Son of a Mobster (Criminal Desires)

by Jennie Lyne Hiott

  “Stay with her!” He ordered, dressed quickly and left. The anger he had displayed was far more intense than I had ever seen from him and it scared me.

  Jackson continued to glare, making me uncomfortable. He sat casually on the sofa, kicked up his feet and laid his head against the back.

  “You’re one hell of an actress, I’ll give you that.”

  “We’re both pretending here, Jackson.” I snatched my dress from the floor but had to immediately grab my head, the entire room felt as though it were spinning.

  “Nobody forced you to shoot a man for him.” The only thing Jackson had ever been good for was pushing my buttons. “You got what you came here for. You didn’t have to do shit but run home to your pops. So, what was your motivation? Love for Gianetti? Attention from Tucker?”

  “What is your problem?” I snarled, fighting to regain control of a body that had drank far too much.

  “This little scene with you and Gianetti, that’s my problem. It looks like you’re trying to get a little more information to carry back to Harkins.”

  “I never made it a secret that I would do whatever I had to do to make a name for myself in this damn bureau?”

  “That’s the reason?” His lip curled. “And I really thought you being honest – that you were against – I thought you were worth my respect! ”

  “That sounds a little hypocritical coming from you,” I spat as I dressed beneath the sheet.

  “I’m not the one taking off my clothes to get a job and I can’t stand women who use their bodies to get what they want. Cop or no cop.”

  My jaw dropped, shocked and genuinely wounded by Jackson’s comment, but there was nothing I could say in my own defense. My partner was correct on so many points and he was figuring out more than I wanted him to know, because if he knew, then The Bureau would as well.

  He picked up my discarded, half empty glass and brought it to his mouth, then stopped, glanced a moment and put it back down.

  “I think you should quit before you get yourself or someone else hurt.” His voice slightly softened, but the damage had been done and I was thoroughly enraged.

  “I don’t have to listen to this.”

  “Then maybe you should take a peek out that window.”

  I obliged him, not because he had asked, but because I couldn’t contain my curiosity. I slightly wobbled toward the window, then raised a hand to cover my mouth. There were flames burning in the middle of the parking lot. Smoke clouded the sky and I could no longer see the stars above. Sean stood with his fist clenched. His beloved Camaro, the one he’d just repaired, was a blazing inferno in front of him. Its windows had been smashed out and its body had been severely beaten before it had been set on fire. I knew what that car meant to Sean. Seeing it destroyed had angered him beyond words and deep inside, I knew I was to blame.

  I headed for the door.

  “Where are you going?”

  “Let me go, Jackson.”

  “DON’T YOU GET IT?” He screamed at me jabbing a finger at the bakery van sitting across the street from the club. “You’re the reason this happened. You’re the reason he’s going to be arrested for beating up that cop and you’re the reason he’s going to be killed.”

  “That’s not going to happen. He’s too smart – he’s …”

  “He’s just given Tucker one more reason to despise him.”

  I swallowed hard. Gasping as the car exploded, knocking Sean to the ground. I watched with a hand covering my mouth. Fearing the worst until he moved, got to his feet and headed inside.

  “Son of a bitch.” Sean angrily muttered when he returned. His eyes fell on me, then Jackson. “I have some things to take care of. Jackson, take her home.”

  ~ ♥ ~

  I couldn’t stop pacing the floor. I couldn’t contain the fury inside and the drink I’d consumed still had me under its influence, intensifying my emotions to the point of no control causing me to end up at JBI’s headquarters as the sun was rising. I stormed into the building, not caring who saw me, my rage blinded and paralyzed the part of my brain that had been trained to react professionally.

  “Are you crazy, Cicconi?” Marcy quipped. “You can’t be here.”

  “Where is he?” I ignored the warning. “Where’s Josh?”

  Sean may have blamed the destruction of his most prized possession on the Bolivars but, the bakery truck I had seen parked across the street from the blazing vehicle had told me otherwise.

