Dipping Into Sin 2: Digging Deeper Into Sin Read online

  JESSICA WATKINS PRESENTS

  Dipping Into Sin 2

  Dipping Deeper Into Sin

  DJ PARKER

  Copyright © 2015 by Jessica Watkins

  E-books published by SBR Publications

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. Without limiting the right under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form by means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to you…my readers.

  Acknowledgment

  First and foremost, thank you God Almighty for the endless blessings that You continue to bestow upon me. Without His guidance, this journey would have never been possible. Thank you, God, for instilling this gift of writing inside of me.

  To my darling husband, Charles, you are my rock and my greatest motivator. Now I understand why people call us the power couple. Together we make all things happen. Thank you for your endless support and your undying love. Our love story is my favorite romance story of all time.

  To my mother, you embody the meaning of being a strong independent woman. I love you more than life itself, and I’m so grateful for all of the sacrifices that you made for us. There are some things that only a mother can teach a daughter…I’m lucky to have been fortunate. Though you may not hear it often, I’m proud of you. You returned back to college to complete your degree after it was put hold, in order for you to raise us as a single parent. You are beautiful inside and out, and I thank God every day for having the best mother in the world.

  To my sisters, Samiha, Lara, Kemi, Tosin, and Ayis. I’m blessed to have five sisters, despite our troubling journey to sisterhood. Our journey to sisterhood is an inspirational story, which proves that the power of God is real. We survived being years apart from each other; yet, this time apart did not hinder the love that we have for each other. When I look at each of my sisters, I see a source of unadulterated strength. Thank you, for being you.

  To my brothers, Matthew and AK, life would be so incomplete without both of you. Matthew, you’re my real life superhero. We have an unbreakable bond that only, we, can understand. Thank you for your continuous support and always coming to my rescue. AK, my darling baby brother, you have bought joy and meaning into our lives. Although I’m 19 years older than you, you have taught me the importance to lead by example.

  To my best friends, Miriam and Stacy, I love you both with all my heart. Both of you have been a tremendous support throughout my journey of writing. Miriam, thank you for always being my “Day 1”. Thank you, sis, for always being true. Thank you for all of the memorable experiences that we shared while growing up. You are the most selfless and generous person that I know. I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become today, and I pray that you continue to be successful in everything that you do. Anandi is lucky to have a mother as strong as you. Stacy, you’re always there to listen and laugh at the craziness in my life. Thank you for always being truthful and supportive.

  To my beautiful goddaughter, Anandi, continue to reach for your dreams. You are extremely intelligent, and I know that you’re destined for greatness. Continue to be my sassy diva. I love you always and forever.

  Thank you, Jessica N. Watkins for granting me this opportunity to fulfill my lifelong dream. I will forever remember the feeling that I felt when I became an official member of the JWP crew. To my sisters and brother in scribe at JWP Publishing House, I thank you all for the continuous support. I only aspire to be as good of a writer as all of you are.

  Last, but not least, I would like to thank you…my readers. Since the release of my debut novel, Dipping Into Sin, you all have been PATIENT, supportive, and encouraging. From motivational comments to the critical feedback, I appreciate each and every one of you.

  Chapter One

  Present Day

  Bolting to my car, I popped the hood and withdrew the duffle bag from my trunk. Once inside, I lit my cigarette and drew in a deep pull. Trapping the smoke in my lungs, I allowed the menthol to invade my chest cavity. This motherfucker is really dead, I thought as it finally registered. After a few seconds, a musty cloud of smoke exited my nostrils. The burning sensation was a complete contrast to the calmness that soothed the electrical currents running through my body.

  Digging into the duffle bag as the cigarette hung between my lips, I unzipped the Ziploc baggie and withdrew the flip-phone. Taking in another pull, I unclasped the back of the burner phone and inserted the SIM card. Removing the cigarette from the grips of my lips, I rolled the cigarette between my index and middle fingers, as I began my search for the phone number on the folded piece of paper.

  Tucking the cigarette between the confines of my lips, I began patting my body down. Fuck. Fuck. Where the hell did I put it? Pounding the palm of my hand against the side of my forehead, I attempted to retrace my steps. Running my fingers through my hair, my eyes roamed all over the car before stopping at the glove compartment. Tugging viciously on the handle, I nearly ripped the handle off before discovering the crumpled piece of paper. Bingo! Unraveling the crinkled paper, I began dialing the number before bringing the phone to my ear.

  Answering on the third ring, I gladly announced, “It’s done.”

  Ending the call, I ejected the SIM card and broke the phone into clumpy pieces before putting the contents back into the Ziploc baggie. Looking over at the small blue and white cooler, a smile hugged my burning cigarette as I envision my future. With narrow eyes, I zeroed in on the spec of blood that must have splattered against it. Wiping away the remnants with the back of my hand, I took one final glance back at the beautiful mansion that now became the house of horror. My chest tightened with laughter as I peeled out of the driveway. Shifting gears, I cut through the line of cars as I merged onto the Staten Island Expressway. Zipping in and out of traffic, with a mission to get back to Bensonhurst, I crossed over the Verazzono Bridge and entered Brooklyn.

