Page 22 of Ruthless Prince

Mr. Moore gives me a long hard look before he nods once. “Fine. But be back home within two hours.”

Ellie is smiling widely as she follows me out of the club.

“You’re cute when you smile,” I tell her, nudging her arm.

Once again, she blushes, and it does something to me. “My father never lets me do anything. I’m an adult, and yet he treats me like a child.”

“He doesn’t even let you go out for dinner?”

“Not really.”

I shake my head. “Man, and I thought I had it rough with my own dad.”

“You make your father sound tough.”

We head down the street and end up in the nearest restaurant—a simple, little dinner.

“It’s not fancy,” I say.

“I don’t always need fancy.”

After taking our seats and ordering food, I finally answer her comment. “My father was tough. Honestly, I don’t think he ever loved me. I was more of a means to an end for him than anything else.”

“That’s terrible, Vincent. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”

I shrug. “He’s dead now.”

“And yet you want revenge on Nico?”

“My father said his name before he died. That had to mean something.”

“I could still talk to Nico for you. I know you don’t want me getting involved, but I’m involved now. And someone doesn’t want you to participate in this competition. Wouldn’t it just be easier if I asked Nico to meet with you in person?”

“It would be easier,” I admit. “But it’s not what I want, Ellie. I want to win this competition so I can prove myself worthy. Nico is the most powerful man in this city. I don’t want to be handed a win. I want to earn it myself.”

“I can respect that. Just know I’m here for you anyway.”

“Why are you so nice to me?” I ask. “No one’s ever been this nice to me before.”

“That’s sad, Vincent.”

“It’s the truth.”

“I’m nice to you because I want to be. You … fascinate me. You fight for a living. You’ve been fighting all your life. I’ve lived in a sheltered mansion my entire life. We’re completely different and yet I think you understand me better than a lot of other people do,” she says. “We both know what it’s like to have strict fathers. Not everyone can relate to that.”

“True.”

Ellie’s hands are placed on the table, and I get a strong urge to grab them, hold them in my own. I want this to be a date. I like her more than I should.

But her father would have my balls if I tried anything with her.

So, I keep my hands to myself.

I’m just not sure how much longer I’ll be able to do that.

We’re heading back to Ellie’s car when someone steps out of the shadows, stopping us.

It’s a man I don’t know. He has a long scar across his nose, making his face more distinctive.

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