Page 87 of King of Temptation

“I’m pissed that I’m an unlovable fuck up,” I grit out. “She should hate my guts. I’m a complete dick.”

Jake sets down a drink. “You’re only a partial dick.”

“Thanks,” I answer, taking a large swig of my water.

“So am I. So is Luke, and Mason is a complete bossy prick.”

“You’re a real fucking poet, you know that?” But I relax back into my seat. “We all know that I’m the worst of us.”

Jake shakes his head. “No one had to do what you did. You had a right to go haywire, Leo. We don’t talk about it but…”

I shake my head. “I don’t want to talk about it now.”

Jake gives a slight nod. “We all know you needed time. It’s what you do next that determines the type of man you are. Not what you’ve done in the past.”

Those words make me pause and I pick up my phone again.

A message pops up, but it’s not from Kim. It’s from Charlotte.

Two pictures come through, one of Kim dancing and another of sunlight shimmering off her hair.

They make my chest hurt.

Thought you might like these. Is Charlotte’s message.

“Charlotte’s a decent sister-in-law,” I say as I stare at the second photo.

“She’s perfect for Mason,” Jake concedes. “But tonight is about me…and your plan. And if I’m not mistaken, that’s the British prick, Griswold Smith.”

I turn in my seat, catching the gaze of a dark-haired man with the sort of looks that might make me and my brothers look ugly.

He gives me the barest nod before he pivots toward the bar. And that’s when he approaches a stunning blonde.

I mean, stunning. That is the thing about all my hours spying in this joint. Toni never kept a regular schedule but a few other members of his family did.

“Shut the fuck up,” I say.

“No one was talking,” Jake answers, but his voice sounds strained. His head dips. “Least of all me. She’s going to be so disappointed when I’m the one she’s stuck with.”

I should attend his words more. There’s meaning there I don’t understand. But I’m busy looking at the woman Griswold has approached. “She’s not going to have a choice.”

“That can’t be Antonia Carcetti,” he whispers. “Toni Carcetti is an average looking dude at best. How can that be his daughter?”

“She goes by Nia.” I say, taking another sip of my water. “And she’s Toni’s daughter. I’m sure of it.”

I stare, sinking deeper into the shadow of our corner table.

Jake clears his throat, his knuckles white around his drink. “When you asked me to do this, you didn’t tell me she was so beautiful.”

I give my uncle a hard stare. “It doesn’t change anything.” I’ve seen Toni’s older daughter, she doesn’t look anything like Nia. Maybe she would have been an easier target for Jake, but Nia is Toni’s favorite, and this is about making the boss of the Italian Mafia really fucking hurt.

Gris is chatting with Nia, leaning close, whispering in her ear. She’s blushing a little, I can see it from here. “I guess you’re not going to try and charm her because you’d never beat that Brit. He is so good looking, he makes me uncomfortable.”

“Fuck you,” Jake spits at me through clenched teeth. Then he’s up and headed toward the door. I don’t follow, watching the Brit flirt with Nia, brushing her hair over her shoulder and skimming his hand down her arm.

She gives him a breathless smile before he takes out his phone and hands it to her. She’s giving him her number…perfect.

He leaves a minute later, doing a lap around the room before he heads for the exit. I follow, taking the direct route, but I keep my head down. We’re in Italian territory here and I’m not trying to cause trouble. At least not tonight.

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