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Your Cheatin' Heart Pt. 01

By: senorlongo



There seems to be an old saying to cover virtually every situation. In this case it's "the husband is always the last to know." Looking back I realized now that I should have seen the signs—the conversations at parties that stopped suddenly when I approached, the tittering behind my back, the knowing glances from our so-called friends, people turning away when I walked near. Why didn't I see them? It's simple—I trusted my wife and I couldn't imagine that anyone would be stupid enough to cross me. 

My name is Rocco Fabbri. My parents and I immigrated to the United States from Sicily where vendetta is the way of life. Sicilians always get even and we usually get even more. I've been known to completely destroy my adversaries. The second reason is that I'm one of the nation's top criminal defense attorneys. I don't care if my client if guilty or innocent. The system demands that all accused have an active and capable defense. I always give my client my best effort and that is almost always outstanding. I've defended some of the biggest scumbags and most ardent criminals known to man. I have dozens of contacts on the wrong side of the law and almost all owe me favors. 

I'd had many discussions with my wife Jill from before we became engaged, as well as over the ten years we'd been married about the sanctity of marriage vows. I'd made it totally clear that adultery was a deal breaker for me and to date she'd always agreed. In spite of my unsavory clients I was a very religious man, attending early Mass almost every morning, maybe because of the slime I had to deal with on a daily basis. 

It was through an accident—a series of seemingly unrelated events—that I first learned of Jill's adultery. Eric Hoffman was a sophomore at one of our local universities. I would have been able to get his DUI arrest reduced to a misdemeanor, usually public intoxication, if not for the bags of crack and meth in his pocket when he was stopped. Now Eric was looking at hard time, even as a first-time offender. 

Eric's dad was Bernard Hoffman, a real estate magnate from upstate near Albany. We spoke on the phone several times, but he wanted a face-to-face. I didn't mind; I was charging him $500 an hour. The meeting was set for Tuesday, the seventeenth. I was expecting him at 1:00, but he phoned at ten that morning. "Rocky (nobody calls me Rocco), listen...I got gout in my foot. I'm in agony and I can't walk. Can we meet in my hotel room?" 

"Of course, Bernard; I should be able to see you a bit after one if that's okay." 

"Thanks, Rocky; I'm at the Marriott, room 502. I'll see you whenever. I'm not going anywhere." Returning to my work, I planned on leaving at noon in anticipation of grabbing a bite to eat at the Marriott's fine restaurant. I had just driven into the Marriott's lot when I saw Jill's car. It's hard to miss. She drives a new BMW 740 Li sedan with a special custom paint job. She just loved the old Jaguar XKE in what I would call lilac, but the company called Heather. Jaguar did the special paint job for $16,000. I thought it was money well spent at the time—a special gift for my special girl. 

Parking near her car I hustled into the restaurant hoping to catch her so we could spend a few minutes together before my meeting. I know exactly what you're thinking and you're absolutely right—she wasn't anywhere to be found—although, at the time I was firmly convinced of her fidelity. I wandered all through the restaurant and lobby, even asking at the front desk if they'd seen her. Jill tends to stand out. She's tall at five-foot ten and slender with an athletic body and the firmest ass I'd ever encountered. Her jet black hair hung straight to her shoulders. I knew she'd be dressed appropriately for a high-end hotel in one of her designer outfits. 

Jill was thirty to my forty-two. Lest you think I'm some slouch, I'm six-foot three and weigh 190 pounds, mostly muscle from many workouts at the gym. My full head of curly black hair is gray only at my temples. Jill has often told me it makes me look "distinguished." I have brown eyes to Jill's iridescent green. I'm clean shaven with short sideburns. Some people think I'm good looking, but I think I'm just "okay" unlike Jill who is drop dead gorgeous with a body to match. Like my wife, I'm always extremely well dressed. Today I'm wearing a $5,000 charcoal gray worsted wool suit from my personal tailor in Hong Kong and $2,000 tasseled black loafers to match my light gray silk shirt and mostly cranberry paisley tie. 

By now, not having found my loving wife, I started to put two and two together and I didn't like the answer I was seeing. I retreated to my car and moved it away from Jill's. Fortunately, my Mercedes SL-400 Cabriolet is sleek and low, easily hidden behind an SUV or a panel truck. I moved about eight slots away and an aisle farther from the building where I could barely see Jill's car, but my Canon DSLR and zoom lens could bring the driver's side of her sedan up close. 

I always keep a camera in my car and a compact in my briefcase to photograph my clients when they are taken into custody and sometimes after if I think they've been assaulted by some over eager cops or jailers. Using my cell phone I called Bernard to tell him I'd be late—something important had come up—but I'd definitely get to him later this afternoon. 

Thinking that I might have a long wait I removed my jacket and laid it in the back then I opened my collar and took off my tie. My seat reclined and I hid my face under a baseball cap. It was almost two hours later that Jill finally appeared. Her clothes were a mess and her normally neat hair badly needed combing. My zoom lens picked up what I thought might be semen in her hair. She walked straight to her car with her lover, oblivious to anything and everything around her. Snapping photos in rapid succession I easily recognized the boyfriend. It was our neighbor Alex Hammond; he lived about five houses up the block from ours. After a quick grope and a slow kiss they were gone. I grabbed my jacket and briefcase and walked hurriedly to the lobby, hoping I'd get lucky. 

Beth Samuels was an assistant manager here. I'm the reason her only son isn't in prison for twenty to life. Encouraged by some of his idiot friends he and two others stuck up a gas station and killed the attendant two years ago. Martin had stayed in the car, but technically and legally he was just as responsible as the kid who'd pulled the trigger. They trio had gotten away with all of $43. Martin told his mother the following morning. He was terrified and claimed he didn't know the others planned the robbery; he thought they were going to try buying beer. Beth called me. She knew me from Corpus Christi Church in Mineola where she was an active parishioner and I did some pro bono work with their outreach program. Long story short, he gave evidence against the others and received a slap on the wrist—five years in a minimum security facility, serving only twenty months, and ten years probation. The other two boys-both seventeen like Martin-got twenty to life in an environment where they were sure to be raped daily. I was pleased to see Beth behind the counter. 

"Hi, Rocky—what brings you to the Marriott?" 

"I have a meeting with a client. Did I just see Alex Hammond, the real estate guy, on my way in?" 

"Sure...he's here every Tuesday and Thursday for some meetings with his staff. He always uses the same room—217. It's a suite with a couch and a few chairs and room for a few tables. His assistant is always with him." 

"Is she that tall woman with the black hair?" 

"Yeah, that's the one; boy, is she a looker, and what a wardrobe. I'm surprised she can afford it." 

"Beth, any idea how long they've been holding these meetings?" 

"Sure...hold on," she said as she checked her computer. "Okay, I remember now; he started just after the New Year—every Tuesday and Thursday for the past ten weeks." 

"Beth, can you give me a print-out? I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important." 

She whispered, "I'm not supposed to, Rocky. I could get into trouble. He's not doing anything illegal, is he?" 

"I don't think so, Beth, but it might help me to establish a pattern for him." 

"Oh!" We continued to speak while she typed on her console. She reached down to pull several pages from the printer. Folding them and placing them into an envelope she handed it to me. "Here's your itemized receipt, Sir. Please come back again." 

"I certainly will. The service here is great. Thank you." Those remarks were directed to the fiftyish man I knew was her boss in the office doorway behind her. I was gone a second later walking toward the elevators. Bernard showed me into his room a few minutes later. He was hopping and sat with his foot elevated. 

"You'd think gout is funny if you ever saw some of the old movies like 'Captain Blood' with Errol Flynn. Trust me, Rocky—it's not. It's just about the most painful thing I've ever experienced. I'll be on my ass for a week. Now, tell me about my idiot son." 

I spoke for about twenty minutes explaining the charges and the potential sentences. He was grateful that I'd requested his son be placed in a special section of the county jail where he'd be relatively safe and I reminded him about bail. 

"No, Rocky...there will be no bail. He's always been a kid who had to experience things for himself. I tried to warn him about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, among many other things, but he wouldn't listen. If I told him to keep his hands off the stove he'd just have to try it to be sure. He can stay in the jail until the trial." 

"Suppose I could arrange for a plea bargain. I'm sure I can get the DUI settled if he voluntarily surrenders his license and, of course, if you took his car that would help, too. Is it registered in your name?" He nodded and we agreed on that course of action to start. Then I continued, "Leaving him in the jail could work to our advantage. It will be at least ninety days and probably more until the case comes before a judge. I won't push for a speedy trial so I might be able to get him off with time served. I'll speak with the DA tomorrow morning. Eric will have to perform community service and a lot of it, like five hundred hours. I'll review everything with him tomorrow, too." We spoke for another fifteen minutes before we discussed my bill. 

"You're paying my standard rate-$500 an hour plus expenses. If I had to guess I'd estimate this will cost you between forty and fifty, but it could be more or even less depending on how things go with the DA and also on how things go with your son. I'll pitch probation and community service with the emphasis on community service and the expectation that he must follow through. If he shows enthusiasm things will go better. I know you've had trouble communicating with him in the past, but he's never been in this kind of trouble before." 

"I'll give you a check for twenty thousand now if that's okay." I nodded to indicate that it was. "I'll see Eric tomorrow morning if at all possible. Want me to call you after?" 

"Yes, it's important that I know everything. Be sure to tell him not to lie to me or hide information. The more surprises I get the harder it will be for him." He wrote the check, we shook hands, and I left. Once in the parking lot I used my cell to phone the private investigator the firm uses, asking him to meet me in my office ASAP. 

I was at my desk only a few minutes when he walked in, closed the door, and sat, his notebook open on the other side of my massive desk. "You really should turn this desk around. You're missing the beautiful view." This was how our conversations always began. 

"If I did that you know I'd never get any work done...and speaking of work, I have a job for you. It's personal, Pete so not a word to anyone other than me. I'll pay you from my own pocket—cash so there's no record." One look at him told me he knew pretty much what I was going to say. "Here's a printout of Alex Hammond's room rentals at the Marriott. His business and home information are on the back page. He and his assistant go there every Tuesday and Thursday." 

He gave the printout a quick glance. "Let me guess—his assistant is a tall good-looking woman with straight black hair who dresses well." 

"Unfortunately...I'll want everything you can get—photos, video if you can, audio...the whole shebang." 

"I'm truly sorry, Rocky. You'll get it...everything you need. I will never understand why a woman would risk everything she has for some cheap sex. I see it every day, but I'll never understand it." He rose and turned, but spoke again before leaving. "You understand that I can't do this personally. Your wife knows me so I'll have my best people on this. I'll see you in another week." I grumbled something as he walked out the door. 

+++++ 

One of my weaknesses, other than my wife and daughters, is country music. I can't help it—I just love the stuff, especially the old-timers like Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, and Hank Williams, Sr.! I was barely in my car on the way home where I was eagerly looking forward to seeing and hugging my two darling daughters Alicia, eight, and Sofia, six, but not my lying cheating spouse when I heard Hank belting out the song he had also written, "Your cheatin' heart will make you weep, you'll cry and cry and try to sleep. But sleep won't come the whole night through. Your cheatin' heart will tell on you." 

"How appropriate," I thought as I pulled out of the parking lot and onto the highway. I work in Mineola in Nassau County, Long Island—it's the county seat and home to the county courts-and I live in the upper class community of Centerport in neighboring Suffolk County. To give you an idea—the ultra wealthy Vanderbilts once had a huge estate there. We don't have an estate, but we do have a big four-bedroom colonial on more than an acre. The land alone is worth more than a million and our property taxes are more than many on the island earn in an entire year. Fortunately, money isn't a problem. Last year I earned almost 1.5 million on my billed hours alone and more than two million total. 

My girls were watching TV when I walked into the house at six. That meant their homework was done to Jill's satisfaction. It was a hard and fast rule—no TV until all schoolwork was completed. I got my hugs and kisses then walked into the kitchen to find Jill enjoying a glass of wine while something simmered on the stove. She walked to me, wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me. It had none of the emotion I'd seen earlier with Alex. "How was your day, honey?" 

"Same old stuff...idiots doing idiotic things so I can charge them a fortune to save them from their own stupidity. Problem was I had this song stuck in my head all day—"Your Cheatin' Heart," you know by Hank Williams?" Jill almost choked on her wine. "Steve picked up two more divorce cases today—cheating again, both of them the wives. When will some people learn? Why do some women and some men, too, risk everything in their lives just for some sex? Can you explain that to me?" 

Jill couldn't maintain eye contact as she responded more into her wineglass than to me, "No, (gulp) I really can't." 

"Me neither; I guess some people have no morals." I walked away even as I heard Jill choking again. Thirty minutes later we were holding hands around the dinner table as we said grace. We all took turns; tonight it was Jill's turn. He voice cracked several times. I prayed the girls wouldn't notice. 

I was pretty sure now that Jill was aware that I knew-well, maybe not actual knowledge, but certainly that I had more than an inkling what was going on. My only question now was, what would she do about her affair? Would she end it? Could she? 

You always hear that women cheat because their husband has a small cock and they need something bigger, something more satisfying. I wouldn't say that mine was huge, but I was Sicilian. Small for a Sicilian is big for most other men. I knew that most porn stars were much bigger, but Alex definitely was not. I had invited him to play golf at the country club, something that was unlikely to ever be repeated. Dressing for dinner after a shower I could see that he was obviously much smaller than I was. I had never given it much thought, but now I was bothered even more. 

