Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

Leo

The rest of my afternoon wasn't nearly as fruitful. Despite three hours and four club sodas, Toni never showed at the casino. I'm looking for a regular schedule, or a gap in his security, some way I can plan an attack that is sure not to fail and doesn't involve his family.

But so far, no luck.

Now, I'm holding my clipboard, trying for all the world to pay attention to the dancer in front of me. What was her name again?

Does it even matter?

I scan down the list, seeing Kim on the sheet. My fingers tighten on the pen. My cock twitches from just reading her name. I press two fingers into my eyes. What the hell is wrong with me that even seeing a K on a piece of paper has me in knots?

"Still sexually frustrated, I see," Jake calls from behind me before he comes to take a seat next to me.

I scowl. "I told you. This is not your hunting ground."

Jake grimaces back. "You know, I was all for you giving up drinking until I realized you were going to turn into a grandmother."

"Not a grandmother," Roman says, filing in on the other side. "More like a really bossy mom."

"You mean like the mom you two didn't have?" my cousin Luke adds as he sits next to Roman. Luke is also a Kincaid.

Jake and my dad were brothers, but there is a third. Nick Kincaid. He's retired to Florida. The soft prick.

Luke is his son. He's been around my whole life, and he knows that my mother's only love was the bottle. Vodka, more specifically.

I let out a rumble of frustration. I don't have time for this. "So you're here to insult me for quitting the bottle and to remind me how much my mom loved it?"

Roman frowns. He was only ten when our mom died in a car crash. It hit him hardest, I think. "We're here to give you an update."

I hold up my hand to stop the music and dismiss the dancer in front of me.

She goes with several backwards glances. Once the room is cleared, I sit back in my chair. "What's up?"

It's Jake who begins. "We're having a few issues with our special project."

I scrub a hand down my face. Their special project is my special project too. They just don't know I've been working on it.

It all started with my dad. I inherited my ability to just blow life up from him. Fucking a boss's wife was a stupid idea. I can admit that. But when Toni Carcetti, the head of the Italian mafia had my dad killed, I swore I'd make that guy pay.

I tried last month, and I was kind of successful. I managed to get his top hitman, Giovani Vendetti in jail, but I was also drinking all the time and nearly blew up Mason and Charlotte in the process.

Mason, he's grown our business up to a level that we can afford revenge, but only if we're smart about it. Or…if one of us decides to take the fall. That's me. I'm gonna be the fall guy.

Because in getting Vendetti arrested, I stirred the pot with the whole Italian mafia. And Vendetti, he bombed my brother's apartment building to get back at me. It was fine, Mason built the place to withstand far worse attacks. But between Vendetti's arrest and the bombing, I know what I have to do to protect my family.

They can't be attacking us like that. Especially now that Charlotte has entered our lives. All the other families who do business in our space need to know not to fuck with us.

Roman's been working with the Dukes. New players who came here from England.

Luke's been handling the Russian Bratva.

And Jake…he's been trying to apply the pressure to the Italians. But what he doesn't know, is I've got my own ideas and plans. And they're going to be the difference.

"What issue?" I ask, snapping the pen in half and getting ink all over my fingers.

"Chill, Leo," Roman warns.

But I don't have a chance to answer as Melissa, my dance manager pops her head in. "I've got the next one ready."

"Send her in," I growl out.

I instantly regret the words because Melissa has chosen Kim for the next audition. She's in this tiny black leotard, her hair in this high ponytail, not the soft curls she had this morning. It's straight and very dramatic. Even standing in the room, she's miles above every woman who has ever auditioned.

By the way the guys next to me still, I know they know it too. Or maybe they just recognize her.

"Fuck me," Jake mutters. "I forgot how beautiful she is."

So clearly, it's both.

"What is she doing here?" Roman asks, but Luke, a true dog, leans over Roman to ask me a question.

"Is Kim the screamer?"

My fists are clenched so tight I could make diamonds, as a small snarl rips from my lips. "Careful."

But Jake and Roman have caught on and I can feel the disapproval rolling off all of them. They know I hooked up with Charlotte's best friend.

Kim moves to the center of the room. "Hi," she gives all of them a little wave.

No one waves back.

"What are you dancing to, Kim?" I ask, just to keep this moving along.

She runs a tongue over her lips. "Um. Dua Lipa. ‘Houdini.'"

I give a curt nod. Why did my family have to show up today? Now? She takes a stance, hands over her head, back arched, ass out, and I hear Jake hiss under his breath.

