Love and War 2 (9 page)

Caprice continued to stare ahead. “I’m fine, but I don’t think I want to continue this meal.”

“You gotta understand,” Diesel tried to explain his mother’s behavior. “She’s been sick and she hasn’t seen me in a relationship in years. You’re not like anyone she’s ever met.”

“I understand perfectly fine,” Caprice snapped. “I’m not going to cry or try to get her to like me though. I only have one mother, and we get along just fine.”

She turned around and ignored the disappointed expression on Diesel’s face.

“Look, I don’t know what I said or did to set her off, and honestly, right now, I don’t care. My mother is only going to be here for a couple of days and I don’t plan on spending the little time I have with her complaining about your mom. Please go back in there and enjoy your dinner with your family. Tell my mother, I’m at the valet stand.”

“I don’t like that plan.”

“It’s the only plan I have,” Caprice shrugged. “I’m not going back to that interrogation. I promise you that.”

Diesel smiled and held Caprice against his chest. “You want to leave me here?”

“Don’t try it,” Caprice giggled. “I’m not falling for those puppy dog eyes tonight.”

Diesel drew her earlobe into his mouth and nibbled until she began to wiggle in his arms.

“You better not be mad and not telling me.”

“I’m pissed,” Caprice admitted. “But I’m not mad at you.”

Diesel released Caprice from his arms and kissed her forehead. “See you back at the house?”

“Of course. Have fun.”

Caprice started to walk towards the valet. Diesel called her name and she stopped.

“What?” she called back.

“I love you.”

A wide grin spread across Caprice’s face. “I know.”

Carrying two cups of Starbucks, Caprice used her foot to hold the door that had Gina Abruzzo, Attorney at Law, etched on the glass. Finding the small office in the Bronx had taken forever. Caprice could have called first, but she wanted to surprise her new friend.

“Caprice!” Gina called from behind a big desk in an even larger office with no doors. A couple of paralegals sat at desks in the crowded outer room.

“What are you doing here?” Thought you were causing trouble on the Boardwalk?”

“Now I’m causing trouble in the city,” Caprice replied. “I need your help with a couple of things.”

Gina waved Caprice into her office. “Come on in and have a seat. Brenda. Kevin!” she yelled at her paralegals. “Got get breakfast.”

It was obvious that Brenda and Kevin were used to hearing such demands. They were out the door before Caprice took her first sip of coffee.

“What’s up?” Gina asked. “You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind.”

“Paolo, man. He’s working my last nerve.”

Over the rim of her Starbucks cup, Gina watched Caprice. She’d seen the same look on Domani’s face over twenty years ago and the topic of conversation had been the same.

Paolo Mancusi.

Gina chuckled. “Your father had his fair share of complaints about Paolo, that’s for sure. After Gianni died, Domani refused to work with him. But they worked it out. Now they’re thick as thieves. Paolo’s one of those people that has to grow on you.”

Caprice shook her head. “He doesn’t have enough years left to grow on me. I want him out,” she stated adamantly. “What do you know about my father’s businesses?”

“I’m guessing you’re talking about the clubs and stuff, not about the illegal shit I don’t know anything about,” Gina said with a wink.

Caprice smiled and nodded her head. “Of course.”

“Why aren’t you talking to Poleski about this?”

“I did and I don’t trust him. No one is keeping an eye on anything. Paolo is letting everyone do whatever the hell they want, but stays in my business. Roberto’s dumb ass almost lost his liquor license! Imagine how much that cost to get fixed. The IRS is investigating my father and I’m being forced to pay off government officials to keep his businesses intact! I mean,” Caprice continued to vent, “underage dancers, not checking IDs. How in the hell does he expect us to wash this dirty money if the damn fronts aren’t clean?”

“You’re forgetting about everything that isn’t on paper,” Gina said. “All the favors that Domani has stashed around town. Politicians, cops, developers…your father is one of the most powerful men in the state of New York. From what I hear, Paolo isn’t taking care of these people like Domani was.”

