Shattered Prince

I glanced over at Jules. She looked concerned, tugging on her hair.

“Kill him,” I said.

“You sure?”

“Put a bullet in his head and bury him in the desert.”

“What about Alejandro Suarez?”

“Let me deal with the fallout.”

“You’re the boss.”

I nodded to him. “Thanks, Mal. I know this has been a lot.”

“It’s the job.”

“When this is over, you and Cap can go on another honeymoon. How’s that sound?”

“If it’s on your dime, it sounds good.”

I laughed and walked away. Mal turned back to Cezary, and the two of them got talking.

Jules left the room with me. We went into the empty outer office and lingered near the front door. “He’s a father,” she said softly, putting her hand on my chest. “Will you really help him?”

“Yes, I will. Balestra needs to be stopped, and this is our best solution. Besides, I think my organization will be stronger with Cezary and his people on my side. Giving up a little turf for that is a small price to pay.”

“You’re thinking long-term.”

“I have to. I’m the Don now. It’s my job.” I kissed her cheek. “Let’s get you home. You look starving.”

“Yeah? You think so?”

“I know so.” I led her out toward the car and back to home.

Chapter 23

Jules

Carmine got to cooking.

I’d never seen him cook before. He made breakfast once or twice—but this was an entire meal. He diced garlic and poured wine. He put together a simple dish of chicken thighs, shallots, white wine, and Dijon mustard, plus a few “secret ingredients.” I sat back and watched the show as he worked with a single-minded determination.

I kept seeing Cezary tied to that chair. He looked like a hulking bear bound to a tree, and at first, I’d thought he was as wild as a grizzly. But when he admitted to having a daughter, and told Carmine that Balestra had the little girl under his control, it all made sense. That was why Cezary was willing to come after Carmine so hard. That was why the biker didn’t want to cut a deal.

He was a father and he was afraid for his little girl.

A deep, sharp sadness broke through my chest.

So many people were tangled up with the mafia families. So many little boys and girls with no future because of the violence and pain that came with living like an outlaw. There was money and freedom, but also death and suffering. I didn’t want anyone to grow up like I had, and I felt terrible for that poor little Lidia.

The only thing she had going for her was her father’s love. Cezary seemed like he truly wanted to take care of the girl and put her needs and safety before his own.

Carmine plated the meal and put it down in front of me along with a glass of red wine. I took a long sip as he sat across from me. “What are you thinking?”

“Just about fathers and daughters.”

He nodded slightly, not touching his food. I wasn’t hungry, but I took a bite anyway. It was delicious, with a slight spicy aftertaste.

“I had a feeling you’d react to that scene back there. I had no clue Cezary had a daughter.”

“He doesn’t seem like the protective father type, does he?”

“Not at all, but it makes sense.”

“Is Balestra really the kind of man that would stoop to using a toddler to get what he wants?”

Carmine’s face darkened. “Yes, he definitely is. You can ask Cap if you don’t believe me.”

Capri, Mauro Balestra’s daughter. I always forgot she’d grown up with the man. “I don’t think I need to.”

“We used to see bruises on her all the time. At first she tried to pretend like she got them from being clumsy. She’d make jokes about falling over and tripping on things. She’d say any old knock could make big, ugly black and blue marks bloom all over her skin. But we figured out she was a liar pretty fast.”

“What did you do?”

He looked away. “Nothing. We talked to her. Tried to convince her to leave. But she refused. She thought she loved her family, but I don’t think she ever did. Not really. She only wanted a place to belong.” He looked back up and his eyes were heavy with an emotion I hadn’t expected. My throat felt tight and thick. “You don’t have to go home, you know.”

“Who said I was going to?”

“Nobody. But I wanted to tell you anyway. You don’t have to go back, not ever. Not if you don’t want to.”

I stared down at my plate and took a long drink of wine. It was warm in my belly and gave me enough confidence to face this conversation.

“Sooner or later, my father will bring me back.” He went to speak up, but I talked over him. If he interrupted me, I might never have the courage for this. “You need to understand that, Carmine. He might let me finish school. He might even let me go to med school. But one day, he’ll bring me back. I’m the daughter of Alejandro Suarez. My life isn’t my own and it never was.”