Chapter 2
Jaxon Prince
“There’s scuttlebutt on the street you’re not going to like.”
Donatello’s voice seemed an odd combination of amusement and concern. As my Capo, my closest friend, and the only person who I allowed get away with a hell of a lot of shit, he’d been grating my nerves all morning. “What scuttlebutt are we talking about?”
“Don’t shoot the messenger.” He adjusted his tie before continuing. “About the Italians possibly invading our territory. I know. Don’t say it. Not possible. Right?”
“What? You better be wrong.”
He shifted in the seat. “I don’t think I am. A couple informants heard some shit.”
“Which informants?”
“Ones I trust.” He rubbed his jaw, his eyebrows pinched together.
“Please do not try and tell me we’re talking about the Russo family.”
He cringed as soon as I made the statement. “Maybe?”
“Fuck.” A few years before, the Russo Cosa Nostra family had been another player in a dangerous game created by the Barishnikoff Bratva.
After my father had been murdered, my brother Alexander, now the Don of the family, had been arrested for a false but damning retaliation kill, the murder of the Italian rival’s firstborn son.
The ruse had almost destroyed two powerful crime syndicates.
Once the Prince family had discovered the truth, in that the Russians had been behind the entire scheme and both murders, we’d formed an alliance with the Russos.
It was not a decision I enjoyed, yet one I was required to follow.
We’d provided the Italians with both the truth and protection, in turn they’d handed us control of a significant portion of their businesses.
To date, my brother Sinclair handled a percentage of their operations.
Although, with the Russo patriarch’s death from cancer, the second oldest son had returned to the fold, slowly reacquiring more of his family’s power.
Carmine Russo was unusual in that up until his father’s death, he’d wanted nothing to do with the family’s crime regime. I’d had few dealings with the man but was honestly surprised he would decide to destroy the alliance.
Although stranger things had occurred. With the Russians mostly out of the picture, the Italians had little to fear.
Leaning back in the chair, I swiveled it back and forth.
The Prince family and our entire operation had seen an extended period of down time, peace and quiet in the wild world of New Orleans.
Most family members would like to keep it that way.
I wasn’t certain if I’d mind a little rough and tumble activity, although not with a crime syndicate we’d sworn an alliance with.
That would be bad business all the way around.
Oddly enough, I was considered the cleanup man, while not in the traditional sense, as we had teams of forensics experts still on staff ready and capable of erasing any issue given to them.
I erased the headaches. Backstabbing small time enemies, traitorous rats, whiny corporate rivals, employee issues, and even teaching the new police officers about how damaging we could be to their careers.
All tedious bullshit.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions. Talk further with the informants and I want concrete information. The last thing we can do is to go off halfcocked.”
“I thought you might be concerned.” Donatello lifted his eyebrows.
“Yeah. This will piss off Alexander and Sinclair.” I oversaw keeping the peace, checking on every aspect of our business.
Sometimes done with the stroke of a pen, other times with my fist. I’d just returned from a business trip to Miami in place of my brother, the Don, given his wife’s difficult pregnancy.
“Will do, boss man. What if it’s the truth?”
“Hell, I don’t know.” My exhale was heavy.
“Are you alright?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because you seem moodier than usual.”
“Maybe I’m just bored. Have you ever thought of that?” However, the news would certainly keep me onto my toes.
“Maybe a woman would help.”
Now I laughed with my whole sense of amusement. “A woman is definitely not what I need. Too many complications. Too many issues that I’m not interested in grappling with.”
“When you put it that way, hell, I don’t need to get my willy wet.”
“What are you, seventeen?”
“Very funny. I’m just suggesting you need to take care of things a bit.”
We’d been friends for years, which afforded him certain privileges that no one else had. “Maybe at some point you can tell me what the hell that means.”
Sensing another presence, I tensed.
“I have a favor to ask,” the woman practically purred.
Hearing my sister’s voice, the purposeful Southern drawl she used when trying and usually successfully getting her way, I opened a single eye.
The smile on Emmeline’s face was downright evil. As she came closer, I couldn’t help but notice Donatello was keeping a watchful eye on her every move.
I threw him a cautionary look, which prompted his face to turn red. I’d never allow him to live it down.
