Page 1 of Capone
Prologue
GIOVANNA
“Really, Gabi? You couldn’t wait until I paid?” I ask my beautiful baby girl with a smile. With a mouth full of crackers, Gabrielle shook her head from side to side, causing her curly locks to flop all over her face. I looked around to make sure there were no employees around us. Most of the time when Gabi decides to indulge in a little snack before I’ve paid for groceries, people are understanding. Then there are some who are miserable and want to make a big deal out of it.
Luckily, no one seems to be paying attention to us, so I push the cart forward and finish getting all the items I need to make my baby girl’s favorite meal. When I pick up a pack of ground beef, Gabi’s eyes brighten.
“Ghetti and meatballs?” she asks in her sweet little voice.
“Yes, sweetheart. I’m thinking we could also make some cannoli for dessert.”
Just like I knew she would, Gabi throws her arms in the air, cheering in sheer excitement. Since Gabi was a little baby, I always had her in the kitchen with me while I baked.
Baking was my passion that soon fell on the back burner when I got married and pregnant with my daughter. I don’tregret either though. Meeting Derek and having Gabrielle was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
Just the thought of my husband sends a pang through my chest. Tomorrow marks one year since he was killed. The past year was one of the hardest of my life. I thought I would have Derek forever, but I guess it wasn’t written in the stars for us.
I’ll never forget the call I got from his boss, Mercury, in the middle of the night. Derek had gone out for drinks after work with a few of his buddies. After they went their separate ways to head home, gunshots rang out. His friends found him near his car, unresponsive. By the time the ambulance got there, he was gone, taking a piece of me with him.
What was even worse, his killer was still out there. I thought with Derek working for a secret government agency called STF, they would have his killer behind bars within twenty-four hours. But again, the universe was working against me. There was no evidence to lead them to the killer.
Not. One. Single. Thing.
The case went cold and so did my heart. The only thing that makes me smile is my daughter. She is the light of my day. I honestly don’t know where I would be if she wasn’t here. Believe it or not, this little lady gives me strength.
“I thought that would make your day. Let's get this stuff paid for so we can relax for a little before dinner. We’ve had a long day.”
On cue, Gabi produces a long yawn, stretching her arms. She was due for a nap an hour ago. I know the second she’s in her car seat, she’ll be out like a light.
When we finally make it back to the car, I put Gabi inside with the air conditioner turned on before unloading the groceries into my trunk. Just as I’m finishing up, a car stops directly behind me. I turn around just as someone emerges fromthe black Toyota wearing all-black clothing and a ski mask. I go to grab my pepper spray from my purse, but I’m not fast enough.
Bolts of electricity shoot through my back, rendering me speechless. My body convulses as my limbs weaken. My eyelids grow heavy, and before I know it, the world goes black.
Chapter One
CAPONE
My ringing cell phone stirs me from the deep slumber I was in. My flight got delayed twice, and I didn’t make it back home until three in the morning. Needless to say, I was out like a light the second my head hit the pillow.
With my head buried under my pillow, I blindly searched for my phone. Once I had it in my hand, I slid it under the pillow and to my ear.
“Hello?” I answered.
“Good morning, Mr. Ferrari. Cara wanted me to inform you that today is a suit day. You have meetings lined up until the evening with seven clients.”
I groaned in annoyance, causing Cara’s assistant, Sage, to giggle. I never thought in a million years that Cara, my prez’s wife and Ol’ Lady, would become my boss. But two months ago, she came to Dice, Gunner, and me with a proposal we couldn’t refuse.
“Will you stop fidgeting?” I hissed at Dice as we made our way to Viper’s house.
“I can't help it,” he whined. “I feel like I’m being summoned to my death.”
Gunner snickered, shaking his head at his dramatics. I can't lie and say I’m not a little nervous that Prez requested the three of us to come over as soon as breakfast was over. It wasn’t like we hadn’t stepped foot in his home before, but it was unlike Viper to call us over.
His family home was sacred. It was his place of peace away from the chaos of the club. Whatever it was, I hoped it wasn’t anything bad.
As we approached the porch, the door swung open. Viper stood there with a blank expression, holding the door open. He motioned for us to come inside. Once we made it into the living room, Dice froze like a statue with his eyes wide.
“I knew it! You’re going to kill us, aren’t you?” he cried out when he saw Bear sitting next to Sara. Cara was also seated on the couch with them.
