King of Diamonds (Vegas Underground 1)

I’ve never been given two dozen roses in my life. I gave half of them to Corey, who dragged me into her bedroom to tell her what happened in private. Corey found the story insane and declared Tacone has a thing for me.

I lift my eyes to my supervisor’s. “What happened with your son?” I attempt to redirect the conversation.

She isn’t having it. She waves her hand with impatience. “Concussion. He fell backward onto concrete in the schoolyard. What happened with you?”

My face heats. I open my mouth but I’m not really sure how to answer. “What did you hear?”

Irritation flashes across her face. “Well, first Samuel called to say I was fired for allowing you up there. Then he called back to say no, actually, he heard from Nico Tacone himself and everything was fine. So fine, in fact, Tacone requested you be the regular penthouse cleaning person. Which pays double what you’re making now.” She folds her arms across her chest. “So what happened?”

Wait...what? My heart takes off running ahead of me. He wants me to be his regular cleaning person? That would mean seeing him again—face to face. The man who humiliated me and ogled my naked body. Who’s seen me crying. And wet. No. I can’t.

But double the pay…that would definitely get me out of Corey’s place faster. Out of Vegas, if that’s what I decide.

Marissa stands there, eyebrows raised, waiting for an explanation. I opt for a partial truth. “While I was cleaning Nico Tacone’s room, he returned and freaked out because he didn’t know me. I mean freaked out. He held a gun to my head.”

Marissa slaps a hand over her mouth and her eyes get wide.

“I seriously thought I was going to die.”

Sympathy washes over her features. “Oh my God, Sondra, I’m so sorry. I never should have left you there alone.”

I shrug. “It ended up okay. Once he checked out my story, I think he felt bad about scaring the shit out of me.” Or pee, as the case may be. “He sent me home in a limo with his driver.”

Marissa lets out a surprised gust of laughter. “No. Way.”

I nod. “True story.”

“Well, it probably doesn’t hurt that you’re young and beautiful. I’m sure if it were me, I’d have been fired on the spot.”

“You’re young and beautiful.”

She smiles. “Flattery will get you everywhere.”

I try not to let her words feed the stupid thrill already buzzing beneath all my more sane thoughts. Is Nico taken by me? I shouldn’t hope so. Surely my better sense will kick in soon. Except I didn’t slept last night. I had my fingers between my legs, fantasizing about what it would’ve been like if Nico Tacone turned me to face the counter in his bathroom and plunged his authoritative cock inside me until I screamed.

Suddenly Marissa’s brows slam back down. “Do you feel safe?” she demands. “Because I’m not going to send a vulnerable young woman in there to get molested. Was that the vibe you got from him?”

Was it? No. Not really. Other than the almost kissing me part. And sending me roses. But molested is a strong word. I didn’t feel that vulnerable. Yes, he terrified me, but he also fascinated. He actually took care of me in a weird way—shoving me in that shower to clean up and drying me off. And taking off my soaked panties.

But do I feel safe?

No.

Is that half the appeal? Corey would say yes. Because I possess some aberrant thrill-seeking gene when it comes to men.

“Yeah, he’s okay. I don’t get a creepy vibe from him,” I mutter, stacking my cart with supplies.

“Are you sure? Because if you’re still too shaken up, I’m not afraid to tell them. They’ve got a human resource nightmare waiting to happen with you.”

Somehow I doubt the Tacone family gives a shit about human resource problems. They probably have their own special way of dealing with problems that don’t involve lawsuits or payouts. Unless you count the payout Nico gave me yesterday of six hundred crisp ones.

“Yeah, I’m sure. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay, here’s your new keycard. You’re in charge of the three suites on the top floor and nothing else, according to Mr. Tacone.”

“That won’t take all day, though. What do I do when I’m done?”

“You get to go home.”

Oh—so I’m really not getting a raise. Well, I’ll be working fewer hours for the same amount of money, so it’s an improvement. But it doesn’t get me out of Corey’s house any sooner. Still, I’m not complaining. It will give me time to apply for teaching positions.

I take my cart and the new keycard she gives me into the elevator. On the top floor, I clean the other two suites first. They both have two bedrooms. I wonder who they belong to—Nico’s brothers? Cousins? I wish I knew more about the operation here. When I first applied at the Bellissimo and Corey told me it was mafia run, I Googled it, but nothing came up. Zero. Not that I’m surprised. If Nico Tacone assumes a new maid is bugging his place, then he’s either paranoid, or he has some serious secrets to keep hidden. The second thought sends a shiver running up my spine.