Page 11 of Ruthless Prince

He chuckles, but there’s no humor to it. “The father I hated is dead. I’m happy, but also … not. It’s weird.”

“It’s not weird. Grief can make us feel a lot of strange emotions.”

“You can say that again. I don’t even know why I’m telling you this. I don’t normally tell chicks what I’m feeling.”

I sit up straighter. “I’m not a chick. I’m a woman, Vincent.”

“No offense,” he says, holding his hands up.

“You’re a little uncouth, aren’t you?”

“Uncouth? Who says uncouth?”

“I do.”

He slowly smirks, his eyes looking me over. I can’t say I’m mad about it. “Ok. And yes, I am uncouth. I was raised to fight my entire life. And now, my father is dead. So, fuck him.”

“Wow.”

“But even though I hated my father, I still have to avenge him. Before my father died, he said a name. Nico Mancini. Apparently, he killed my father. But I have no idea how to get close to a man like that. All I know about him is the power he holds in this city. I could never get close enough to ask him if he really did kill my father.”

“I could ask him for you.”

Vincent looks at me in an entirely new light. “What are you talking about?”

“I’ve met Nico Mancini before. He goes to the same restaurant my father and I go to all the time. I’ve met there. He seemed nice. I could ask him for you.”

“What? If he murdered a man?” Vincent rubs a hand down his neck, and I’m instantly distracted by how nice hands he has. “I don’t think he’d answer you.”

“No. I just meant I could ask him to meet you. That’s all.”

“I’m good. I’m part of a dark world, Ellie. A girl like you doesn’t belong in it. This is my mess. I don’t need you to do anything for me.”

“I was just offering.”

“You and your father like to do that, don’t you?” The way he says it rubs me the wrong way. It’s condescending.

“I was just trying to help. Sorry.” I stand and hurry away from him before I make an even bigger fool out of myself. This is why I don’t talk to men. I sound stupid and naive.

The truth is, I’m not fully versed in the world Vincent and my father belong to, but I know it’s dangerous.

I shouldn’t have offered Vincent my help. He’s the exact type of man my father wants me to stay far away from.

Father and I go to our usual restaurant for lunch. Vincent wasn’t allowed to come because my father wanted him to train so he doesn’t lose another fight.

I’m sipping on my glass of water when Nico Mancini approaches our table.

He shakes hands with my father. “Moore. Good to see you again.”

“And you, too. You’ve met my daughter.”

Nico smiles down at me. For being an older man, he’s quite handsome. “I have. Ellie, was it?”

“Yes. Nice to see you again.”

“You as well. So, Moore, I’ve heard you taken in a fighter. That you’re sponsoring one. Why?”

“He makes good money. I want to earn more money.” That gets a laugh out of both men.

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