I've always thought of myself as a considerate lover. I always wanted my wife to have an orgasm and she almost always had more than one unless she was an especially good actress. I had fairly good orgasm control that was probably going to improve now that I thought she was cheating on me. I would be less than enthusiastic fucking something that had been given to another. Jill and I had sex on a schedule. It was just easier that way, especially when I was in court and frustrated from my dealings with clients. We made love Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at a minimum. Sometimes we fucked on Friday or Sunday, too. I couldn't imagine why she felt the need to cheat. 

We fucked on Wednesday night once the girls were in bed and asleep. It wasn't my best effort and Jill obviously noticed. She started to say something then apparently changed her mind and went to sleep. I didn't sleep well that night or any other until I met with Pete the following week. Then I doubted I'd ever be able to sleep again. 

+++++ 

Thank God I had the Eric Hoffman case. Bernard had met him in the jail and, for once, Eric seemed to listen and pay attention. I met with Eric later in the day. We spoke for almost an hour. The guards tried to end it several times, but backed off when I threatened to have their jobs and sue the county, a suit I was certain to win. I scheduled a meeting with the DA handling the case the following Monday morning. 

It was Friday morning when Pete silently placed two thick identical manila envelopes on my desk then sat and waited. I opened the first and looked at the photos. There were two sets—one from the wall at the foot of the bed and another with a side view. After looking at fifty shots I saw an additional set taken in the suite's sitting room. There were also a set of photos from the parking lot. 

Continuing my examination of the folder I found two DVD's, one from last Thursday and the other from Tuesday. The final document was Pete's itemized bill for $10,300. I rose and turned around to open my safe behind the portrait of my beautiful daughters. I felt so badly for them as I pulled three $5,000 stacks of hundreds from the safe, handing two and three individual notes to Pete before returning the partial stack to the safe. I broke the wrapper so I'd realize it wasn't a complete stack. One envelope went into the safe, the other into my briefcase. I shook hands with Pete and he was just about to leave when I had another thought. 

"Pete, I'll have a long serious talk with Jill tonight." 

"Gonna show her the evidence?" 

"Yeah, I will. I'm sure she'll tell me it's over, but she's lied to me for almost three months so she may lie to me again. I'd like you to keep an eye on her at least through Monday and Tuesday. I won't need any more photos, but I want to know if she goes to the Marriott and meets her asshole lover." Pete told me he had it covered, but it would cost me another grand. I agreed and returned to my work. 

I stopped off at the county jail on the way home to see Eric Hoffman. He was understandably nervous when he walked into the interview room, sitting after shaking my hand. "Er...Did the district attorney say anything about me." 

"Yeah, he did. He said he was surprised someone as stupid as you could actually get into college let alone hope to graduate. I have to tell you...I agree completely. If you had just half a gram more of meth you'd be looking at possession with intent to sell instead of simple possession. Get used to this place; you'll be here for six months, at least, before we go to trial. The DA has agreed to accept a plea bargain. You'll get off with time served, suspended license, and 400 hours of community service. That will have to be here in Nassau County. You'll miss the start of the semester so I suggest you do it before the spring semester begins. I'll have a list of places that will be happy to get your services. Two more things—he insisted that you participate in an intensive drug and alcohol counseling program. It will be five nights a week for ten weeks so you'll be very busy, plus you'll be on probation and that will include any disciplinary action at school. You're lucky your dad will support you. A lot of parents I know couldn't and wouldn't. Remember that when you're thinking how stupid and square your father and mother are." 


Your Cheatin' Heart Pt. 01



"Thank God; I was afraid I'd have to go to prison. Some of the guys here told me I'd get raped regularly." 

"Unfortunately, that's probably true. I suggest you stay away from drugs, listen to your father's advice, and make a concerted effort to complete your community service and counseling in a timely manner. Also, don't fuck up while you're on probation. They'll have someone keeping track so don't even think of cheating on it. If you do there won't be anything I can do for you. It'll be prison, for sure." I shook his hand and ten minutes later I was in the car for the ride home. I made one more stop, taking the time to speak at length with a man I considered one of my best friends. 

+++++ 

I usually take everyone out to eat on Friday night and, despite my numerous concerns, I would tonight, as well. I wanted everything to seem normal until my precious girls were in bed and I could confront my cheating spouse. I was barely in the house when I was surrounded by my daughters and wife. They were all yelling and jumping up and down about where they wanted to go. It would have been great if they agreed, but—no, not a chance. I stepped back and held up my hands. They knew it was time to stop. "Pizza; we can figure out what kind once we're in the car. I want everyone to go to the bathroom before we leave." Yes, it was business as usual—for now, anyway. 

Everyone used the toilet, even me, and ten minutes after pulling my car into the driveway I was backing out to the road. En route they finally agreed—half sausage, half pepperoni. We joked and laughed our way through dinner and when we left the restaurant I could see our daughters slowing down. We'd take them home, give them showers, and I'd read to them before bed. They were hugged, kissed, and tucked in by nine. 

Jill was fiddling around in the bedroom when I walked in. I spoke quietly, but firmly, "Go down to the kitchen and wait for me. Don't argue. Just do it. I'm not in the mood for any of your shit. I'll be down in a minute." Jill looked at me as though I had lost my mind, but when I pointed to the door she just walked out. I changed out of my suit into a tee and shorts, stopping in my home office to remove the thick envelope from my briefcase. 

Jill was seated at the table when I walked in and I could see she was pissed. That was about to change. "Why are you talking to me like that? I'm not one of your criminals, you know. I'm your wife. You're scaring me." 

"Apparently not enough," I said, disgust in my voice, as I dropped the envelope in front of her. 

"What the hell is this?" 

"Just tell me why and don't give me any more of your lies...not if you want this family to survive." Her eyes were the size of quarters in an instant, but she made no move to open the damning evidence before her. "What's the matter, Jill? Don't you want to see the evidence of your infidelity? Here, let me help you." I ripped the clasp open and spilled the photos in front of her. They spread out across the table as the first tears formed in her eyes. "Once again...tell me why." Sitting in the chair opposite I crossed my arms and waited. I'd say patiently, but I was anything but. 

"I never meant to hurt you. I didn't think you'd ever find out. You're always so busy." 

"That's right; I'm busy earning money so you can have a custom paint job on your luxury car and a dream house for our family and, don't forget, where am I every second that I'm not working? Okay...I do spend an hour a few times a week at the gym, but I do that to keep myself healthy for you. So answer the question...why?" 

When Jill spoke it was more a whisper than anything else. "Okay...the truth...I was vulnerable and he was charming and seductive. It started, of all places, at church. I was up there to drop off some cupcakes for the sale back in December. He was doing the same for Julie." She paused to wipe her tears from her cheeks. "We talked for quite a while and he was very flattering, complimenting me on my clothes and hair and figure. Then he suggested we get coffee and I thought, 'what the heck, it's only coffee,' but once we were in the car he got very aggressive with me, kissing and touching me and telling me how sexy I was. I love you Rocky, but you haven't said things like that to me in a long time." I realized, unfortunately, that was too true as Jill continued, "I was weak. I let him grab my breasts and finger my pussy. We never did get coffee. We spent an hour making out and groping each other. It was exciting, but I never loved him and I never will." 

"What have I told you about the sanctity of marriage vows? What have we discussed...agreed to?" 

"I know...I'm so sorry. Do you want me to leave? Are you going to throw me out? Are you going to divorce me?" 

Taking a deep breath I responded, "No... I'm not, but I don't know if I'll ever be able to completely trust you again. I might be able to understand once, but this has been going on for almost three months—twice a week of lying and cheating, not only me, but your daughters, too. You risked our family for some cheap sex. Judging from the reactions I've received from some of our friends I'm probably the only one who didn't know what was going on. I suspect Alex has a big mouth. Okay...enough; I'll never speak of this again after tonight, but you are never to see him again. We'll probably have no choice if we're invited to a party here in the neighborhood, but even then I don't want you to speak with him—not even a simple 'hello'. 

"I'm just about done dealing with this so far as you are concerned, but I haven't even begun to deal with him. Trust me...I will destroy this man...his business...his family...everything. This is now vendetta for me. I won't rest until he is crushed. You know that I am Sicilian. Vendetta is our way of life. He will wish he was dead by the time I finish with him." Looking down I could see the fear in her eyes. I'd seen this look before, but never in her; until now I'd seen it only in court or in the County Jail. 

Of course, I personally would do nothing other than send my other envelope to his wife, Julie. However, I'd call in a favor from one of my mob contacts. I knew just what I wanted done and I knew just who would do it for me. Holding out my hand I pulled Jill to me until her tits pressed into my chest. I could feel her crying as her gasps for breath wracked her slender frame. We stood there in the kitchen for ten minutes, at least, before I released her and returned the evidence of her sin to the envelope. 

"Let's go upstairs. I need to reclaim my property." 

Jill looked up at me, her eyes red and puffy. "Thank you, Rocky." 

"Don't thank me; I plan on using you brutally." 

"That's okay; I need to do penance. I've been stupid and bad. I committed sins. I need to be punished." 

"You will be. I'm planning on taking your ass tonight. Afterwards you will text him and tell him it's over. Don't tell him that I know. Make it short and to the point, but make sure he knows you never want to see him again. Be sure to delete his number from your phone. That will be a good start." I extended my hand; she took it and she followed me up the stairs, stopping only in my office to place the envelope into my safe. Our daughters were extremely curious and I'd never want them to discover that their beloved mom had behaved like a slut. 

Jill stood still in our bedroom while I undressed her. Once she was naked I dropped my clothes to the floor and reached out to cup her sex. "I think we should have this hair removed and then add a small discreet tattoo—"Rocky's" with an arrow pointing down. What do you think?" 

She looked down, still crying before answering me. "Um...okay...if you think so." 

"No, I don't think so. You know I don't like tattoos and I told you I wouldn't punish you after tonight. Just make sure you understand—there will be no second chances here. The only reasons you're getting this one are—one—I accept a small part of the blame; I should have been more attentive and complimenting, and—two—we have two little girls who deserve to have an intact family. Let's get into the shower." 

Jill followed behind me and I turned into her once I had turned the shower on. I brought her lips to mine. She melted into me, her body pressing against mine. Jill and I had few disagreements over the years we'd been together, but the biggest one was about her body. I thought it was perfect—slender with long legs that seemed to go on forever and a space between her legs that I just loved. Her breasts were small, maybe a B-cup at most, but because of their size they didn't sag at all even after two children. Jill, however, lacked self-confidence when it came to her body. She'd wanted breast implants for years, but I'd always refused. I suspect her insecurity was one of the reasons she had fallen for that asshole's bullshit. 

Breaking the kiss I whispered, "God, you're beautiful." 

"No, Rocky—we both know I'm not." 

Now I was angry. Gripping her chin tightly I stared straight into her eyes. "YES...YOU...ARE! DO YOU THINK THAT HORNY MEN WANT AFFAIRS WITH WOMEN WHO ARE UGLY OR WHO HAVE LOUSY BODIES?" I released her chin and caressed her cheek gently and lovingly. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met. You are flawless like a clear unblemished diamond. You're beautiful and sexy and desirable. I'd fight anyone for you. I'd even kill to keep you." I shut up then and kissed her fiercely, driving my tongue down her throat as I hugged her with all my strength. Still in the kiss I pulled her with me under the spray, my rock hard cock pressed between our bodies. My hands roamed from Jill's shoulders to her ass then back up to her breasts to tease her hardening nipples. 

Jill broke the kiss and, while maintaining eye contact the entire time, sunk to her knees to take my swollen organ into her mouth. Up and down she slowly bobbed pausing only to lick teasingly around my helmet, driving me crazy with lust even as the water ran down the strands of her hair and over her face. Pulling her up I decided we were clean enough, turned off the shower and dried her delectable body. I was about to dry her hair, but Jill told me, "That can wait; I can't. Dear God, but I need you terribly. I realize now that it's you I've always needed. There's no way I can ever explain how sorry I am for hurting you. I'm so ashamed." 

My finger to her lips silenced her as I led her to our bed. Thank God she had never brought him here. That would have been intolerable and unforgiveable. We pulled down the blanket and sheet and I gently placed Jill in the center of the bed. Once there I kissed her again, a long lingering kiss in which we swapped saliva as our tongues dueled back and forth in our mouths. 

Breaking the kiss I moved to kiss and lick her neck, her shoulders, and each of her breasts, areolas, and nipples before teasingly making my way down to her belly. She always laughed when I licked her navel and tonight was no exception. I felt good then, better than I had all week, making her laugh. Hopefully, we'd be able to laugh together once this mess was finally resolved. 

Of course, I was headed for her cunt, but I didn't attack it—not immediately anyway. First, I kissed and licked her soft silky thighs, noticing her arousal—the tiny droplets of nectar on her labia. Next, I gently blew onto and into her. Jill's body shuddered in response. When I licked her from her sphincter to her clit she lost it. "Please...please, Rocky...please fuck me! I need you so badly. I need to hold you and have you." I moved forward and took my wife in a single hard thrust. Jill pulled my lips to hers with a stranglehold on my neck as her long legs locked around my waist. 

