Chapter 47
Chapter forty-seven
“You should have let me drive.” Dominic grumbles as he takes a sip of his coffee. “I hate being a passenger princess.”
“You got hit on the head, it’s not a good idea for you to drive until you get checked out.” I reach over and grab his thigh. “Don’t worry, Princess, you’re in good hands.”
He gives me a look that could kill and I laugh.
Focusing on the road, my mind whirls.
I have no idea what I’m going to do when I see Madeline. She’s been a family friend for years. Now she’s a poison muffin lady. One of my hands tighten on the wheel while the other grips the gearshift tighter than necessary.
The morning light cuts across the dashboard, casting streaks of gold on us. A storm brews in my chest and nothing can quell the anger running through my veins.
Images of Gigi and Nonna flash through my head.
I want Elio dead.
Madeline can go too.
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore.” The haunting verse fills my head as I round the bend.
Seriously fuck that raven.
“What’s the plan when we get there?” Dominic’s voice interrupts the cyclone brewing in my mind.
“I would love to tell her how her grandson is trash and he’s a dead man once my men find him, but of course I can’t say that.” I pause. “Maybe I can.”
“Do you really think she’s behind all of this?
” Dominic takes another sip of his coffee.
“What does she have to gain? I can see the other families trying something like this, but she doesn’t have anyone to back her up.
She’s just a regular woman who got rich from being a silent investor in mafia dealings. ”
“Maybe she knows we’re onto Elio?”
“But what would have been the reasoning thirty years ago? Elio wasn’t even born at that time.”
“I don’t know Dominic, but at this point she can take those poisonous muffins and shove them up her ass for the hell it’s caused me and my family.” My fingers clench the wheel.
Dominic reaches over and rubs my thigh. My heart flutters. “It’s going to be okay, Cipi.”
We round the last bend and Madeline Toma’s French inspired estate emerges through the trees.
The mansion looks like it belongs in a magazine.
We stop at the wrought-iron gates with gold leaf designs and ivy curling around the bars.
The guard in a crisp black uniform stands next to the gatehouse.
He holds a phone close to his ear, engaged in conversation.
Nodding, he waves us through, pushing a button to open the gates.
Driving through we head down the long paver-stone path that curves through manicured gardens and flowering hedges. I park next to the white Bentley just like last time. The chrome on the expensive vehicle catches the sunlight and shimmers, almost blinding me as I put the gearshift into park.
“How are you feeling?” I glance sideways at Dominic.
He sighs. “The aspirin is helping but I’ll probably have a splitting headache later.”
I move to open my door.
“Don’t you dare,” Dominic snaps.
“What?” I look at him.
He gets out from the passenger side and walks around to open the driver’s door for me. Taking my hand, he helps me out of the sedan.
“I don’t ever want to see your hand touch a door whenever you’re with me.” He holds my arm tight and stares into my eyes.
“Okay,” I whisper.
Stepping away from Dominic, the first thing that catches my eye is the winged lion fountain.
The French limestone gleams in the light as we walk the wide stone staircase to the front door.
Towering cypress trees stand like sentinels against the house, guarding whatever secrets Madeline is keeping from us.
Dominic presses the doorbell.
My stomach twists in knots as I stare at the double panels of black lacquer framed in polished brass. How can I explain all of this without losing my temper? Madeline is never going to admit if she’s behind this. How can I get her to slip up?
My burner shakes in my pocket.
It’s a message from Enzo.
We can’t find the fish.
Jesus Christ, this fish has a broken knee. How hard can it be to find him?
The door opens and the butler stands before in his formal coat and gloves. His expression is neutral. “Here to see Ms. Toma again?”
“Yes.”
“Well, Ms. Toma is rather busy right now. Maybe you should come back later.”
I take a step forward and look him in the eyes. “I need to see Madeline right now. I’m not taking no for an answer. She can either see me now or I will tear this place down bit by bit until I drag her out to talk to me. You know I have the manpower to do this.”
The butler clears his throat as a look of disgust crosses his face. “Very well. Right this way.”
We follow him through the foyer. Marble floors gleam beneath our feet and crystal chandeliers cast tiny rainbows on the walls.
Moments later we're back in the solarium. Madeline is seated in her high-back beige silk chair with a porcelain teacup poised in her manicured hands. A strange sense of déjà vu comes over me.
