ESCAPING CONVICTION

The Conviction Series 

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The conviction series are written by greer Rivers, is a romantic suspence series that should be read in the following order:

 1. Escaping Conviction :- A Second Chance Romantic Suspense
 2. Fighting Conviction :- A Brother's Best Friend Romantic Suspense
 3. Breaking Conviction :- A Small Town, Protective Hero Romantic Suspense 
 4. Healing Conviction :- A Forced Proximity Romantic Suspense 
 5. Atoning Conviction :- An Enemies to Lovers, Dark Captive Romantic Suspense 
 6. Leading Conviction :- A Security Firm Romantic Suspense 

 ESCAPING CONVICTION PREVIEW 

Conviction Series Book One

ESCAPING CONVICTION

 Jason 

 I’m not letting her go after this.

 I left the love of my life when she needed me most. I thought I

 was saving the world, but instead I lost everything.

 Now I need her.

 My sister is missing and I’m suspect #1. Without Jules as my

 defense attorney, I would be locked in a cell instead of saving my

 sister. Once I find Ellie, I’m never letting either of them out of

 my sight.

 I’m never making that mistake again.

  Jules 

 He’s just like every other client.

 The man I thought was the love of my life, ghosted me when I

 needed him most. But he’s not the one that got away. No, he’s

 the bullet I dodged.

 Now he needs me.

 His sister is missing and he’s been charged with her kidnapping.

 He thinks we can mend what he broke. But I can’t trust him.

 I’m never making that mistake again.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR.

Escaping Conviction is a second chance romantic suspense with legal, military, and mature themes. It is the first in the Conviction series of interconnected standalones, all of which contribute to an overarching plot. Don’t worry, there’s no cliffhanger for the couple in their respective story. HEA guaranteed.

This series takes place in Ashland County, a small, fictional, southern county somewhere in the mountains of the Carolinas. Ashland County is full of steamy, legal intrigue, so some characters may appear in other stories written in the same universe.

The Conviction series should only be read by mature readers (18+) and contains sexually explicit scenes, along with descriptions of human trafficking, drugs, strong language, and physical and sexual violence.
 Reader discretion is advised.

CHAPTER ONE

 Click-clack. 

     Her red-bottom heels resounded like shots fired in an indoor shooting range. With each step, conversations hushed and laughter quieted inside the bustling police station. She smirked and kept her focus straight ahead. Inside a building that’s eighty eight percent male, anything walking in with tits and ass is going to get a second—or third—glance. But it was the other looks she craved. Awe meant she’d impressed them, even though she was technically one of “the bad guys.” Disgust meant she’d bested them.

 “Hey, Juliet,” a timid rookie had the nerve to call out.

     Jules smiled and winked at him, enjoying the blush that crept up his neck. He immediately turned around and pretended to organize papers on the small desk he shared with other new offi cers. She had a case not too long ago where shy Officer Henry Brown screwed up royally. It was a benefit for her client, the suspect at the time, but it nearly got the poor guy fired. After the charge was dismissed, she’d stepped in and spoken with the district attorney to convince the sheriff to give the guy a break. Everybody deserves a second chance......

 She felt the vibration of her phone up the handle of her white Prada tote for the umpteenth time.

 …Almost everybody. 

             Although she already knew who it was, she opened the bag just enough to confirm the name on the screen. She swallowed a groan but never missed a step as she continued on to her destination.

         She didn’t have time for that particular asshole and hadn’t since the day he cheated on her. Not that you could call it that, since they never really dated—in her mind anyway. But the fact that he thought they’d been dating was enough for her to write him off. It was a technicality, but she snatched the excuse and waved it around every time he insisted she hear him out. It didn’t help his case that he’d slept with a certain woman in particular. At the time, he knew what he was doing and who he was doing it with. Jules could guess what he’d aimed to make her feel. Sucks for him that all she felt was relief.

           But at that moment, relief was the last thing she felt. Past the deputy desks, the hallway seemed to cave in on the sides, making her lightheaded and queasy. The faux-granite tiling underneath her Louboutins stretched endlessly. Did the lights usually flicker that ominously? Damned government buildings and their shitty maintenance. 

    Lock it down, Jules. 

             What she was about to do was normally a piece of cake. Second nature by now, even after only a few years. She was used to having the law eating out of the palm of her hand, but each step closer to the interrogation room at the end of the hall made her nausea that much stronger.