"You do realize that this is just a preliminary. I'm going to cum in your ass tonight." 

"You could cum in my pussy, too," she pouted. "We do have all night. I don't care if we never sleep." She pulled back just a bit before rolling her hips into mine. I took the hint, withdrew a few inches and drove into her, slowly at first, but gaining in depth and speed with every thrust. Jill moved with me, but not to rub her clit. Jill was blessed with vaginal orgasms—the only woman I'd ever known who could cum just from having a hard cock inside her. I still recalled our first time together. She asked if she could ride me. I agreed, thinking that I'd massage her clit to enable her orgasm, but when I began to rub it she told me, "You don't have to. Your cock is doing it for me." 

"Vaginal orgasms," I had asked incredulously. Jill simply nodded. "Lucky girl!" She grinned wildly as she experienced the strongest orgasm I'd ever seen. She had told me that it wasn't every time, but in my experience I'd guess she came more than ninety percent of the times we'd made love. 

We were humping now like teenagers. From what I could see Jill had already experienced one and was quickly building to another. Jill now used her "secret weapon," flexing her Kegel muscles. That sent me over the top. My cock felt that it had exploded. Only the presence of our daughters down the hall prevented me from screaming as it hit. Looking down at Jill I could see her experience a massive spasm as her orgasm took brief, but complete, control of her body. We lay together, exhausted and covered in sexual sweat as we slowly recovered. Finally, I rolled off, but pulled Jill onto me as we held each other tenderly. 

"Why don't you send the asshole a text? That way you won't have to speak with him." Jill nodded, rose from the bed, and returned a few seconds later, her phone in her hand. I watched as she created her note: It's over. I have finally come to my senses to realize that what I have with Rocky is priceless while what I had with you was worthless. Do not contact me again. I don't want to see you. I want nothing to do with you. Stay home with your wife instead." She showed me the text, I approved, and she hit "send." Then she showed me that she had deleted his number. 

"I'm ready, Rocky. You can have my ass now." 

"Yeah...right. Set the alarm for three. I'll take it then. Do you need more sex from me? Do we need to make love more often?" 

I could see her start to cry again before whispering that she did. "I need it every day. I think I'm a nympho." 

"Okay...we'll do it every single day. What about during your period?" 

"Especially then—I get so horny during it. I hope you don't mind." 

"Like I'd ever complain about making love with you; if your blood gets on me I can always wash it off, can't I?" 

"I'll wash it for you. I'll wash you every day. I love showering with you." Rather than answer I just pulled her lips to mine once again. I pulled the blanket over us, but as I did I saw Jill setting her alarm. Her head rested on my left shoulder and her leg lay on mine as we settled in to sleep. 

I never heard the alarm. Instead I felt Jill's tongue on my cock. She whispered once she saw I was awake. "I woke up a few minutes ago and shut off the alarm. I didn't think you'd mind waking up this way." She smiled briefly before swallowing me whole. I was hard in an instant. Leaning over I reached for the bedside lamp. I needed to see what I was doing. 

Before tonight Jill had steadfastly denied me her ass. "It's disgusting," she'd said. Maybe it was, but it was also a part of Mediterranean culture. Anal sex was a common practice in Greece—everyone knew that—but also in Crete and Sicily and even some parts of Italy. Believe it or not, my dad had told me how much he enjoyed taking my mom's ass during one of those talks every father is supposed to have with his son. I knew I planned to join Jill when the time came for our daughters. 

"Move over here, Jill." I slipped a pillow under her hips once she was in place at the side of the bed. 

"Have you done this before, Rocky?" 

"Nope; you've always turned me down." 

"Then, how do you know what to do?" 

"Take a wild guess." 

"Porn?" 

"Not even close; try Grandpa Vito." 

"You're kidding!" 

"Nope; he told me all about it during one of those 'talks.' Apparently he and my mother do it regularly, but don't say anything." I fingered her pussy, making it wet. 

"I thought..." 

"I am, but it will help if you're relaxed and turned on." 

Jill leaned forward to kiss me. "That won't take much." I pushed my cock into her tunnel as I introduced my first KY-covered finger into her ass. "Ooooh! I'm surprised, Rocky. I'm tingling!" I just smiled as I fucked both her cunt and butt. A few minutes later I added another finger, twisting my digits to relax her muscles as well as to spread the lube. 

I slowed the action in her cunt and began to emphasize the action with my fingers. Slowing the motions of my cock kept Jill at the edge as my third finger found its way easily into her nether hole. I pulled out and switched my cock for my fingers in an instant. A second later I was balls deep in her bowel, wiping my messy hand on my tee shirt before dumping it on the floor. 

Jill's legs went to my shoulders and she realized for the first time what was happening when I used both hands to worry her hard nipples. Jill was so hot that she grabbed my head to pull me down for a really hot kiss even though it meant her ankles had to pass her ears. If that was a surprise what happened next shocked me. Jill began to hump me, driving my cock deeply into her bowel. Her movements were exactly what she did with her cunt. I knew I was close even though I had cum only a few hours earlier, but I was not as close as Jill was. She grabbed her pillow and pressed it over her face as she screamed and thrashed all over the bed. I came hard-my cock erupting as I filled her with my cream even though I'd had a strong orgasm only four hours ago. I had no idea this could be so intense...so overwhelming. Releasing her legs I moved down to remove the pillow and kiss her. Only then did I realize that she had passed out. 

I swung her legs around so she lay completely on the bed. Looking down I could see that we'd have to change the sheets and shower before returning to sleep. Climbing carefully next to her was a challenge. There was a pool of liquefied KY mixed with either her juices and/or my semen. As I said earlier—the bed was a mess. 

Lying next to Jill I could easily understand her appeal, even to a weasel like Alex Hammond. She was beautiful and sexually stimulated so easily. I leaned down to kiss her cheek and as I did she began to stir. Her eyes fluttered several times before she became lucid. When she did she pulled me down for another long kiss, whispering to me when she broke it, "We are definitely doing that again. I had the most incredible orgasm. It went on and on until my entire body was consumed." 

"But, I wasn't touching either your clit or your pussy." 

"I know; I'm sure it was an anal orgasm! Dear God, what have I been missing? Oh, Rocky, I was so afraid it would hurt, but it didn't-not even a little. Your finger made me tingle and then the two made it stronger and the third...well, that's when it began. My orgasm started before you even fucked me and it continued right up until you came. I felt as though I had exploded. Darling, it was the most intense experience of my life. I swear...I will never cheat on you again...as the Blessed Virgin is my witness." 

"I love the way this is going and I hate to end it, but we both need showers and we need to change the bed. Alicia and Sofia are early risers so we need to get back to sleep. Why don't you go while I get started on the bed?" 

"No...I want to shower with you." She rose and pulled me with her. A minute later we held each other once again under the steamy stream, holding, kissing, and running the foamy soap over each other and exploring each other like kids. The shower took too long, but neither of us wanted it to end. Once we were dry we ripped the sheets from the bed and slept on the mattress pad, naked under the blanket. We were both asleep in seconds. 




Your Cheatin' Heart Pt. 01



+++++ 

The next thing I felt was my daughter Sofia climbing over my body to hug and kiss me. The sun was bright in the sky and when I looked down I realized that Jill was spooning in front of me with my hand on her breast. She turned over, gave me a sheepish look that told me she knew we were caught, and leaned over to kiss me. I was only expecting a quick peck, but she gripped my head and held it for more than a minute until we heard two sets of giggles. Only then did we open our eyes to see our two beautiful girls leaning over us. 

"Are you getting up, Daddy? We're hungry. We want breakfast, don't we, Alicia?" 

"We're getting up, but you guys have to leave and close the door behind you." 

They were giggling again as they asked, "Why, Daddy?" 

"Because we're not dressed, that's why! Now get moving." They didn't move an inch. 

"Are you naked, Daddy?" Oh, why did we ever have children? 

"Yes, we're naked. It's okay; your mom and I are married, but you are too old to see me naked so get your butts out of here now. If you don't I'll put you over my knee before you eat a bite." I pointed to the door and they ran out giggling. Jill climbed out of bed and closed the door behind them. She was back to me in an instant. 

"Why don't you get dressed while I get breakfast started? How about an omelet and some bacon?" 

"Sounds good, but...think it can wait for a few minutes?" I would have pulled her down, but she was already on the way herself. We kissed and held each other; I wasn't at all surprised when she moved my hand to her asshole. 

"That's all yours now, too." She jumped up, grabbed a robe and was out the door a moment later. I swung my feet to the floor and struggled to the bathroom for much needed relief for my distended bladder. Once I was done I dressed hurriedly and joined my family in the kitchen. I kissed Jill's neck and wrapped my arm around her waist. "You're so wicked," she whispered as I released her to pour myself a big glass of grapefruit juice, knowing exactly what my daughters' reaction would be. 

"Ewwww! That's nasty, Daddy!" 

"No, it's really tasty—want some?" 

"NO," they both exclaimed. 

"Remember what I told you about Sicily? They grow all kinds of citrus fruits there, even lemons as big as oranges. We couldn't afford oranges—they were too expensive—so we ate grapefruit and I learned to love them. It all depends on what you are used to. You should ask your grandparents the next time you see them." Jill's phone vibrated—an incoming text. She looked at me, fear in her eyes. 

I picked it up and opened the message—"It's not over until I say it is. I'll tell Rocco what a tramp you are if you try to stop." 

I showed it to Jill, asking her, "Would you like me to respond?" 

"Please." 

I rarely text so my efforts were uncoordinated, but I thought the message was great—Rocky would be pissed at me, but he loves me and would forgive. However, he would probably kill you, especially after reading your text. Leave me alone. I don't want you any longer. I was naïve and stupid." 

I showed it to Jill and she laughed, "A bit long, but otherwise right on target." I pressed the button to send it. Jill also received a text at 8:47, 9:02, 9:26, and 10:01 and several more throughout the morning. We did not respond to any of them, but kept them on Jill's phone in case we needed evidence sometime in the future. I could see a restraining order as a real possibility if this continued. 

Jill told me she needed to take the girls shopping. "What about this phone? I'm afraid." I held her in my arms and kissed her then whispered how much I loved her. Then I took her phone and gave her mine instead. 

"Just imagine what would happen if he was stupid enough to phone." She giggled, kissed my cheek and led the girls out the door. I stood outside to wave good-bye, lingering long enough to see if our neighbor tried to follow her. He didn't, luckily. However, he was as stupid as I had thought. Jill's phone rang about a half hour later. I decided to play dumb. 

"Hello?" 

"Who is this?" 

"Who the hell is this and why are you calling my wife's phone?" 

"Uh, sorry—wrong number." 

All of these phone messages helped me to make a decision. I phoned Pete. "Sorry for bothering you on the weekend, but I'm going to need some help Monday morning." 

"How'd your discussion go?" 

"Let me put it this way—she kept me up most of the night. It was great and I've mostly forgiven her, but her asshole refuses to take no for an answer. Can you have somebody here first thing Monday morning in case he tries to come over after I leave for work?" 

"Yeah, I'll use the same two I've used all along—a Mutt and Jeff team. The big guy is intimidating, but the little guy is dangerous." We spoke for a while to firm up the arrangements then I called the mob. 

When people think of organized crime they think of people named Angelo or Vincente or Salvador or Mario. I phoned someone much more dangerous than anyone I've ever known by those names—a Jew named Seymour Finkel. I spent five minutes on hold before he came to the phone. He knew his phone was tapped, probably by the FBI, so his words were measured as were mine. "Morning, Counselor." 

"Morning, Mr. Finkel; I need to see you in regard to that legal matter we discussed." 

"Oh?" 

"Yes, it's essential that we meet to review this. How's Monday for you? I can order in lunch from Ben's if you like." 

"Sounds good—brisket on rye with mustard; get some of their coleslaw and pickles, too. Dr. Brown's Cream Soda would be good. What time?" 

"Any time after twelve would work." 

"See you at one." 

All of our phone conversations were like this. We both knew there was no pressing legal matter to discuss, but he knew I wanted to see him about something I thought was important. He owed me. He'd be there on time to pay me back. His nephew thought he was the second coming of the godfather even though Seymour had wisely moved the organization into legitimate enterprises. Unfortunately, his nephew had apparently failed to see the light. He had beaten a store owner who had balked at paying protection, a scheme that had gone out of vogue decades ago due to pressures from the FBI and state police. Next thing he knew—Surprise! He was arrested and placed into the County Jail. 

Rather than bail him out I convinced Seymour to let him stew for a week. In the meantime I had approached the store owner with a financial settlement. When he lost interest in the case and refused to testify the district attorney was stymied. Seymour had paid $250,000 and promised the man would never see his nephew again. Even the nephew knew better than to cross his uncle. All told I had spent roughly eight hours solving the problem, but charging Seymour nothing for my time. Sometimes a favor was worth much more than mere money. 

There were more unanswered texts on Saturday and through Sunday, too. I could tell that Jill was afraid. I addressed the issue with her that evening as we prepared for bed—for another bout of fantastic sex. "Just trust me, Jill. I won't allow you to be harmed." 

"But what will happen once you go to work? I'll be here all by myself. Oh, I wish I'd never allowed myself to get involved with that man." 

