Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

Leo

A casino is the last fucking place I want to be tonight.

I watched Kim walk out the door this afternoon and it took everything in me not to hold her back. But I have got to stop holding on so tight. It's one thing to get angry. It's another to manipulate the people you care about and try to control them. I see the line and I have to learn not to cross it.

That's what I lost somewhere along the way.

It became this zero-sum game where control was the only thing that mattered. When I really think about, it makes sense.

Losing my dad was this incredible moment where I was in control of nothing. But that can't extend to the people I care about.

I can't hold them in place for my own personal gain. It's not going to work and I'll only push them all away.

Not that any of this applies to tonight. Because one thing I intend to control fully and completely is my plan to keep my family safe.

Jake and I take my usual booth in the corner at the Diamond Casino, a water sitting in front of me as Jake sips a glass of bourbon. "You're really drinking tonight?" I say as I take a sip of my Perrier, my bad mood making me dickish.

"Just because you quit doesn't mean the rest of us have to."

"I'm not suggesting you quit. Maybe just not drink tonight, considering what we're here for."

"Why we're here is exactly why I need to drink," Jake snarks back. "I can't fucking believe I agreed to this. I'm a confirmed bachelor, you know. This is a no-commitment package," he waves at himself.

I scowl. "Are you sure that's your choice? Maybe no woman wants your ugly mug."

He takes a large swallow of his drink. "You're confusing me with you."

That hurts more than it should, and I punch his arm hard. He takes the hit with a grunt. "You've always had fists like anvils."

I look down at my phone, checking to see if Kim responded to my text. Still nothing.

I read back through the message I sent her hours ago, telling her how much I loved her. Telling her how I'd quit the clubs and move to New York, be daddy day care if it meant that she'd marry me.

I was hoping for some kind of response.

I let out a frustrated growl. I want my woman back. I don't care what I have to give of myself to get her back at my side and back in my bed.

"Would you stop sulking over your phone," Jake grouses. "She's not calling tonight."

I set the phone down with more force than necessary. "I know that."

"Then what are you so pissed about?"

"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.

I exit, making my way out the front door and down the street by the parking garage where I find Jake and Gris already talking.

Jake is furiously tapping a cigar I know he wants to light up. But he doesn't. Good for him.

"I did as you asked," Gris says in his slick accent. "Set up a date for next Friday night. Group thing. Her friends. My brothers. I'll keep it gentlemanly and then make another…"

The Dukes have been promised the bones of the Italians so they are exceptionally motivated to make this plan work. "Just remember, the second date you send an Uber to pick her up. Make up any reason you want."

"I'm aware of the plan," Gris says. "And I'll text the date in advance and then a fifteen-minute warning. Don't worry. This is going to be like taking candy from a baby."

"In this case, the baby is a murdering Italian, which means nothing is easy…I promise you that," I add into the conversation. "You take care to make certain this doesn't come back to you."

Gris turns to me. "You're the one who got both Vendetti and little Anthony in prison?"

I jerk my chin in affirmation.

"If you say it then, I believe you. I won't underestimate Toni. But to be honest, I think what my brothers and I are more concerned about is which Italians we'll be dealing with when Toni is dethroned. Whoever they are, they're not going to take kindly to us buying out their casino dirt cheap."

For once, I don't even think about his words. That will be Mason's job, not mine. And I'm glad it's not mine. No jealousy, no malice. Mason will be better at that than me. My job is to take out the enemies threatening our family. I am the fist. And Toni Carcetti is going to feel my punch. Hard.

And after that, I'm going to be supporting Kim during her pregnancy whether she wants to be with me or not. Hopefully with me, but either way, I'm hers to command.

Gris leaves and I turn back to Jake. "We've got a few weeks before this all goes down. I think I might make a quick trip to Minneapolis."

Jake grimaces. "You sure? Maybe what you need to give that girl is space."

"You're not wrong," I answer with a sigh. "But I'd also like the chance to prove to her that I'm ready to be whatever she needs. It's not about me, it's about her."

"Where is my nephew, Leo?" Jake asks, pushing my shoulder.

I know what he means, but the truth is, I feel more like myself than I have for a very long time.

Now, I've just got to convince Kim that I can be the man she needs.