  Entering the car garage, I dumped everything into the black duffle bag before walking the short trek to the elevators. Once inside my apartment, I took everything out of the duffle bag and aligned them neatly on the table. Grabbing the technology disengagement device off of the table, I walked over to my ottoman and stuffed it inside of the diversion safe.

  Walking back into the kitchen, I pulled the drawer out and retrieved a large Ziploc baggie filled with the Natron mixture. Sliding the cooler door open, I began dumping the pieces into the bag. Shaking the contents in order to have an even coating, I allowed the oldest trick in the book to start the preservation process. Rolling the baggie into a tight ball, I placed it in a sock filled with batteries and hid it behind the box of frozen waffles in the freezer.

  Tossing my clothes slovenly across the room, I turned on my main cell phone before walking into my bathroom. Allowing the water to run until the whole bathroom created a steamy, misty fog. Everything was finally coming together, and I was more than satisfied about the up and coming weeks. Rubbing the palm of my hand down the misted mirror, I glanced at the new head of the Balducci family.

  Slipping into deep thought, I recalled the moments leading to Andriano becoming the Don; his demeanor changed. But the change only became worse once he became officially the
head of the family. He was making a mockery of our family by breaking away from what our legacy was built on. We all went along with it because everyone feared the raft of Andriano. But, everyone secretly wanted him dead. It was hard to hit a man who lived in the dark. He was able to see through us, see our weakness and flaws through our eyes. Stare at him long enough and one would begin to question their own movements. Over the course of this reign, I learned to not to stare too long. Hiding behind my compliance, I secretly plotted his demise.

  No one, not even myself, knew Andriano’s weakness. Though he only lived by the code of La Cosa Nostra, Andriano remained transfixed while we all continued to search for his weakness. Not even the thought of losing power could cripple him to be normal like the rest of us. Imagine my amusement when I thought that I discovered the golden answer to solve all of our problems five years ago. The dark beauty was a morsel of perfection, but in more of a wild sexual fantasy. More importantly, she was our key to eradicating Andriano’s existence. She was completely oblivious with her power over him. In a short time, she caused him to become undone, as each layer of his demeanor was peeled away to expose his vulnerability.

  Two days after he came back from killing the former Don of the Vallenti crime family, Andriano exposed his weakness before my eyes. As part of the marriage arrangement, Andriano had to take out the enemy of the Capparelli’s to show loyalty. This exchange was designed to seal the oaths between the Capparelli and the Balducci families. Essentially, enemies of the Capparelli family were now enemies of the Balducci family.

  Seizing the moment to move up within the ranks by proving that Andriano was not worthy to become the Don, I made it my destiny to expose him. On the night of my discovery of their relationship, I saw the flutter of passion that awakened in his eyes when he glanced her way.

  For months, he appeared to be distracted, almost disinterested anytime we saw him. His head was so far up in the clouds that the motherfucker did not know that we were watching him. One of these days, I’m going to get you, I repeated to myself, each and every time that I saw him. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why the elder Balducci men wanted Andriano to become the Don. The jerk-off was completely unmotivated to become the head of the family. Judging by how long he decided to prolong his engagement to Josephine, Andriano was clearly not eager to become the most powerful man in the East Coast and Italy.

  One night, I finally decided to track him as he drove back to his loft in the city. Camping across the street, I watched Andriano enter his building. After 30 minutes of waiting, I began to get antsy and felt foolish for sitting in front of his building. As I turned the key to start the ignition, I halted all movements the moment that I saw her walking down Andriano’s block.

  Shutting off the ignition, I looked at my watch and waited for her next move. Almost instantaneously, the old doorman walked out and lured Simone into the building. So I sat and waited. I continued to wait even when the sun introduced the moon to us. I even turned down Russian pussy, just waiting for their next move. Suddenly, after a few hours of waiting, they appeared together, walking towards the black truck parked in front of his building. Following them to what appeared to be her dormitory campus, I pulled out my camera and captured the first of many pictures of Andriano kissing Simone.

  “I got you, motherfucker,” I announced as I slipped my phone into my pocket. Laughing, I sped off into the night with a plan formulating in my head.

  For weeks, I secretly followed Andriano and Simone to some of the most furtive places. But Andriano was smart…or so he thought. They spent most of their time together at his loft. Sometimes they would spend the entire weekend cooped up in his loft. By the third month of playing P.I., I knew that I had to figure out another way to track Andriano’s movements. One night as I watched Andriano and Simone step into the truck, my eyes zeroed in on his driver, Terry McNeil.

  Within two weeks, I gathered information about his wife and children. From their names to their routines, I knew it all. By the time I confronted Terry, I had pictures of his wife and even a picture of me standing by his children’s elementary school. If you want to see a man come to his knees, just show him how close another man could get to his family.

