Illicit Temptations (Tempted Series Book 1) (20 page)

“Let’s go Romeo,” he said as he ushered me out the front door.

There was a black town car waiting for us outside to take us to the club. I guess working for Victor had its perks. We made ourselves comfortable in the back seat of the sedan and I instructed the driver to make a stop at Green-wood Cemetery before heading to Temptations. Anthony looked at me, but didn’t question me. The gates would be closing soon not really giving me much time for a visit, but then again that wasn’t the point. I don’t know, maybe it sounded ridiculous it felt a bit ridiculous, but I just wanted to visit my parents before the opening, hoping that being close to them wouldn’t make me feel so alone.

Once the car made its way through the gates I directed the driver to the section that my parents were laid to rest. Green-wood cemetery was the largest cemetery in New York spanning about 475 acres notorious for its greenery and steep hills. My parents’ plot was on the top of one of them forcing me to get out of the car and trek it up the hill. It was easy to spot their grave the earth piled on top of the plot still fresh from my mother’s burial.

I should’ve brought flowers. My mother loved flowers lilies were her favorite my father would bring her a fresh bouquet once a week. I was such an inconsiderate asshole.

“Hey Mom… Dad,” I said hoarsely. I thought this would be easy visiting them, but it wasn’t staring at the fresh dirt was just a harsh reality smacking me in the face reminding me of what I lost. A lump formed in my throat, choking me, I fought to swallow it, hoping to bury the emotions that were invading me.

“I’m not sure why I’m here other than I felt the need to be close to you both. I thought it would help me,” I let out a heavy sigh. “You know, to clear my conscience and all that. I came back home after you died Mom. There was nothing left for me in Pennsylvania and it seemed only logical to move here after all you guys are here too. I work for Victor now, but not in the same regard as you did Dad. I’m going to be running one of his nightclubs. Tonight is the Grand Opening and I’m nervous. Really nervous. Everyone expects me to be just like you and I’m afraid I can’t live up to those expectations. I’m not sure if I am capable that I even would want to out of respect for Mom. Losing you broke her spirit your death made the woman who was always so strong and loving a woman who traded those qualities in to be a woman who lived her life in constant fear. Death changes people I get it. Losing the both of you changed me. I’m not afraid like mom because well, I’ve got nothing to lose.”

For some reason Nikki’s face flashed in my mind. It was ridiculous because I couldn’t risk losing her when I didn’t have her to begin with. I shook my head and shoved my hands into my pockets. That damn girl consumed my every thought. It’s sick. Shaking her off trying to rid her from my mind, I bent down and took a handful of dirt in my hands spreading my fingers apart I let it fall back onto the pile.

“I guess I came here to ask you to look out for me Dad and for you Mom to forgive me for the choice I made. I know it’s not the path you would’ve wanted for me to take but I hope you understand that I felt like it was my only option.”

I rose to my full height and patted my slacks down, making sure I didn’t get any dirt on the suit that set Victor back five large ones. Standing in front of my parent’s grave talking to a pile of a dirt I felt alone so fucking alone. I took a deep breath and pulled myself together, digging deep inside for the best pieces of my mother and father that were instilled in me her strength and his bravery.

“Wish me luck,
” I whispered, pressing my fingers to my lips and saluting their grave. Before I lost my shit and trust me I was on the brink I turned on my heel and made my way down the hill wondering if the pain of losing them would ever get easier. I reached inside my jacket pocket and pulled out my sunglasses, putting them on to shield my bloodshot eyes from Anthony. I got back into the car
instantly feeling his eyes on me.

“You okay?” He asked.

“Fine,” I cleared my throat and leaned my head against the seat. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

Anthony kept his gaze on me for another moment before nodding. He looked ahead at the driver his eyes meeting his in the mirror.

“Take us to Temptations,” he said.

And just like that, I was on my way to secure my spot in Victor’s organization. God help me.

The bass vibrated off the walls of Temptations the house disc jockey was going off doing a damn good job at getting the main dance floor packed with people. The club was dark aside from the impressive light show that shot vibrant colors across the club. The large disco ball suspended in the middle of the main dance floor spun around in circles catching all the hues of blue red and purple. Those wearing white clothing stuck out in the crowd of people as their clothes glowed in the darkness.

I tore my gaze from the lights that were putting me in a trance and stared at the flowers that decorated our V.I.P. table a surprise that was waiting for me when Adrianna and I arrived at the club. There was a “Happy Birthday” balloon attached, and I assumed they were from my father since there was no card attached and Rico was just as surprised by the gesture as I. I was officially twenty-one years old legal to do all the things I had been doing since I was eighteen. I didn’t feel like dancing or drinking until I threw up like your average twenty-one-year old been there done that. Still, it was my birthday and the Grand Opening of my dad’s nightclub so I plastered a smile on my face and willed myself to enjoy myself and act my age accepting drink after drink shot after shot.

I leaned back against the cushions of the white leather couch that I was sitting on and took it all in. Rico stood off to the side bopping his head to the beat of the music as he greeted people that recognized him. I was on point with my suggestion to have him headline. Since we walked into the club people have been asking us when he was going to
go on. We were
together still or at least we were pretending to be. I had told him in the beginning of the week I hadn’t been fair to him and that until I sorted out this bullshit in my head maybe we should take a break. He insisted that we wait it out telling me he wanted to be a part of my birthday promising to be a better boyfriend and make all our problems disappear.

The thing was it wasn’t Rico’s fault our relationship fell apart and as much as he tried he’d never be able to resolve the issue because the issue was Mikey and my undeniable attraction to him. There was no fixing that, one couldn’t fix a force of nature, you just had to embrace it and ride the wave. Staying away from Mikey didn’t lessen my infatuation it only made it worse because I realized I wasn’t just infatuated with him but that I felt something else for him. I missed my friend, and it was almost as if I was mourning his absence and the loss of our friendship the same way I had when I was just ten years old.

