Convicted: A Mafia Romance (2 page)

“Sebastian. Good to see you, my friend,” my attorney, Davis Jackson, said as we entered the small visitation room. He wrestled with the locks on his briefcase as I sat at the table across from him.

“Good to see you, Davis,” I responded, glancing towards the guard, who had yet to remove himself from the room. Davis eyed the guard, too, obviously catching my desire for him to disappear.

“This is a privileged conversation, officer. You’ll need to leave,” Davis drawled in his Southern accent. I smiled as the officer stepped out of the room, a pissed-off look marring his young face.

“I have a plan,” I said. “I’ll need your assistance to pull it off.”

“Alright.”

For an hour, I laid out my plan to acquire a fresh set of eyes. My legal team needed a woman’s view, and her ability to assist in getting information with her feminine wiles wouldn’t hurt. My preference was a fresh young lawyer new to the scene that people would underestimate. I didn’t have anyone in mind, as my access to the Internet was terribly limited and my usage tracked. I needed Davis to do a little research and provide me with a few choices to pick from. Choosing the right women was important for this to work.

“Can you make that happen?” I asked.

“Sure thing, boss. I’ll get right on it. I think a fresh set of eyes would be good. I’ve gone over the evidence dozens of times already. Nothing is standing out. No red flags.”

A loud knock sounded on the door. “Times up, Christakos,” a voice yelled from the hall.

“Get this done. Be back here on Friday with options.”

“Yes, sir,” Davis said, just as the door slammed open. Two beefy guards pulled me from my chair – roughly, I might add – and pushed me into the hall.

Chapter Three - Haven

“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.”

- Vince Lombardi

Three months ago, I’d passed the Texas bar exam. I’d always been fascinated by court cases, wanting to know what made people do the things they did. But my curiosity didn’t end there. That was only frosting for me. My passion for law really began to thrive when I heard about a case involving a man sitting behind bars on death row for murdering his friend.

He’d never met with a single soul or screamed from the mountaintops that he was innocent. Nope. He’d died on death row, and after his execution was carried out, proof of his innocence was discovered, rocking the penal system. Because of that case, I knew I wanted to make sure that men and women who were innocent had a voice and a fighting chance of earning the freedom that had been snatched from them.

“Welcome to The Innocence Project. I’m Haven. How can I help you?” I chirped in my most professional voice to the man standing in front of me.

The man smiled. “Hi. I’m Davis Jackson. Would you have a moment free to speak with me about a case?”

The man before me was so short of breath his words came out choppy, like a broken speaker at a drive-thru window. I smiled at him, noticing his splotchy red face and sweaty brow. “Sure. Would you care for a soda or bottled water?”

“That would be quite nice. Water, please.”

I grabbed a bottled water from the tiny fridge in the lobby, handing it over as we walked to a quiet little meeting room. The Innocence Project didn’t have a lot of space to work with, but we made do. With over two hundred active cases and a team of a dozen or so lawyers, we had a hell of a load. I waved a hand at an empty chair and watched the chunky man take a seat, cracking the seal of his drink and downing almost half in one swallow. Wiping his mouth on his sleeve, he sat the bottle on the table.

“Miss Foster. I have a case that I think you would find appealing. Before we get into that, I want you to know I did everything I could to win the case… but something just doesn’t add up.”

“I see. I know who you are, Mr. Jackson. I’ve followed your career for years.”

“May I ask you a question?” he asked.

I nodded, wondering what this was about.

“My client isn’t guilty of the crime he’s been charged with.” He flashed me a weak smile. “But that doesn’t mean he’s innocent of other things. Would it interfere with your fighting for his innocence if a man was a known criminal?”

“It most certainly would not. Where are you going with this, Mr. Jackson?” I asked, arching a brow.

“My client is in need of a fresh set of eyes to look at his case. His hope is that this new person will see whatever it was I missed during his trial. Would that interest you?” he asked as he rooted through his briefcase.

“I’d have to see the case in order to make a decision. A good lawyer doesn’t just jump in without checking the water. I’m sure you understand.”

