Page 7 of Capone (Sinful Warriors MC #6)

Chapter Six

CAPONE

A s I drove, I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. Every chance I got, I would take a quick glance at her before focusing back on the road. I meant what I said when I called her precious cargo. I would never forgive myself if she was hurt because of me.

Being this close to her was intoxicating. She smelled like honey, and it was driving me insane. I wanted to do ungodly things to her. My thoughts had crossed over to nasty, sinful things. I couldn’t help it. There was something about this woman that drew me in.

I used to think Viper was off his rocker when he would say he knew Cara was his from the moment he laid eyes on her.

But now?

Now I understood.

From the moment I locked my eyes with her hazel ones, something shifted inside me. I wanted her something fierce. Never in my life had I felt such an intense connection with a woman just from looking at her.

We hadn’t even exchanged many words between one another, and I was already feeling possessive. This was way out of character for me. I even texted the brothers after she left with Cara and Sara and told them she was off-limits.

That she was mine.

Of course, that sparked some teasing, but I didn’t care, as long as they didn’t try making moves on Giovanna.

I hadn’t had a serious girlfriend since high school.

I never felt feelings strong enough to make things permanent with a woman.

Many tried gaining my attention over the years, but I felt nothing.

Unlike the brothers, I didn’t sleep with the club bunnies. I didn’t get pleasure out of screwing a woman right behind my brother. I didn’t knock the brothers for doing it, but it just wasn't for me.

As we came to a stop at a red light, I took the time to turn to her, fulling taking her in. She was fuckin’ beautiful. Giovanna turned to me, playing with the ends of her hair, nervously biting her plump bottom lip.

“Why do you keep looking at me?” she asked just above a whisper.

“I can’t help it. Your absolutely gorgeous, Sugar. Somebody has to admire all that beauty.”

I looked deep into her eyes, watching as her cheeks turned pink. I knew now wasn’t the time to be charming her. She was going through so much already. After we found her baby girl, all bets were off. I decided to switch the subject to something a little lighter.

“Tell me something about, Gabi.”

A smile spread across her face as she turned to look out her window. “She loves to bake.”

I raised my brows in surprise. That wasn’t something you heard about a three-year-old every day. “And she picked this hobby out on her own?”

Giovanna giggled and shook her head. “No. I’ve been baking since I was twelve. Gabi was always in the kitchen with me. One day, she asked if she could help me make chocolate chip cookies and the rest is history.”

A lone tear fell from her eyes. She quickly swiped it away, shutting her eyes with a deep sigh. I grabbed hold of one of her hands, giving it a light squeeze.

“Do you really think Cara and Sara will find Gabi?” Her eyes were filled with unshed tears.

“I can’t say anything for certain, Giovanna, but I will say if anyone is going to bring your baby girl back to you, it’ll be those two.

I mean, just look at everything they’ve discovered so far, and it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours.

You just got to have a little faith that everything will work out. ”

The light turned green, but I kept hold of her hand as I drove away. Surprisingly, Giovanna didn’t protest. She whispered a thank you as we rode in silence. As I pulled into her hotel parking lot, I noticed she had dozed off. I parked the truck and gently tapped her shoulder.

“Giovanna, we’re here.”

She sat up, rubbing her eyes. “Thanks for the ride, Capone.” She went to grab her doorknob, and I gently grabbed her arm, stopping her.

She turned to me in confusion before I hopped out.

I walked around the truck and opened her door.

Giovanna’s lips stretched into a small smile as she got out of the truck. “Such a gentleman.”

I tucked my lips in, trying to stop the goofy grin that I knew was coming.

“Come on. I’ll walk you to your room.” She went to protest but I guess she could see by the look on my face that it wasn’t up for discussion.

There were creeps everywhere. I wouldn’t dare drop her off anywhere after midnight and not make sure she made it safely inside.

As we rode the elevator up to her floor, I didn’t take my eyes off her. I felt like I needed to permanently have her face etched in my brain for when she wasn’t around.

When we approached her room, I couldn’t help but pull her into my arms. She stiffened for just a second before she relaxed, hugging me back.

