Unlawful Seduction

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

M ichaelangelo

If there was one thing worse than a rat, it was a thief.

Boom!

I kicked in the door, smashing a portion of the wood into slivers. The sharp scream was cut off the moment I stormed inside. I’d been ordered to kill someone who’d openly betrayed the Valenti Crime Syndicate. A fucking drug addict who’d stolen both money and close to one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of heroin from the stash.

That wasn’t acceptable and Don Lucian Valenti had ordered her killed.

He trusted me as he’d done for years to handle the situation. I relished the thought, damn good at what I did.

While I wasn’t into killing women, from what I’d been told, she’d sold her own child for a fix. That made me disgusted. As of today, Teresa Markum would no longer exist. The only difference in how I handled her was I’d make it quick instead of enjoying myself as I normally did in my capacity as the mafia’s enforcer.

And soon to be given the high honor of becoming the Underboss. One step away from accepting the promised throne.

“You remind me of myself at your age,” Lucian said as he offered me a scotch. “Bold. Without a conscience. Ruthless. And fucking smart. You’re going to be a great leader when I retire.”

The thought of leading such a powerful group of men and some women in the heart of New York was thrilling. However, that meant I also had a target on my back. There were plenty of soldiers eager to snuff out my life for a chance at fame and fortune. I chuckled from the thought as I advanced.

I wasn’t certain what I’d expected in seeing the house, but the neat, cozy feeling of the place was the first red flag that the information I’d been provided was wrong. Trap houses, homes partaking in the sale of drugs, were never neat and tidy. They stunk to high heaven of piss and shit, vomit and body odor. They were dirty and disorganized.

Not bright and welcoming.

Almost everything had a place, the feeling of a cozy and loved home apparent in every picture on the wall and the scent of vanilla and cinnamon in the air.

The street where she lived was a known drug hotspot, most houses ripped apart, pieces of copper and appliances sold for a quick fix.

But this house was lived in, a true home.

I moved toward the woman, expecting her to scream again. She stood in the kitchen, gripping the edge of the counter. The aroma of spaghetti sauce filled the tiny room. There was a box of noodles ready for the water that was boiling on the stove, a loaf of freshly baked bread on the counter.

She was in a pair of jeans and a nice tee shirt. There was no sign of drug paraphernalia anywhere that I’d seen.

Her eyes were wide open and she was staring directly at the handgun I had placed in both hands, the barrel pointed at her head. When those same eyes darted to the refrigerator, I allow my gaze to follow.

What the fuck?

There were pictures on the sides of the fridge under magnets, all drawn with crayon by a talented but very young child.

“Please. Don’t hurt my baby. I beg you. I don’t know who you are, but he’s all I have. I’ll do anything.”

An icy feeling swept through my veins. I’d been lied to.

That second we both heard little feet racing into the room and she threw out her arm in another attempt to plead for his safety. I shoved the weapon behind my back with one hand while placing a finger across my lips and nodding.

“Mama. I’m hungwy. Can we eat?” The little boy couldn’t have been more than three or four.

She swallowed, trying to smile, constantly flicking her gaze from her son back to me. “Hey, baby. Mommy has some company. Can you go back to your room for me and play for just a few more minutes?”

The little boy turned toward me, standing straight and walking with total purpose toward me. When he stuck out his little hand, a moment of rage tore through me. “I’m Jake. I’m twee years old and Mama calls me her wittle man.”

“Nice to meet you, Jake,” I said as I accepted his handshake as I bent over more to his level. His hand felt so tiny in mine. “I’m sure your mother is happy you take care of her.”

He nodded emphatically before giggling and pulling his hand away. He blew his mother a kiss and turned, running full speed back to his room.

When I shifted my attention back to the woman, I noticed a picture on the tiny credenza. I stormed toward it, jerking the frame into my hand.

Fuck.

“Is that Gio’s son? Gio Carroli?”

She was gasping for air, tears streaming down her face, but to her credit, she was controlling all sound. She nodded only once. That was all I needed.

This wasn’t about a woman who’d stolen from the organization I worked for. This was about eliminating an issue for Gio. The question was had Lucian known and mandated the elimination since Gio was set to marry his daughter, Ava? I’d once considered Gio my best friend. We’d commiserated over drinks, enjoyed playing pool and running the casinos together. He would ultimately become my Underboss. A fleeting thought entered my mind.

