Forbidden Temptations (Tempted Series Book 2) (40 page)

“Oh my God,” Nikki said as she leaned back in her seat. I couldn’t tell what she felt, her eyes were blank as they gazed at me.

“I didn’t know dad was going to confess to the murder.” I added, not sure what else to say. I still hadn’t processed that my father had sacrificed his freedom for mine that he had relinquished all his power and left us.

“Don’t apologize,” she whispered, taking a breath before squeezing my hand. “If I hadn’t brought Rico into our lives, you would have never been in that situation. I would have done the same thing, A. I wouldn’t have thought twice, or looked back once. What you did was no different from what Mikey did for me. Rico deserved everything he got,” she said swallowing hard. “I kind of wish he would’ve suffered a bit. I know it sounds horrible but I’m so angry that he played me the way he did. I guess the apple doesn’t fall to far from the tree.”

“I guess not,” I agreed.

“He confessed, to save us, you know that right?” She asked softly. “Not from the danger but from himself. I didn’t understand why he did it at first. I thought it was because of the things I said to him but it he gave us something we both wanted.”

“I don’t think either of us wanted him to go to prison,” I countered, not sure where she was going with this.

“We both wanted to be free of the life we were born into, the life we had no choice but to be a part of. Daddy couldn’t pretend anymore that we weren’t affected by his lifestyle. I finally realize all the resentment you’ve harbored for him, I know why you couldn’t stand to be his daughter. He robbed you of your happiness because of the man he chose to be. He sent Anthony to jail, you lost the man you loved for years, and then you killed to protect him. I was fooled to care for a man so he could get close to dad, was kidnapped, and watched the man I loved get shot. There was no denying the pain that being his daughter caused, he couldn’t turn away from it.” She declared, shaking her head in understanding. “I used to be afraid we’d get a phone call telling us he was shot and killed just like Val. I never wanted to know what it was like not to have my dad. It kind of feels like he’s dead, like I should be mourning him and not just missing him. So no, I didn’t want daddy to go to prison but I don’t want to watch anyone else get hurt either.”

Tears escaped my eyes as Nikki’s words evoked the idea that my father would likely die alone, in his jail cell. It’s horrible to think he has only seen both his daughters struggle and never really had a chance to see them happy. He’ll never take part in the joys of life to come he’ll never see us benefit from his sacrifice.

“There you guys are.” Anthony’s voice said from behind me. He placed his hands on my shoulders and smiled at Nikki. “Your patient is asking for you, Nurse Nikki.”

Nikki’s eyes widened and her cheeks reddened. “He told you about that?”

“A little.” Anthony winked at her.

Nikki laughed, standing up and taking her cup of coffee with her. She walked around me and bent down to kiss my cheek.

“I love you.” She whispered.

“I love you too.”

I watched as she straightened up and kissed Anthony’s cheek. “You better take care of my sister.”

“That’s the plan.” He called over his shoulder, tugging her ponytail as she walked passed

him. She huffed a breath dramatically but continued to walk away, leaving us by ourselves. Anthony replaced Nikki in the seat in front of me.

“You okay, Reese’s?” He asked, leaning over the table to touch my cheek.

“I’m okay.” I said, realizing I was actually okay for the first time in a long time. I may have lost a piece of my heart the moment the cuffs were put on my father but I also reclaimed all the pieces I’d lost. I looked at the man in front of me, my first boyfriend, and my last love.

“I love you to pieces, Bianci.”

I smiled as he lifted my hand to his lips and whispered across my knuckles.

“I love you too, Reese’s.”

“Boss, you have a visitor.”

I lifted my head from my hands, peering through the bars and glanced at the correction officer that called me boss. It was a name I had been called nearly all my life, but somehow, someway it had lost its luster. I wasn’t a boss. Not in here, not in this cage that was my home now. The men that called me boss back home used it because I was the ruler of the streets. I was the man they feared, but these guards they called me boss out of respect. It was strange because I had done nothing in this life to earn their respect.

“Thank you,” I said, lifting myself off the cot and walking towards the guard as he opened my cell. I stepped outside the confined area and started the walk, passing the inmates that lined their cells and banged on the iron bars. I kept my eyes trained on the white canvas shoes I wore, long gone were the expensive loafers, and counted the steps. I tuned out the inmates that were now my peers, ignoring them when they called my name and told me I was the man. I don’t know why these men are fascinated with me.

I was
nobody
.

Upon my arrival to federal prison, I braced myself for what I believed would be my new life. I had many associates who had been locked up, some still are, but they’re all tied to a crew here in jail for protection purposes. I don’t need to make peace with the gangs here, I’m not looking for someone to save my ass. If someone wants me dead, then so be it, I’m here because I failed my family. I’m here seeking penance for the sins I committed.

People have this perception that the mafia is a glamorous life, they’re blinded by the money and the flashy things we flaunt in their faces. They don’t realize what goes on behind the scenes. They don’
t care that the first bracelet I gave my wife was stolen from a woman whose house I invaded in the middle of the night. They don
’t care I missed the birth of my first daughter because I was bashing someone’s skull in because they didn’t pay. Yes, I provided for my family, my girls never longed for anything but I learned the hard way, that all those things I showered them with meant nothing. In the end, all they needed was their father, and that was the one thing I couldn’t buy.

I stepped into the visitors room, crossing it to find the man I had requested come see me at a table in the corner. His eyes lifted and locked with mine as I pulled out the chair across from him and took a seat. Beside him sat the man I employed as my lawyer for two decades, the man who was still bitter I hadn’t used his services for this final case. However, he was still under my retainer and I used him to tie up any lose ends I had needed to be taken care of.

