King of Diamonds (Vegas Underground 1)

Then again, is it fair for him to treat me like he owns me and order me around?

Tony leans an elbow on the bar beside me. “Listen. You’re making my job tough here. If I touch you, Nico will have my balls. But I also have my orders. So what’s it going to take to get you out of here and upstairs to the boss’ suite?”

I fold my arms across my chest. “Information.”

He lifts a brow. “Like what?”

What am I doing? Do I even want the answers to my questions?

“Am I…” What am I going to say? Special? His only one?

Tony cocks his head like he’s trying his best to interpret crazy female.

“Am I his usual type?”

Tony blinks, surprise flitting over his face. He loops an arm around my elbow. “Come on. Let me take you out of here and I’ll tell you everything you want to know.”

Mollified, I hop off the barstool and allow him to escort me to the private elevators. Once we’re alone, he releases my elbow and faces me. “No. You’re not his usual type. You’re pretty fucking far from his usual type.”

I’m not sure whether to be relieved or disappointed.

“You’re the only woman he’s wanted to screw—pardon my crudeness—more than once the entire time I’ve known him, which is since we were kids. So I don’t know what he’s told you, but I’d say you’re pretty damn special to him.”

Warmth seeps into my chest and my anger evaporates.

“Yeah?”

Tony nods. “Yeah. And don’t think every fucking person who works for him isn’t grateful you’re helping him sleep. He was hell on wheels to manage for a while there.”

We arrive on Nico’s floor and he escorts me to the door. “You gotta key?”

I fish the keycard out of the little evening purse I borrowed from Corey. “Yep. Thanks.”

He waits until I open the door before he leaves.

“Good night, Tony.”

“Good night, yourself, Ms. Simonson.”

Ms. Simonson. I’ve definitely moved up in the casino world.

I go inside and pace around Nico’s place. It could be hours and hours before he comes. It will probably be the usual 4:30 a.m. alarm cock wake up. That thought brings a weight crushing down on my chest. Too much feels unresolved, up in the air. I don’t see how I’ll sleep until we talk.

Fortunately, it’s not too long. Nico comes in forty-five minutes later while I’m watching Saturday Night Live on the television. He still appears pissed.

I turn off the TV and stand up. He stands near the door, shoves his hands in his pockets and regards me.

The fact that he doesn’t come closer sends my stomach plummeting. Usually he’s all over me the minute he sees me.

“Sondra. You disrespected me down there.”

My breath leaves me. Disrespected. Crap. This is an alpha male with a full-on mafia ego. Respect means everything.

I try to draw on my anger from earlier. He disrespected me, too. He hasn’t made time for me, didn’t even bother to come over, and treated me like a possession. I square my shoulders and open my mouth.

He holds up a hand before I can speak. “I know I let you down this week. I’m working on a fucking solution. But if you have a problem with me, you come and talk to me about it. You don’t fucking make a fool out of me in my own club.”

My heart sinks even further. “I wasn’t making a fool—”

He holds up his hand again to silence me. “Never again.”

My pussy clenches at the steel in his voice. Wow. A full-on Nico Tacone scolding. It’s one part humiliating, two parts exciting. I’m definitely wired wrong because I find an angry mob boss thrilling.

He walks to the bar and pours himself a drink. “I have shit to do,” he mutters, his back turned. “You should go to your own room tonight. I won’t be here before daylight.” He walks out on the balcony without looking back.

My heart’s on the floor. He’s angrier than I thought. I need to fix things before I go—I’m not about to leave on this note. Not when my emotions are on edge, my hormones are raging and Nico’s still mad.

I follow him out.

He sinks into a seat and stares out at the night.

“Nico—”

“Not tonight, baby.” His voice is clipped, tight.

I stand in front of him, blocking his view. “Nico.”

In a quick, irritated move, he pulls me face down over his lap and lands nine quick hard smacks on my ass. The spanks hurt, but I’m more excited than anything else. This is a realm I’m familiar with. Him touching me, being a little too rough.

And it seems to change something in him, too. The moment the flurry of spanks stop, he’s squeezing and palming my ass in that possessive way of his. He slides his hand up inside my dress and rubs between my legs. My panties are already damp and he growls when he feels them.