In the political world of crime syndicates, things had changed. No longer were the powerful families considered scum, using their power, influence, and wealth to win over the politicians and the cities they called home. The Valenti family was no exception.

Lucian had spent his entire career nurturing good will, giving to multiple charities while sitting on several volunteer boards of directors. He was regularly photographed with the governor and police chief. The fucker had made himself a celebrity.

The reason Gio had been overlooked was his past criminal record and his inability to shmooze as I’d been taught years before. However, Lucian wasn’t a stupid man, the Carroli family another powerful organization out of Jersey. By welcoming the man into the family, Lucian could keep a tight rein on everything that occurred in the surrounding states.

Yet Gio couldn’t have any skeletons, or the marriage and a significant amount of money including a portion of New York would be tossed out the window. Gio wasn’t the brightest bulb. However, him planning a dirty execution by himself was possible. I wouldn’t jump to conclusions.

“You’re Teresa,” I said to her after putting the photograph back in its place. This was a crossroads. Maybe a test. Or maybe just a dumb fuck’s need to erase a mistake.

The water started to boil over and I was certain she was going to lose it. “Tessa. My name is Tessa. Can I…”

“Turn it off.”

She did so quickly and started wringing her hands, her entire body shaking.

“Sit down at the table,” I told her. “Keep your hands where I can see them.”

While she did as I instructed, I moved closer. The last thing I wanted was for her to reach for a weapon.

The tension was mounting, her face contorted. I was certain she was about to have a panic attack.

“Do you have anything to drink?” I asked the question by cutting the edge in my tone.

“Bottle of whiskey. Top cabinet on the right.”

I found the bottle, instantly searching for two glasses. After opening a couple of cabinet doors, I located two tumblers alongside three sippy cups with superheroes on them. Another reminder Gio was a fucking asshole. Didn’t he give a shit he’d fathered a kid? Anger boiled deep within me.

I’d thought him my friend, but I should have known better. I poured us both a drink and sat down opposite her.

“Gio doesn’t want anything to do with his son. Right?”

She snorted, glancing at me as if I’d lost my mind. “No. My sweet Jake is an embarrassment to him. He told me the other night he wanted me dead. Both of us. How can you think that way about a child? His own flesh and blood?” She blinked several times, but I noticed the tears in her eyes.

I’d never considered myself a decent man, at least not after spending the last few years with the Valenti family, but I wouldn’t walk away from a child I’d fathered for any reason.

Her eyes were now imploring, searching for some possible consideration of kindness and it was a question I had no answer to. I’d always known Gio was a playboy. Hell, we’d shared a woman or two in our more raucous days, but I’d realized a few years before it had been time to grow the fuck up. He hadn’t followed in my footsteps.

“Has he given you any money?” I asked.

“He did at first when he demanded I have an abortion. I couldn’t do it. I love my little boy so much. I just… He was so mad at me, so angry. I just don’t understand how he doesn’t care about his own flesh and blood.” She pulled the glass to her lips and almost choked on the liquid.

I’d never been put in this position and I wasn’t happy about it. I also wasn’t certain if there was anything I could do to save her life. I was in way too deep with the Valenti family. With a single phone call, my life would be sacrificed through torture or by incarceration. Lucian was fair, but he wouldn’t accept anything he considered betrayal. If only I knew whether he’d condoned this or not.

If I didn’t kill her, someone else would be sent. What also pissed me off was that Gio was too chickenshit to do the deed himself. Fuck the man.

“Other than Gio, does anyone else in the Valenti organization know about your existence?”

“I don’t think so, but it’s not like he confided in me with anything in his life. I don’t know if you know Gio at all, but he wasn’t forthcoming with anything. Why do you ask? You’re just going to kill me. Does it even matter?” She was becoming more exasperated.

“How did you meet?”

She raked her shaking hand through her hair. “I was at a bachelorette party at the Wildfire Casino. I noticed Gio. He noticed me. We flirted. He took me to a room at the resort. It was magical.”

Seeing the admiration in her eyes continued to fuel the rage. Gio could be extremely charming when he wanted to be.