“Pretty impressive Vic, still got juice even while you’re in the can,” Jack Parrish said, leaning forward, the leather of his jacket stretching across his biceps as he crossed his arms.

I’ve managed to keep my organization a float for the last three months, during my trial, with the help of my lawyer. It gave me chance to get my affairs in order and set my wife up financially. Tomorrow is my sentencing, I was found guilty on all counts, so tomorrow is the day I turn the thrown over to Jimmy.

I glanced at my lawyer. “Do you have everything I asked for?”

He lifted a manila envelope in the air, waving it slightly before placing it back on the table and slid it across to me. I opened the flap and peered inside the envelope.

“I’m a man who prides himself on paying his debts,” I said, satisfied with the contents of the envelope, I placed it neatly on the table and lifted my eyes to Jack.

“Gonna be hard to do that from here … right?” He asked.

I flashed a smile. “Not as hard as you think.” I folded my hands over the envelope, drawing Jack’s attention towards it. He looked between my attorney and me before fixing his gaze on me.

“Why am I here?” He asked.

“I need one last favor from you and your club.”

Jack shrugged his shoulders, leaned back in his seat, and crossed his arms against his chest.

“What’s it going to be this time?”

“I’d like for you to provide protection for Anthony,” I paused for a moment. “For him and his family.”

“Your daughter.”

“Yes. After tomorrow, Anthony will not be a part of the Pastore Crime family and he will not join the reigns of Jimmy’s regime. You know as well as I do, nobody walks away from this business. There are only two ways out.”

“A box or a cell,” he finished for me. “So how you planning on getting him out?”

“Jimmy’s going to let him go, no questions asked,” I said evenly, watching as his body flinched at the sound of my underboss’ name. “Problem?”

His lips thinned into a straight line and he shook his head slightly. “So you want me and my club to protect him from Jimmy?”

“Something tells me Jimmy’s not going to get a chance to sink his claws into Anthony after he gets what’s due to him.”

Something flashed in Jack’s eyes, confirming what I already knew to be true. Jimmy’ days were numbered.

“I want to know that you have Anthony’s back, should someone try anything. He knows a lot, been around for a lot of years and everyone knows he’s my gatekeeper.”

I pushed the envelope with my index finger across the table and watched his eyes drop to it for a split second before they lifted to mine again. My lawyer cleared his throat, demanding Jack’s attention with the small gesture.

“Mr. Gold seems to have something in his possession that belonged to you.”

Jack squinted, peering at my lawyer with suspicion evident in his eyes before he turned back to me.

“What the hell is he talking about?” He slapped the palms of his hands on the table. “Look Vic, you want me watch out for Bianci, fine but it’ going to cost you. I had a deal with Anthony, a deal he seemed to forget about the minute he got your fucking approval.”

“Anthony didn’t forget about you or the deal the two of you had,” I said calmly. “After I was arrested, Anthony paid me a visit. He told me all about your brother,” I paused, diverting my eyes to Jack’s hands as he clenched the edge of the table. “You should’ve told me it was your brother when I asked for your help, Jack. You let me believe you would have taken care of the situation and you were well compensated for your efforts.”

“I gave you my word I would’ve taken care of it and I fucking would’ve if I had the chance,” He spoke through clenched teeth, leaning over the table, and his face mere inches from my own. “You fucking killed my brother.”

“No, I didn’t,” I said sincerely. “I didn’t order anyone to kill him either.”

“Don’t insult me,” he said, pointing his finger in my face.

“Mr. Parrish,” my lawyer tried pulling him back only for Jack to glare at him.

“You shut the fuck up,” he diverted his eyes back to mine. “You going to tell me that fire was just a coincidence?”

“No Jack, I’m not.”

My lawyer leaned forward, placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder, and whispered something in his ear. He hissed and sat back down in his chair giving me his undivided attention.

“It’s been brought to my attention you didn’t have much of a relationship with your brother over the last few years, so how exactly would you have taken care of my situation?”

“We’ve been allies for quite a few years now Vic, have I ever questioned you? When I’ve asked for your assistance, have I ever doubted that you would get the job done? No. I haven’t and to be fair any time you’ve asked for my help I have delivered. So if you’re asking me if I would’ve whacked my brother the answer is no. If you’re asking me if I would’ve made the investigation on you disappear then the answer is yes. No need for you to know how I would’ve done it; just know it would’ve been taken care of just like I got your kid out of the line of fire and into a safe house. No questions asked.”

I let his words fester a moment before continuing. “I lost a brother too, you know. Val wasn’t my blood brother, but he was a brother where it mattered. He sacrificed his own life to spare mine and I never could repay him for that. I lived a good part of my life trying, fighting tooth and nail to avenge his death and I put my children and innocent men in jeopardy,” I sighed. “I know what you’re feeling right now. I know how bad you want revenge, so bad, that you can taste blood.”

“I like you Jack, I have respect for you, and I don’t have respect for many people. I’d hate to see you end up like me, I look at you, I see that blank look in your eyes, and I know where you’re headed. It’s an ugly road, and it’s fucking lonely.”

“For the last three months, Anthony has been working with Mr. Jarvis,” I said, tipping my chin towards my lawyer. “He didn’t feel comfortable getting his end of the bargain without giving you yours and so he paid me a visit and explained everything.”

“Everything?” Jack asked.

“Everything,” I confirmed. “You were very good, Jack. Even I believed that the shoot-out and Jimmy’s place being broken into, was a double hit. But you didn’t get far because of your loyalty and I thank you for that. You could’ve stayed, got what you needed, but you left your own quest and got my daughter and Michael to safety. Like I said before, I repay my debts.”

“I don’t follow. You brought me here and asked me to take care of Bianci, how is that repaying anything?”