  Marcy nodded toward the men’s locker room. “But, you can’t go in there.” She stood in front of me with hands on her hips, attempting to force my retreat, but I brutally nudged her shoulder as I passed and stomped toward my fiancé’s hide out. The door made a loud bang when I thrust it open and it bounced off the wall, causing Josh to jump off the cot he had fallen asleep on.

  “You asshole!” I screamed at him. “It was you last night, wasn’t it?” Josh rolled his eyes in response. “I know it was you. So, don’t try to lie your way out it.”

  “Yeah, I did it. So what?” He stood and stared at me with hatred in his eyes. “And, yes, I know you were in his bed last night!”

  “I don’t care if you know or not,” I brazenly admitted. “You’ll never come close to being the man that Sean Gianetti is.”

  Josh snarled, bawled his fist and I widened my stance, stiffened my back and prepared to defend myself. Once again, my husband raised his hand, just as I had expected, but before Josh could strike, Jackson entered the room, shoved him against a locker and held a thick forearm across his throat.

  I froze, completely shocked by his presence, believing I had successfully slipped past him as he snored loudly on the torn sofa in my apartment.

  “What is going on in here?” Rick came into the room, interrupting Jackson’s retaliation. “The whole building can hear – Jessie, why are you here?”

  “You’re precious God-daughter is a filthy slut! That’s what’s going on!” Josh hatefully informed Rick and the small crowd that had formed at the door, paying no concern to the large man who held him hostage. “Ask her what she was doing last night. Go on, Jess – tell him! Tell everyone whose bed you laid in last night!”

  I was sure I actually saw steam pour from Rick’s ears. “Let him go, Callaway!’ He ordered, pulled the agent out of his way so he could assume a face to face position. “You’re out of control, Tucker!” He shouted.

  “Get out of my face, old man.”

  “Shut up! Just shut up, Tucker!” Rick bellowed. “You’ve been walking on thin ice for a long time and that stunt you pulled with Gianetti’s car, will be the last time you use your badge to escape punishment for your criminal behavior. If I had my way, you would be packing up your desk right now.”

  “Oh, so you just assume it was me, right?”

  Rick pulled an object from his back pocket, unfurled it and it flung it at the agent. “For a cop, you’re real stupid. The next time you want to commit arson, make sure you don’t leave your JBI hat at the scene.”

  “You’re soft, Cornell, which explains why you’re not the agent in charge.” Josh shoved his superior and glared villainously at me. “Don’t think that I’m done with you,” he forecasted his future revenge as he passed.

  “You two managed to get a name out of that man last night, I hear?” Rick questioned.

  “Yeah. It is Bolivar.”

  Rick nodded. “You two better get out of here before your cover is blown,” Rick stated, but his eyes remained on the lockers. The way he avoided gazing at me ripped me apart and disappointment laced his words. “You have a very important meeting to arrange and Jessie, make sure this is your last interaction with Gianetti because if you don’t, I will personally see to it that you never receive a badge from this bureau.”

  “You don’t have to follow me anymore, Jackson,” I stated wearily outside the precinct, too tired to shrug off my God-father’s chagrin. Rick had dismissed us without uttering a single word of personal affection and I knew his callous had
been purposely executed, in an effort to cement his threat.

  “It’s not that simple, Cupcake. You’re stuck with me until Gianetti is done with you.”

  “I guess that problem will be solved soon.” I took out my cell and felt sick to my stomach. I leaned against the cool brick, weighed the options against my desires and hoped my questions would answer themselves.

  Jackson didn’t pry, only watched me as I dial Sean’s number, then stared at it numbly, unable to execute Rick’s final decree, instead he lit a cigarette and took a long, relaxing draw. He held out the pack, offering me one.

  I shook my head.

  “It does wonders for the nerves and you know it.” He raised his eyebrow and I gave in, letting him light it after I had put the object to my lips.

  “How did you know I used to smoke?” I couldn’t believe how much I had missed it.

  “Who hasn’t at some point in their lives?” He puffed, remaining silent, while I tried to work up the nerve to make the call that would end my part in Harkins’ puppet show.

