Convicted: A Mafia Romance (3 page)

- Brian Molko

My first meeting with Sebastian Christakos was nothing like I had expected. He was nothing like I had expected. The prison was just as creepy as I had imagined it would be, though. Guard towers stretching to the sky with armed guards overlooking yards of convicts ambling around. Razor-sharp barbed wire twisting at the top of the fences, glinting in the afternoon sun. Everything about the imposing structure seemed ominous somehow.

Before I had even stepped through the first gate, I had felt trapped. The metal detectors half-assed worked, which didn’t leave me with a safe feeling as Davis and I entered the main part of the prison. My poor little heart was hammering chaotically in my chest, sweat running down my spine as we walked along a corridor to the visitation area. Inmates were walking freely down the hall and I couldn’t help but wonder what they were in for. They had offered up wicked, devious grins as they checked me out. Chills had racked my body. I hated the way their eyes felt on my skin.

As the guard unlocked the visitation room, I caught a glimpse of a man sitting at a lone metal table. It was him. Sebastian Christakos. Even though I had watched his case unfold for the most part on television and knew how attractive he was, it didn’t fully register just how freaking hot the man would be in real life. When I walked into that cold white room, my eyes meeting his for the first time, I was drunk with lust. He was absolutely panty-melting gorgeous. Even in that horrendous white prison uniform, I could tell his delectable tanned body was wrapped from head to toe in a layer of delicious muscles. Muscles I damn sure would enjoy exploring very slowly.

My mouth went dry immediately as an image formed in my mind of Sebastian naked on my bed as I had my way with him. Shaking the thought away, knowing it wasn’t a good idea to get involved with a client. Besides, considering the situation Sebastian was in we wouldn’t have the opportunity to get frisky, anyway. I couldn’t allow myself to continue having naughty thoughts. I was here to work, not get a penising. As if it was even an option. He was way-way out of my league.

For goodness sake, standing there before him, watching as he gazed with those hungry smoldering eyes – the way that they licked their way over every freaking inch of me – was driving me wild. Maybe he was interested in me after all, or heck, it could simply be he’s been without for so long that any girl would do at this point. Yeah. That was probably it.

My traitorous body responded to his sultry glare as a shiver rocked my entire body. Being alone with this man was definitely not a good idea. Definitely not. I spent the remaining time in his presence clenching my thighs together in a lame and very failed attempt at controlling the desire flooding my body. I can’t even remember a time when being near a man had made me this damn hot. Every word he spoke fanned the flames of desire building in my core. My panties were soaking wet just listening to him speak, for Christ’s sake. God, I loved the sound of his voice. That Greek accent had my pussy purring with want.

As the meeting went on, I had done my best to ask him questions like a professional. I had stumbled a little, my nerves getting the better of me, but I had survived. When the guards had appeared, man-handling Sebastian, rage had ignited in me. I couldn’t help but speak up and demand them to stop. It hadn’t helped. Sebastian seemed to find the sudden change in me intriguing, though. He hadn’t uttered a word, but the look on his face – the way his eyes darkened – had made my heart flutter.

It wasn’t until we reached the parking lot that I realized I’d been holding my breath. My fists were clenched tight, nails digging into my palms.

“Why the hell didn’t you say anything to those fucking guards?” I growled at Davis, who was panting like an animal from the walk.

“Sebastian can handle himself,” he replied, chuckling. “He seemed to be shocked by your sudden outburst, though.”

My cheeks flamed a dusty pink at his words.

Davis and I drove into Houston, catching a flight back to Austin after having a nice little lunch at a cafe downtown. While we ate lunch, Davis contacted a local realtor, acquiring a fully-furnished house for me to use as Sebastian had requested. Obviously, I would be splitting my time between Huntsville and Austin. I didn’t believe having an apartment near the prison was necessary but who was I to argue with a client’s request?

During the flight, I perused my notes from the meeting, reading Sebastian’s account of the day his wife was murdered. Even though his alibi was strong, he couldn’t use it. Sharing that bit of information would only add more trouble to the mix. Flipping open my notepad, I started a list of things that I needed to look into further.