I took a gulp of the bourbon, realizing she’d done everything in her power to make a decent home for her and her little boy. Gio had millions. He could easily take care of both even with his impending marriage to Valenti’s daughter.

What a piece of shit.

Well, fuck. My thoughts drifted to my mother. She’d been an amazing woman until she hadn’t. But she’d taught me right from wrong. She’d told me that women were to be treasured. Maybe that’s because my fuck hole of a father had treated her so badly.

“I’m not going to kill you,” I told her. I was a bad man and would go to hell, but I wasn’t going to end two lives that deserved a chance at living in a much better situation. I had a tough decision to make and I knew it was the end of my working relationship with the Valentis, but maybe it was a sign that it was time to get out.

Whether or not Lucian had any clue about the situation would determine how I’d handle it from here. First things first.

Maybe this was my last chance at returning to the decent human being I’d been a long time before. Fuck. As part of my duties with the Valenti organization, I regularly handled collections. Reminding a man who owed a significant debt to Lucian that the interest rates were compounding on a daily basis had been my first chore of the evening. It always amazed me how they suddenly found money.

I pulled a thick envelope from my jacket pocket, placing it on the table. “Tessa, you need to listen to me because I’m only going to say this once. There’s over thirty thousand dollars in the envelope. You’re going to pack up what you can and what will fit in my truck. Take everything that’s important to you, but not enough to draw but so much attention to yourself that you’re running. I’m going to take you to the train station. I’ll purchase tickets for you and your boy to anywhere you want to go that’s far away from here. You’ll go there and create a new life for both of you using a different name. I know it’ll be rough, but the alternative is worse.”

With her mouth open, she peered down at the envelope then back up to me. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because you have a beautiful son and he needs his mother. Don’t fight me on this. This will be your one chance at being around to watch your son grow up. Understood?”

She was still extremely nervous and she should be. She obviously knew enough about Gio to realize she’d gotten mixed up with the wrong man, but sadly, far too late to alter the choices she’d made. I knew nothing about her or her background and in truth, I didn’t give a shit. What I could tell was that she’d been placed in a horrible position through no fault of her own.

I also knew she’d die to protect her son.

That spoke to something inside the man I’d lost.

“Do I have time to feed my baby? That way he’ll probably fall asleep and won’t ask too many questions. I’m sure you don’t want any questions.”

The fear in her eyes was palpable. Sighing, I checked my watch. I still had unfinished business tonight, but even I couldn’t deny a hungry child. “Go ahead. Make it quick.”

If she did anything stupid, I’d be forced to return to the orders I’d been given. I hoped for her sake she was a smart girl. If another enforcer had been sent, she’d already have a bullet in her head, the kid on the way to being sold off to the highest bidder. Obviously Gio didn’t give a fuck about his own child.

As I sat and waited, Jake bounded into the room again with a book in his hand.

“Mommy!”

“I’m making dinner, honey. Just go back to your room.” Tessa was doing her best not to draw any attention to the fact that something was wrong.

“But I want someone to wead to me. Pwease?” The kid looked at me hopefully as he shifted back and forth from one foot to another.

“Jake. Don’t bother the nice man.”

“It’s okay. I can read to him.” Jake heard me and made himself comfortable, climbing onto my lap. The moment was awkward, but offered a rare and possibly single look into the lives of loving families.

Since I’d hooked up with the Valentis, I’d broken all ties to the people who’d raised me.

Tessa looked at me, a single tear sliding down her cheek. I nodded to try to offer some sense of comfort. As if that was possible.

“Okay, Jake. Let’s see what we have. Oh, one of my favorites.”

I read to the kid, curious why I’d felt a soft spot. I couldn’t answer the question even as Jake laughed at the way I read a page.

Tessa continued to turn around to ensure I wasn’t hurting her boy. She even did something surprising.

She made me dinner as well.

It was a thanks for sparing her life and should be a humbling experience, but I wasn’t the kind of man who could ever change.

I was pure evil.

“Has the special package been handled?” Lucian’s phone call hadn’t surprised me. It had further enraged me.

“The job has been completed.” I made a turn, pulling over on the side of the road. At this point, I had spots of blood in my eyes. Driving could become hazardous.