"I wouldn't be surprised if he comes here. Do not open the door. Tell him to go away and leave you alone. Tell him once only and if he persists call the police. Tell them a man is trying to break into your house." 

"What if he gets in? What if he breaks down the door?" 

"You need to trust me. Julie will receive an envelope like the one I shared with you by ten and if Alex continues to harass you I'll be in court out in Hauppauge for a restraining order. I can have Pete serve him at home, assuming Julie lets him in. That will be the beginning of the end for him. Now I think I promised you something else." 

Jill was in my arms, her legs intertwined with mine, a second later. As we had the past two nights, we were naked and I suspected we would be for many years ahead. I very much enjoyed the soft smoothness of her skin against mine; she told me she found the touch of mine reassuring. Tonight she pushed me onto my back, trapping my cock between our bodies. Spreading her legs opened her slit to me and she rubbed me into her moistness. It was sexy as hell, but all I could think of was if she had done this with that asshole. My thoughts must have been obvious because a bit later she whispered, "You're the only person I've ever done this with. He was always too impatient. Are we going to go through this every time I try something new? I read about this in Cosmo, okay?" 

"I'm sorry; I need to learn to trust you again. Do both of us a favor and let me know..." She put her finger to my lips. 

"I fucked him, that's all although that's bad enough. He always wanted to do it missionary so he could be in control. He came fast then we'd rest for about two hours and we'd do it again. Truthfully, he wasn't that great a lover. He was different and forbidden. I found that exciting, but now I realize that it was just stupid. I never licked or sucked him and he never licked me. Looking back I have trouble understanding why I did anything with him. Can we continue now? You've made me really horny." My response was a long hot kiss with my tongue down her throat. 

Jill continued to rock and grind her slit onto my cock which was just about ready to erupt. Then she did something—I had no idea what—and I was inside her. Looking up I saw the love in her face and I realized that I had to trust her. It was part of my promise to never mention her infidelity after Friday night. She fucked me, but not for too long—she'd made me too hot with her earlier sexual gymnastics. I blew into her as she leaned down to whisper, "Two-not too bad considering. Let's go to sleep. We both have a busy day tomorrow." She kissed me again and laid her head on my shoulder. 

+++++ 

Alicia and Sofia always left for the school bus at 7:30 and I always left ten minutes later, driving past the bus stop to wave and blow kisses. I never had to worry about them. One of the other parents—a cop—was always there with his young son. This morning as I backed out into the road I noticed a metallic silver SUV just down the street with two guys who reminded me of Mutt and Jeff. I waved and they returned it. Where they were parked they had a good view of both our front door and the Hammonds' driveway. I felt better knowing that Jill would be safe. 

My drive to work usually takes between thirty and forty minutes depending on traffic, accidents, and plain old driver stupidity. I usually took the Northern Parkway west to the Meadowbrook. These roads were designed by a bigwig state planner named Robert Moses to transport people in cars to and from a bunch of state parks in the area. They were designed to be used by cars and only cars, but every now and then a trucker from out-of-state gets on these roads only to find that the bridges are too low for their trailers. I can't tell you how many trailers I've seen with the tops sheared off and the goods spread across the road. When that happens my forty minute trip can become an hour longer. These are limited access roads; not as bad as an interstate, but still pretty bad. 

Today I wasn't fifteen minutes away when my phone rang. Pete's men called—Alex was at the door, knocking at first, and banging on the door and screaming a minute later. I ended the call and rang Jill. "Call the police now," I told her when she answered. I stayed on the cell while she called on the land line. Pete's men detained Alex when he tried to run from the cops. He was arrested for harassment, a misdemeanor for which he'd be released on own recognizance which basically meant no bail, but also gave me reason for a restraining order. Once I reached the Meadowbrook Parkway I made a u-turn and drove instead to the Suffolk County court buildings in Hauppauge. 

We lived in Suffolk County so the order had to come from one of their judges. If I got there early enough I could catch a judge to sign my order before courts opened for the day. Luckily, driving east as I was doing was much easier than driving west toward Nassau County and New York City. The court buildings are just a few miles beyond the end of the parkway and the parking lot was mostly empty at that hour—not even 8:30. I showed my photo I.D. along with my New York Bar card at security where I also asked if any judges were in yet. "Try Judge Cohen in Part 27 up on the second floor. He's always here early." I thanked them and walked briskly to the elevator. My knocks on the door were answered by a bailiff. 

Once again I identified myself even though I'd appeared in Judge Cohen's court more than a dozen times. The bailiff had just told me to wait when I heard his honor calling to me. "Come on in, Rocco. I haven't seen you in months. How are you?" 

"Fine, Your Honor, but I'm really here on business—personal business. I explained about Jill's affair and how she had tried to end it, but how Hammond had refused. When I told him how he had tried to force his way into our house he asked for the papers I had completed over the weekend. He signed and sealed three copies—one for Mr. Hammond, one for the court, and one for me. I was back in my car ten minutes later. 

I phoned Pete en route to tell him I needed an order served then I phoned my office and told my secretary to contact the messenger service we used. I wanted a messenger ASAP, meaning before I arrived. Both were there when I walked in the door. I dealt with the messenger first, pulling Pete's second envelope from my safe. It was already addressed. "Make sure you deliver it to Mrs. Julie Hammond and no one else. Have her sign a receipt." Once he was gone I spoke with Pete. 

"This is a restraining order on Alex Hammond. You know that he was arrested this morning, but I think he's stupid enough to try again so I want your men to stay with Jill. He'll be out of custody pretty soon and he'll either go back to Jill or he'll go to work. If he goes back to Jill have your guys call the cops as soon as he shows up. Have them explain that a restraining order is in effect, but he hasn't yet been served. I think the cops will take him back to the precinct so you can serve him there. Whatever, I want him served today." Pete agreed and I paid him both the thousand he'd asked for last week and the server's fee of $300. It was 10:30 and about time I returned to earning a living. 

I worked on several cases until noon when I was told a Mrs. Hammond was on the line. "Hi, Julie." 

"Do you know what your whore wife has been up to?" 

"I think you'll find that Alex seduced her and you should know me well enough to know that I can prove it. I found out about it almost two weeks ago. That's when I hired the private detective. He's the one the firm uses so I know he's reliable. I confronted Jill Friday night and I know she sent Alex a text message that she wanted to end it. Since Saturday morning he's sent her more than thirty texts threatening her with exposure if she tried to stop. He was arrested this morning trying to break his way into our house. He'll be served with a restraining order sometime today. Hold on a second, will you?" 

I picked up my business cell. It was Pete. "He's been served, Rocky and he wasn't happy about it. I explained that any violation would land him back in jail." 

"Good work; I'm on the phone with his wife right now." I ended that call and returned to Julie. "Sorry, that was the detective. Alex has been served with the restraining order. Jill and I are staying together. She made a big mistake, but part of it was my fault, too. I took her for granted. Hard to believe, but she's really insecure about her body and her appearance. She told me she met Alex at church—the bake sale—and he was very flattering. Let's face it—he's a salesman. That's what he does. I'm not excusing Jill. She went along with it for more than ten weeks. I gave you a copy of the room use at the Marriott. What you decide is up to you. I do wish you the best. You certainly didn't deserve this kind of treatment." 

"You're right, Rocky; what you don't know is that this isn't his first big mistake. It's his third that I know of. I told him two years ago that three strikes and you're out. This is his third strike. I don't know what I'll tell the kids." 

"It's going to be hard. We'd like to shield our girls, if possible. After this morning I wouldn't be surprised if he went off the deep end when everything hits the fan." I ended the call after suggesting my associate, Steve Donaldson, to handle the divorce. "He's a shark...just like me." It was just past noon so I told my secretary to have one of the aides get an order of sandwiches from Ben's, a kosher deli just down the street from my office and the courts on Old Country Road. 

NEXT: Vendetta!



Your Cheatin' Heart Pt. 02



Seymour Finkel strode into the office at 12:55. I rose, walked around my desk and shook his hand. "I didn't know we had legal business to discuss, Rocky."

"We don't, Sy, but I have something important to talk with you about. Let's go into the library." Like most offices mine is on an exterior wall with plenty of windows. Sensitive microphones can actually pick up vibrations in those windows, especially if on the same level as mine. Your confidential conversation could become public knowledge in a heartbeat. The law library is an internal room with no windows. 

We were there only a few minutes when our lunch was delivered—brisket on rye for Sy, hot pastrami on rye for me. We ate and made small talk; I knew better than to talk business while eating. Sy spoke again, seriously this time, once we were done.

"Okay, Rocky—what gives?"

"Still think you owe me a favor for your nephew?"

"You know my word is good. What's up?" I slowly explained about Alex Hammond and Jill. He shook his head, but smiled when I told him what I had in mind. "It's a deal. Obviously, the less you know about the details the better, but I'll take care of everything." We shook hands and I saw him out, relieved that he would help me.

No—I wasn't going to have him killed and, after talking with Julie, I wasn't going to destroy his business. Julie could sell it or even operate it to provide money for herself and the two kids. I was, however, going to utterly destroy Alexander Hammond, Jr.

+++++

I decided to leave the office early so I could make a couple of stops on the way home. First, I stopped off at a candy store that made its own salt water taffy and bought a pound. My next stop was a florist just down the street where I ordered a dozen long stemmed red roses. "Make sure they're tight. I'll want to feel them before they go into the box." She looked at me as if I was crazy. But she did bring them to me for inspection. I rejected two.

"Do you really know what you're doing?"

"My dad is a florist in Brooklyn. I worked for him all through high school and college. Yes, I do know a tight bud when I see one." I was in such a good mood I even laughed when the station played "Your Cheatin' Heart" again. I even sang along, with Patsy Cline this time. 

Of course, my family was shocked to see me so early. I picked up each of my daughters and twirled them around in a circle while hugging and kissing them. The commotion they made brought Jill into the room. I carefully dropped my daughter to the floor and took Jill into my arms. Like my daughters I swung her around then kissed her and did what's known as a "dip" in ballroom dancing, bending her back until her body was parallel to the floor before releasing the kiss and giving her the roses.

"Wow! What did I do to deserve this—a big kiss and a dozen roses?"

"You married me, silly girl. What say we go out to dinner tonight? That way you won't have to cook and I bought a bunch of salt water taffy for dessert." That was greeted by a lot of that jumping that only girls seem to do.

"Can we get pizza again, Daddy?

"No pizza tonight, Alicia; I think we'll go out for lobster.

"Lobster?"

"Yeah, I think you'll like it. There's a place out off 25A that has a big lobster deal. That reminds me of a joke—who was the bravest man in recorded history?"

"Who, Daddy?"

"The first man to eat a lobster." Alicia and Sofia didn't get it, but Jill laughed. The girls would get it once they saw their first. We ate out occasionally, but not often. It wasn't the money—I could afford to go out every night if necessary, but dining out can be so impersonal. Jill and I treasured our times with our family—holding hands to say grace, the girls telling us about their day at school (who could know how long that would last?), playing soccer and softball in the back yard, using the pool in the summer. Basically, we were home bodies. I wondered if that wasn't part of the reason why Jill had strayed. Then I wondered if I was over-thinking everything. Not only did I want to trust my wife, I also needed to trust myself.

Half an hour later we walked into Nick's, essentially a bar with a restaurant in the rear. Sofia was fascinated with the lobsters in the tank. "They're really ugly, Daddy."

"Yeah, now you know why that guy was so brave." My girls looked at me then each other and broke out in giggles. Once we were seated we ordered Cokes for our daughters and large draft beers for Jill and me. We each had a decent tossed salad; they had Italian dressing and I had bleu cheese. Each of us had the pound and a quarter lobster, with baked potato and an ear of corn.

I showed everyone how to get the lobster meat out of the tail. They could cut their own and dip into the butter sauce. The delight on their faces with the first bite reminded me why our restoring our marriage was so important. I had to crack the claws for everyone—Jill included—as we all had a wonderful time. Both Alicia and Sofia hugged and kissed me with their thanks, but they also told me how silly I looked in my lobster bib. They were having a great time at my expense until I pulled out my phone and showed their pictures and we all laughed again. Alicia and Sofia were safely in bed by nine when Jill and I retired to our room for a shower before some creative sex.

I had barely closed the door when Jill wrapped me in her embrace. "Thank you, Rocky—the flowers are beautiful and dinner was such fun...and thanks for your help this morning. Were those men here to check up on me?"

"I won't lie to you, Jill. Last Friday morning I told Pete I wanted you followed, but after our discussion and what followed with Alex texting you over and over I became concerned about your safety. I phoned Pete Saturday morning when you took the girls shopping to make sure you'd be safe."

"That one guy was huge."

"Yeah, but Pete told me the smaller one was the more dangerous. Maybe he knows karate or something."

"I think that's enough talking for one evening, darling—don't you?" Jill reached up and pulled my head down so our lips could meet. Her arms were around my neck a second later as mine found her tight ass. We stood there in the bedroom making out like kids on their first date except that we both knew this was merely the warm-up. 

When Jill moved her hands to my belt I moved mine to her blouse. The three buttons at the back of her neck opened easily and we broke the kiss momentarily to remove blouse and shirt. Jill's bra followed as soon as humanly possible so we could continue our kiss. Less than a minute later my slacks and her Capri's found the floor with boxers and panties joining them in a pile.