“Cipriani Capuano.” She sets her cup on the glass coffee table while giving me an icy glare. “How dare you set foot into my home after what you did.”
“Excuse me?” I fold my arms and return her glare.
“My Elio has a broken knee, thanks to you.” Madeline rises to her feet.
“Well, your Elio shouldn’t have sold my sister for profit,” I snap.
She fingers the pearls around her neck. “Elio would never do that. He is very fond of your sister.”
I take a step closer. “Where is he?”
“I don’t know where he is. He is a grown man.”
“A grown man with a broken knee who can’t go far unless someone is helping him.” I’m so close to Madeline now that her floral perfume is poisoning my nostrils. I cough.
“I think we all need to sit down and have a little chat,” Dominic places a hand on my shoulder.
“Very well.” Madeline walks over and sits down. “Would you like some tea?”
I wave my hand as I sink into the couch across from her with Dominic at my side. “No thank you.” Who knows what kind of poison could be in that.
I’m about to open my mouth when Dominic places his hand over mine.
“The last time we were here, Madeline, we brought to your attention how one of your truck drivers Rafeal had delivered a threatening package made out to Cipriani. Do you remember?”
“Vaguely,” Madeline huffs. “No one cares about a package. I’m not happy my grandson is bruised and battered. This is not the kind of treatment I want to see after our decades long partnership.”
I open my mouth to speak again but Dominic squeezes my hand.
“We’ll get to that. I find it funny how after we came to visit you, that driver wound up dead.” Dominic raises his eyebrows.
“It wasn’t me,” Madeline sniffs. She lifts her teacup again, her hand trembling
“And the crazy thing is that I did some digging. The package that was delivered by your driver contained not only a chess piece but a raven feather. Everyone knows that symbol represents the Marconi family. But they’re dead.
But you know what’s interesting. It turns out that you had ties with the Marconi Family for many years.
And you went to great lengths to make sure your dealings stay buried. ”
My face looks exactly like Madeline’s as this is the first time I’m hearing this. Her fingers freeze around the handle of the cup.
“So let’s look at everything here. You have a connection to a mafia family that’s been deceased for years.
A raven feather is delivered by your driver.
Your grandson owes a huge gambling debt to another mafia family and is responsible for almost killing the sister of the mafia family you’re currently in a partnership with.
” Dominic gives her a sly smile. “This isn’t looking good for you, Madeline. ”
Madeline sets her teacup down, the porcelain clinks softly against the saucer.
Her spine straightens and her hands fold neatly in her lap.
She looks at us. “I had nothing to do with that package or Rafeal’s death.
Yes, I did have dealings with the Marconi Family a long time ago but I stopped everything when I started working with Cipriani’s family.
” She clears her throat. “I started working with the Capuano Family back when Cipriani’s grandfather was in charge. ”
“And you never thought to mention that,” I speak before Dominic can silence me. “Why did you switch?”
She gives me a cold stare. “I don’t belong to any family. I’m a business woman. I go where the money is. I made more money with your family than I did with the Marconi’s. It’s been many decades that I've been working with your family, my loyalty should not be questioned.”
“Fourteen years ago you brought my father muffins, and he died as a result of it. The other day you dropped off muffins again, and my Nonna ended up in the hospital after eating them. That’s not loyalty,” I add.
“What are you trying to say?” she hisses.
“What I’m saying is that we didn’t get a chance to test the muffin my dad ate.
However, we did get a hold of the muffins you gave Nonna.
They are currently being tested but I’m one hundred percent sure they will come back with traces of cyanide in them.
I’m sure the muffins my dad ate contained the same thing. ”
“I would never,” Madeline snaps. “How dare you. Why would I poison your family when you’re the ones making me money.”
“It was either you or someone in your circle is really sloppy.” I glare at her.
Dominic leans back on the couch, his arms crossed. “You don’t strike me as sloppy, Madeline.”
“This is ridiculous,” she snarls. “Anyone in your circle could have injected the poison into my muffins. I’m being used as a scapegoat.”
“Why did you drop muffins off at Nonna’s house?” I ask.
“They were a get well present for you and Bruno. I stopped by your house and you weren’t home.
Nonna was outside watering the flowers so she took the muffins.
I felt bad after all the stuff that’s been happening with your family.