1. Find a way to safely use alibi.

2. Get a second opinion on medical findings.

3. Have a look at all evidence.

While the list was short, it was enough to get me going. From what I could tell, Davis had done a damn good job with the case. And from our recent conversations, he’d left no stone un-turned. I could tell that the loss bothered him. It would bother me, too.

Seven days. Seven more days before I had to meet with Sebastian again.

Alone.

I was a little nervous about being alone with him. Even though he was charming and smart, I had to keep reminding myself that he was also a very dangerous man. A man that few crossed. And if they did, well I don’t know what might happen exactly, but it couldn’t be good.

Davis informed me that he had to be in court for the next few weeks but assured me that I wouldn’t have any problems at the prison, and my rental house was ready to go. I’d have to swing by the realtor’s office and grab a key before visiting Sebastian next week. Unexpectedly, in addition to the rental house, I was also provided with a petty cash fund to purchase groceries, gas, and a rental car, in addition to anything else I might need.

As dangerous as it was to be involved with the mafia, I was excited to be a part of the case. It was cases like this that propelled lawyers’ careers into stardom. And that was something I had dreamed about since my first semester in college – my picture on the front page of the newspaper, standing next to my client, celebrating an epic win.

There were only two problems facing me right now. The first was obviously finding the evidence we needed to prove Sebastian’s innocence. Second, and quite surprisingly, was dealing with how he made me want to do naughty things with him.

Chapter Six - Sebastian

“Everything in the world is about sex except sex. Sex is about power.”

- Oscar Wilde

For more than a month now, I have been decreased to a fucking number, nameless and unimportant. The world had washed its hands of me. Until last week, my nights had been filled with the memory of my young wife’s death. As a made man, I had seen plenty of death – a good bit of it at my own hand – but nothing could have prepared me for what I found in my bedroom. No. Nothing could be more horrible than that.

I had worked late that night, as I did every month. It was my monthly meeting with several of my Capos to discuss the finances, cover any issues that had crept up, and new business ventures that might be profitable. When I arrived home, I fixed my usual glass of Metaxa, relaxed in my home office, made a few calls, and headed to bed.

My heart had literally stopped when I saw Astra tied to the bed, the sheets soaked in her blood. She was a beautiful woman. Or at least she had been.

And what I did next had been a mistake; one I have regretted every day since. I ran to her, screaming for her to wake up, to look at me even though I knew that she was gone. My screaming had awoken the live-in housekeepers who found me covered in blood, holding Astra’s lifeless body. I hadn’t thought at the time, and looking back now, seeing so clearly my error in judgment, I knew the real killer had known me well. He had expected me to react without thinking. And I didn’t let him down.

I say ‘he’ because only a crazed man could be that cruel to a woman. My men would never dare harm a woman. There were very few things I could not allow, and one of the big one’s would be the murder of women or children. Unfortunately, many outside my influence held life in much lower regard.

The housekeeper had screamed bloody murder, rushing away as fast as her feet could carry her. The police had arrived, guns drawn, within minutes. The bastards assumed I had killed Astra. I didn’t, but nobody listened. They knew who I was and nobody gave a shit about my side of the story, only seeing a way to finally put me behind bars.

Ever since then, my nights were harsh reminders of that fateful evening… until Haven Foster. It had only been a few days since our first meeting, and I was eager as all hell to see her hot little ass again. Oh, the things I wanted to do to her. Fuck. My fucking cock was rock-hard just thinking about our next meeting.

As instructed, Davis had set up a meeting with the warden, who I’d learned was in debt up to his ears. For what I’d had in mind, that little bit of knowledge had helped. I wanted a quiet little place to meet with Haven. One that would allow me to get to know her better. As a bonus, the guards would keep their distance, too. The warden had jumped at my offer of cash money – untraceable, of course – in exchange for a few perks. It was a fair deal.