We never paused that kiss even as we sidestepped through the narrow doorway to the bathroom. It was the longest and hottest kiss of our lives. Our faces were covered in spit when we entered the shower. I washed Jill first, spending too much time on her perky tits and her vulva. When I gave Jill the soap she quickly washed under my arms and across my chest, but lingered on my cock and balls until I was so hot for my wife I could stand no more. I turned off the water and dragged her out to a waiting towel. We were still dripping when we climbed into the bed.

Jill kissed me quickly before situating herself on top of my body, her red puffy cunt just inches above my mouth as hers began its assault on my pulsing cock. She teased me at first, licking over and around the spongy reddish purple helmet. Her next move was to lick down the sensitive underside of my organ. So hard was I that I could feel the blood pulsing through the arteries that fed and maintained my erection. I knew that Jill would take good care of me so I began to engage her sweet pussy.

I began using the broad of my tongue, starting at her clit and licking the entire exterior of her all the way to her puckered star. I knew I was getting to her when she involuntarily humped my face, urging me on to her tunnel.

Jill was almost always wet, even when not stimulated. Perhaps it was related to her daily need or her perception that she was becoming a nymphomaniac. All I knew at this instant was that she was gushing juice at an incredible rate. Normally, while eating her pussy I would curl my tongue upward to rub its tip along Jill's prominent G-spot. I couldn't curl it down from my position so I just fucked her as fast as possible knowing that her ability for vaginal orgasms would take care of her. Several times I felt spasms run through her body and I knew I had her for sure when I sucked her swollen bud through the tiny space between my teeth. She came again for the final time just as I began to spray her tonsils with long thick ropes of semen. 

I could never understand why some women refused to swallow; Jill loved the taste of my cum. She rested for a while atop my body until licking the final drops from my cock then she joined me, head on my shoulder and still dripping cunt on my thigh as we fell almost immediately into a deep restful sleep.

+++++

I was surprised to hear the doorbell at just after seven the following morning. I was battle-ready when I opened the door, thinking that Alex Hammond had lost his mind in his pursuit of my wife. Instead of our neighbor a muscular young man in the uniform of a security guard stood in front of me. "Morning, Mr. Fabbri; I'm Tony. I'm here to safeguard your family."

"I'm sorry?"

"Oh, I thought Mr. Finkel had explained that I would be coming. He sent me to ensure their safety. I'll drive your daughters to and from school every day and I'll remain with Mrs. Fabbri throughout the day. Those are my instructions. I'm licensed to carry a pistol and I'm skilled in martial arts."

"Uh...Sy sent you?"

"That's right, Sir."

"Well, I guess you'd better come in." I had walked through the living room when I called out, "Jill, we have company. Care for some coffee, Tony?"

"Thank you, Sir."

"First of all, drop the 'Sir.' Call me Rocky. This is my wife, Jill; that's Sofia and this is Alicia. Ladies, meet Tony—your bodyguard."

"What?"

"One of my clients owns a security agency and he sent Tony over to protect you when I'm not here." Jill and the girls just sat silently, their mouths open until I spoke again. "Jill, could you get a cup of coffee for Tony...please?" Jill reacted, but slowly as we continued our breakfast.

"Mrs. Fabbri, what time do your daughters have to be at school and how long does it take to get there?"

"We start at 8:10," Sofia chimed in.

"They usually take the school bus."

"I think it might be best if I drove them there and back. You should come with me also so you'll be safe." I was sure he would have continued had the phone not rung at that very second. I rose to answer it, checking the Caller ID first.

"Morning, Sy...yeah, he's here now. You don't really think it will be necessary, do you? Yeah, I suppose so. Okay...thanks." Hanging up the wall phone I turned to my family. "That was my client informing me that he was sending over a security guard for you. Now that I've had the chance to think about it I agree that it's a good idea."

"Why do we need a guard, Daddy?"

"We've had a problem with one of the neighbors. He was arrested yesterday morning trying to break into our house. Some men from the street stopped him and held him for the police. Anyway, he was charged with harassment, but that's such a minor charge that he was released yesterday afternoon. I think that's enough information for you two. What kind of car do you have, Tony? 

"It's a truck, Sir...er, Rocky—a Toyota Tundra with a crew cab...you know, with a back seat. I have booster seats there for my own two kids so I know yours will be safe. Mr. Finkel told me to stay as long as necessary."

"Okay then, I guess you should sit down and get acquainted with the family while I get ready for work." I didn't really think that Alicia or Sofia would be in any danger, but why take any chances? We left at the same time with hugs and kisses for my girls and a special kiss for Jill.

"How long will we have to deal with this, Rocky" she asked.

"I don't know, but probably not more than a few weeks." Jill cringed in response so I hugged her again and watched as they climbed into the truck. Tony was obviously good at his job. He made sure everyone's seat belt was secure before driving down the street, following Jill's directions to the school. 

I hesitated for a few minutes to phone Pete and tell him I wouldn't need his men after today. "Can you trust him Rocky? After all he is a criminal."

"He's a client, Pete and I know his word is as good as gold. Tell your guys I owe them." I ended the call for the tedious drive to work. I was very busy over the next two days—so busy that I couldn't even break for lunch or coffee. I was concentrating so hard that I barely heard the intercom. It blared for almost fifteen seconds and when I answered there was nobody on the other end of the line. I shrugged and was almost back into the writ when Steve walked in with Julie Hammond.

"Sorry to bother you, Rocky, but Julie is concerned. It seems that her husband has vanished from the face of the earth. He hasn't shown up at his business in two days and we were supposed to have a preliminary meeting with his attorney. The attorney was here and-boy-was she pissed."

"Alex promised me that he'd phone every afternoon so he could speak with the kids. He hasn't phoned for the last two days. I don't know what to do."

"I think you should call the police. Let Steve do it for you. He can get the ball rolling and ask for some detectives to see you at home later in the afternoon."

Julie smiled at me before responding, "It's already late in the afternoon, Rocky. It's almost five." She laughed when she saw the shock on my face.

"Wow...where has the day gone? Okay, Steve why don't you call the cops? Ask if they can stop by after dinner so Julie will have a chance to feed the kids. Julie, you should probably send them down to see Jill and me once they're done with you."

"Why would they want to see you?"

"Because I'm sure this is somehow related to what's happened between Jill and Alex. They'll find out everything on their own, but it could take a week or longer. We'll save them a lot of time and effort." They left and I tried in vain to finish the writ. I left it on my desk, locked the door, and drove home.

We had just finished dinner when the doorbell rang. Tony had gone home when I had arrived and now I could see the anxiety in Jill's face. "Relax, I think it's the cops." I was right; I recognized one of the detectives from a case I'd had last year. "Come in, gentlemen; please, have a seat.

"Alicia, Sofia—go out into the back yard and play. Do not come back in until either Mommy or I come for you. This discussion is for adults only."

"I'm not quite sure why Mrs. Hammond asked us to see you, Mr. Fabbri."

"I think you will once we get started and I believe we will save you a lot of time and work. Neither of us particularly cares for Mr. Hammond at the moment, but we do like his wife and family." Over the next ten minutes I summarized everything that had transpired between Jill and Alex Hammond—their affair at the Marriott, my discovery, my confrontation with Jill, the ongoing texts and threats, his arrest, and the restraining order. I even told about sending the evidence of the affair to Julie.

You might be wondering just why I would tell the cops all about the sordid affair. It's simple—the police are not as stupid as the general public thinks. They would have figured out everything and then they'd wonder why I had either lied or hidden the information. I'd learned very early on in my law career that there are times when one needs to be honest and forthcoming with the police. This was clearly one of those times.

They asked plenty of questions once I was done, but less than thirty minutes after arriving they were on their way out. "I can understand why you wanted your daughters out of earshot, Mr. Fabbri." They were almost out the door when they finally asked the question I had anticipated all evening. "Can you account for your time over the past two days?"

"I spent yesterday in court with Judge Ferguson on a bunch of DUI's. I think I signed into the courthouse at 8:30 and left around five other than lunch which I had with one of your DA's—Tom Bradford. I spent all of today in my office."

"Where'd you get the bodyguard from?"

"A client."

"Who?"

"You know better than to ask that question, detective—a client who wanted to do me a favor." They nodded their heads and left. Jill waited until their car was on the street before calling the girls in for their showers and their story before bed.

I still remember when I first began reading to them. Alicia was five and Sofia was two. As babies we had them in separate rooms, but as they grew older they wanted to be together. Now they had twin beds in the second largest bedroom with its own bath. The first story I'd ever read was "Babar." They loved it so much that Jill had bought a number of others in the series. Those books were still in their bookcase and I had noticed several times that they had been moved—taken from the shelf and read. 

Now, however, I was into Chapter 7 of Nancy Drew—The Bungalow Mystery. I sat in their room's loveseat with Alicia on my left knee and Sofia on my right. I knew that Alicia could read the book on her own, but I also knew that she wouldn't deprive her sister of the pleasure of listening to my reading. As always, there were prayers, hugs, kisses, and "I love you's" even as I tucked them in with one last kiss before turning out the light and closing their door. I always left a nightlight on in the bathroom, but it was rare that they didn't sleep through the night.

Jill was waiting for me in our bedroom. "This is kind of scary, Rocky. I don't want to see him, but I don't want to find out he's dead, either."

"I don't want him dead, either. A dead person doesn't suffer and I definitely want him to suffer."

"Do you know where he is, Rocky?"

"No, I really don't." That was the truth. I'd asked Sy Finkel to make him disappear for a while, but I'd had no idea that he'd be able to set it up and act so quickly. Jill and I made love and slept naked as had become our custom. Life went on for more than a week and there was still no word from Alex.

+++++

I was in the office on a Thursday afternoon when I noticed Julie in my doorway. Her face was ashen and she looked as though she was about to faint. I ran to her, telling Rosa, my secretary, to find Steve. "What is it, Julie? Let me get you a drink of water."

I sat with her until Steve walked in. "Close the door, Steve. Have you heard from Alex? Is he okay?"

"Did you send me this?" I noticed for the first time that she was holding a DVD in a plastic case.

"No...I've never seen that. Have you looked at it?" I could tell from the expression on her face that she had. Her expression was one of disgust and shock. I took it from her and loaded it into the player that was attached to flat screen TV in my office. I rarely used it except to view videos of crime scenes or copies of videos taken from a patrol car camera.

The picture first showed a dingy motel or hotel room or even a bedroom, meaning it could have been anywhere. When I first saw Alex I was shocked. He was naked and filthy. He hadn't shaved and his body hadn't been washed in what I guessed was weeks. He looked as though he had lost twenty pounds. Then we learned why. "I need it, man. Please! Please, I need my fix." Steve and I looked at each other, sharing the shock that Julie obviously felt.

Then we heard another voice. It was distorted, but we could understand what was said. "Yeah? What will you do for it?"

"Anything...I got to have it."

"Okay, get on your knees and pull his cock from his pants then suck him off like the good slut you are." We watched in utter silence as Alex Hammond sucked some guys cock for more than five minutes before swallowing his load. He was given a glassine envelope which he used to prepare a hypodermic that he shot into his arm. The rest of the scene showed Alex stretched out on a bed unconscious.




Your Cheatin' Heart Pt. 02



There was static on the disc for a few seconds before the next scene unfolded. Hard to believe, but it was actually worse than the first. In this scene Alex sucked a cock while another man fucked his ass, cumming all over his back. There was weird distorted laughter. There was one more scene which repeated the perverse sexual acts, but added Alex telling Julie how much more fun it was being with these men than it was being with her. I telephoned the detective handling Alex's disappearance knowing that there was no way that any of the others or even the place could be identified. The men's faces were covered with stocking masks and they all wore plain blue sweatshirts and jeans. Only Alex could be identified.

The police checked for fingerprints, but the only ones detected were mine and Julie's. I took the rest of the afternoon off, driving Julie in my car as she cried non-stop while Steve followed in her car. I phoned Jill en route and she met us at Julie's home. She helped Julie from the car and into the house. Tony had gone to pick up our girls from school and, if possible, to bring Julie's with him. We wanted them at our house where they'd be shielded from what had happened. There was something that had to be said so I pushed forward.

"Julie, I don't know what your intentions will be if we ever get Alex back, but you have to be careful. He's had unprotected sex with several men. Who knows what he might have picked up?"

"Oh God," she wailed, "he could have HIV or some other STD."

"I wouldn't be surprised, and then there are the problems associated with injecting heroin."

"Is that what he was doing?"

"Yes...I'm afraid so. We have no idea if that was a new needle or if someone else used it before Alex, nor do we know about the conditions of where and how he kept it. Most junkies get to the point where they just don't care. I'm sorry, Julie, but I want you to be prepared if he comes back from wherever he is. You need to put your kids first."

"Don't worry about that. If there was anything left of 'us' that video killed it. I almost wish he was dead. I dread having to tell the kids."

"Would you want me to do it, Julie?"

"Thank you, Rocky. I know what a good father you are, but I think this has to come from me. Thanks for all your help today, but I think I need to get the kids fed."