Something told me she needed this hug, and the way she squeezed me back told me I was right.

She didn’t try pulling away. She just stayed locked into our embrace, resting her head against my chest.

“Thank you. For everything, Capone,” she croaked out, right as I felt my shirt dampen.

“No need to keep thanking me, Sugar. It’s my pleasure. If you want, I can pick you up on my way to the clubhouse in the morning.”

She was quiet for a moment, then she nodded as she pulled away. “That would be great.”

“Okay. I’ll be here around eight. Go on inside. I won't walk away until I hear you lock and bolt the door.”

She smiled sweetly at me before using her key to open the door. Once I heard the lock and bolt, I walked away. By the time I got into my car, I was deep in my thoughts. I didn’t know what the hell was happening to me. Giovanna didn’t even know she had me effortlessly wrapped around her finger.

The next morning, I stood in my kitchen nursing a cup of coffee as Dice barged into my home without knocking. I gave him a key for emergency purposes only. It seemed that memo went right over his head.

“Dice, how many times do I have to tell you to stop barging in here? I could have had company for all you knew.”

He smirked at me, rolling his eyes as he grabbed a coffee mug for my cabinets. “Oh, please. There’s only one woman you’re interested in. Had you threatening your own brothers with bodily harm if they even thought about going for her.”

I shrugged my shoulders unapologetically. I did do that, and I would do it again. Giovanna didn’t know it, but she was going to be mine. “I did and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Dice snickered, shaking his head. “Another one bites the dust. You guys are dropping like flies.”

“It’s crazy because a relationship wasn’t even on my radar. I swear, I understand fully what Viper meant by knowing Cara was his just from laying his eyes on her.”

Dice’s eyes widened as he choked on his coffee. “Damn, is it that serious? You think she’s yours?”

“I do,” I said with a nod. “This shit is like an outer-body experience, brother. I have never in my life felt like this about a woman. What makes it crazier is I’ve only known her for a day.

” I set my cup in the sink and walked to the living room to put my shoes on.

It was time for me to pick up Giovanna and head to the clubhouse.

Dice followed behind me. “Are you sure you’re okay keeping an eye on my guards while I help Cara with the case? ”

“Yeah, man, it’s no problem at all. I got this. Just focus on finding that little girl.”

I got up and slapped hands with him before grabbing my keys off the table. “Lock up when you leave,” I told him as I walked out the door.

When I pulled into the hotel parking lot, I noticed Giovanna was already outside with Danny. It looked as if they were in some kind of heated exchange. I pulled up right beside them and hopped out my truck. As I came around the truck, Danny was walking my way with a frown.

“I don’t know what you think you’re up to, but Giovanna is only here to find my niece. If you want to get your rocks off, do that with somebody else,” he growled.

“Danny!” Giovanna shrieked.

Completely ignoring him, I stepped around him and walked over to Giovanna. “Good morning, Sugar. You look beautiful. Are you ready to go?”

She smiled shyly and nodded her head. I blocked her view of Danny. Her eyes were trained on the ground and she couldn't stop fidgeting. I could tell she was uncomfortable from how hard he was staring at us. After I helped her into the truck, Danny grabbed my shoulder, stopping me from walking away.

Big mistake.

I grabbed his wrist with a twist, causing him to wince.

Giovanna’s eyes widened and she tried opening her door to get out.

“Stay in the truck, Sugar,” I said gently but firmly.

I turned my attention to Danny. “Keep your hands off me. The only reason I’m not laying your ass out is because of Giovanna. Next time, I won’t be so gracious.”

I shoved him away and got inside my truck. He watched from the sidewalk, rubbing his wrist with a steely glare. The ride to the clubhouse was silent until Giovanna finally broke the silence.

“I’m sorry about Danny.”

“You don’t need to apologize for him. I’m a grown man. I am fully capable of handling anything he tries to dish out.”

“I know, but still. He had no right. There is nothing going on between you and me?—”

“Yet.”

“Huh?” Her pretty face scrunched up with a perplexed expression.

“Nothing is going on between us yet . Once we find Baby Girl, I’m coming for you, Sugar,” I said as I pulled through the gates of the clubhouse.

