Chapter 15
Chapter fifteen
Ihide behind the tinted windows of the Maserati as Dominic speaks to the police. He ordered me back to the car because he felt it would raise suspicion if a known mafia boss was at a murder scene. Then he added that with his FBI connections he would try to get some intel.
Resting my arm on the console, I watch the paramedics wheel Rafael’s covered body over to the back of the ambulance.
There are five cop cars in addition to the ambulance and forensic vans.
The doors to Rafael’s truck are open and the crime scene investigation team has gone over everything with a fine-tooth comb.
I turn my attention back to Dominic. He’s engaged in quite a conversation with the cops. He’s smiling and chuckling.
My heart sinks. The law was always his element. This is where he belongs, not with a mafia queen who breaks every rule that comes her way.
After shaking hands with the police, he walks over to the car and gets in.
“What happened?” I ask as he starts the engine.
“Rafael Longo is dead.” Dominic answers as he puts the car in drive and speeds off.
“No shit.”
“It appears Rafael got ambushed in his truck. There was a struggle and he got shot in the chest. A full autopsy is going to be performed. Apparently the other truckers nearby didn’t hear anything or see anyone going into the truck.”
“You seemed to be really chummy with those cops.”
“Yeah. It turns out I worked with one of the cops’ brothers in the FBI.” Dominic turns out of the yard and onto the street.
“Did they ask you why you were here?”
“I lied and told them that I came here alone. I was working on a case and Rafael was one of the people I needed to speak to. I knocked on the door and found it was open. After going inside I found him dead.”
“They bought it?” I ask.
“Yes. I’m well known in the intelligence agency. I have a decades-long career and an established reputation.” He grips the steering wheel. “Which is why I hate lying. I've built my life on being honest and upholding the law.”
Guilt fills me. I should have never asked him to help me. I’m no good for him.
“You know you shouldn’t have gone into that truck,” Dominic says out of the blue.
“Excuse me?” I turn to look at him.
“It was reckless, Cipi. What if he had been alive and standing there with a gun. He could have shot you, or what if the killer had been inside waiting and shot you. Rafael’s body was still warm which means the killing was recent.”
“I’ve walked into worse and dealt with much worse,” I retort.
“You should have let me go first,” Dominic snaps. “You’re always doing this. Acting reckless and throwing yourself into danger.”
“What?” I’m taken aback by his tone.
“You heard me. I should have just gone to the yard alone.”
Anger flares in me and so does my attitude.
“Who do you think you are to lecture me? Last I checked you haven’t been around in fifteen years.
I’ve been protecting myself for over a decade.
I’m always the one behind the gun or calling the hit.
Don’t try to play the hero now, Dominic Cartieri.
We’re trying to find a killer, but you’re also sitting next to one. ”
Dominic stiffens at my remark. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that last part.”
I fold my arms. I shouldn’t have said that. I shouldn’t have let his words get to me. But Dominic always does a remarkable job of making me lose all my composure at any given moment.
“What does it matter? You’re the one that left.” I bite the inside of my cheek in an attempt to keep my emotions at bay.
“You really think I wanted to leave you?” Dominic turns to look at me as we stop at the red light.
“You left and that’s all that matters.”
“I left because I had to.” The light turns green and he continues driving.
“You didn’t have to do shit,” I protest.
“You don’t understand.” Dominic makes a sharp turn into the coffee shop, then throws the car into park. “We were getting pulled in different directions at the time and had scores to settle.”
“What are you talking about?”
He runs a hand through his hair and takes a deep breath. “You know about what happened to my brother but you don’t know about my cousin.”
I sit up in my seat and look at him.
“My cousin was gunned down in cold blood by people tied to the mob. I was fifteen years old at the time and he was twenty-five. He was a good man and he wasn’t involved in anything shady.
He was in the wrong place at the wrong time and the men must have thought he was someone else.
No one did a damn thing about it. They knew it was the mafia who had done it but they said they didn’t have enough evidence.
That influenced my decision to be on the right side of the law and I promised myself that when I was twenty-three I would apply to the bureau. ”
“Dominic, I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you ever tell me this?” I reach over and touch his arm.
“Because when you told me what your family did, I knew I couldn’t tell you.
I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I had a duty to avenge my cousin.
I don’t believe in taking care of people the way you do.
Honestly, I thought your father would be in charge forever, so I put in my application.
I never thought they would take me, just like I never thought your father would leave his entire empire to you.
I was in denial thinking you wouldn’t take over.
But when you did, I knew it was a sign that I had to do this for my cousin.
To make matters worse, my brother was spiraling and it took its toll on me. ”
“You should have told me. We could have talked about this.” My voice cracks as I pull my hand back.
“We had that huge fight the day after it was announced in my father’s will that I was in charge.
You told me not to do it and I told you I had to.
Then you texted me later and said we couldn’t be together anymore.
You changed your phone number and disappeared from my life.
When I finally was able to track you down, I found out you were working for the FBI, our enemy. ”
“It wasn’t personal, Cipi. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you the truth.
You would have thought I betrayed you when I didn’t.
Besides, I was trying to protect you. You think it was easy watching you from afar?
Hearing your name whispered in bureau briefings?
” He reaches for my hand but I pull back.
“We could have made it work if you had just talked to me instead of making the decision for both of us. I didn’t have to become the boss,” I whisper, my voice cracking as I fight to keep my emotions at bay.
Dominic shakes his head. “It would have never worked. A mafia queen and an FBI agent.” He chuckles slightly.
“We both had shit we had to do. I had to avenge my cousin. You had to go lead your family and show all those male mafia bosses that women can play in their league. I would have held you back and I would have been a target. As much as it hurt me, I had to let you go. But it doesn’t mean I didn’t think about you every day. ”
“Did you avenge your cousin?” I change the subject because I’m afraid I will start crying.
He nods. “It took many years but I was able to find the men who shot him and got them sentenced to life in prison. I never wanted to hurt you, Cipi. I wanted to be with you but your family would never accept me.”
“They accepted you when we were together,” I protest.
“Yes, but back then I was just Dominic Cartieri, a baker’s son. Dominic Cartieri, the FBI agent, would have brought a lot of problems to your doorstep.”
I shift my gaze to the window so he can’t see the tears forming in my eyes. He has no idea how much he hurt me.
“I never betrayed you, Cipi. The whole time I was with the agency, I never went after your family.”
I don’t acknowledge his comment. “I want to go to Madeline’s house.”
“What?”
“You heard me, I want to go to Madeline’s house.”
“You should be resting.”
“It’s still early. I have nothing else planned for the day because I’m supposed to be resting. Besides, I’m a mafia boss and I can do what I want. And what I want is to question her myself. She has a connection to Rafael and I know her grandson is involved in this somehow. I just need proof.”
Dominic doesn’t protest. He shifts the car into reverse and backs out of the space. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”