"Why don't we send Rocky out for a couple of pizzas and eat them at our place? That will give you a chance to get yourself together a bit." Julie agreed. She went to wash her face with Jill. Ten minutes later they drove in Julie's car to our house while I drove to the pizza place for three pies and several salads we could share. Later that night while Jill and I were recovering from our nightly tryst I asked her what she and Julie had discussed.

"I told her how sorry I was for causing this mess."

"Don't be," she responded. "Alex is a serial cheater. He woos women with his sugary phrases and empty promises. There were two others that I'm sure about, so that means there were probably even more. Like you and Rocky we've been married roughly ten years. How many affairs in that time? Five? Ten? I've had enough. You're as much a victim as I am, Jill. I dream about being divorced so I can find a man who will love me and only me and be a decent father to my children. I know men like that aren't common, but they do exist." We hugged when we finished talking. 

"Please believe me, Rocky—I'm sorry I ever got involved with that man." Then, shifting gears, she continued, "Julie told me a little about the DVD. Was it really that bad?"

"Worse—it was the most depraved thing I've ever experienced. Apparently, Alex is addicted to heroin..."

"Oh, no!"

"It gets worse. He's on video sucking cock and being fucked in his ass just to get another fix. It's hard to believe that someone could sink so low. I don't know how she's going to tell the kids. They're sure to ask where their father is."

"Listening to Julie this afternoon I gathered that he wasn't all that great a dad. He spent all of his time at his business. Julie told me that she's going to run it—that she'll demand it in the divorce. Did you know they met working for the same real estate broker? She has maintained her license even though she hasn't had to work."

"Enough! Let's try to get some sleep. I have a ton of work tomorrow. I was just assigned a murder trial in Suffolk County. I have a long meeting with Pete and my paralegals first thing in the morning." Jill snuggled up close, her leaking cunt pressed tightly against my thigh. 

+++++

I was immersed in work for the next week. Prepping for a murder trial is a bitch. Every piece of evidence has to be closely examined and evaluated and once that's done I have to plan what I think is the best approach for the defense. It didn't help that my client was guilty and that three witnesses had heard the argument and seen him stab the victim. One second there was an argument and the next one of them was bleeding out on the sidewalk. It was just my client's bad luck that his blind stab had severed his victim's renal artery. The police and an ambulance were called, but the man was dead by the time they arrived.

I was hard at work at my conference table so I never heard the detective enter my office. "Mr. Fabbri?"

"Oh, sorry...Detective Nelson, isn't it? How can I help you?"

"Mrs. Hammond asked me to see you. We found her husband."

"Oh, that's great."

"Actually, it isn't. We received a 911 call at 4:10 this morning. The caller refused to give his name, but he said a car was blocking an intersection in Roosevelt. When the officers investigated they found Mr. Hammond behind the wheel. He was naked and obviously under the influence of some drug."

"Probably heroin; have you seen the DVD that was sent to Julie?"

"Yes, unfortunately—how low can someone sink? I wanted to vomit and I've seen just about everything after eighteen years on the job. It gets worse. The patrol officers also found 112 dime bags of what appears to be heroin. We'll know for sure once the lab tests it. If it is, he'll be charged with possession with intent to sell in addition to the DWI and public nudity and the traffic violations. He's in a lot of trouble. He phoned his wife and asked if you would see him in the jail. I guess he wants you to represent him. He 'lawyered up' so we haven't asked him any questions."

"How'd you get to be the messenger?"

"I was there at her home to give her the news. She seems to be a decent woman who doesn't deserve this kind of shit."

"Your assessment is right on. She's a beautiful person and-you're right—the man she's married to is a snake. No woman deserves that. I'll stop by to see him this afternoon. I'll get to it on my way home. I can use a break."

"You picked up that Carey case, didn't you?"

"Yeah, that proves it doesn't pay to hang around courtrooms. I was in a chat with a colleague when the judge saw me. The only good thing is that I'll be able to bill the state my regular rate. I already have more than forty hours into the case and we're months from going to trial. Thanks for the heads up, Detective." He left and I sat back in my chair thinking that this could not have gone better.

I had a lot more information when I checked into the jail at 4:10, planning to spend less than fifteen minutes with this asshole. Alex was brought in a few minutes later, arms and legs shackled and wearing a bright orange Nassau County Jail jumpsuit.

"Thank God you're here, Rocky. You've got to get me out of here. I'm the victim of this mess."

"Why don't you start from the beginning-from when you disappeared?" I already knew the story, but I wanted to hear him say it.

"I left work at six. I think it was Tuesday the fourteenth. I walked to my car, not paying any attention to a van parked next to it. Next thing I knew I was grabbed by these two huge guys and pulled into the back. One of them clamped a huge paw over my mouth. They used these plastic ties to bind me and stuffed some cloth into my mouth then they pulled a big bag over my head. We rode—God only knows where—for maybe an hour. I thought they were just trying to confuse me. Then they took me into a room and cut my clothes off. I was forced into a chair and tied in using a rope. When they took the bag off I saw four big bruisers with stocking masks so I couldn't identify them.

"They left me there for hours then they brought in a syringe. They held my hand and injected whatever it was into a vein in my hand. It made me woozy and light-headed and gave me a feeling of euphoria. Each of the next two days they gave me more and by the third I needed it desperately.

"I begged for it, but they made me do some sick stuff to earn it. That's the term they used—earn it. They kept me in the room for more than two weeks. I learned they had given me heroin. I'm addicted now. Why would someone do that?"

"I'm sure I have no idea. The whole thing sounds preposterous."

"It happened, Rocky. I swear. The last thing I remember was giving myself another fix and then I woke up in my car with some cops arresting me. I need your help, Rocky."

"You can't afford me, Alex. I wouldn't represent you for less than $10,000 an hour."

"What? That's ridiculous."

"No, that's the price of seducing and fucking my wife. I've forgiven her, but you're going to suffer for hurting my family and yours. Not only are you an addict, but I'd bet you've contracted some kind of STD, too."

"How would you know about that?"

"They sent Julie a DVD of some of your more perverted activities. Julie has seen you sucking a big cock and swallowing and she's seen you taking a big dick up your ass. She's done with you after seeing that. Think of it as practice for when you're in prison. I'll bet the other inmates will be waiting for you with open arms. I suggest you become some big black guy's bitch. That's the only way you'll get any protection." I rose from the chair and called for the guard. "I'd come up with a more reasonable story if I was you. The judge will throw the book at you if you tell that bullshit in court. By the way, a motel owner in Wyandanch came forward once your arrest hit the TV news. He said that you checked in on the fourteenth and stayed there until this morning. He's showed the registration form with your signature and your charge slips to the cops; you're visible on his security tapes throughout the two weeks, too. So far the police have checked twenty of the 112 bags of drugs. They all have your fingerprints on them and they've all tested positive for heroin. Let's face it, Alex—you're a lying scumbag and you always have been."

"You fucking guinea bastard!"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Tsk, tsk. Alex, if you're going to use an epithet at least be accurate. The term 'guinea' refers to Italians. I'm Sicilian. You should know that Sicilians always get their revenge just as I've gotten mine with you. Good luck with the public defender. He'll probably tell you to take a plea bargain and that'll be good advice. You'll be lucky to get off with ten years and have to serve at least five. By then you'll be completely destroyed...if you live that long." I walked out the door laughing as soon as the guard opened it.

+++++

I continued to work the Carey murder trial over the next two weeks and, as I checked the statements of the witnesses I thought I saw a pattern of information I could use to advantage. Then, on a Friday afternoon, Steve stopped in to ask for help. "I'd appreciate if you could accompany me to the County Jail, Rocky. I'm going to try to get Hammond to sign the divorce agreement. You know the family better than I do, so I was hoping..."

I checked the clock and agreed to leave with him in an hour. We checked in to the jail together at 4:07. Steve had his briefcase, but I was empty handed. We passed through the metal detectors and Steve's briefcase passed through the x-ray machine before being led to the interview room. Alex did not look good when he was brought to us. "You got a fucking nerve coming here, Fabbri."

"Nice to see you're doing well; been tested for STD's yet?"

"Yeah...positive for HIV and gonorrhea. They're pumping me full of antibiotics for at least a month. So, why are you here? You certainly didn't just stop by to say 'hello'"

"Mr. Hammond, I'm Steve Donaldson, your wife's lawyer in the divorce action. I'm hoping I can get you to sign off on the agreement. She's gone through hell the past month. We can get the same settlement or better by going to court, but then all of your adultery will be public knowledge. Also, even though you won't be present to defend yourself against these charges, anything said in family court can be used against you in criminal court. Her sworn testimony is sure to hurt you."

"And I'm sure you'll ask her all the right questions."

"Of course, I am HER attorney—not yours. On the other hand, I have no interest in making you serve a longer prison term than necessary."

"Sounds like blackmail to me. What does she want?"

"Basically, it comes down to three issues—first, sole custody of the children which she's going to get because of your drug involvement. Second is the house which she will also get so she has a place to live and raise your children. Third is the business which she intends to run so she can support herself since you won't be in a position to pay either alimony or child support. She has been generous in terms of your investments. You will retain ownership of half. If we go to court I'm going to push for all the investments as payment for putting up with your philandering and criminal activity. All you have to do is sign and we're done. Otherwise we'll let the judge do it. I'm a very good attorney, Mr. Hammond. I get what I go after."

"I'd sign if I was you, Alex. Hasn't Julie suffered enough and don't forget about Mark and David. I'm sure they're having trouble in school with all the publicity. The news has kept the kids out of it, but their classmates are getting information from their parents. Give them a break...yourself, too."

"Okay, where do I sign?"

"Go over the entire document, Steve so there's no question that he understands what he's signing." Steve spent twenty minutes reviewing the document and when he was done Alex did sign. I also signed as a witness and we asked one of the guards to do the same. "That's just about the only thing you've done right over the past six months. 

"Don't forget my suggestion about following the public defender's advice. They almost always go for a plea bargain. That's your best bet. You'll be murdered if this case goes to court." He tried to shake my hand, but I simply looked at him as though he was crazy. Steve and I walked out as soon as the guard opened the door. We were both grinning wildly, but for very different reasons. I'd kept my promise to both Jill and myself—Alex Hammond was personally and professionally destroyed. His family was lost to him forever. I felt great!

+++++

I stopped at the florist as I had every Friday night and expected the usual yelling and jumping from my three females that met me every Friday. Instead they were calmly seated in the living room. I looked around as I first kissed and hugged Alicia then Sofia and finally Jill. "Okay, what gives?"

"We all agreed on what we want to do for dinner, Daddy." I looked at Jill, asking a question with my facial expression.

After trimming the flowers' stems and placing them into a vase Jill told me, "Okay, Darling—we're all ready to go. We've all used the toilet so out to Daddy's car, girls."

"Is anyone going to tell me where we're going or what we're eating?" Silence. "Okay, I guess I get to choose. It's been ages since I had calamari or scungilli. Yum!"

I could see the looks in the back seat until Jill told them, "Squid and some kind of marine snail."

"No, Daddy," they exclaimed as one. "We want lobster."

I looked at Jill. "You just have to speak their language." She laughed, leaned over to kiss me and a second later we were on our way. Dinner was great and I finished the Nancy Drew book before tucking them into bed. Jill was waiting for me, naked. She stripped me, kicking the clothes into a pile before leading me into the bathroom for our shower.

Jill smothered me with kisses as she led me to our bed. She warmed my cock with her mouth, but denied me the chance to reciprocate. Instead she licked me until I was nearly delirious then she straddled my hips and drizzled lube onto my knob. "I've been spending some time on the internet." She slid slowly down my cock, impaling her ass before my astonished eyes.

Jill rode me, bending my cock in directions I could barely imagine while her sphincter threatened to squeeze me to one-quarter my normal girth. This was an interesting position. I enjoyed the freedom Jill had and I especially enjoyed my ability to reach up and worry her sensitive nipples. We'd been at it only a few minutes when I felt my resolve crumble. "Jill," I called out. I needn't have bothered. Her eyes were rolled back as I moved my hands to her waist to steady and hold her. My orgasm was incredible, but it paled in comparison to hers. She was still trembling when I lowered her to the bed, her breathing rapid and shallow-her conscious mind completely out of it.

I held Jill for almost half an hour. I was glad this was a Friday so we could sleep in if needed. Once I was sure she'd be safe I rose to thoroughly clean my cock, washing it repeatedly in a strong soapy solution. I returned to Jill with a hot sudsy wash cloth that I applied vigorously to her butt. My vigor awakened my wonderful wife.

Have I mentioned how insatiable my wife can be? I find that to be an ingratiating trait, but only so long as her insatiability is directed toward me. It was now as I believed it had been our entire life with the singular exception of her experience with Inmate 68427 of the Nassau County Jail.

I held Jill's lips to mine as I whispered, "Remember those breast implants you wanted?" I wouldn't mind if you had them, but I don't think I'd like you with D's or bigger."

"I don't think I need them any longer, Rocky. I thought that I could get your attention more often if I had bigger boobs." I gave her an incredulous stare and she shrugged her shoulders in response. "But there is something I'd like even more." She kissed me again and whispered a few words into my ear.

Smiling at her request, I pulled her down for another long kiss and whispered back, "I think I can handle that." Once I had pulled the blanket over our bodies we found sleep almost immediately.