  “Terry McNeil,” I called out to him the moment I crossed the street.

  “Who wants to know?” he asked with his thick Bronx accent. Walking slowly towards him, I shoved my hand into my pocket and pulled out my cell phone.

  “A business man, who has no problem making this personal,” I stated with noticeable irritation.

  Pulling out my cell phone, I flipped the screen over to face him as he watched a short video of his children and me saying hi to him outside of their school.

  “You son of a bitch—”

  “Yes, I am the son-of-a-bitch who will snap your kids’ necks without thinking twice,” I remarked, cutting him off.

  “What do you want?” he asked, with desperation at the tip of his tongue.

  “I need you to tell me the whereabouts of Andriano and Simone. Where they go, where they fuck, how long they’re together, the whole 9-yards. You’ll need to take pictures too,” I began, as I pulled out a burner phone. “Expect a phone call every Sunday,” I said, as I handed him the burner phone before turning to walk away.

  “Oh…and-uh, just so you,” I turned back to face him, as I remembered the key to sealing this deal. “Take a good look at how close I really am to your family,” I commented, as I showed him a video of the interior of his house. I broke into his house a few weeks ago and took pictures of each of their bedrooms. The police are still struggling to find the motive for the break-in since everything remained intact, except for the smashed back door window.

  And that’s how you get a man to kneel before you.

  Terry was extremely cooperative and answered all of my phone calls. Satisfied with his findings, I compiled a perfect package to use as my leverage over Andriano’s head. Judging from the pictures, Andriano seemed smitten over Simone. He looked completely enthralled by her in every shape and form. When I finally used my leverage, I sat back and watched everything unfold before my eyes.

  Surely, my plan backfired when Andriano proved that Simone was not enough of a reason to walk away. I mean he practically proved that she was not his weakness when he let her go five years ago and claimed his throne. If Simone was not his weakness, then what is?

  ~****~

  Andriano

  3 months earlier

  Looking down at the old file that I received from Lucas five years earlier, I pulled out the only picture that I had left of Simone. Somehow, this picture and even the thought of her brought solace to my depredated world.

  Memories of her was nothing compared to the woman who stood before me at the wake. Her body matured flawlessly, outlining her more pronounced womanly curves. Even after all these years, Simone still has the softest skin. The velvety deepness in her complexion had a warm golden hue that made my mouth water with an appetite for her. Her brimming golden brown eyes held flecks of amber that resembled the first day of autumn’s gusty colorful leaves. Everything about her caused every part of my body to ache with need. As I tried to recall the last time a woman had stirred me to no control, Simone’s face appeared like a flashing sign. As much as I tried to part ways with my feelings for her, I just couldn’t. Seeing her at Donald Spillmore’s wake confirmed the fact…I’m still in love with my bella mia.

  Fuming at the very thought of Victoria remaining in contact with Simone, I balled my hand into a fist and pounded on my desk, causing pieces of wood chips to dust the floor. Each time I saw Victoria in passing, I secretly hoped that she would talk about Simone. But, she never budged. Judging by the way Simone held Victoria’s hand during the wake, it was obvious that they remained close throughout the years.

  “Bella mia,” I said out loud in my empty office. A throaty chuckle escaped from the shallow pit in my stomach, as I reflected on the memory of our love. Her presence in my life was like a form of sca
rification branding to one’s skin…it lasts a lifetime.

  When my father died, and I became the Don, I embraced the power that I was afforded. Shifting the balance of power, with the Balducci’s dominating more than 70% of the syndicate, I knew that I could afford her the proper safety that she needed.

  A round of knocks started at the door, and I groaned.

  “Come in,” I said with agitation set in my tone.

  “Mr. Balducci, there is a man out here who claims that he has an appointment with you. But, I checked the calendar. You don’t have any meetings scheduled for this afternoon. He told me that you’ll understand…9,067,” said Kevin, my assistant.

  Well of course. Only Lucas will give a number instead of his name. “Send him in,” I responded as I looked up from the file in front of me. 9,067 are the number of files and Intel that Lucas provided since being contracted to work for Nicolai and me. I appreciated his level of discretion, as well as, the uniquely substituted names that he used to further conceal his identity.

  Entering my office, Lucas casually walked in holding a black briefcase. The black sunglasses that framed his face hid the deathly sight of his sullen brown eyes. In our line of business, Lucas lurked in and out of the shadows seamlessly with no face and no name. Standing up, I shook his hand and sat back down in my executive leather chair.

  “What do you have for me?” I asked, getting straight to the point.

  “She kept a low profile, but I managed to find some information,” Lucas said as he placed his briefcase on his lap and typed in a combination to unlock the case. He retrieved a large file from his briefcase that was held together by a red rubber band.

  “Did you find her current address?” I asked as he handed me the thick folder. Opening my drawer, I reached for the envelope filled with $10,000 and held it out to him.