Page 114 of Savage Prince

“No one said anything about dancing, grumpy.” She takes my good hand in hers, squeezing. Not that I’d ever admit it out loud, but Bella has always been my favorite. There’s just something about her selflessness and endless optimism that gets through my thick armor. Or at least it used to.

I don’t even recognize myself in the mirror anymore.

“Yeah, just have a drink.” Matty pulls a bottle of champagne from behind his back, and Alessia throws him a scowl.

“He can’t drink on the pain meds, you idiot,” she hisses.

“Aw, come on, let him have one drink. He looks like he could use one.”

I’m about to agree with my cousin when the last person I want to see marches through the door.

Rory Delaney roars in, her mane of fiery crimson hair wet and wild across her bare shoulders. She looks like she just jumped out of the shower and raced right over. She probably did when she noticed I’d escaped the four walls of my suffocating penthouse.

“There you are!” She jabs an accusatory finger in the air, the slight Irish lilt seeping through like it always does when she’s angry. “How could you just take off like that? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” She claps her hand to her chest dramatically, and I focus on her skimpy tank top and sleep shorts. This crazy girl ran over in her pajamas.

“Who is this gorgeous woman?” Matteo’s mischievous gaze darts between us.

I huff out a breath, the expanding of my ribcage only tearing at my delicate flesh. But I clench my teeth to hide the wince. The last thing I need is my new overzealous nurse proving her point.

“Yes, who is she?” Serena lifts a curious brow in my direction.

“Everyone, meet Rory Delaney, my new live-in—.” I can’t even force her title out because it’s too depressing. As a virile twenty-four-year-old male, admitting to needing a nurse is just embarrassing.

“I’m his nurse,” she blurts, marching closer to the bed.

I sit up as straight as the compression garments beneath will allow without tweaking my healing skin and meet her fierce emerald gaze. “And I’ve already told you, I don’t need one.” I should hate the infuriating woman, should send her packing with a single word. But for some reason, the way she storms in like she owns the place makes me want to see what happens if I push back.

“Well, that’s not what your father said, and he’s the one who hired me.” She offers a smile, flashing her teeth. “And the next time you leave the penthouse without telling me, there will be consequences.”

“You’re really going to punish me, Red?” I taunt, watching for a reaction.

She smirks. “Don’t tempt me.”

I stare at her, brows slamming together in surprise, and she glares right back. At all of five foot nothing, Rory Delaney is a fiery little thing. She looks like she walked out of a Celtic fever dream, all fire and fury. But something tells me she’s more than she seems… and that could be dangerous.

Strangest of all, she’s not even remotely intimidated by me. Even the women I used to bring back to my penthouse for a good fuck were. I’ve never been friendly exactly, and now I’m surly as all hell.

Matteo laughs, the sound cutting through the suddenly quiet room. “Well, Ale, I think you’ve met your match.”

I meet Rory’s gaze, bejeweled irises burning with something that makes my pulse spike.

Shit.

I might really be in trouble with this one.

Get ready for Alessandro’s story in Brutal Heir, coming in September! You can preorder it now :) Can’t wait till then to find out what happens? Join my Patreon and follow along as I write the next story, chapter by chapter!

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She was my assignment, now she’s my obsession...

Raffaele

Isabella Valentino is off-limits.

She’s young and naïve and most importantly, my new client.

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