+++++

I had a chance to question the witnesses in the Carey case as part of the discovery procedure, what's known as Examination Before Trial (EBT), the following Wednesday. The first was Charles Courtenay. He described himself as an extremely close friend of the victim. After being sworn he stated that he had arrived with the victim—Jeremy Franklin—at approximately 8:30. They had only "several drinks" while trying unsuccessfully to pick up some women. They left at 1:30 and were accosted by Michael Carey just outside the bar.

"How many were in your party?"

"Five of us."

"And how many with Mr. Carey?"

"I don't know." I love when so-called witnesses have "perfect recall" on the easy questions, but can't remember a thing when the questions can possibly put them in a bad light. I gave Dan Davis, the Assistant District Attorney assigned to the case, a knowing look as I returned to my questioning. I kept at him for another half hour before thanking him for his cooperation, knowing that I'd eat this clown for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if he actually testified under oath.

The next witness was Gary Ehrlich. He was in the victim's group, but was not a close friend. In fact, he didn't really like the victim. "He was an arrogant and aggressive son of a bitch who thought he was better than everyone else." From this witness we learned that Mr. Franklin had more than a few drinks—twelve, in fact. Each member of their group had bought two rounds with Franklin and Courtenay each buying an additional. We confirmed that Mr. Carey was alone while Mr. Franklin had his full cadre of four friends with him. Mr. Ehrlich told us that Franklin was aggressive and that he approached Carey menacingly forcing Carey to step back until he was against the building wall. He did recall seeing Carey pull a small knife, but did not see him actually stab Franklin. He described Franklin lunging at Carey and thought he might have stumbled and fallen onto the knife.




Your Cheatin' Heart Pt. 02



The third witness corroborated his statements for the most part. I would have been suspicious had they agreed completely. I also asked him how they had met. "We were all on the football team in college," was his reply.

"Dan," I began once the witnesses were gone, "I'll devour you if you move forward with a murder case. This looks more like self-defense or possibly manslaughter at worst. Carey was alone, returning from a late shift at work so we know he wasn't drinking when he accidently bumped into Franklin. Actually, I'll bet I can make a case that Franklin deliberately bumped into him, especially once I have a chance to cross Courtenay."

"I don't think I'd call him."

"That's probably a smart move, but that doesn't mean that I won't call him as a hostile witness. By the time I finish with that asshole the jury will love my client. Seriously, Dan—you need to speak to the DA about this case and soon. I don't like the idea of an innocent man in jail."

"I'll speak with him once we finish up and give you a call."

"Tell Paul he'll look like someone who respects justice. He'll make a lot of points with the blue-collar crowd." I stood and shook his hand. I wanted to speak to him about something else, but this was not the time or place.

Dan phoned me just after two. We scheduled the press conference for five. Calling Rosa into my office I told her I'd be out for the rest of the day. I was headed to the jail to see my client.

Michael Carey was subdued when he walked into the interview room. His complexion was sallow and he looked as though he had lost weight. Carey was a small man to begin with—five feet eight inches tall and all of 140 pounds when arrested. I was sure that he had been terrified and intimidated when accosted by the six foot three inch, 240 pound Franklin and his big athletic buddies.

"How are you today, Michael?"

"How do I look, Mr. Fabbri? I narrowly escaped getting raped last night. Some night it'll happen or I'll be killed trying to defend myself. I know I'll be here or in prison for the rest of my life."

I reached across the table to clasp his hands in mine before giving him the news. "No, Michael—you won't. In fact, you'll be released this afternoon." I explained how I had questioned the witnesses in the presence of an assistant DA this morning and that they described Franklin's actions as aggressive and threatening. "His blood alcohol level was .32—four times the legal limit. You were also the only person present to try to help him once he went down. You called 911 and you tried to stop the bleeding. I'm sure that went a long way toward convincing the DA to drop the charges."

We sat together in the room as we waited for the bureaucracy to process the necessary paperwork for his release. I was often amazed that, other than a receipt for one's personal possessions, there was almost nothing required to actually jail a person, but to get out required a near mountain of paper and authorizations.

My watch read 4:20 when they finally came for him. I accompanied him to the processing room where he was able to exchange his orange jail jumpsuit for his sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers. Once he was free I led him to the press conference where we listened to Paul Cohen, the pompous ass of a DA, tell everyone present how dedicated he was to justice.

I spoke briefly once he was done about the judicial process and how it had worked this time. I praised the District Attorney and his staff for the fairness in which this investigation was conducted and then Michael Carey told the media how happy he was to be vindicated. I drove him to his home even though it was in the opposite direction of mine. We talked amiably during the ride, but once at his home I suggested that he stop carrying a knife. He took a deep breath and nodded then he turned and walked into his apartment.

I was emotionally beat when I finally got home around 7:30. Of course, I had phoned Jill and I knew she would watch the press conference either live or on the six o'clock news. She greeted me with a huge hug and several lengthy kisses much to the amusement of our daughters. Jill and I were always open in expressing our affection for each other. We kissed and touched each other often—more often over the past month—so our girls should have been used to it. For some reason they always giggled at the sight of their parents sharing an intimate moment. 

Of course, we never allowed them to see a real intimate moment. Those were behind the locked doors of our bedroom. Only once had we tried to get really frisky in our living room since Alicia had reached her fourth birthday. I had just removed Jill's bra and she had my hard cock in her hand when we heard a squeal from the hallway. Jill had somehow found her blouse and run to our daughter while I had ducked behind a chair. We had a good chuckle once Jill had locked the bedroom door then we fucked each other until neither of us could stand.

+++++

There is a price to be paid for success. Sure, I had worked seventy-plus hours a week when I was getting started and, even now, sixty or more hours a week weren't uncommon. My cases were often "high profile," meaning that I often got great press reviews. That convinced the public to seek my services more and more often. I had learned over the years that I could juggle fifteen to twenty cases at a time, but after the Carey case I was deluged with work. I phoned Dan Davis to suggest we meet for lunch.

"Do we have anything going now, Rocky?"

"Not to my knowledge, Dan. I'd like to speak with you about something else. How about Ruth's Chris...say Friday at one?"

"You are buying, aren't you?"

"Of course...I wouldn't expect a public servant to treat me to lunch." We laughed and set the date. I asked Rosa to make the reservation. Dan and I had a lot in common. We were both Tufts University grads and had attended Penn Law in Philadelphia. Granted, we had attended those schools twelve years apart, but we had many of the same professors and many of the same experiences. I admired Dan both professionally and personally.

I arrived first and waited for Dan in the lobby. Once seated, I ordered a margarita on the rocks, but Dan, ever the public servant, ordered iced tea. We each had a filet and split an order of shoestring fries. We talked amiably until the coffee came at the end of the meal. "So, Rocky—what gives?"

"How long have you been in the DA's office?"

"It'll be five years come next month, why? You offering me a job?"

"Yeah, matter of fact, I am." I reached into my jacket for an envelope, handing it across the table to Dan. It held all the specifics of my offer including more than a thirty percent increase in salary, an end-of-year bonus, medical, dental, and life insurance, paid vacation and 401(k) plan.

"I appreciate the offer, Rocky, but you know I'd never settle for being a firm's token black."

"Well, you should know that my secretary, Rosa, is an African-American as is Joel, one of the paralegals. Another is Hispanic and, let's face it, I'm hardly a WASP. Seriously, Dan—give it some thought. I've had to turn down a lot of criminal work since Carey."

"What will your clients say when they find out their lawyer is a spade?"

"They can either say, 'Thanks' or they can take a hike. I had to face some discrimination when I got started, Dan. Now they think I'm lily white. I don't see the race issue to be anything to worry about. When I finish selling you they'll be kissing your ass just like they kiss mine. I figure to charge $300 an hour for your services so they'll be getting a break. I'm about to raise my rates to six hundred."

"What would you expect me to bill?"

"Initially, I'll be happy if you break even...about fifty hours a month. That should be a breeze for a go-getter like you. Oh...I don't actually have an office for you, but I do have three empty storerooms, all with windows. You'll have your choice and you can decorate as you like within reason—paint and/or paneling, carpeting, a real executive desk and matching table and chairs, bookcase, whatever you need."

"Okay, I'll think about it and share the offer with Patricia, my wife."

"Why don't you join us for the Fourth? We always have a big party starting around noon and ending around 10:30. We'll have hot dogs and burgers for lunch with a bunch of deli salads and filets for dinner. There will be plenty of booze and beer and I do all the cooking myself."

"Is that supposed to be a good thing?"

"Asshole! Bring your bathing suits and your kids. All my employees and their kids come. We'll even have fireworks—big ones...really big ones."

"As an officer of the court I'll have to report you to the authorities."

"You really are an asshole. You'll fit in just fine." We shared a good laugh, shook hands and returned to work. Okay, Dan returned to work; I went to visit another attorney. 

I knew that Michael Stern had just passed the bar and was trying his hand at civil law in a small firm where the owner wanted to retire. He'd hired Michael thinking that he would expand his practice. Then his wife had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had passed not two months later. I had known them since childhood. They had been my godparents even though they were both Jewish. Saul had phoned me to tell me of his wishes. He would introduce me to Michael then explain that he was going to retire. I'd handle the rest. Saul's recommendation was good enough for me.

I towered over Saul—he was only five feet four inches, after all, but he was one of the finest legal minds I had ever encountered. He called for his associate to join us. "Michael, I'd like you to meet my godson, the infamous Rocco Fabbri, but never call him 'Rocco.' He'll skin you alive if you do. Only old geezers like me can get away with that. I'm sure you're wondering how a Roman Catholic with two Sicilian parents can have two Orthodox Jews as godparents. Even I, after all these years, am trying to answer that question.

"Anyway, Michael, I have a reason for bringing the two of you together like this. I had hoped to expand my practice through you, but the loss of my Rachel has hit me like a ton of bricks. Instead of expanding I'm going to retire, but I must consider your future and that's what I've done...with Rocky's help. You see, he IS expanding his practice. I know that he has just tendered an offer to one of the DA's brightest young stars and I believe he's about to make the same offer to you." Saul waved his gnarly old paw at me.

"Although we've never met, Michael, I feel that I know you well. You've probably learned that Saul loves to talk. My wife and I had Saul as our guest to dinner Sunday evening. He spoke of you in glowing terms. Knowing how imperious he can be his glowing recommendation was...well, unusual. I know that Saul has decided to retire while he still has the health to enjoy his life." While Michael blanched at my words, my hand went into my pocket for yet another envelope. I carefully explained the package as I had with Dan. He asked many of the same questions and I gave him the same answers. I was quite satisfied when I left to drive home.

Dan phoned me Monday morning to confirm what I already knew—he couldn't afford to ignore my offer. We met again over lunch in my office to hammer out the official agreement. It would be for five years, extendable for as long as necessary. Dan selected his office from the three empty rooms and took several office catalogs with him. I walked him to his car and left with the question, "Coming for the Fourth?"

"The chance to have you as my chef? Wouldn't miss it for the world." We shook hands again, and he returned to his office to tender his resignation, just as I had done eight years ago. Later that afternoon Michael Stern joined the firm, working from the library while his office was put together. Working closely with Steve he soon hit the ground running, billing fifteen hours his first week and twenty-six the second.

+++++

We had a long weekend with July Fourth—Independence Day—on a Saturday. The courts were closed on Friday so we were closed, too. I spent the day in the pool with my girls, marveling at how well their swimming lessons had progressed since beginning on Saturday mornings in March. Our high school's pool had cost a fortune, but I had always thought it well worth the price. There were recreational activities every Friday night and Saturday afternoon and lessons for all levels on Saturday mornings in addition to classes for physical education and the swim team during the school day.

Jill and I made almost a hundred hamburgers after dinner while our daughters relaxed in their room. Our hands were coated with fat by the time we were done. I swear we must have spent fifteen minutes washing up afterwards. Jill phoned the deli to confirm the order for the salads while I pulled the fifty Nathan's hot dogs from our freezer. Saturday morning I'd drive to the nearby supermarket for a dozen ten-pound bags of ice—enough to keep all our beer and soda cold all day. We were ready for our guests by eleven so Jill and I relaxed while Alicia and Sofia frolicked in the pool. 

I expected my parents to arrive early—Papa was never late, especially given the chance to see his granddaughters. I wasn't as all surprised to see Saul with them. Jill's folks came about twenty minutes later. Almost everyone had arrived by 12:30, especially those with kids who couldn't wait to jump into the pool. Ours was big by residential pool standards—free-form with rocks forming a waterfall next to the hot tub. It was fifty feet long by twenty feet wide, looking more like an irregular figure-eight than anything else I could describe. 

We had seats and umbrellas around the pool for twenty and plenty of lawn chairs under the yard's numerous trees. At one end of the pool was my grill, a built-in five-foot propane grill with refrigerator and sink close by. The entire stone and tile structure was ten feet long, forming an island on the stone deck facing away from the rear of the house.

I had just fired up the grill when Steve walked through the gate. Handing him a cold Corona, I asked, "No date?"

"Not yet, Rocky." I was confused as he greeted Jill then went to a small grouping of chairs. Michael Stern and his wife, Sonia, were next with their two young children. Dan and Patricia were right on their heels with their son, D'Sean. Lastly were Julie and her two boys. I thought they would run to our girls; they were great friends, but instead they ran to Steve, hugging him even as he kissed Julie's cheek.