             After an eternity, she finally stood outside the faded green door with its frosted window. She could see shadowy figures, one of which looked like it was pacing. The other somehow looked bored, even through the distorted glass, but that had to be her imagination. She glanced around, dipped her hand underneath her coat, and wiped her sweaty palm on the skirt of her dress,thankful that she’d worn a darker color. After a steadying breath, she allowed her fingertips to hover over the doorknob. She tried to clear her mind, to get in the zone. But this wasn’t a regular client.

    This was Jason.

    The man she’d thought was the love of her life until he’d ghosted her when she’d needed him most. He was the one that got away.

     No. She shook her head slightly.

     He’s the bullet I dodged. 

     Any man who could do what he’d done wasn’t worth the dirt under her stilettos. 

 He’s just like every other client.

    The words whispered across her mind like a prayer, and she hoped it would be answered. Jules took another breath and tilted the handle down, shoving into the room. Just as swiftly as she walked in, it hit her.

 He wasn’t like every other client. Only one half-second look into those painfully familiar stormy eyes told her it was different this time. She moved her gaze to the handcuffs around his wrists before looking away entirely and glared at the officer who’d locked her client up.

 “Jason, let’s go. This interrogation is over."

CHAPTER TWO

 Fuck me.

       That was the first thing Jason thought when Juliet Bellerose barreled through the door, like a goddamn Valkyrie, choosing who in the room she’d take to Valhalla and who she would spare. The others in the room seemed surprised, but he’d heard her heels clicking down the hallway long before the door opened.

               

            It’d been seven years, but he’d been dreaming of that walk since the first day he saw her. Her sexy, confident swagger always made him want to scoop her up and hold her, never letting go until her pleasure was his own. Before his mind could follow that thought down into the gutter, he relaxed in his seat and took her in.

                  

       Jules’s honey-brown hair loosely curled down the lapels of the long white coat that covered her dark knee-length garnet dress. Her matching heels were sky high on already long legs. A memory flashed of faint pressure on his hips as she wrapped around him. Damn, he’d tried to relax, but his mind was not cooperating. Instead, he felt himself already getting hard within seconds of her entering the room. He absentmindedly wondered if she also felt the room get warmer as Jason’s gaze traveled along  her figure, all the way up until he caught a glimpse of her dispas sionate glance at him.

         Despite the initial hope that bubbled up when he realized she was coming to his rescue, his heart tanked into his stomach. That beautiful face told him everything he needed to know. She’d already decided his fate. One way or another, he was doomed.

           “What’s the meaning of this?” The pudgy, unkempt investi gator hadn’t been able to keep still since he’d entered the interro gation room. His graying blond, receding hairline was quickly developing beads of sweat that dripped down his red face and furrowed brow. Not even the occasional dabbing of his yellowed handkerchief at his forehead was enough to stave off the perspiration.

                  “Burgess, he told you he wanted a lawyer. Ms. Bellerose is obviously it.” 

           The investigator gaped at the assistant district attorney as the calmer, younger man eased out of his nonchalant pose in the corner of the room. His comment took Jules’s focus off the investigator and a flicker of surprise passed over her face before a sly smile emerged.

 

       “Marco, what are you doing here? Isn’t an interrogation a little hands-on for an ADA?”

  His arms crossed and his lips ticked up slightly. “It’s been a while, Jules.”

     She shrugged a shoulder and her smile grew. “Not since the MC gang case, I don’t think.”

             The ADA’s eyes sparked and Jason thought he detected a hint of nostalgia in his accompanying chuckle. “Oh, you don’t think. You know. It’s hard to forget how your cross-examination of my main witness single-handedly destroyed my case.”

                

            He continued to meander toward Jules until he was barely a foot away from her. Way too comfortable for Jason’s liking, but to his immense satisfaction, she politely stepped back and schooled her expression to reflect the seriousness of her tone.

 “Well, I know you know why I’m here. Why the hell is my client being interrogated without his attorney present?” 

       Getting the message, the ADA took a step back to match hers and dove his hands in his pockets, only looking slightly chastised before he cleared his throat.

      “This is no interrogation. But you are indeed Mr. Stone’s attorney? He failed to mention you by name.” 

       She stood with her feet wide and her arms crossed, never once looking Jason’s way. “You know the drill, Marco. Why is my client in handcuffs if this isn’t an interrogation? Is he under arrest?” 

