He tilted his head, giving me a subtle yet powerful stare. “Your father is a proud man himself. He will never admit his faults and trust me, he has plenty of them.”

  The comment seemed odd coming from my father’s best friend. I contemplated the meaning, swirling the liquid in the glass before finally taking a sip. I wasn’t entirely certain the bourbon, albeit smooth and delicious, could soothe the anger continuing to swell. “My father is vile, nasty, and has no understanding of anything or anyone but himself and his needs. You and I both know that.”

  “Which is what has kept him alive all these years.” John Paul eased a cigar from the crystal ashtray, his shaking hand reaching and missing the lighter. I grabbed the polished steel piece, holding my hand over the flame as I attempted to light the tip of the foul-smelling cigar. I loathed the things, even though I’d enjoyed the scent as a boy. Maybe they were simply a reminder of all the meetings I’d been forced to sit through, my father at the helm of some oversized table, pontificating about his organization, detailing exactly how business should go or heads would roll.

  And now, I was contemplating doing the exact same thing.

  I remained quiet after as he coughed before inhaling the smoke, holding it in his mouth. He blew out in small ringlets, obviously pleased with himself given the smile on his face.

  “There are many things you don’t know about your father, but I suspect he might not get the opportunity to tell you,” he continued, the raspy voice laced with sadness.

  “I need to find out who’s responsible.”

  “You already know. Saltori issued the hit, no doubt predicated by authorization from Don Dante.”

  “You really think the Massimos are muscling in?”

  “They’ve wanted your father’s piece for years, especially the real estate and the ports. That would put them in prime position for bringing in various... opportunities.” He smiled. “Did you know they’ve made this very attempt before?”

  I glanced at him, surprised when the adrenaline increased. “I know there have been several hits over the years. He never explained in detail who was responsible.”

  He laughed, tipping back his head to study the sky. “A close call was made just after your mother died. They believed Ricardo was weak. It cost the lives of three of his most valued soldiers, something he never forgave himself for. From there, your father made certain that Don Dante Massimo knew he would exact revenge one day. Bad blood has been between them ever since.”

  “That’s the reason he kept Saltori on in the first place. To keep a watchful eye.”

  “The exact reason. Your father is quite cunning.”

  There was obviously a lot I didn’t know about my father’s organization and the troubles I’d inherited. “One thing is for certain. I need to make a move. Saltori’s in hiding, suppliers bailing. Even some of the land deals are on hold. Hell, the hospital wants a damn DNR.” I raked my hand through my hair, anxiety kicking my ass.

  John Paul took a sip of his cognac, his hard swallow somewhat exaggerated. “Then let me ask you a question and you need to be honest with yourself. Do you honestly think you’re ready to take the reins? To become the Don of Los Angeles?”

  While his tone wasn’t accusatory, I was still offended. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  “I think you are, son. As a matter of fact, you’re much stronger and even more cunning than your father has even been.”

  A deep sigh slipped from my lips.

  He chuckled, taking another puff. “The move you made was very bold and very dangerous.”

  “What move?”

  “Don’t fuck with me, kid. Abducting the princess of the Italian mafia took balls. That solidified the fact that you are more than ready for what’s about to come your way.”

  I was surprised he’d already heard the news. “Who else knows?”

  “It’s quiet right now, but as you can imagine, connecting the dots won’t take long. I’m certain you were followed here today by one of Saltori’s goons. I suspect they’ve been watching you for years, waiting for you to take over given there’s no other choice. Your father isn’t a young man any longer, but they know he’s smart. Organized. A man like Ricardo Cappalini would have a plan in motion in case of a tragedy.”

  A plan. Yes, my father would have everything in order.

  John Paul had a coughing fit, his frail hand pressing over his mouth. When he pulled it away, I could see a splattering of blood.

  “How long do you have?” I heard the sadness in my voice.

  His once vibrant eyes held such sadness as he turned toward me. “Four months, maybe five. Or so the great doctors tell me anyway. I don’t want to leave your father alone and now, with this... tragedy...” His words trailed off.

  “I will avenge this and he’s not exactly alone.”

  “I believe you’re already doing that.” He grabbed a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping his mouth. “But you need to be very careful. You’re playing with fire. Francesca is royalty as far as the world of organized crime goes. Massimo will stop at nothing to get her back. Her father is very important to Don Dante. The wealth and the connections mean more to them than anything. From what I’ve heard, Saltori’s men tore Francesca’s place apart, looking for evidence.”

  “Course they did. Who gives a shit?” I chuckled.

  He shook his head. “They did a number on that girl you left behind. Beat her up pretty badly, certain she was in on the kidnapping.”

  A cold chill shifted down my spine. “Those fuckers.”

  “That’s just the beginning, Michael. You need to think like your father. You upped the ante, but you’re going to have to deal with the aftermath.”

  “I know that.” I fiddled with the glass, uncertainty crowding my mind. “Francesca is a damn pawn in all of this. She doesn’t deserve the crap they handed out to her. She chose to live another life, refusing to buy into their bullshit and violence. I almost feel sorry for her. Hell, maybe I was able to stop a certain atrocity by taking her.”