For a few seconds, I had that big brother possessiveness ready to attack. Then I remembered my Capo would never touch the mafia princess and not only because she was my sister.
Mostly because Alexander would cut his nuts off if he did. That didn’t stop my baby sister from blowing him a kiss. How much could the poor guy take?
As expected, he shifted in his seat uncomfortably while I rubbed the two-day scruff on my jaw.
“Since you tracked me down in my office, whatever favor you’re about to ask must be huge. Here I thought I’d slipped into town without anyone noticing.”
She sashayed into the room with her usual dramatic flair.
“It’s very tough for you to slip anywhere when you drive your big, fat Harley.”
While Donatello laughed, I rolled my eyes. “Fine. What do you need?”
“I need you to attend a gathering tonight.”
“A gathering?” I repeated.
“Something small. Unfortunately, I can’t go. I have a meeting that clashes with the event and our family needs to be represented.”
My sister had parlayed her love of fashion and baking into a booming business within our organization.
Under her supervision, Indulgence, our hospitality end of the empire was thriving.
Hell, she was on track with several planned expansions to earn more with our legitimate side of the corporation than our less than scrupulous side.
A feat she’d never allow her four brothers to forget.
She was also involved in philanthropic pursuits, including several charities. She’d worked very hard to ensure the Prince legacy of crime and violence was replaced with one of giving to charity and caring about our community.
No one within the family could dare argue that her tactics were working. “What event are we talking about?”
“The NOBT. They are having a small gathering tonight in celebration of their benefactors. We are number one and if I know how they’ll handle the event, we’ll receive accolades for our generosity. It would be a complete snub if not one of the family members attended.”
“Did you ask anyone else before attempting to twist my arm?”
Her grin was far too salacious. Meanwhile, my Capo was sitting on the edge of his seat, paying way too close attention to every move she made. Still. Even after I’d given him the evil eye.
“Come now, Jaxon. I don’t need to twist anyone’s arm. You’re my favorite brother. You know that. Plus, all the women deserve some eye candy.” Emme eased down onto the edge of my desk, batting her long eyelashes. “You are the best-looking Prince brother in the family.”
Donatello coughed into his hand and I resisted giving him the finger. Not in front of my sister. “How long do I need to stay?”
“One hour. Two. Tops. Just long enough to mingle, shake a few hands. Flirt. That kind of thing.” She jumped up, immediately heading for the door. “I’ll send you all the particulars. Address. Time. Dress code.”
She was trying to skedaddle out the door before I could say no or ask too many questions. “Whoa. Hold on. What in the hell is the NOBT?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you? The New Orleans Ballet Theater. So you know. The party is a costume party and there will be a little performance during the event.”
“What? The ballet? I hate the ballet.”
She winked before sliding out the door.
“Emme. Get back here. I also don’t like costume parties!”
My sister was a wolf in a vixen’s clothing. When she was gone, I threw my head back and groaned.
While my Capo, a man I should beat to a pulp was laughing.
“Shut the hell up,” I managed.
“Yes, sir.”
If there was one thing I hated, it was wearing a penguin suit.
When you added the fact that the event was a costume party in homage to the culture of New Orleans, I was ready to rip off the mask and my bowtie already.
The second was attending anything that involved schmoozing.
Small talk was annoying. Third was the point I’d made to my beautiful sister.
I hated the ballet.
But here I was, in my tuxedo, awaiting a short dance presentation that Emmeline had insisted I arrive in time to see. Her statement that it would be in bad form to miss it had been followed by the promise that she’d kick my ass if I did.
You had to love powerful women, including mafia princesses. Whatever man finally caught her eye would need to have balls made of steel.
“Mr. Prince. I’m so glad you could make it.
” The woman’s Russian accent caught me off guard even though Emme had run me through a few people I’d likely meet, including Irina Novikov.
When I turned, she held out her hand. She was elegantly dressed in an emerald dress, and her gray hair was the only indication of her age.
“Emmeline mentioned you were handsome. I must admit, her words didn’t do you justice.
I was hoping she’d send you as her replacement. ”
Why did I have a feeling the switch had been planned?
“Oh, you were?”
“Why, yes. The perfect Prince bachelor and since this is still a fund-raising event, your presence might loosen pocketbooks.”