“Excellent. I knew you were the man for the job. A man with no conscience.” Lucian laughed and I glanced down at the weapon on my passenger seat. I had a fucking duffle bag full of them in my truck, and a secret stash inside my house.

While my father had turned into a worthless piece of trash, he’d taught me one valuable lesson. Prepare an end game. Never allow a surprise to control me. I had money squirreled away in several offshore bank accounts, with carefully selected stocks adding to my wealth. Nobody in the crime syndicate had a single clue how wealthy I’d become. They would never know.

I’d taken Tessa and her son to the train station less than an hour and a half later. Tessa had followed my instructions, packing as lightly as she’d been able. She had enough cash to start a new life if she was very careful. I’d explained to her how to obtain a new social security card, which had brought another wave of fear into her eyes, but she’d nodded.

I’d purchased two one-way train tickets to Indianapolis. A point on a map. From there, I’d instructed her to continue going. That way I wouldn’t know where they’d landed.

I’d learned almost from day one of working with Lucian that he had a fatal flaw. He talked too much. If you remained quiet, the lack of conversation prompted him into spewing what he had on his mind.

“I couldn’t afford the scandal,” he said.

“Something new?” I closed my eyes, remembering the light kiss Tessa had given me on the cheek before getting on the train.

“Would you believe I’ve been asked to consider a city council position? A steppingstone to the state offices and from there, the White House.”

His aspirations brought a wicked smile to my face. Somewhere in his jaded mind, he truly believed he was performing a service for the great city of New York. “Interesting.”

“I know. Right? I have you and a couple others to thank for my success.”

I smirked. “I’m your right-hand man.”

“Just don’t forget to erase all trace evidence. I don’t want any issues,” Lucian said, returning to more unscrupulous business.

“Not a problem.”

He hesitated and I sensed there was something else on his mind. “Incidentally, the announcement for Ava and Gio’s upcoming nuptials will be in tomorrow’s paper. I wanted you to know before anyone else.”

I fisted my hand, digging my neatly trimmed nails into my palm. Business was business within the worlds of the mafia. There was no time for love and families were used as bargaining chips and nothing more. Perhaps I should be grateful the man hadn’t castrated me after learning of our tryst.

“I’m happy for them.” I wasn’t. Ava would be given a life sentence. She wanted so much more for her life, but it wasn’t her choice.

Nor was it mine.

“That’s good to hear,” Lucian added. “Let’s grab dinner tomorrow so we can discuss your future.”

“Absolutely.” With the call ended, I tossed my phone.

Now I was about to finish a task that would alter my future.

I wasn’t a stupid man. The lifespan in the industry I’d chosen was cut in half. Maybe I’d outlived my welcome. Maybe I’d grown bored with the blood and violence. Hell, maybe I craved having a family.

With the plan in motion, I set out to make it happen, making a few discreet phone calls to ensure the locations of those within the Valenti organization. Including ensuring Ava was still nestled away in her dorm room at college. I knew the soldiers who’d come after me first. Once the smoke cleared, there’d be no sign of me.

I knew how the soldiers operated. I’d studied the security system, searching for weaknesses. I knew every in, every patrol.

I remained focused, making certain nothing was left unattended. After arming the last of the bombs surrounding Lucian’s massive estate, I faded away into the darkness. As the man in charge of security, all I’d needed to do was disarm the system in such a way no one realized that I’d done so until it was too late.

Maybe the fuckers had placed too much trust in a man who’d once fought bravely for his country. At least I was making good of the intense training.

I headed to my truck, tossing the duffle bag inside and immediately starting the engine. The normal Tuesday night powwow included Gio as well as every other important Capo within the organization. I’d been given a pass because of my handling the special, private matter for Lucian and Gio. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

I guided my vehicle down the street, only stopping long enough to press the button on my handheld computer, a gadget I’d designed over the years after my stint in the Marines. It was effective and tonight would prove its worth.

A smile crossed my face.

As orange lit up the night sky, I became nothing more than a shadow, a man with no home and no true sense of identity. I’d paid my dues. Now it was time to forge the life I’d always wanted to live.

Whatever the fuck that meant.

Gone was a man named after his uncle on my mother’s side. As of today, Michaelangelo Rinaldi no longer existed.

And that was just fine by me.