I felt a body fall onto the couch beside me, pulling me away from my thoughts of Mikey I turned and looked at Adrianna. My sister hid her pain well, unless you knew her circumstances, one could never tell she was breaking inside. She was wearing a black jumpsuit cut down to her navel exposing her cleavage. I prayed that I took after her and that when I had kids, I’d look as good as she did. Her hair was pulled from her face in a high ponytail so that you had no choice but to appreciate her beautiful face, her high cheekbones and almond shaped eyes demanding you to stare at her in awe. She smiled at me as she handed me a glass of champagne clinking her glass to mine.

“Happy Birthday baby sister,” she said exposing that she was tipsy and tipsy Adrianna was fun. She forgot all about her problems and went with the flow breaking free from the chains that bound her to reality and got lost in the freedom, allowing herself to be carefree even if it was only for just one night.

“Thanks A,” I said, taking a sip of the drink she offered me. I watched wide-eyed as she downed her entire glass.

“I love this song!” She exclaimed happily rising to her feet. She took my glass from my hand, placing it on the table beside my flowers and pulled me to my feet. “Dance with me!”

I couldn’t deny her seeing her this happy was contagious, and I smiled at her, letting her drag me towards the dance floor. Rico stopped us as we were about to pass him and kissed my forehead.

“I’m going to go upstairs and get ready for my set,” he said, shouting over the loud music.

“Okay!” I said as she tugged me away from him.

“C’mon Nikki!” Adrianna shouted plucking Rico’s drink from his hand to claim it as her own. Rico laughed at her before treating me with a wink.

“Save a dance for me,” he said.

I smiled at him before she pulled me into the sea of people. I don’t know if people knew we were Victor’s daughters, or if they even cared as they circle around us encouraging the two of us as we shook our asses to the beat of the music one song bled into another and we kept at it thoroughly enjoying ourselves. I couldn’t help my wandering eyes that searched the span of the club in hopes of catching
a glimpse of Mikey.
I’m not going to lie and say that I wasn’t disappointed that he hadn’t come to our table once in the time we had been there or that he didn’t have the decency to answer the one text I had sent him before the club even opened. I suppose he had his hands full, still it hurt me that he could just write me off as if I didn’t exist. I told myself that he wasn’t purposely staying away from me or ignoring me that
he was just busy was all. However, I knew that even if that wasn’t the case I
only had myself to blame as he was only doing what I had asked by steering clear of me.

My sister froze in front of me as her eyes drifted behind me. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to face the person that my sister was staring at intently. Anthony tore his eyes from my sister and met my wide-eyed gaze.

“Happy Birthday kid,” he said leaning in to kiss my cheek.

“Thank you,” I said, smiling before I glanced back and forth between him and my sister. They stared at each other silently. It was enthralling to watch them focus in on one another and I felt as if I was a spectator watching them.

“A,” he said with a nod. He did a quick perusal of her body licking his lips before he lifted his gaze to hers again. “You look beautiful.”

I turned to her waiting for her to respond to him, but she never did. I wanted to pinch her or kick her something to let her know she should throw the guy a bone. The air was suddenly thick, and I felt as if I was invading a private moment between them.

I was about to excuse myself when he reached out and took her hand in his. There were no words spoken between them as he pulled her towards him as he wrapped his free hand around her placing it on the small of her back. I was a forgotten thought as he pressed her against him and led her away from the crowded dance floor.

Thankful for the reprieve I made my way to the other end of the dance floor, deciding to take a break and freshen up in the ladies room. I passed the main bar on my way and caught a glimpse of my parents sitting at the bar. They were smiling happily surrounded by friends and some of my dad’s associates. I paused for a moment, watching as my mother placed her hand on my dad’s shoulder. He was laughing at something Jimmy was saying, but absent-mindedly he took my mother’s hand and brought it to his mouth kissing it softly. Say what you may about my father most if it will probably be true, but you couldn’t tarnish the way I saw him. In my eyes, he was a great man who loved his family. You know that saying behind every great man is a woman who made him that way. That was the perfect way to describe my parents. I gave them one more glance before turning the corner to make my way towards the ladies room.

I groaned glancing at the line that seemed to go on forever deciding that it wasn’t really worth the wait. The house disc jockey announced that Rico would be going on in five minutes and the people cheered in anticipation. I found the staircase that led to the sound booth figuring I’d go upstairs and wish him luck before he blew the roof off this place. I climbed the stairs the sounds of the main floor, drifting away as I reached the landing my heels clicking along the wooden floor as I made my way to the door that was slightly ajar. I smoothed down the skintight pencil skirt I was wearing before I pushed the door open softly. My eyes roamed the darkened room, settling on the three people inside of it. Rico was hunched over a table the tip of a straw up his nose as he slid it across a mirror snorting the white powder until it disappeared up his nose.

I covered my mouth with my hand to muffle the gasp and took a step backward. I stood in shock as I watched him straighten up and hand the straw to the girl beside him. She looked oddly familiar, but I couldn’t place her. He cut the cocaine pushing it around with a credit card forming a straight line of the drug. I watched from the doorway my presence unknown as she bent her head to snort the line. She lifted her head dabbing at her nostrils with a napkin before wrapping her arms around Rico. My throat closed as his hand fell to her ass a smile blossoming across his face as she sniffled against his chest. He looked over her shoulder at a man I had never seen before and together they laughed. The man behind the cracked out whore handed Rico a wad of money. I watched my dickhead boyfriend push aside the blonde reaching into his pocket, he produced a handful of baggies that were full of what I assumed to be drugs.