Jackson nodded as he pulled a folder from his briefcase. “I do. Here’s the case in question. Feel free to peruse at your leisure. If you are interested please let me know as soon as possible. Time is of the essence.” He slid a thin file across the desk towards me, his business card on top of the folder. He pulled himself up from the chair, thanked me for my time, and waddled out the door. Watching him go, I had to contain a giggle as an image of Danny DeVito in Batman Returns popped into my head.

Back at my cramped little desk, which was covered in stacks of open cases, I stared at the file folder in my hands. I glanced around the room, then back to the file, wondering why a high-powered attorney like Mr. Jackson would come calling on me.

Hell, I had almost zero experience and had never taken on a high-profile case on my own. It just didn’t make a damn bit of sense at all. Flipping open the folder, I slipped on my glasses and began reading.

“Holy shit!” I squealed. Heads popped up, everyone’s eyes glaring at me. “Sorry. Just a spider.” I offered weakly. Several of my colleagues shook their heads at my outburst and returned to whatever daunting tasks they were working on. Me? I went back to the file.

I remembered this case. I mean, how the hell could anyone not remember it? The State of Texas vs Sebastian Christakos in the murder of his wife. Damn. It was a monster of a case. Jackson had put up one hell of a fight. I’d had to tear myself away from the television coverage to take my bar exam and missed a good portion of it.

It might make me sound a little like a glory hog, but I wanted a big case like this, a case that would propel me into legal stardom. But was I willing to help represent a known mobster? Thinking back to my short meeting with Jackson, I now understood why he had asked if I could see past the fact his client was a known criminal.

“Hell yes, I’m interested,” I mumbled under my breath. The people here wouldn’t dare touch this case with a ten-foot pole. Ever. It was too dangerous and, in the end, could crush everything the organization stood for. Nobody had intended for this operation to help a known felon, even if he was innocent of the crime that put him behind bars. But I wanted to know more.

Grabbing my briefcase, I thrust the file inside heading for the front door. I said goodnight to the receptionists and stepped outside into the humid evening air. Sliding my thumb over the screen of my phone, I dialed the number on Mr. Jackson’s card and waited for an answer. I didn’t even hesitate long enough for him to say hello when he answered the call.

“Mr. Jackson? Haven Foster here. I’m interested! Can we meet to discuss the case more?”

“Glad to hear it, Haven. Meet me at my office and we’ll talk.”

“Yes, sir. I’m on my way.” Ending the call, I hailed a cab and headed downtown to Jackson’s firm. Adrenaline coursed through my veins like molten lava as the cab raced across town.

Chapter Four - Sebastian

“Throw me to the wolves and I will return leading the pack.”

- Unknown

I’d received word from Davis that he had managed to acquire the services of Haven Foster. The last time we spoke, I’d selected her based on her dual degrees in Criminology and Criminal Law. She graduated top of her class at Harvard Law. I found it rather intriguing that a Harvard graduate would volunteer her time instead of working for a big firm. She could work anywhere, but her choice not to appealed to me. Not to mention she was a stone-cold fox. She could be my very own Goddess of War.

Just a glimpse of the photograph Davis had acquired was enough to sell me on her being a part of my team. It would be nice to see a sweet little morsel like that on a regular basis while I was tucked away in this wretched fucking hell-hole. I know what you must be thinking of me. His wife was murdered just over six months ago and already he’s got a hard-on for a pretty young lawyer. I’ll just come right out and say it. Astra and I had an arranged marriage. There was no love between us. Sex? Sure. But our short marriage was built on power. The marriage created an alliance between her father and I that would keep the families strong. But love never played a part in that arrangement.

I’d been sitting in a stark-white room, cuffed to the table, waiting for Davis and the foxy little lawyer to make an appearance for what seemed like an eternity. It hadn’t been that long but time passed so slowly in here. Minutes were more like hours, hours like days, days like weeks; you get the picture. Leaning back in my chair, I glared at the guard standing watch over the door. He smirked. I closed my eyes, smiling as I crossed my ankles under the table and continued my wait.

