Quiet Wealth by J.L. Drake

“Mariano!” I banged at his door, knocking until my knuckles ached. I had called him six times in the past five hours, and I was about ready to kick the damn door down.

I stepped back, cupped my hands around my mouth, and yelled. “Wake your drunk ass up!”

Nothing…

Just as I went for my keys, Vinni pulled up and hopped out of the car.

“Elio,” he pointed to my car, “follow me.”

“Not now, Vinni.”

“Elio.” He stood rigid, and his shoulders, like his voice, were stiff. “Please.”

I let out a long, frustrated breath and headed for my car, following my cousin up the road and deep into the vineyard. If he wasn’t family, I would have suspected something, but I knew better.

“What’s going on?” I slammed my door and met him between the two cars.

“Here’s what I know. After Sienna came to the house last night, Niccola followed Mariano to a party in the city. He got drunk, slept with a few girls, and started talking about this girl he’s seeing and how he’s itching to…” He glanced at me and decided not to finish the sentence. “Anyway, he’s not home. He’s still there.”

“Then why bring me here? That isn’t out of character for him.” I knew there had to be more for him to want this degree of privacy for a talk.

“Correct, but what is out of character for him is to vet her into our lifestyle.”

I studied him and pursed my lips, making sure I heard him correctly. “What?”

“I believe Mariano may have initiated your girl.”

A wicked shiver tore through me, and I saw red.

“Explain.”

“Dante said she saw the bracelet on the table, the one from the murder at the dockyard, and she said it was hers.”

I stood very still as everything flickered in front of me. I couldn’t get all the chips to lay into place.

“Impossible,” I whispered but knew it could still be true. “She never said a thing.”

“She hasn’t said a lot of things.” His comment brought me back to him.

“Meaning?”

“She’s still here. She didn’t race home after she witnessed it, right?” I nodded and waited for him to continue. “Do you know what this new lead is she’s working on for her article?”

“No.”

“Well, it was something big and interesting enough for her boss to let her do it. Maybe we better find out just what it is. After all, the last one she worked on was a little too close to home.”

“Shit.” I slapped the roof of my car, frustrated that I had been more focused on us than what might have been happening behind closed doors. I ran a hand down my face, wanting to kill Mariano, but I knew his time would come once I knew exactly what was going on. “I need to talk to her.”

“I’ll book you a ticket.”

I dropped my hand. “What?”

“She’s in New York for work.” When he saw my confusion, he went on. “I dropped her off at the airport early this morning, I thought you knew.”

“No,” I hissed. “Yet another thing she had failed to share with me. Wait. When did you find out about the bracelet?”

“Only an hour ago,” he held up his hands, “or I would never have let her leave.”

“I know.” I gritted my teeth and tried to think straight.

“The woman who has caught the eye of the underboss of the biggest syndicate, Elio, is quite a bargaining chip if she should fall into the wrong hands.”

“I know!” I ran my hands through my hair and glared at him. “Why do you think she hasn’t been in my life for the past decade?” I growled and felt as if a rug was suddenly pulled out from under me.

We both knew what it meant to the vultures that circled our lives. If one of us actually fell in love with someone, that person would become a target because they would be our greatest weakness.

Why couldn’t she have stayed away? Lived a life free of this?

I wanted to kill someone with my bare hands. I jerked open my door and slid inside. “You and Niccola are coming with me. If what you say is true, someone could be heading her way now.” I slammed the door and peeled out of the hidden cover of the trees.

As I packed my bag, I got word the plane was ready to go whenever I was.

“Mama.” I raced inside the sitting room where she and my father were enjoying an afternoon drink.

“You look nice,” Mama began but stopped when she caught wind of my mood. “What’s wrong?”

“I have to go get Sienna.” I knew I sounded angry, but it wasn’t so much at Sienna as it was the entire situation.

“What happened?” My father slipped into business mode.

“I’ll explain later, but if anyone is looking for me, Vinni, or Niccola, tell them we’re out on the boat for the weekend. No one is to know we left Italy.”

“Elio.” Mama stood, and I could tell she was unhappy with my explanation.

“And,” I held up my hand, “when Mariano decides to return home, I want him tailed. I need to know who he talks to.”

“Son?” My father stood beside my mama, and I knew he needed to know something more.

“The bracelet, it was hers. She must have been the one who witnessed the murder. I think Mariano may have set her up to see the killing.” I cleared my throat as my father made the connection to the dockyard murder. “I’m heading to New York. She apparently flew there today for work.”

“Oh, no.” Mama covered her mouth and looked up at my father, who had grown pale. He placed his hand on Mama’s shoulder to quiet her.

“We will want to know everything when you both return.”

“Of course. When I know something, you will too.”

“You can save me a trip.”

“Pardon?” I tried to catch up.

“I was supposed to go to New York next week to complete the deal with Jacob Raine. He’s offering us the use of his docks, and we really need those new entry points.” I cringed. I hated that snake. “He’s better with you, anyway, so you will meet up with him, preferably tonight. I’ll arrange it.”

“And what about Sienna?” I was shocked he even suggested it.

“Vinni can locate her while you close the deal with Raine. Then you can talk to her. No one can know who she really is to you yet.” He held up a hand when I began to speak. “We really need this deal and those docks.” He closed his eyes for a moment and let out a long breath. “But, son, find her.”

“Papa,” I began to protest but hesitated when I looked at his closed face. I knew it was a huge deal, and we needed it in order to get more of our ships moving out of a second dockyard. Plus, he was offering us more protection, not that it wouldn’t come with a price. “Fine,” I cursed under my breath. “Text me the details.” I left, feeling more wound up than I did before.

