Page 6 of Ruthless Prince

ELLIE

Iwatch the men fight like animals, tearing at each other’s skin and throats and trying to win the fight. It’s a hideous sight.

It’s also thrilling.

I smooth down my lavender skirt and notice the man next to me eyeing me. I know I look strange in my modest white high heels, simple blouse, and pearl necklace. This is the sort of place that attracts people who live on the fringes of society, whereas I’m an heiress who’s only ever known wealth and what it’s like to be a part of society.

“Keep your legs closed,” my father mutters. He’s sitting so close I can feel the heat coming off him.

My knees are pressed together, so I’m confused by his comment. I know coming here wasn’t my father’s idea. I begged him to let me join him because I was desperate to get out of the house and see something different. He finally relented, but I know he doesn’t want me here.

I think he’s scared one of these men will throw me onto the floor and have their way with me.

I scrunch my nose up at the thought. The desire for a man to just “take” is revolting. I’ve been raised to be a good girl all my life, and a good girl, I’ll remain.

I’m also just a good girl who wanted to experience a different part of the city.

My father sits up straighter, tapping his fingers to his knees. Dressed in an expensive suit with an old-school top hat, my father is an imposing figure. Known as Mr. Moore to everyone who meets him, my father does business with all different types of people. I’ve never asked what type of business because I know he wouldn’t tell me, but I know it’s something … dangerous.

“Make room for the Kraken!” the announcer says, and a man walks into the ring who makes me sit up straighter. Dark hair, tall, and muscular, I’m instantly riveted. I can tell I’m not the only one. I catch a few women a couple of seats over practically swooning over “The Kraken.”

He takes down his opponent within seconds.

“Who is that man?” I ask my father.

“He’s Vincent Antonov. He’s a well-known fighter around here.”

I can see that. Vincent wins the fight, almost suffocating his opponent. I gasp. Never before have I seen something so violent and … visceral.

Vincent jumps down from the ring and is instantly surrounded by women. For a second, I feel a flare of jealousy, but that’s ridiculous. Vincent isn’t my boyfriend—I have no claim to him. Yet, the women around him are clearly flirting with him, and it’s obvious, even from my seat, that he’s flirting back, and the sight of it makes me look away.

My father has made it clear I’m not allowed to date despite being twenty. Even though my family is rich, I don’t get any of my own money until I’m twenty-five, and until then, I’m stuck living at home. I could have left, but then my father would’vetaken all my money away from me, leaving me with nothing. Call me shallow, but I’m used to money and wouldn’t know what to do without it.

So, until I’m twenty-five, I have to listen to my father’s rules if I don’t want to be homeless.

An angry-looking man approaches Vincent and forces him away from the women and toward the door. I squash down the urge to follow.

Vincent glances in my direction and locks eyes with me for a long moment before he walks away. I’m flustered. It was just a simple, quick look, and yet, I felt it in my core.

I look at my father and catch him watching me.

“Careful with men like that, Ellie.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” I murmur. And I don’t, truly. Vincent only glanced in my direction. I don’t know him, and he doesn’t know me.

Father scoffs. “Don’t be naive. Now, the fight is over. Let’s leave.” He grabs my elbow as we walk down the aisle toward the front door. In a place like this, my father would never risk me leaving, hence the hand on my elbow.

As we step outside into the chilly night, I wrap my jacket around me tighter as I shiver.

But the cold only lasts so long before the heat from an explosion a few feet away knocks me to my knees.

“Ellie,” Father says, helping me stand back up.

“What happened?” I look down the sidewalk and see a car in flames. “Did someone … bomb that car?” What about our car? We’re parked just down the road, too. Oh god. Instantly, I’m scared to be in a place like this. What was I thinking, wanting to come here?

I’d thought I wanted a little thrill in my life.

“Was anyone hurt?” I ask, walking toward the car.

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