You’re my partner. You’re the ones who make me my money, so obviously, I’m going to be concerned. ”
“I think you should be more concerned about how your grandson is allowing women to get kidnapped and possibly die in exchange for money to pay a gambling debt.” Dominic reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a piece of paper.
“Elio is in a monstrous amount of debt to The Bianchi Family and he’s working for the Neri family to earn money to pay off that debt. ”
A flicker of shock crosses Madeline’s face as she reads the paper, but she reins it in fast. Her expression folding into the composed mask she wears too well. Her gaze slides from Dominic to me. She inhales slowly through her nose.
“Elio is young and reckless,” she responds in a clipped voice. “If what you’re saying is true, I’m disappointed, but I had no part in his decisions. My grandson makes his own enemies and I can see he’s just made a very dangerous one by putting one of your family members at risk.”
“Where is Elio?” I ask again.
“I don’t know.”
I can tell by the look in her eyes she’s lying.
Madeline wrings her hands. “Cipriani, what my grandson did is wrong but your sister is okay. You’ve given him the beating of a lifetime. I will make sure that Elio stays away from your sister forever. Don’t kill him please.”
“If you want to stay on Cipriani’s good side, maybe you can give her some information,” Dominic offers.
She turns to him. “What are you talking about?”
“Whoever is behind all these attacks has a deep attachment to the Marconi family. You worked with them for a long time. You know about the massacre that happened at Aldo Marconi’s daughter’s wedding. Were there any survivors that were direct descendants of the Marconi family?”
Madeline places a hand on her forehead. “Let me think…yes…there were two. One was the great-uncle who survived the attack. The other was an aunt who couldn’t attend the ceremony due to illness.
The great-uncle died two years ago but the aunt is still alive.
She lives just over the state line about an hour away.
Pierre!” she shouts to the butler. “Get me the address for Rosa Marconi.”
“Right away, Ma’am,” he replies.
“Did you know about Francesca Marconi and my father?” I know the question is random but I have to ask.
She pauses for a moment. “When I got into business with your grandfather, your father and Salvatore were teens. I got rather close with all of them after attending all of the family functions and dinners. I did see your father hiding outside with Francesca a few times, but I thought nothing of it. I remember Salvatore mentioning once or twice how Francesca was so beautiful, and it was a shame her and your father could never be together due to the family feud.”
“Here you go Ma’am.” Pierre the butler walks in with a piece of paper in his gloved hand. He gives it to Madeline.
“Thank you,” she passes it to me. “There is the information you need. I hope you know I would never do anything to harm your family. You’ve all been good to me. Now please leave Elio alone.”
I shove the paper into my pocket and stand. “Thank you. After what Elio has done, I think it’s best that the Capuano family sever all ties with you. I will make sure you receive the money you’re owed, but after today our partnership is no more.”
A chill settles over the sun-drenched solarium as Madeline takes in my words. She stands and smoothes the front of her floral silk dress with an elegant sweep of her hands.
“I’ve welcomed you into my home, Cipriani, and I’ve broken bread with your family for decades.
Now you stand before me and speak to me as if I’m the enemy.
” She takes a step forward, her heels click against the marble.
“I will not tolerate being accused of poisonings and murders simply because I dealt with a rival family a long time ago.”
“My decision is final,” I reply.
“Well then, I hope this decision doesn’t end badly for you Cipriani,” Madeline sneers.
“Don’t try to act tough, Madeline. We don’t need your partnership, we never did. You need us more than we’ll ever need you and you know it.”
Rage spreads across Madeline’s face. “You’ll pay for what you did to my grandson, Cipriani Capuano.”
“You will pay dearly if you ever threaten me again.” I take a step to the elderly heiress.
She turns on her heel and walks back to her chair. “Pierre will escort you out. Don’t ever come back here again.”
“Oh, we won’t. Have a great day.” I walk out of the room with Dominic by my side.
Pierre opens the front door for us, then closes it with a loud bang as soon as we cross the threshold.
“It’s amazing how nasty people get when the cash flow dries up,” Dominic muses. “What’s our next steps?”
“My men are still hunting down Elio. In the meantime we need to make plans to go see that aunt…Dominic!” I grab his arm.
Sitting on top of the hood is another one of the chess pieces from my dad’s set.
And this time it’s a knight.