“See!” Caprice yelled. “They got me bustin’ my ass like I’m building a casino in Vegas, not fuckin’ lame ass Atlantic City, but Paolo’s here getting lap dances from his geriatric ass whores!”

Gina sat her cup down and stared at Caprice. “Wait a minute. Are you saying you want me to help you move against Paolo?”

“I need a lawyer who’s going to have my back like Poleski has his.”

Gina sipped her coffee and thought about what Caprice was saying. The Bonatelli kids were special to her, just like their father. She was a little angry that Domani had chosen to keep his daughter away from her, especially when she liked Caprice so much. If Nico and Caprice needed her help, not matter what it was, she would help. She owed it to her best friend.

“I’m in, but there are stipulations.”

“One,” Gina said with a stern frown. “You need to forgive your brother for being an ass. He told me that you’re not speaking to him.”

Caprice rolled her eyes. She hadn’t talked to her brother in a week. She was still pissed that he didn’t come to dinner with her and Diesel’s family. Then there was the situation with Rocco that she found out by accident.

For months, Nico had known that Rocco had run his mouth to Paolo and he hadn’t told her. What did he think she was going to do? Kill Rocco?

Of course that’s what he thought and why he didn’t tell her when he first found out. She had to hear about it when Poleski let it slip during one of their meetings last week. No wonder Rocco was so quick to accept that she didn’t want to marry him. The entire situation made her furious.

“Nico doesn’t deserve my forgiveness. What he did was unacceptable. If I was absolutely sure that he wouldn’t have hit me back, I would have punched the shit out of him right in the lawyer’s office.”

“He’s your brother,” Gina said. “You know better than anyone, that Nico has your best interest at heart.”

“The Rocco situation aside,” Caprice said, “Diesel is a good man and I’m going to be with him. I don’t care if Dad and Jesus walked into the room and demanded that we break up. It’s not going to happen. I’ll build Dad’s casino. I’ll follow most of his orders, but nobody gets to decide what I do when I’m off the clock.”

“When are you ever off the clock? Make nice with your brother and I’ll help you.”

“Can you arrange a meeting with Fausto?”

Gina laughed. “No can do. I don’t have those types of connections. The only one who can make arrangements with Fausto is Poleski. If he won’t help you, then you gotta go the traditional route. Write a damn letter.”

“I’m sure they read his mail.”

“Then don’t say anything that’s going to get you arrested,” Gina sighed. “You’re a smart girl. I’m sure you can write a letter.”

“But you’ll help with the Paolo situation?”

“As much as I can. Let me do some digging and see what I can find out. Come back in three days.”

Both women stood up and hugged. Caprice started to lave, but before she was complete out the door, Gina yelled, “Talk to your damn brother!” and Caprice promised that she would. Before she drove back to Atlantic City, she’d stop by Maria’s restaurant and accept Nico’s apology in person.

A month after her meeting, Caprice and Nico walked into the B-Lounge with Gina trailing behind them. It was early in the afternoon so the bar only had a handful of patrons. Nico spotted Roberto, the general manager, and motioned for him to join them at the bar.

Roberto was a sleazy guy who thought his Italian heritage allowed for him to be a complete douchebag. Caprice called him Paulie D behind his back, even though he’d probably think it was a compliment if she said it to his face.

Rocco, Caprice, and Nico used to hang out at the B-Lounge all the time. Rocco threatened to break every bone in Roberto’s body the first time he’d tried to hit on Caprice. Roberto hadn’t seen the notorious trio together in a few months and wondered why they were at his bar with Gina Abruzzo.

“Hey Nico!” Roberto greeted the person who was technically his boss. “Long time no see, bro. What can I do ya for?”

“We need to talk,” Nico said. He walked around the bar and helped himself to a double shot of Skyy vodka. He popped a few ice cubes into a few glasses and poured Gina and Caprice one as well.

“Have a seat,” Nico ordered Roberto.

