Page 96 of King of Temptation

Might get one.

Has a foot stool that glides too.

But I digress. Anyway, we set around with tiny stupid Allen wrenches and discussed how we were going to bring down the head of the Italian mafia here in Vegas. Not two activities you’d expect to go together.

Then again, considering the first part of this plan Leo has concocted, it’s probably fitting.

I’d sipped my scotch and rocked in the glider as I’d watched Leo hunched on the floor.

Behind him were boxes of vibrating chairs, which are an interesting idea, and exer-saucers, complete bullshit if you asked me. And I’d asked the questions one last time. “You’re sure she’s a witness in the murder?”

“If Melissa was telling the truth, then yes.” Melissa is Leo’s former club manager and a backstabbing bitch, so her information is suspect in my book.

“And what if she’s lying?”

“Either way, Nia is his favorite. Taking her will be your leverage to get him to confess.”

I grimace remembering the next part of my plan, my attention focusing back on the ceremony in front of me.

I’ve been to a few weddings.

None of them have ever been like this. There are only about fifteen guests here, our family, Kim’s mom and roommates, and a few business associates.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

“Finally,” Leo roars and then pulls Kim tight against him, kissing her with a whole lot of tongue.

I let out a long breath. Today is going to be a nauseating day.

Kim and Leo come back down the aisle, and we all rise, clapping for the new couple.

I have to hold back a sigh, enthusiasm is not in my emotional repertoire.

But I do smile as they reach the end of the aisle, and Leo picks up his new bride, not stopping to greet guests. Instead, he just keeps walking right into the house.

Kim lets out a small cry of protest but the men around me all chuckle.

“He doesn’t want to wait to have sanctioned sex,” Luke says from just behind me. “I can appreciate that.”

“He’s an emotional guy,” Roman chuckles from the next row.

I cock my eyebrows. “When you’re married, does wanting to bang your wife count as emotion?”

They all laugh at that as I catch the eye of Gris Smith, an Englishman who is part of another major family in Vegas. They call themselves the Dukes, and we’ve made a deal with them that if they can help us out with this plan, they’ll be able to acquire some choice Vegas real estate when the Italians are forced to sell it.

Gris jerks his head toward the side yard and then starts walking.

I follow, sure he’s got something he’d like to discuss.

We disappear around the house, leaving the rest of the guests behind. “Gris,” I give him a nod. “News?”

“It will be tonight,” he says with a quick dip of chin.

“Tonight?” A bit of regret lances through me. We’ve gone through great pains to make all this happen, but there is a part of me that hates this plan no matter how beautiful Nia Carcetti is.

Nia is Toni Carcetti’s daughter, and the apple of his eye.

Gris Smith approached her at the Italian’s casino and secured a date. The man is so handsome, he looks fake. And the Dukes are still relatively unknown in Vegas, which means Gris was able to fly under the radar.

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