Page 56 of King of Temptation

She takes the bag, grimacing. “I don’t…”

“Kim.” I touch her cheek. “Your safest here, not out in Vegas in the middle of the night.”

She gives a tentative nod and we both go back to the bedroom as she heads into the bathroom to brush her teeth. I sit on the edge of the bed and I’m not feeling so crazy anymore. Tonight, I’ll be calm so Kim can be calm. She needs her sleep.

She comes back out and I peel back the covers for her to climb into the bed. She does and I immediately settle her into my side, pulling her close.

“Are you sure you want to snuggle tonight?” she asks, and I can feel her worry, the tension in her limbs.

“I’m sure.”

She looks up at me but silence settles between us. I’m not sure what else to say. Instead, I stroke a hand down her back, but I can feel that she isn’t relaxing into sleep.

Kissing her again, I swallow down a tightness in my throat. “I’m sorry for what I said.”

She looks at me then, her eyes wide. “Leo.”

“No. I shouldn’t have said it. My temper is a bitch sometimes.”

She settles her head on my chest her body relaxing. I lay there for a long time. I know I’m not sleeping much tonight, my brain is going a million miles a minute, but I want Kim to get some rest.

I hold still as she slips into sleep. As her breathing grows deep and even, I make some promises to do better.

My plans are going to have to change, even the ones involving the Carcettis. They have to go down, but I’m not sure I can go down with them. Maybe it’s time I stop trying to be a vigilante and get some help from my family.

I finally drift off, my dreams full of my father, the choices he made, and how they’ve wreaked havoc on me and my brothers.

I’ve been so angry at him, and that anger has exploded out of me over all facets of my life.

But now…I could be the father. How am I going to do it differently? Not participate? Leave my kid so that I don’t damage him? Or her…

I look at Kim as she sleeps on my chest. She bears scars too and they are from a man who never wanted to be a father.

She views herself as less, worthless. I hold her tighter. I’m no shrink but I can see how your father bailing on you might make you feel that way.

I shake my head. I don’t even know if Kim is pregnant. It’s too soon to think all this shit. Then again, I can’t seem to not think it. My brain won’t turn off.

What if she is pregnant? What man do I want to be?

Somehow, that thought calms me. Because I know I’m not going to be a selfish prick. I’m going to be a man who steps up.

The past few months have been about learning to do it right. I thought that meant falling on the sword, but maybe there is another way.

So yeah…

That is the thought that finally allows me to fall asleep.

My alarm goes off a few hours later and I jerk awake with the vague feeling that something is wrong.

Kim is already awake, staring at me with troubled eyes and everything comes crashing back. “I’m guessing morning sex is out?”

She actually smiles at that and then I give a small laugh too. Cause I’m pretty sure right now my job is to ease some of the tension.

“You get any sleep?” she asks, nipping at her lip.

“A little? You?”

“A bit.” I kiss the top of her head before I pick up my phone. I fire off a text to Roman that I need his doctor and he instantly responds?

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