Roberto sat on the barstool in between Gina and Caprice. He knew something was wrong and it had to be about the money he’d cost them by almost losing his liquor license.

“You wanna explain to me how you managed to fuck up something so easy?” Nico asked. “All you had to do was run this place. Make sure that the fuckin’ bartenders checked IDs and that they didn’t let any asshole get in a car and kill someone if they were too wasted to drive. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Hey, it’s cool,” Roberto answered nervously. “It’s just a suspension. Poleski’s handlin’ it. Everything’s gravy baby.”

Roberto laughed, but Nico didn’t even crack a smile. “If you ever say that to me again, I will shoot you in the throat. But, you don’t have to worry about the license anymore, Roberto. The B-Lounge is now under new management.”

Gina pulled a folder out of her bag and a pen. She slid them both in front of Roberto.

“Serving alcohol to minors and over serving intoxicated patrons isn’t something that can be wiped away by a shady lawyer and back office deals.”

“You’re done here,” Caprice added. “Sign the papers, pack up your office, and get the hell out of my club.”

“Wait a damn minute,” Roberto shouted angrily. “This is my bar! Domani personally gave me this spot. Who are you to just throw me out? Where’s Paolo? I want to talk to Paolo!”

A small grin from Caprice let Roberto know he’d said the wrong thing.

“You can talk to Paolo if you want,” she casually. “In fact, please talk to Paolo. But it won’t change anything. Sign the deed and the license transfer application over to me and go quietly.”

“And if I don’t?”

Nico grinned. “Are you asking me that question? My sister is the one who is giving you this chance to do this the right way. This isn’t how I’d handle it, and you know that.”

“Sign the papers, Roberto,” Gina said. “Don’t make this hard. You’ve been around long enough to know not to be difficult.”

Reluctantly, Roberto signed the two documents and slid them back to Gina who slipped the folder back into her bag. This was the third set of similar papers in her bag. Caprice and Nico were making their move.

“So what happens to me?” Roberto said. “What am I supposed to do about money?”

“Get a fuckin’ job like the rest of us,” Caprice said. “But fifty thousand should hold you over until you find a new gig.”

Nico pulled a thick envelope stuffed with large bills out of his jacket and placed it in front of Roberto.

“Don’t look so sad,” he said to the man. “You’ll always be welcome at the B-Lounge. And if you need help with anything, you have my number. After all, this is just business.”

****

La Galleria 45 was in the middle of its dinner rush when Caprice, Mateo, Giovanni, and Nico arrived. They were in a celebratory mood after their long drive from Allenwood. Caprice waved to her sister-in-law as they walked to the back of the restaurant straight to Domani’s regular booth. On the other side of the restaurant, Paolo was holding court with his old pals. As soon as he noticed Caprice and Nico sitting in their father’s booth, he almost had a seizure.

He hadn’t laid eyes on Caprice since their altercation in Peter Poleski’s office. Paolo was trying his hardest not to slap the girl. He’d been calling Caprice every day after word got back to him that she’d paid Roberto to sign over the B-Lounge to her. She’d shut down his favorite place “for renovations” and he was forced to move his office to another location. The girl was lucky that his associates didn’t mind meeting in strip clubs.

Now they just strolled through the restaurant like nothing was wrong. Caprice was sitting in her father’s seat like she was the new Boss. Paolo had ordered Nico to get his sister in line, but it seemed like her gross insubordination knew no bounds. She wasn’t even listening to her brother anymore!

Paolo had been around the block a few times. Few things surprised him or even bothered him anymore. Very few things got his blood pressure up like Domani’s hard headed daughter. He knew what was happening. He saw it happen with other families, namely the Cappellas. Caprice and her brother were moving against him. They knew that there was a slim chance of Domani coming back to the States.

Paolo laughed to himself. Nico wasn’t fit to be the Boss. He was a soldier, only good for taking orders. It was the girl. Caprice was claiming her seat as the Don with zero regard for the position that he held within the family.