          “Just a precaution. He’s only in investigative detention, not under arrest. You have to understand, this is a potential missing persons case and we have nothing of evidentiary value besides the phones he brought in. Phones belonging to both of the missing girls.”

       “Exactly! ‘Nothing of evidentiary value.’ And one of those girls is his sister. You’re grasping at straws here. He’s obviously trying to help.”

          “That may be the case, but considering Mr. Stone’s history, the precinct had to consider his training and the fact that he’s a potential danger to officers should he… overreact. This is just an informal investigation. He knows that.”

         “The fuck it is,” Jason grumbled under his breath. This whole thing was pissing him off. If what they’d been questioning him over was true, he was losing precious time and he needed to get the hell out of there. 

           “Be quiet, Jason. Nothing else from you,” Jules gritted out before her perfect bow lips slipped back into a Cheshire smile. 

            “Mr. Stone’s ‘history,’ as you put it, includes being a Night Stalker in our great nation’s Army. He flew helicopters into battle and risked his life to protect our freedoms countless times. Precaution or not, Marco, the media here in Ashland County will have a field day once they realize this is the way our government treats our veterans.” The ADA’s lips thinned while Jules went on. “Interrogation while in custody is a violation of his Fifth Amendment rights, especially if he’s invoked his right to an attorney. Unless you want a pretty solid Section 1983 suit on this precinct, I suggest you uncuff him and let him go. Right. The he!. Now.”

 The ADA recovered with a stiff smile and nodded toward Investigator Burgess. “You heard the woman. Let him go.” He winked at her. “Right. The hell. Now.” 

                      Investigator Burgess trudged toward Jason with his cuff key in hand, grumbling with every step. The heavyset officer grunted and crossed his arms after the cuffs fell to the table, purposely positioning himself between Jason and potential escape.

                   Even though his wrists didn’t hurt, Jason caught himself rubbing them like he’d seen “perps” do in the movies. He was technically free to leave, but considering the ever-increasing tightness in his jeans, he couldn’t get up just yet. It always made him hard whenever Jules took control. He loved it as long as he could take it back where it counted. The bed. A wall. A counter. Really just any surface they could find. 

                     As she sparred with the prosecutor, he used the moment to calm himself down—so to speak—to his advantage and watched her shine. She’d toned down her southern twang, but her voice was still music to his ears. He liked that she wore less makeup now, accentuating her natural beauty. Her face was a bit thinner, proof that she’d grown up while he was away. Her figure, however, was the same outline he remembered, even if it was a little more than it used to be. That was fine by him. More to hold on to. He couldn’t help but smile a little at his cock’s pulse of anticipation.

                One thing that remained the same were those deep cerulean eyes. Damn, he could get lost in those.

                  But as he kept watching, he noticed a darkness that wasn’t there before. Those piercing eyes now seemed tense around the edges and her brow and mouth were too quick to frown. Weari ness affected her posture. He wanted to lift whatever burdens were weighing her down to carry them as his own and shield her from any threat. 

                He’d been that for her once. Her protector. He’d assumed she needed him, until he feared she needed him too much. What a crock of shit that was. It looked like she’d thrived without him. 

               Considering the way he left, he still couldn’t believe he’d actually had the nerve to ask for her help. Aside from their history, she had to be swamped with clients begging her to defend them. From what he’d gathered, she was a savant in her f ield. Only a few years out of law school and somehow, she was already the best defense attorney in the state. Hell, he’d only called her about twenty minutes ago, but here she was, completely prepared. Hot and ready to do her job.

                      At the turn of phrase in his mind, he couldn’t help reminisc ing. His train of thought was no help in quelling his uninten tional erection—the one still keeping him in his chair. Memories surfaced with Jules upside down on a chrome pole, in barely anything. Her bright blue-green gaze luring him in, hypnotizing him. In his mind, it was just them. No nasty pricks in the room wishing their dicks were in their hands as they salivated over her body.

              No, if this was his fantasy, then she was still only his. Body and soul, they’d been meant for each other. If only he’d learned that sooner. Time and regret were cruel teachers.

           He concentrated hard to make the vision go away, but when he heard his devilish angel laughing the ADA’s name again, real ization hit and all control went out the window.

             “Marco? Oh, it’s like that, huh?” Whoops. He hadn’t meant to yell that.   

           Jules’s eyes narrowed toward him and the prosecutor’s brow raised as he waited for her to respond. 

            “I told you. Zip it if you know what’s good for you,” she hissed before miming the gesture.

