot in the head. I’d never forget my brother’s lifeless eyes as he lay on the concrete bleeding out.

He was only seventeen!

Unlike me, Enzo wasn’t only ready to take over, but he was excited. He always respected the fact that I wanted no part in that life, though. It wasn’t meant for everyone, and I was one of those people. I didn’t want a life of constantly having to look over my shoulder.

The security had managed to get me, my mother, and my younger brother, Matteo, into the SUV.

While we drove away, I watched as the remaining guards scooped my father off the ground before loading him into a truck and driving away. He was rushed to a hospital while the coroner took Enzo’s body to the morgue.

My mother’s screams would forever be engraved in my brain.

She had to watch her eldest son and husband be shot down like dogs.

My little brother, who was only ten at the time, was terrified.

He held onto my hand for the remainder of that day.

As we sat in a closed-off waiting room at the hospital with our distraught mother, I made up my mind that I had to get out.

There was no way I would live like this. In my opinion, bringing children into the world, living this kind of lifestyle, was selfish. My brothers and I didn’t have anything to do with whatever dealings my father had going on, yet people were still attempting to take our lives.

Once the doctor came in and told us my father would live, I knew what he was going to say the moment he got me alone.

Now that Enzo was gone, I would be expected to take his place and become the Don.

I avoided my father as much as possible.

With my father’s recovery, plus planning Enzo’s funeral, it made it easier for me to hide out in my room.

I made it about three weeks. My mother came into my room and told me my father wanted to speak with me. I’ll never forget that conversation.

“You wanted to see me, Dad?” I asked as I walked over to his bed.

He was still recovering. He sat up in bed, propping himself against the headboard.

“I know losing Enzo was hard. You always looked up to him. But now that he is gone, you are no longer the underboss, Luca. You will be the Don.”

Frustrated tears sprang into my eyes. How many times did I have to tell him I didn’t want this!

He shouldn’t even want this. He just buried his son. Enzo hadn’t even been gone an entire month, and here he was jumping right back into business as usual. Sometimes I question whether my father even truly loves us. Sure, he says it from time to time, but his actions say otherwise.

“I don’t want this, Dad,” I told him for the hundredth time.

“You don’t have a choice! It is your birthright! I built this legacy, and it is you and your brothers’ responsibility to take over.”

I stood there, chest heaving and balled fists. I was livid. He wasn’t listening. He just did what he always did. He started talking about expectations and how I would now begin spending more time with him so I could learn how a true boss moved.

Little did he know, I would never sit at the head of his table.

For years, I looked into enlisting in the military.

I knew my father would be furious, but I didn’t care.

A few times, I wondered if he would kill me.

What I was going to do was considered treason in a way.

The only thing that could save me was my mother.

My father knew she loved us more than herself, and after losing Enzo, I didn’t think my father had it in him to put her through that twice.

By the time my eighteenth birthday came around, I had my plan mapped out to perfection. I left a note for my parents explaining where I was going and why. I didn’t give out too many details because I knew my father would get his men to come after me and drag me back.

With the money I had managed to save over the years, I bought a bus ticket and made my way to California. Once I settled into my motel, I began the process to become a Marine.

After I had officially passed every test and exam, I was deployed to Germany. It was hard not having any family to communicate with. I felt alone now more than ever, but I didn’t resent my decision. Although I felt lonely, I was happy.

Before I knew it, two years had coasted by, and I had a life for myself. One day, I looked at the date and realized it was my mother’s birthday. Taking a chance, I called her phone.

To say my mother broke down would be an understatement. She cried and screamed to the point I had to pull the phone from my ear.

“Oh, my baby. Where are you? How have you been? I’ve missed you so much, Luca,” she cried.

“Sorry for leaving the way that I did, Mom. I just couldn’t do it. I never wanted it.”

“I understand, Luca. I’m not angry at you for leaving. Just hurt. I miss you so much. I just want to see your face again. I promise your father will leave you be. I lost one son, and I’ll be damned if I lose another. Now tell me how you’ve been.”

I brought my mother up to speed about everything that I had been doing for the past two years. I even got a chance to speak to Matteo. The only person I didn’t speak to was my father, and surprisingly, I was okay with that.