  “I can’t do it,” I mumbled to myself and tucked the phone in my back pocket.

  “I need to know what I’m walking into here,” Jackson growled, my indecisive actions had seemingly caused my partner reason to question my loyalty. “Have you switched sides?”

  “I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “But, I know what I am and to which side I have to belong.”

  “Have to?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “I just need some coffee,” I stated, unwilling to debate my choice of words. “I’ve been up too many hours and I can’t think,” I excused then climbed on the back of his bike.

  Jackson continued to glare for a moment, then joined me and sped away from the JBI.

  I found it ironic that Jackson parked his motorcycle on the curb of the very dinner where Sean and I had first interacted.

  “You’re not coming in with me?” I was confused that he had remained saddled.

  “I’m not much on coffee, but I’ll stay close.” Jackson seemed unusually stressed suddenly. “The way you are with him – it’s not an act at all is it?”

  I stared at myself in the window’s reflection. The shiner Carl had left beneath my eye brought back the memory of Josh’s recent abuse. “Sean doesn’t hit me.” I had meant to keep the thought to myself instead of blurting it out in a hushed statement. Jackson returned inquisitive stares, seemingly trying to bore beneath my skull and decode the thoughts in my brain.

  “Damn.” He swallowed hard, his eyes grew wide, almost sad and I hated him for feeling sorry for me. He cupped my face gently and swiped his thumb over the bruise on my cheek, showing he had a heart for the first time. He adverted his gaze, run his tongue over his bottom lip. Normally, he let trouble roll off his back, shaking it off like a light summer rain had dusted his shoulder. “You’ve taken some pretty hard hits, Cupcake.”

  I pushed his hand away. “It’s just part of the job.” I walked away and folded my arms to hide hands that trembled at the thought of assuming my true identity.

  “Come back here.” He swung himself off his bike, leaned against it and called for me in a way that for some reason made my halt my steps and return without question. He settled his hands on my hips, filled his lungs, and slightly held his breath. His actions were out of character and confusing. He ran his tongue over the bottom of his lip, but whatever he wanted to say he decided to hold back for one reason or another. He dipped his hand into the pocket of his jeans, then he slipped a long string of leather around my neck. “Believe it or not, I’m going to miss you.”

  “I’ve never seen anything like it.” I stared at the pendant, a Thai cross design with a detailed lion’s head in the center.

  “There’s a button.” He pressed the animal’s head to demonstrate; seconds later his cell phone emitted two long, siren equivalent beeps.

  “This isn’t really necessary anymore. I’m –”

  “Just keep it.” He swallowed hard. “If you’re ever … if you need me … I’ll know exactly where you are.”

  “Did Max put this together?” I turned away, wondering if it was also fitted with a microphone, perhaps it was Josh’s desperate attempt to keep tracking me.

  Jackson touched my shoulder and turned my attention back to him.

  “It’s not a cop thing.” He turned his forearm to reveal a tattoo, an exact, colored replica of the charm. It was then I knew that the gift was personal and a symbol of something much bigger than the job. “Take care of yourself – partner.” He cleared his throat and resumed his tough guy role and I had gotten his message even though he hadn’t admitted it. Bureau, cop, investigator, or plain civilian, I would always be his one and only partner.

  “I’ll be fine, Jackie.” I watched his reaction to my nickname unable to tell if he was angered by it.

  “No one’s called me that in a long time. Only my mother – I always thought I would kill anyone else who ever dared to call me that, but you … I think you can get away with it. Go on. Reality awaits.” He ushered me into the diner and I watched him ride away.

  Sitting in a booth by the window, I stared at the place by the register. Our first encounter had been so innocent, despite my pending goals. So much time had passed since that day and the way I perceived Sean had considerably changed. Outside the window, a rainy sky depressed me further, making my coffee the only interesting sight and I watched the swirls my straw made, wishing I could be sucked into the center that tunneled to the bottom of the hot beverage. I thought about how much I had wanted to make a name for myself in the bureau just as my father had. Alex Cicconi had been one of the top agents, but I was nothing like him.