  There was a moment of utter silence, the only noise the wind swishing through the palm trees.

  “You’re much stronger than you know, Michael, but you do have a weakness, the very one your father had,” John Paul said quietly.

  “What weakness is that?”

  He reached out, grabbing my hand. “A beautiful woman. Your mother was one of the most gorgeous women your father and I ever laid eyes on. She could have been a star.”

  “Yeah, until my father coerced her into marrying him. Besides, I don’t give a shit about Francesca.”

  John Paul’s grip on my hand was tighter than I would have imagined, his stare into my eyes dark and glaring. “Your mother had a love affair with your father for two years before he even asked her out. They were glorious together, happy. That was long before you were born. She understood the darkness, even though she sparred with Ricardo during the last years of her life. They were a great love, something I always tried to achieve but failed miserably at.”

  The conviction in his voice was something I hadn’t heard before. “My mother died because of what my father does.”

  “She died because of the monsters longing to take over your father’s businesses. Don’t weigh one against the other, Michael. The love they had is something I just noticed in your eyes.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh. “There is no way I could fall in love with Francesca.”

  He took several sips of his drink, settling back into the chair. “I believe you already have.”

  “Not a chance. She means nothing to me.” I shouldn’t be stunned by his words or the meaning of them. If I cared for Francesca in any manner, the weakness would be a detriment. I took a deep breath and leaned further forward in my chair. “What am I supposed to do, John Paul? If my father dies, I will need a full understanding of running his operation and I want everything handled like a true business. Being the Don of Los Angeles isn’t what I want out of life.”

  John Paul seemed thoughtful for a full minute before speaking. And when he offered his advice, it further solidified what I needed to do.

  “You are your father’s son. The fight that’s deep within you is something I haven’t seen in a very long time. You will do what’s right, even if it means getting blood on your hands. Yes, son, sometimes that is necessary. Your enemies will come after you very soon and their methods of retaliation are... let’s just say more brutal than you can ever imagine. As far as making the business legitimate, well, if anyone can do it, you can.”

  His smirk fueled my fire. Maybe I was a fool to think I could do something like that.

  “One thing you need to do is forgive your father, if for no other reason than to free those chains wrapped firmly around your neck.”

  “Not a chance.” Chains. They were steel in design and without any locks. They’d been there for years, weighing me down. However, forgiveness wasn’t an option. My father had made his own bed.

  He coughed, holding the handkerchief in front of his mouth.

  “I need to get you to a doctor.”

  Waving his hand, he took several deep swallows. “This is my home and the place I feel most at peace. I’m not going anywhere, Michael. I hope you can understand that.”

  “Yeah, I can. I just wish things were different.”

  “We all have the wonderful ability to choose our lives even through the tragedies.”

  A flash of memories shifted into my mind, so many that were truly wonderful and I refused to accept. “I was born into mine.”

  “True royalty. You have to grasp onto that in order to be successful.”

  Royalty. The word was foreign to me. “I don’t want to start a war.”

  “You may have no choice. That is the life we live, Michael. Keep Francesca Alessandro safe and away from her family, but that will come at a price. You will lose some of your father’s men. Take heed in the decisions you made regarding retaliation. Be mindful, even careful of your choices. The determinations you make during the course of the next few weeks will alter the future for the entire city, perhaps even the entire West Coast. That is the power that your father has wielded for almost forty years. Do not trust anyone, only your gut and keep in mind, there will be an assassin attempting to take my life as well. Do not strike back for that reason alone.”

  I bristled, my entire body shaking. “If anyone attempts to hurt you, they will die.”

  “I appreciate the sentiment, Michael, more than you know, but I can take care of myself.” His expression softened. “I’m an old man and I’ve lived through some very difficult times. I learned far too late the importance of family. I hope you won’t make that same mistake. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life.” There were tears in his eyes, a moment of resignation. “The love I have for you transcends what I ever thought I could feel. You will do the right thing because you are an honorable man.”

  The right thing. I heard the words. I knew what he meant by them. However, there was no honor in what I’d done or what I was about to do.

  Only death.

  Chapter Six

  Michael

  Fucked.

  That’s the way I felt about the entire situation. I left John Paul after finishing the single drink, my instincts already kicking in. He was preparing himself to die, well aware there was a target on his back. The attack on my father and his capos had been just the beginning. There was a plan in motion to tear down the Cappalini organization. I would stake all that I knew on that.

  The fuckers had another think coming.

  The ride back to Dominick’s house was without incident. There were no men following the SUV, no dark cars waiting. I was still off the radar.

  For now.

  Some of what John Paul had told me was jarring, but I’d needed to hear the words. Maybe his encouragement was exactly what would instigate a plan of my own. The people responsible had waited to grab a moment when the organization was the most vulnerable, including my complete apathy. At some point they’d make a mistake, becoming careless and I’d come down with a hammer. My heart was heavy, aching for the man, but I’d have to push that aside. I would set up a meeting for the morning then a visit to all the suppliers and land developers. The mayor would be last. Time to come out of hiding.