The flight was far too long for my agitated mind, but I somehow managed a few moments of shuteye on the way. New York City never changed. It was just how I left it six months ago, busy, loud, and full of life. Not at all like my small slice of heaven on our hill in Italy. It was a place I loved to visit when I was younger, and it still provided a getaway when life became too heavy. Now, it annoyed me, especially today.

I stepped out of the protection of the Cadillac Escalade. Careful not to get my Bontoni shoes wet from the random puddles on the street, I shifted back into the bubble our bodyguards formed around my cousins and me. Normally, I wouldn’t arrive with such an obvious entourage, but I wasn’t sure exactly what Jacob Raine had in store. He wasn’t a man to be trusted.

I unlocked my phone to check the message I had received from my father.

Papa: 37 West 26^th Street – 7 p.m. EST

Elio: I’ll be there.

I rolled my wrist to read the time. It was 6:55 p.m.

My father and I often held business at The Flatiron Room, and we knew the owner well. He was good at making sure we weren’t interrupted, and for that, we kept a running tab.

The place had an old-time feel but still carried a classic, modern vibe. It was often busy, but when we were in town, Maxon always made sure our table was free.

“Vinni.” I waited for an update.

“Still digging.” He held the phone away from his mouth as he spoke. “Her boss says her best friend has a lot of friends who work the nightlife here, and chances are they are out tonight.”

I flexed my neck, trying to relieve the idea of her being out in a sea of people. Let alone who she was with.

“Keep me in the know.”

“Will do, boss.” He stepped through the door behind one of the bodyguards, and I followed.

The inside was long and narrow, with dim red lighting, a fully stocked whiskey bar to one side, and a stage that wrapped around the very back. Deep red curtains framed the stage like a Broadway production. A projector had the FR company logo as part of the backdrop in gold, and a jazz group played softly over the chatter. It was one of the many reasons I loved this place. The music wasn’t over the top, just enough to keep private conversations private.

“Good evening, Elio.” Maxon greeted me with a handshake. “It’s been a while, old friend. How’s your father?”

“It has.” I peered around the busy tables. “He’s well, thanks.”

“Happy to hear it.” He signaled for a waitress. “Once I got the call you were heading our way, I reserved your usual table in the back. Your guests have already arrived.”

“How many of them?” I needed to know we outnumbered them. After all, we were on his territory, not mine.

“Three at the table,” he said quietly, “and another four outside. I have one of my staff cleaning the back, so he will be keeping an eye out.”

Not great odds, but I kept my voice level. “As always, Maxon, your loyalty is sincerely appreciated.”

“You and your father have always shown me and my staff the upmost respect over the years. I welcome any Capri who walks through our door. I wish I could say the same for your guests.”

“Have they been a problem?”

He motioned for me to follow him. “Let’s just say they aren’t as refined as the Capris.”

“Is that so?” That would have to be dealt with. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Greatly appreciated, as always.”

I had always liked Maxon, and our respect for his restaurant, staff, and customers was a testimony to that.

I glanced at Vinni, who was still on the phone.

“Mr. Raine,” Maxon pulled back the curtain and hooked it around a cast iron rod, “Mr. Capri has arrived.”

“Elio.” Jacob made no attempt to stand or to shake hands as he pointed to a seat across the table. “Punctual, as always.”

“I am.” I watched as the waitress hurried away with a nervous look to fetch our drinks from the top tier cabinet.

“Cute, isn’t she?” He smirked as he shook his head. “Although she’s not really my type.”

“Mm.” I chose not to pull at that thread. Jacob had a reputation with women. “So.” I unbuttoned my jacket and took a seat in the red leather chair, thanking the waitress when she set down a wedge glass and the bottle of whiskey they kept here for me.

“Glenfiddich Grand twenty-three.” Jacob eyed the bottle. “That’s a good one.”

“I like it.” I poured him a glass and did the same for myself. “Shall we start this meeting, or would you like to discuss our dinner plans?”

“Damn, son.” He held up the glass and admired the amber color. “No foreplay? Yikes, that just chafes the head.” He reached down and shifted himself crudely.

I licked the inside of my mouth, trying to calm my nerves. It was yet another reason I didn’t choose to do business with Jacob and his men. They were vulgar businessmen who had zero concept of professionalism. They were wanna-be gangsters, waving guns and driving ridiculous, souped-up cars, who just so happened to own the one port we really needed access to in order to increase our business.

“It’s my understanding that my father and yours have already come to a tentative agreement on this. There didn’t seem to be any issues with the terms and conditions that were drawn up, so I assume we are just here to cross the Ts and dot the Is?” I smiled tightly at him as he spoke.

“That’s right.” I kept my expression neutral.

He flicked a finger at the man behind him who slid a leather-bound folder on the table. “And since our fathers took care of the hard stuff…” He opened the folder and wiggled the pen between his fingers as he thought, then he scribbled his name on the line above where I was to sign. He pushed the papers over to me then sent the pen on a slide to join it. “Are you always so intense? I hope you’ll loosen up a bit so we can have a little fun here.”

I looked him right in the eye as I took my own pen from my pocket and removed the cap, never breaking my gaze.

“Ten years, forty-sixty split, with benefits when you ship to our port. Strictly oil, nothing else moves through our channels.” I kept my voice even but firm. “Anything that looks out of order is immediately brought to my attention and will be dealt with on my terms.” I raised my glass as a toast. “That, Jacob, is my idea of fun.”

“Excuse me.” A bartender held up a bottle. “This was sent for you, Mr. Capri.”

I glanced at Jacob. He shook his head at me and made a show of looking down at the document he now waited for me to sign. I ignored him and took the bottle from the bartender to read the label.

Syndicate 58/6, not a bad whiskey for sure, although something niggled that the title was meant to mean more.

“Charming,” I snickered, handing it back. “And who, exactly, gifted this little treat?” The bartender simply smiled and lifted a shoulder.