            Damn, if that tone didn’t turn him on. Even though she’d looked in his direction, she maddeningly still hadn’t looked directly at him. Good to know he still affected her. Even if she hated him, that was better than nothing at all.

           Fuck, he felt insane. Or maybe, he was just pussy-starved. It had been a long time. But even as he thought it, he knew his dry spell wasn’t the issue. In any case, something had to be wrong with him since he couldn’t stop thinking about her, even in a fucking police interrogation room. 

            “Cuffs or not, Marco, this interrogation is over. We’re leaving.”

               The investigator’s reddening face made him look like he was about to detonate. He puffed up his short stature and stood his ground between Jason and the door. Jules and the ADA looked at each other sternly once more, holding their cards close to their chest. Jules’s right eyebrow lifted up just a hair. 

               The ADA folded. He rubbed his hand down his goatee and sighed, looking toward the investigator. “Alright, let him go,” he said, conceding a victory that Jules hid behind a stoic half-smile. 

              The investigator had no such poker face as he stumbled over his words and stepped in front of Jules to argue with her and the ADA. “But… but… the girls?”

              

        “Burgess, you know we need more than what we’ve got to arrest him. With, or without, Ms. Bellerose as his attorney, he’s a free man in the eyes of the law.” The ADA’s stare bore into Jason’s patience. “For now.”

        “This is bullshit!” Investigator Burgess rose on his toes to get into the ADA’s face and pointed wildly around the room. “We have forty-eight hours before the odds are against us. Hell, it still might be too late. They’ve been missing since at least this morn ing. He had their phones in his possession. He has to be the last one who saw them!” 

              Jason smacked his hand on the table and stood up. “I don’t know anything! I’ve said that, over and over! When my sister didn’t respond to my text message, I thought that was odd, but I f igured she was just being a teenager. Then I found Ellie and Sasha’s phones outside my apartment. My aunt told me they weren’t at school this morning, so I was the one who called you. And I agreed to come here with you guys! Now you’re wasting all this goddamn time you’re talking about by questioning me instead of being out there, looking for them!”

            “And oh, how convenient it was that you had both of their phones—”

            “You mother—”

             Soft pressure on Jason’s chest made the fog of his rage dissi pate. At some point, he and the incompetent cop had gotten within feet of one another. All that was between them was Jules, and with one small touch, she’d silently brought him back to the moment.

          “Chill, Jay… just relax. You’re going home now. We’ll figure this out.” Her hand calmed him even as it pressed more fervently against him. He backed up slowly until the back of his legs touched the table.

          “Mierda.” 

         He heard the soft curse behind him and turned abruptly to stare at the forgotten ADA. His tan face quickly shuttered, but not before Jason recognized the regret and acceptance there.

          “What?” Jules asked, her hand still on Jason, and he fought everything in him not to press into it harder. He was afraid once she realized what she was doing, she’d stop.

         “Nothing. It’s just… it’s him, isn’t it?”

           Jules actively avoided looking at Jason as she kept her focus on the prosecutor. An enticing dark pink blush warmed her cheeks and she cleared her throat.

            “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Marco. But if I did, you’d zip it, too.”

             Marco reverted back to an easy smile and chuckled. “Ah, mi sirenita.” Turning toward Jason, his expression cooled signifi cantly. “You better not fuck her over this time, cabron. There are better men than you who would take good care of her." 

      Jason opened his mouth to respond, but Jules beat him to the punch. “Don’t call him that, cabron. It seems you’ve forgotten who taught me all the ‘important’ Spanish words.” She gave him a death glare and pointed her finger at him. Despite her height, the ADA still had a good half a foot on her. Hell, he might even be as tall as Jason. “You know I don’t need takin’ care of. I take care of shit my own damn self.” Her angry twang broke through, but instead of cowering—like a sensible person—the ADA’s shoulders shook lightly with silent laughter.

       “Wouldn’t expect anything less, sirenita.”

        It was as if he were in on an inside joke, one that made Jules hide a smile as she led Jason by the arm, finally walking out of that godforsaken interrogation room.

         While they were walking down the hall, Inv. Burgess finally found some balls and started yelling. “We’ll be watching you, Jason Stone! We know what you did!”

        Ignoring the eyes on them, Jules hurried past all the officers’ desks with an impressive grip on his arm. They may be watching him, but he was innocent of whatever they thought he’d done.

 What he hadn’t done was much worse. 

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