  Time to make final decisions.

  Time to initiate the final battle.

  When we were within two miles of the house, I had a sudden cathartic need. “Jax, one more stop before you take me back.”

  “Anywhere you want, boss.”

  “Castlewood Cemetery.” Once again, I noticed the wide-eyed look the two soldiers exchanged. My behavior was unusual. So what? This was all about a new beginning, no matter how treacherous the circumstances. For that I needed closure. What I was about to do was important. As John Paul had mentioned, my decisions would alter the course of the organization. This could go south very quickly. It was only a matter of time before the Feds kicked up the heat, certain they’d have a huge body count. That could happen.

  My father had told me more than once that I didn’t have the stomach to kill as required. Things were about to change.

  The gravel driveway appeared the same as it had the last time I was here, the tree-lined entrance one I would never forget. Jax didn’t seem to need directions as to where to go, a curious realization. He stopped the SUV, lifting his eyes to gaze into the rearview mirror.

  “We’re here.”

  I nodded and climbed out, feeling almost guilty for not having any flowers. I stood only feet from the vehicle, my hands shoved into my pockets. The last time I’d been here I’d just landed my first movie role, sharing with her the excitement of my good fortune. How things changed.

  My feet were heavy as I walked toward her gravestone, noticing the fresh flowers that couldn’t be more than a few days old. Red roses. My mother’s favorite. I guess I’d never been very sentimental, but the only person who would have left them was my father. The surprise was haunting. I hunkered down, wiping dust and dirt from the chiseled lettering highlighting her name. “Hi, Mom. I know it’s been awhile. So many things have happened.”

  She hadn’t deserved the violent end to her life, but did anyone? Sadness swept through me as I talked, my hushed tone devoid of life. I had to explain to her what I was doing and why. A light breeze was blowing, wafting the scent of the roses into my nostrils. All the advice I’d been given during the last few days had been correct. I could no longer hide from the man I truly was.

  Dangerous.

  I fingered her name, believing she’d heard me. “This is something I have to do. I hope you can understand. I promise you that I will avenge your death, one way or the other.” Bile formed in my throat, all the years of blaming my father coming to a head. The Saltoris would suffer for what they’d done to my family. I could almost feel her strength, the willpower and tough resolve she’d wrapped around her because of my father.

  She might not forgive me, but she would understand.

  As I stood slowly, a coldness wrapped around my very soul. There could be no hesitation.

  And there wouldn’t be.

  The quietness of the setting was more unnerving than spending time in the hospital. Whatever was going to occur was only partially by my doing, but my actions would be swift. I walked back toward the SUV, not saying a word. I didn’t need to. When the doors were closed, the engine humming, I closed my eyes, reliving some of the good days.

  At least for now, they would be my last look into the past.

  No one talked for the rest of the drive.

  “Here you are, boss,” Jax said after pulling to a stop in the circular driveway.

  I glanced out the window, studying Dominick’s house. Nothing seemed real any longer.

  “There’s going to be a meeting called tomorrow. I need updates on every job we have going, whether good or bad, the names of the assholes who haven’t paid. More important, I need Saltori’s hiding place found. Tonight. I don’t care what favors you have to call in. I want him.” The command was clear.

  Rizzo sucked in his breath. “Yes, sir. We’ll make it happen.”

  I threw open the door, climbing out and glaring at the afternoon sun. “I’m sure you will.”

  I stormed toward the door, uncertain of how I wanted to handle Francesca. I might be that monster she claimed me to be but she would need to fully comprehend that I was in charge. She would cooperate and tell me everything she knew about her father, the Massimos and the Saltoris. I would take no less.

  Going to the cemetery had allowed me to shed the last of the man I’d turned myself into. There was no guilt or shame in letting that part of me go. It was necessary. Tony was on duty near the front of the house, his expression much like the rest of the man—flat-lined. He’d been trained well.

  “Any issues?”

  He shook his head. “She was as good as gold. No visitors either.”

  “Good.” I patted his shoulder as I walked by, cognizant of just how much time I’d spent visiting my mother’s grave. The sun was already starting to set, the trail of crimson and tangerine hues shimmering through the various windows. I was exhausted but fully prepared to handle what needed to be done. The house seemed far too quiet as I walked in, devoid of anything that seemed like life. There was nothing out of place, no sign of unusual activity, but still, I checked the various rooms.

  I noticed Grinder standing by the door to the great room, his feet firmly planted apart. He nodded to me as I approached, a wary look in his eyes. “Boss.”

  I finally heard noise, what sounded like a television with the volume on low.

  “How has she been?” I kept my voice down nevertheless. Francesca was the kind of woman who would be gathering every scrap of information that she could. As a bargaining chip? Maybe. As ammunition? Definitely. She was a daddy’s girl after all.

  “Full of questions this morning then nothing. She’s kept to herself, hunkered in front of the television. There was some shit about your father on the news.”