  I sipped my coffee and broke off a piece of my toast and popped it into my mouth. After only taking a bite or two I pushed it away not feeling as hungry as I had before. I wasn’t supposed to be sad to leave the lie behind.

  “You look awful, doll.” Plopping into the seat across from me, Tina smiled. “Funny thing about last night. I went to your place and your door was open and there was this big guy sleeping on your couch? What’s up with that?”

  “Sean.”

  “Honey, I may be a completely moron before my morning coffee, but I know that was not Sean.” Tina joked.

  “Sean’s got him watching me.” I wrinkled my nose in disgust. “It’s annoying.”

  “He’s cute.”

  “It’s not cute. I’m not happy with Sean right now.”

  “Wait, are you telling me you’re going to dump him?”

  “I have to.” Unable to look Tina in the eyes, I picked at my food. Any moment would be my last as Jessie Lawson and I was going to miss my alter ego and the world she occupied.

  “Why? Because of last night? You can’t blame him for that, Jess.”

  “Tina, I’m not going to be around much after today and I really want you to know that you are the best friend I ever had.”

  “So, that’s it. You hit one bump in the road and you’re going to run away. Geeze, you spent more time pining for Sean and the first time some jerk walks in and starts trouble, you just walk?”

  “You don’t really know him, Tina.”

  “Oh, I know more than you think. Sean doesn’t think I know him like I do, but I owe that man a lot. I have my son today because of him.”

  “I’m a cop, Tina,” I blurted out, wiping tears from my eyes. “I’m an undercover, JBI agent.” I leaned back in my seat and tossed my spoon on the table making it flip and fall to the floor. I glanced out the window once again and watched the sun drift out of the murky clouds, then, as if he knew he was on my mind, Sean walked by with a handful of dry cleaning slung over his shoulder. He took a double take and stopped just outside of the window where I sat.

  “Not now.” I rolled my eyes to the ceiling, hoping my emotions would hold off, then I focused on Tina and wondered if she would sell me out the instant Sean joined us.

  “My girls! Eati
ng without me? I’m hurt,” he joked, draped his plastic covered suits over the back of the booth and slid in beside me. He placed his arm about my shoulders and kissed my lips so softly that it caused my eyes to sting and fill with tears despite how hard I held them back.

  “Jessie?” He spoke with sadness as if my hurt caused him pain. “Are you okay? Is it about last night?” I did not know what to say about the night before. I closed my eyes and looked out the window.

  “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to continue working for you.” It was so hard to breathe through my tears, breaking it off with Sean was never supposed to be difficult.

  Sean covered his mouth with his hand and turned away. “Is that what you really want?” I looked at him and opened my mouth to speak, but his phone rang and he took it from his pocket and checked the number.

  “Excuse me.” He opened it, instantly changing tones. “Talk,” he said into the receiver and listened for a minute. “It’s okay. I got it covered.”

  I knew he was receiving a tip and I wondered if it had anything to do with me. I watched Sean’s expression as he listened. His face seemed to turn pale. His eyes met mine and jerked away quickly. What was he hiding?

  “Are you sure? When?” He cleared his throat. “I’ll be fine. Just do what we discussed last night.” He hung up and gave me a small smile.

  “I’ve got some business to take care of,” he softly informed my, still shaken by the call. “Can we talk when I’m done?”

  “Seriously? You’re leaving now?” I spat. I sat with my arms crossed over my bodice and tried to appear angry even though it was the exact opposite of how I felt.

  “It’s your choice.” He took my hand. His hypnotizing gaze was hard to break free from. “I just have a few loose ends to tie up.”

  “What loose ends?” I pressed.

  “You have got to be kidding me,” Tina fumed. “I can’t watch this. I’m going. See you later, Sean.” She stormed away, tearing at my very soul.

  “Did you two argue or something?” Sean deterred.

  “Sort of.” It wasn’t a complete lie. Actually, I had been more genuine with both of them than I had ever been with anyone else in my life. It was ironic that the only two people I could be my true self around were the people who I had betrayed the most. “What loose ends, Sean?”