Giovanna’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. As I parked the truck, I placed a finger under her chin, pushing up to press her lips together. “Don’t want flies getting in.” I got out and went around to open her door. When she got out, she still looked stunned by the revelation.

“Don’t think too hard on it, beautiful. You have enough on your plate right now. I’m a patient man. Right now, we’re going to worry about finding Gabi. Once she’s safely home, we can revisit the rest.”

I grabbed her hand and led her into the clubhouse. Breakfast was coming to an end. The kids were already gone and most of the brothers had left for work. I greeted a few of the brothers before leading Giovanna to the cave.

Once we entered the room, I could tell the girls had already been in this room for some time.

Cara and Sara both had an empty plate on their desk, but Cara’s desk was littered with snack wrappers as well.

Even now she was devouring a honeybun while going over surveillance.

I wasn’t surprised. Every time Cara was pregnant, she had to have an endless supply of honeybuns, or she lost her shit.

“How long have you been in here?” I asked with a raised brow.

“Since six,” Cara mumbled as she took a bite. She frowned at her screen and sighed, rubbing her tired eyes.

“Have you found anything else?” Giovanna questioned as she took a seat next to Sara’s desk.

“Well, we’re quite certain whoever shot Derek took Gabi. Those plates on the car were stolen the day before Derek was murdered,” Sara told her.

“Oh my God.” Giovanna placed a shaky hand over her mouth.

“Did you or Derek have problems with anyone leading up to his murder?”

“No…I mean my father never cared for Derek, but I don’t think he would be capable of kidnapping his own granddaughter.”

I watched as Cara kept switching the angles of the surveillance from the kidnapping. “What are you doing?”

“Trying to see if I can get a glimpse of something that can identify who took Gabrielle. They were smart enough to wear all-black baggy clothes, so I can’t pinpoint if this is a man or a woman.”

“You think a woman could be behind this?” Giovanni asked Cara.

“I don’t know, but I’m not ruling it out either. There are a number of reasons it could be a woman. Your husband was responsible for putting dangerous men behind bars. Anyone could be capable of seeking out revenge.”

“But what does that have to do with, Gabi?”

“It doesn’t. But some people don’t care. And I’m not saying that’s why this happened. It’s just a theory.” Cara froze in her seat as her eyes went wide. “No fuckin’ way!” she shouted.

“What?” Sara asked, standing up, followed by Tech, Giovanna and me.

“Look at this.” On one of the screens the footage began to play.

We watched as the assailant pushed Giovanna into the trunk and walked around the car.

They squatted down to the ground after opening Gabi’s door.

They were no longer in sight at the moment.

I was confused as to what Cara wanted us to see until she zoomed in on the window of the car next to Giovanna’s.

From the reflection of the window, you could see that the person has raised their mask, but you couldn’t see their face because their back was to the window.

However, Gabrielle’s face was visible. Her face lit up into a bright smile as she held a conversation with this person.

She seemed familiar with them. Too familiar.

The assailant unbuckled Gabi, and she launched herself into their arms. After Gabi was settled into their arms, they pulled the mask back down.

Quickly, they made their way to the car.

Gabi didn’t put up a fight and she held on tightly to the person.

Once the car pulled away, Cara stopped the footage.

She turned around and her face matched the shock on all of ours.

“Are you trying to tell me Gabrielle knew her kidnapper?” Giovanna sobbed.

“From the looks of it. That wasn’t just recognition. She was happy to see this person. I know you said your father would never do something like this, but I have to ask, are you sure?” she questioned gently.

“Gabi has never met him.” Giovanna shook her vehemently as she continued to weep into her hands.

Cara sighed and rubbed her temples. She turned to Sara. “Call Mercury. Tell him to bring Danny. He and Derek were thick as thieves. If Derek was having problems with someone, he would know.”

I pulled Giovanna into my arms, and she welcomed the embrace. This case just went from bad to worse. Someone who knew her daughter was not only responsible for her kidnapping but her husband’s murder.

I didn’t know what all would come to light, but I prayed we got to Gabi before any harm could be done to her.