The music starts up and she slowly lowers her hands and then she does this move where she rolls her head, sending her ponytail in this aggressive arch before the rest of her body follows. It's sexy and stunning, her skill undeniable.

I'm transfixed. Kim is beautiful just standing. But in motion…I lose every thought as I just watch. I'm not even sure I remember to breathe.

All too soon, the song comes to an end, and she stops, standing before us again.

I think I'm supposed to talk here but words have completely failed me. I know Kim wants to be a ballerina but that was just…

"Well?" she finally asks. "Do you think I'll pass as a cage dancer?"

Roman nudges me, so that I remember to speak. "Yeah. Yeah. You'll pass."

A relieved smile pulls at her lips. "Great. I know I sounded skeptical this morning but…" Her hands twist together. "I really appreciate this, Leo. I wasn't sure how I was going to pay…" She trails off, her hand fluttering. "Thank you."

"Welcome," I answer, clenching and unclenching my ink-stained hand. "You can see Melissa to fill out the forms. Rehearsals start tomorrow at two. There isn't much to it, you mostly do your own moves."

She gives another nod. "Thanks again," then she waves to everyone else, "nice to see all of you."

Before I know it, she's gone.

But I am not alone. Three sets of eyes turn to me, and I know the conversation isn't over. I'd much rather discuss the Italians.

"So wait…" Luke starts. "You're doing her a favor?"

My shoulders relax a little. "She has a class she can't pay for, and she needs money."

"And you know that how?" Jake asks, all fun and games gone. Jake is a hard man when he needs to be. And I know the truth. He's been at the club more because the family is worried I'll fuck up again. They're right.

"Chandra, the blonde from last week, is her roommate."

"Why didn't she just ask Mason to pay for it? I know he considers her his responsibility. Kim is Charlotte's only family."

The idea of Mason taking care of her, further irritates me.

"I don't think she likes taking favors," I rumble back, because I would just pay for the class if she'd let me.

Roman shakes his head. "Do not piss off Mason."

"Mason shouldn't piss me off," I retort, but I get the point. Kim is dangerous territory, and as usual, this is probably going to bite me in the ass. My dad's DNA runs strong in me, if it wasn't obvious.

No one answers that. Instead, Luke gets back on topic. "You want to help Kim, fine. But keep your dick out of it."

What I do with my dick is my business. And Kim's. If I'm lucky.

"Tell me what you came to say…" I turn to Jake.

"The Italians have rebuffed every attempt at communication, even with the amount of money they owe us," he grits out. "It can only mean one thing."

"War is coming." I scrub a hand over my face. I got this ball rolling and I know how I'm going to finish it.

"Soon," Roman agrees. "They're clearly getting ready to make a move."

My window of opportunity is closing. Hopefully I get a little more time before my life goes to hell.

"My guess is that you'll be their primary target, since you're the one who got Vendetti arrested, and you're the one who gave the police the information that led to the arrest."

Yeah. I really knew how to stir up a beehive.

"Mason is calling in their bank notes, which means taking their casino."

It's the right play, but Jake is also correct. I'm likely a target. My eyes drift to the door Kim just exited. I can't afford to be distracted, but I just wanted a bit of softness before I make my move. Because the one I'm planning, means I'll most likely end up in jail.

I wrap up auditions and leave Temptation, making my way down the strip and into Toni's largest casino, the Diamond.

I get there early enough to take a corner booth that is reasonably shadowed, my baseball cap pulled down low.

The waitress grimaces when I order a sparkling water, but I give her a small wink and a twenty. "Keep the change."

She smiles at me, hustling off to get my water when the large double doors on the far side of the casino floor open, several men in gaudy suits appear and I only need to give them the barest glance to know it's the Carcetti family.

I pull my hat lower as I watch the group of them cross the floor. Big Toni is in the lead, his nephew little Anthony at his elbow. Little Anthony has the slicked back hair and greasy smile that makes him look like the piece of shit he is. His usual toothpick hangs out of his mouth. Little Anthony is his uncle's dirty man, doing all the jobs no man with a conscience wants to touch.

He killed a man right out in the open two years ago, shooting a member of the Russian Bratva in our club. He's got no shame and no fear. It makes him dangerous and unpredictable.

They stop for a minute, heads bent together in conversation. Toni and his crew are earlier than I expected, which makes me shift with a bit of irritation. I should have known the Italians wouldn't keep regular schedules. They don't do anything with discipline.

Not that I'm one to talk.

But it means my plan might need some revamping. I can't plan an ambush if I don't know when he's coming and going.

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.