I made sure that everyone had drinks before beginning my speech. "Jill and I are so pleased that you've come to join us today. For those who don't know our parents, Jill's are over there—Jonathan and Martha and mine are somewhere behind me—Vito and Maria. This old coot who looks kind of like Sam Jaffe, the actor, is my mentor Saul Rosen.

"I want to make sure that everyone has a drink before I continue." I held up my beer and all the adults followed suit. "Okay, everyone except Jill...good. I think it was about ten weeks ago that I was feeling in a wonderful generous mood. There's something that Jill has wanted for years, but I've always said no. On this occasion I offered it to her, but she said she'd much rather have something else. So...I'm pleased to tell you that after many hours of hard odious labor on my part"—Jill gave me a light poke to the ribs at my words—"yes, after even more hours of terribly difficult and horribly painful work on my part Jill now has her gift. She is expecting!"

Of course, there was polite applause that grew longer and stronger when Jill rose from her seat to grip my head and pull me into a long kiss. It ended when I felt a tug on my shorts. Looking down I could see my daughter, Sofia. "Daddy, what does 'expecting' mean? Why is everyone clapping?"

I knelt to hug my precious little girl then I whispered just loud enough for all present to hear, "it means that in about seven months you're going to have a brand new little brother or sister—a little baby." She looked at me as only a child can then hugged me, holding on to my neck with surprising strength, releasing me only when I reminded her that I had to cook lunch.

It wasn't long before I had thirty hot dogs and three dozen burgers sizzling on the grill. I always toasted the buns, placing them in a plastic bag to keep them moist. Ten minutes later all the kids were eating the dogs and I was taking orders for cheeseburgers with or without bacon vs. hamburgers. I had just finished the burgers when I started all over again. I knew Rosa's three teenagers could eat all afternoon. I stayed at the grill, eating on the fly, until I felt my arm being lifted and wrapped around my wonderful wife.

"You are so evil, Rocky—telling everyone about all your hard work to knock me up." She giggled then promised me another evening of odious effort with her body. I finally finished cooking lunch around two, cleaning up the grill and shutting it down until late afternoon when I'd take orders for dinner. I'd cook the prime filets to order just as long as everyone wanted them medium rare. I had two side burners that I'd use to boil four dozen ears of corn.

Leaving the grill at last I made my way to the tree where Steve and Julie were sitting and holding hands. "Well, I see you two are having a good time together."

"Yes, we are, Rocky," Julie responded, "and don't give Steve a hard time about it. He was a perfect gentleman during my divorce proceedings and I noticed how he related to my boys. He was better to them than their own father so I asked him to dinner one night after the divorce was concluded. I won't go into details, but it was one of the best nights of my life. Apparently, Steve agreed—we've been seeing each other ever since." She leaned over to kiss Steve to prove her point. I smiled as I thought how I'd enjoy telling that asshole Alex how quickly Julie had moved on. That it was with my employee and her attorney just made it all that much better. We chatted for a few minutes before I excused myself to play host.

The temperature was in the high 80's so everyone made good use of the pool, including me. Alicia and Sofia loved to climb up to my shoulders, stand, and jump. It wasn't long before I was the jumping and diving platform for most of the kids until Dan rescued me. "Take a break, old man—you look like you can use one."

"Sure...go ahead and insult me. Remember what I told you." I laughed and he joined me. I was more than willing to pass those duties along to Dan so I could entertain my guests and refill the coolers with soda and beer. After thirty minutes I was tired so I sat with Rosa and her husband, Ferd. I was there only a minute when Jill handed me a cold can of Yuengling and sat in my lap.

I began the preparations for dinner around six, knowing from experience how long I would take to cook the corn and steaks. Dinner was served at 7:15 and I kept the grill going in anticipation of requests for seconds, especially from Rosa's sons.

We were all back in the pool afterwards until around nine when just about everyone showered and dressed using the cabanas we'd rented for the weekend. Then it was time for dessert—ice cream, pastries and cookies from a local bakery and some of my mother's tiramisu. Then those experienced from past parties drew up the chairs in a semicircle for the fireworks. I had set them off myself early on when I had few employees and was working on a limited budget. Now I used a local manufacturer. It was expensive, but safer and, more importantly, legal. All told the party had cost me almost $50,000, but it was money well spent. I believed in keeping my people happy.

Everyone helped with the clean-up; Jill and I slid into bed at 11:45, tired but well satisfied. She told me about her conversations with Patricia Davis and Sonia Stern. "I had a really great time with them, Rocky. They're wonderful people."




Your Cheatin' Heart Pt. 02



"I agree; they're as good as their husbands. Speaking of husbands, how serious are Steve and Julie?"

"Serious," she replied, "really, really serious. The boys love him and he feels the same about them. I wouldn't be surprised if he stayed the night."

"You ARE kidding, aren't you?"

"No, of course not, darling; Steve stays there all the time. The kids know about it. They call him 'Daddy.' Isn't that great?"

"It is, but I hope Julie doesn't get hurt."

"Me, too; I'm pretty sure that she's falling in love with him. You know how much women want the security of being married. Julie's a woman."

"I have noticed that she has all the standard equipment...a couple of the better options, too!"

"And, what's wrong with my equipment?" Jill tried to act seriously, but couldn't stifle a sly grin.

"Absolutely nothing; you have all the best options and you have my total love and devotion as you very well know."

"I do know one thing. We need to shut up so we can make love. I felt so special when you told everyone that I was pregnant. That's the best gift I could think of."

"Me, too; now...what say we follow your excellent advice? Roll on top of me, will you? I've wanted you all day and all night." Jill did as I asked, but first she insisted on blowing me—like I'd ever object. She'd brought me almost to the edge then let me rest before climbing up my body, impaling herself on my hard thick tool. Jill rode me like a woman possessed. We'd missed all the different positions having made love daily in missionary—a price we willingly paid to ensure that Jill would become pregnant.

Personally, I never had a doubt. I hadn't told Jill; it wasn't something I could ever fit into any of our discussions. I had lived in a big rooming house while school in Philadelphia along with several other grad students, some in law school with me and some in the medical school. I was at dinner one night when one of the medical students asked if we'd like to make a hundred bucks. As one who had worked to supplement my scholarship as an undergrad and was now working almost forty hours a week to pay for law school I was eager to learn how. "We need some samples for a study we're doing," was the reply. "We're willing to pay for them."

"What do you want," I asked, thinking they wanted blood or urine.

"A semen sample."

"You want me...er, us to jerk off into a test tube?"

"Yes, but not a test tube—they're too narrow. We have several sterile containers. There's no reason to be embarrassed. We're doing it and so are more than a hundred others. This is a study that's being funded by the National Institutes of Health." That's how I learned what a stud I am. I was in the 99.9th percentile in quantity-number of sperm cells produced per milliliter-and their motility. They called me "Superman" the rest of the year. Unfortunately, word got around and few, if any, female students wanted to take a chance with me; they were afraid of becoming pregnant should the condom break. I didn't meet Jill until I was working for the district attorney in Queens four years later.

+++++

Michael Stern was doing exactly what he'd done with Saul so he had few difficulties adjusting to working with Steve. Dan, who started a few days later, had a more difficult transition. The Nassau County DA may be a pompous ass, but he's no idiot. There's no sense assigning cases to an attorney who will leave in four weeks. Few, if any, cases are resolved in such a brief time. Once Dan had resigned the DA wanted him out. Using accumulated vacation and sick time he was gone in a week.

Initially, I met with him every morning to review his progress. He had to learn to reverse his thinking. Instead of concentrating on the strengths of a case he had to examine each case's weaknesses. I told him not to worry about the client's innocence or guilt. That was the job of the jury. He was doing well enough a month later that I could afford to take some time off for a family vacation—our first since Sofia was born. Where were we going? Disney World, of course!

Jill and I had kept our destination a secret from our girls. The looks on their faces when I drove our rental car onto the Disney property was incredible. We stayed on site at the Animal Kingdom Lodge where Alicia and Sofia never tired of seeing the African herd animals at the pond every evening. All told we spent ten days there, taking in Sea World and Universal Studios in addition to everything Disney could throw at us. We returned just before Labor Day and the start of the new school year to learn that Steve had asked Julie to marry him. 

I had thought long and hard about the perfect wedding present for them. We had an office party the Friday before the wedding roughly a month later although everyone present would attend the ceremony and reception the following afternoon.

As always, I served as the emcee, calling the embarrassed, but happy, Steve and Julie to my side. Jill was there with me already. "I think this is the appropriate time to give you the wedding present that Jill and I have selected for you, Steve." I handed him the small box wrapped carefully in gold foil paper. "Go ahead...open it."

Carefully, he tore the paper from the box, giving me a questioning look. "What is this, Rocky?"

"What does it look like, Steve?"

"It looks like a box of business cards."

"Yup, you're exactly right. Take one out and read it." Jill squeezed my arm as Steve first read then looked at me in surprise and delight. His eyes became teary so I read the card aloud for him, "Fabbri Donaldson Law Firm...Steven Donaldson, Partner." There was wild applause before I could continue so I whispered, "I'm giving you fifteen percent of the company. Congratulations, partner!" This was a gift that would keep on giving. I anticipated that he'd see well more than a hundred grand every year until he retired. He stood there overwhelmed until Julie stepped forward to kiss him and the members of the firm could shake his hand and pat him on the back. The caterers brought in the sandwiches and hot dishes along with coffee and soda for our lunch. We all went home once the party was done, but I made a stop at the County Jail first.

+++++

I was seated in the interview room, a privilege extended to attorneys even though I wasn't the attorney of record, when a gaunt Alex Hammond was led in. "What the fuck do you want, Fabbri?"

"I'm glad to see you too, Alex. I thought you might like some information about your family. You're not getting anything from Julie, so why not from me?"

"Oh...okay, how are my kids? That bitch can go fuck herself."

"I doubt very much that will happen. She's getting married tomorrow afternoon. You know her new husband. He's my new partner, Steve Donaldson. He got rid of his apartment almost two months ago and moved in with Julie. Mark and David call him "Daddy." They really love him and he loves them back. Julie told me she's looking forward to having his baby. Isn't that swell?" Alex was fuming—time to twist the knife one more time.

"I was over at your former home last weekend. There wasn't a single photo of you in the entire house. That doormat that said, 'The Hammonds,' is gone, too. The new one says, "Donaldson." You know, Alex—fucking my wife was the stupidest thing you've ever done. This has worked out even better than I had hoped."

"What do you mean?"

"Surely you don't think that you were abducted and addicted by accident, do you? That was just a small part of my plan—my vendetta—to destroy you...to destroy your family. Now my plans are almost complete. They will be soon."

"I swear to God I'll get you once I get out of here."

"No, you'll only get out in a pine box, Alex. You see, when you were first injected with heroin you were also injected with the deadliest, most virulent strain of HIV at the same time—a fourth generation mutant. It was stolen from a government-funded research lab where it was developed as a biological weapon. It's not the kind that would kill immediately, but it could decimate a country's population over the course of five years, at most. Just think what might be done to a country like China or Iran. You were given enough to infect an entire herd of elephants. There's no cure for this strain. You'll be lucky to live two years. Enjoy them. The HIV is probably the only thing that will protect you from being raped repeatedly, although it's no guarantee. So long, Alex; there's nobody left who cares even a bit about you. You'll be buried in the prison's cemetery since there's nobody to claim your body. Although...maybe I'll claim it so I can put it into the county dump where you belong."

I was halfway out the door when I turned. "By the way, Jill's pregnant. There's no question that it's mine and it's a boy. Great news, huh? So long, asshole!" I went home to embrace and enjoy my family, knowing that nothing was likely to ever threaten them again. Jill would never comment or ask, but she knew that I was somehow responsible for everything that had happened to Alex Hammond. I also knew that she was terrified of what might happen to her if she ever strayed again. I wondered as I strolled to my car if life could possibly be better. I was so happy I actually began to sing, "Your cheatin' heart..." Then I stopped and laughed. A second Hank Williams I'd never be!

Epilog

Jill and I lived happily ever after. We had four children—three girls and one boy—before we decided we had enough. I was never worried about Jill or her love for me again. Father Dominic had given me good advice. I had never regretted following it.

I had stopped by our church on my way home that fateful Friday when I'd received the evidence of Jill's adultery. Father Dominic had been my confessor for years. He had one quality that none of the other priests could match—he was Sicilian. He had listened to my problem for twenty minutes before speaking. He told me that he firmly believed in forgiveness...within reason. Forgiveness for the sake of my family was both reasonable and healing. Vendetta for Alex Hammond would be just as reasonable and probably even more healing. "Just be sure to see me every Sunday for confession. I'll be sure to go, too...I'll need a lot of penance for even suggesting that you exact revenge on the man who would so damage your family, but...we are what we are—no, Rocky?"

My firm grew to twenty lawyers over the next ten years. Dan and Michael were also made partners—Fabbri Donaldson Davis and Stern—a Sicilian, a WASP, an African-American, and a Jew. We had all the bases covered, with me as senior partner.

Alex Hammond never made it to the end of his prison term. He didn't even live the two years I'd guessed in our last meeting. He died a withered and decimated man only six months later. My vendetta was finally complete.