Page 25 of King of Temptation

Which only leaves me one option. I know where Toni lives, I’ve followed him home. But the only way to get to him without hurting his family is to attack the car when he’s in transit.

He’ll have guards…

Which means I’ll be fighting multiple men. I don’t want to ask my family to help me. None of them will be accessories for this crime.

With a growl of frustration, I push my hat up, rubbing my forehead.

When I move my hand, I swear I catch Little Anthony’s eye. He’s looking right at me.

I pull my hat back down, ducking my head, and when I look up, they are passing me by, Little Anthony’s gaze straight ahead.

They move on and I get up before my water even arrives. It’s time for another plan.

I know the clock is ticking. I will get my revenge on Toni Carcetti. And, for once, I will make my family’s life better.

CHAPTER NINE

Kim

I drag myself to the first rehearsal, still not able to shake my exhaustion. The idea that I might see Leo perks me up a bit.

Not that I’m sleeping with him again, but a girl can dream…

He’s still smoking hot and every time he touches me, I turn into a puddle of want.

At some point, when I was lying awake in bed at like two in the morning, thinking about him, I was going through all kinds of justifications.

Like if we have sex three or four more times, could I tell my mom he was my boyfriend?

But then I remind myself, it’s not about creating a veneer, it’s about actually living a reality.

I don’t sleep around.

Still…at twenty-two, is two guys really out of bounds? And again, if we’re hooking up regularly, isn’t that better than a one-night stand?

Which is how I brainstorm some new rules. Granted, it’s middle of the night logic, but I think it holds. While I work for him, no sex. Melissa scheduled me for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. If I could work for four weeks, that would be twelve thousand dollars. If I keep my job at Rebel’s, I’ll have enough money to take my class, and then move to New York. Charlotte isn’t going with me like we originally planned, but I can find other dancers to room with once I get there and I’ll even have a nest egg to get myself started.

It was a solid plan even if thinking about moving and leaving Vegas just made me more tired.

But I digress.

What did not fill me with exhausted dread was the idea that in between working for Leo and leaving for New York…maybe we could hang out some.

The idea of being with him was the opposite of tiring. With Leo every nerve ending came alive, and now I’m wide awake at three in the morning.

It was easier now that I knew he hadn’t slept with Chandra. And that he’d left me his number like he promised. And somehow having an end date where I leave Vegas makes it easier too.

I know that Leo isn’t the forever guy, just like I know when he loses interest it’s really going to hurt.

Even understanding he isn’t the commitment type, I worry about the end of dating Leo. When things got messy with Bobby, it really messed me up.

Like every bad thought I’d had about myself was actually true.

I finally fall asleep but it’s restless and I’m ready to get up when my alarm goes off, even though I’m exhausted.

I walk through the doors at Temptation, making my way to the room where all the dancers get ready. Each of us has a locker and a vanity. In mine is a box with my name on it.

A few of the girls are milling about, and I wonder if I should ask them if everyone got this kind of treatment, a gift box that looks high end, when Melissa walks in the door.

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