When Christmas came around, I went to visit my family for the holidays.

I knew I was taking a huge risk by going back, but I wanted to see my mother and Matteo.

I didn’t tell them I was coming, so when I showed up at the gate, waiting to be buzzed in, my mother came running out of the house all the way to the gate.

She bawled like a baby as I held her in my arms.

During the week that I was there, my father barely spoke to me, and when he did, it was always backhanded comments he made sure to say once my mother had left the room.

I didn’t let it get to me, though. I just knew that on any future visits, I would no longer sleep in this house.

I was fine continuing a relationship with my mother and Matteo, but I was not about to kiss my father’s ass.

After eight years, I got out. I had seen so many things, and I was tired, mentally and physically.

One of the guys I was close with told me about the Sinful Warriors and I was intrigued.

His brother, Crow, who is now the Prez of the Tennessee chapter, was a member back then.

After he told me how they were legit and not into anything shady, I decided to see what it was all about.

Once I was discharged from the Marines, I made my way to Kissimmee Florida and the rest is history.

Now, all these years later, I lived a somewhat calm lifestyle and I was happy. The only thing I would change was leaving my mother without a word when I enlisted. I knew I broke her heart and that was never my intention.

I snapped out of my thoughts as Cara groaned once Mr. Carter and Mercedes were out the door. Cara flopped down into her seat with a sigh and an exhausted expression. “We have an hour before our last meeting of the day. Take that time to get lunch or whatever you need to do.”

We all get ready to get up from the table when the intercom in the middle of the table beeps. We all groan in unison, plopping back into our seats. Sara presses the button and Sage’s voice comes through the speaker.

“Mrs. Huxley, there is a man here by the name of Mercury. He said that it’s urgent he speak with you and Mrs. Evans.”

Cara and Sara stared at each other with wide eyes. I knew Mercury was her previous boss. We all met him at Viper and Cara’s wedding. Cara and Sara seemed to have a great deal of respect for him.

“Send him in, Sage.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I wonder what the hell this is about,” Cara said to Sara. Her brows were pinched in a frown.

About two minutes later, the door opened and in walked Mercury.

Behind him was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.

Her hazel eyes connected with mine and I watched her cheeks turn pink from my intense stare.

She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and quickly averted her eyes, focusing on Sara and Cara.

I took the time to admire her curvy body.

She had to be around five foot five. Even though she was dressed down in a simple tracksuit, it did nothing to hide her voluminous body.

Her thighs were nice and thick just like I liked.

I wanted her to turn around so I could get a glimpse of her ass that I just knew would bring me to my knees.

Dice elbowed my side, snapping me out of my fantasies.

I turned to him, wanting to punch that stupid smirk off his face.

He and Gunner were both staring at me with amusement.

Discreetly, I gave them the finger before my eyes went back to the mystery woman as I admired her angelic face.

It should be a sin and a crime for anyone to be so damn gorgeous and sexy.

Behind her, an African American man and women came in. Cara’s frown turned into a heated glare that she aimed at Mercury. He swallowed nervously but held Cara stare.

“I know you fuckin’ lying,” Sara gritted under her breath.

That caught Dice, Gunner, and my attention. Sara only cursed when she was pissed. Needless to say, we sat up in our seats on high alert. I didn’t know these people Mercury brought here but clearly, they weren’t wanted.

“Mercury, I wished you would have called me sooner if you were having problems. I know all kinds of rehabs for addiction so you can get the help you nee?—”

“Cara, what are you talking about? I’m not on drugs. Why would you think something like that?” Mercury asked her. He looked offended at her accusation.

“Well, clearly you must be smoking hot crack to bring these two into my establishment,” Cara growled as she pointed at the man and women who entered after the goddess.

And just like I thought, Mercury had clearly brought Cara’s enemies to her doorstep. I hoped this really was urgent. Cara could flip like a switch.

Mercury stepped forward, his gaze moving back and forth between Sara and Cara. “I wouldn’t be here if this wasn’t an urgent matter.” He paused as Sara and Cara sat up in their seats. “I need your help to find a missing three-year-old little girl.”

I was officially rendered speechless.