“Sorry for the hold-up, Sebastian,” Davis chuckled as he waddled into the room.

I smelt my little goddess before I saw her, and the scent had my cock twitching to life in an instant. When she stepped out from behind Davis, I sat up straight. Fuck, she was stunning. Her long brown hair hung loosely down her back. Those eyes. Those eyes were as blue as the ocean. Hypnotic and magical. I couldn’t look away. Didn’t fucking want to. She wore a tight little pencil skirt that hugged her delicious little curves and a white top that was so sheer you could just make out the lacy camisole she wore beneath it. So fucking hot! Don’t even get me started on her legs. My mouth was watering already and she hadn’t even been in the room but a few seconds.

“Sebastian, this is Haven Foster. She’ll be assisting me in reviewing your case. Anything she needs, we’ll be sure to provide.”

“Nice to meet you, Haven. I’d shake your hand, but I’m a little tied up at the moment.”

She nodded, worrying her bottom lip. Thoughts of tossing her fine little ass on this table and fucking her senseless flashed in my mind. Fucking hell! What I wouldn’t give for a moment alone with this woman.

Davis and Haven took a seat across from me and opened their briefcases. Davis once again had to run off the stubborn little guard lingering at the door. These guys just didn’t have a clue.

“Now that we’re alone, let’s get down to business,” Davis said, pushing a copy of the court case across the table to me. I didn’t need it. I had a memory like a steel trap so I left it sitting on the table.

“I’ve… I’ve reviewed the case, Mr. Christakos –” Haven began.

“Sebastian,” I interrupted. “Call me Sebastian.”

“Sebastian.” She smiled. I loved the way my name sounded on her sweet little lips. I had to have this woman. “I have concerns. The transcripts say you have an alibi, but it was never given. Why?”

“I cannot divulge my whereabouts due to the possibility of incriminating myself.”

“I see. Would you share that alibi with me as a member of your legal team?”

“You could say that I was cleaning money.”

“Right.” She laughed softly, shaking her head. “Well, we can’t use that. Thank you for your honesty. I won’t lie, Mr.… um… Sebastian, but this will be an uphill battle.”

“I expected as much. I’m innocent. While I didn’t much care for Astra, murder was never an option. I don’t hurt women. Never have, never will. You know of my business, I assume?”

She nodded.

“My enemies might see things differently, but they will not speak to you.”

The conversation continued with more questions from Haven about the night in question, what I remembered. She backtracked to the weeks before the murder, obviously trying to cover all the bases. She seemed to be on top of things, but I just wanted her under me. The more she talked, the more I envisioned her naked body squirming beneath mine, her legs parted as I shoved my cock deep into her sweet little pussy.

I forced the hot image out of my head, focusing on the matter at hand. “Davis, set up an apartment somewhere near the prison for Haven. I’d like weekly updates... every Friday or Saturday on how things are going. We can’t drop the ball this time. I’ll also need a meeting with the Warden to discuss a personal matter. Handle that for me as soon as possible. I’d like to have everything in place by next week.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll get right on that.”

“Good.”

A guard banged on the door, alerting us to the end of our time together. “It was nice to meet you, Haven. I look forward to seeing you again very soon.”

She stiffened a bit but forced a soft smile on those gorgeous lips. “Nice to meet you, too, Sebastian.”

The same two rambunctious guards strode in with their god complexes in full tilt and un-cuffed me from the table. I watched as Haven’s eyes grew wide as they jerked me up from the chair, a frown marring her beautiful face as she watched the two men push me around.

“Stop that! Now!” she growled.

The two men chuckled, not giving a shit one way or another what she thought about them.

“What are your names?” she demanded. “I’ll be reporting your misconduct to the Warden.”

The men flashed their badges at her and pushed me into the hall without a single worry, the door slamming closed behind them.

Chapter Five - Haven

“I believe very strongly that when it comes to desire, when it comes to attraction, that things are never black and white, things are very much shades of grey.”