Now, everything was set up and ready for Haven’s next visit. I wanted her so fucking bad it hurt. And I always got what I wanted. She would submit to me. There was no doubt about that. I could smell her sweet little pussy at the last visit. She had thought clamping those hot little thighs together hid her desire, but it hadn’t. She’d submit to me and love every damn minute of it. I would give her things she never knew she wanted, chasing her sweet little whimpers and moans as I buried my cock deep inside her tight little cunt.

A dim light burned just outside my cell, the light flickering wildly. It would be a little while before the guards came around to do another count. It was as close to private as one could get around here. I pulled my stiff cock out of my boxers, gripping the base, stroking long and slow. I loathed jacking off without the touch of a beautiful woman, but a man had needs. Quickening the pace, I groaned, biting down on my lip, thoughts of Haven’s pouty lips around the swollen head of my cock, her tongue warm and moist, flicking my slit. Fuck. My hips thrust forward, lifting off my thin beat-up mattress, the friction feeling damn good. Tightening my grip, I stroked my shaft long and hard, muscles tensing. I growled, exploding into my hand.

A man could only survive on handjobs for so long before it got to him. I had reached that point weeks ago. Friday couldn’t get here fast enough. I needed a woman. I needed Haven… and I’d have her. Licking my lips, I could almost picture her kneeling before me, eyes hazy with lust, following my every command, submitting without question, eager beyond all else to please me.

The next couple of days were utter hell. Time moved too slowly for my taste and Friday seemed like it was an eternity away. I spent a lot of my time in the library, researching a way around my alibi but hadn’t found a fucking thing to save my ass yet. With any luck, Davis and Haven were having better luck than I was. The law books here were ancient, doing little to help me, but I kept looking.

Chapter Seven - Haven

“This life of ours, this is a wonderful life. If you can get through life like this and get away with it, hey, that’s great. But it’s very, very unpredictable. There’s so many ways you can screw it up.”

- Paul Castellano

Monday morning, I rushed to the coffee shop around the corner from my small apartment, ordering a French vanilla cappuccino to go. I was already running thirty minutes late to meet Davis at his office downtown. I hailed a taxi and enjoyed my coffee as the driver zig-zagged through morning traffic. When the cab screeched to a stop at the curb, I saw Davis, briefcase in hand, gnawing like a wild, ravenous animal on some kind of pastry. The man was a disgusting pig, and he ate like one, too. Some kind of red jelly was smeared across his chin.

Gross.

I tapped my chin, hoping he’d catch the hint. He didn’t.

Filthy slob.

Note to self: Do not watch this man eat. Ever.

As I hoisted my bag onto my shoulder and stuffed a few bills in the cab driver’s hand, Davis began speaking.

“Today, Miss Foster, you meet the rest of the team. Sebastian’s men will accompany you when you travel around town and to visit the boss.”

“Like bodyguards?”

Davis nodded.

“Why?”

“Someone killed that sweet woman and it wasn’t our client. Sebastian doesn’t want to take any chances with that person getting to you. Understand?”

“Yes. Yes of course. Bodyguards will be fine as long as they stay out of my way.” I trembled at the thought of a killer following me, lying in wait to... Good lord! Girl, get a hold of yourself. Sebastian was probably just being paranoid. No reason to freak out. Taking a cleansing breath, tamping back the creepy feeling, instantly made me feel better.

“Ah yes. Here’s our ride.” Davis waved at a sleek black SUV pulling up to the curb.

“Nice. I could get used to this.”

Davis chuckled at that and climbed slowly into the vehicle. Evidently, it was quite the struggle. As he wrestled to get across the seat, he farted damn-near in my face as I crawled in behind him. Ugh! My stomach twisted in knots at the stench. What the hell had this man been eating? Or better yet, what hasn’t he been eating?

Clamping my hand across my nose, squeezing it shut, hoping he didn’t lay out any silent, deadly ones before we got where we were going. He didn’t. Thankfully.

Our destination was an old warehouse on the outskirts of Austin. From the outside, the building had seen better days. It was coated in a layer of rust so thick I wondered how long it had been since my last tetanus shot. Too long.