Page 87 of Tainted Princess
He opened his mouth, but paused and looked to Enzo, who nodded, before turning back to me.
What the hell was that?
“He said...um.” Vinnie sighed and looked at the floor. “He said ‘someone should put that bitch on a leash’.”
Enzo growled—growled—before barking out, “I wish I’d heard that stupid fuck. I would’ve given him a fuck of a lot more than a single punch in the face.
Feeling the need to try and calm him, I placed my hand over Enzo’s, my fingers looking pale against his lotus flower tattoo, and was momentarily stunned at the tingling sensation that trailed up my arm at the contact. Shocked, I made to retract my hand, but Enzo stopped me, flipping his hand over and capturing my fingers in his. Glancing up, I met his eyes, their gray depths full of an emotion I couldn’t decipher.
Clearing my throat, I looked away. “Well, I think Jerry has gotten more than enough for his efforts.”
Rocco laughed. “That sorry fuck’ll be lucky if anyone in this city even speaks to him again. You might as well have killed him yourself, Francesca. You’ve definitely murdered his side hustle.”
“Good,” Enzo rumbled, still holding my hand. “Fucker needed to learn a lesson, and it was fun as hell watching Francesca teach him one.”
His fingers gave mine a light squeeze, and I smiled at his unexpected praise. “Well, he’s done with now. Can we get back to why I feel like someone rang a gong in my skull?” Vinnie shifted from foot to foot. “I remember the van,” I said, ignoring Enzo’s twitching. “And I remember feeling like crap all day, but it was getting better by the time we went on.”
“Well,” Mia interjected, moving closer and ignoring the dirty look from Enzo as she approached. “I knew you had a headache earlier, but I didn’t know it was from hitting your head.” Mia reached out and thumbed one of my eyes wide open, then the other, looking at each one carefully. She then picked up my other hand and pinched the skin on the back, frowning at whatever it was she saw. “Also, you’re pretty dehydrated. Have you had anything besides coffee and sugar today?” She crossed her arms and stared at me, her gaze indicating she was not going to buy any lies this time.
“No, but I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine,” she stated, pausing when Vinnie entered the room carrying a bottle of Gatorade. Mia and I both smiled at him gratefully when he set it on the bedside table before she turned back to me. “You’ve had a headache, dizziness, and you passed out after hitting your head twice in one day.”
“Twice?” I asked, looking at Enzo for confirmation.
“Fucking Amber.”
“Wait, your fuck buddy Amber?” I asked, yanking my hand from Enzo’s grip—which he seemed pissed about, but tough shit. “What the hell does she have to do with this.”
Rocco choked out a laugh that had Enzo sending him a look that saidfuckright off.
But Rocco was only too happy to chime in. “Turns out Enzo’s scorned lover has a jealous streak.”
I ignored the twist in my gut at the mention of Enzo’s history with the blonde who clearly hated me as much as I was coming to hate her.
Having a jealous streak of my own was definitely new to me.
“Fuck off, Rock,” Enzo snarled, actually saying it out loud this time. Turning to look at me, Enzo said, “She’s got no reason to be jealous. I haven’t touched that bitch since before I went to New York.”
Rocco nodded, confirming Enzo’s story, but I didn’t need it; I knew Enzo was telling the truth.
“Yeah,” Rock went on. “Amber was already pissed about that, so is it any surprise shereallydidn’t like the announcement of your recent nuptials? No wonder she clocked you over the head with a bottle of champagne.” He followed this statement with cackling laughter, earning a scowl from Mia, which, surprisingly, caused Rocco to clamp his mouth shut with a look of chagrin on his face.
Flashes started coming back to me, like seeing Amber hanging over Enzo in the VIP booth. Her glaring at me from across the room, then her skulking in the background as I chatted with Enzo and Anton. The last thing I remembered was the cheering crowd as the biker won his fight. After that, nothing.
I looked again at Enzo and was shocked at the wide range of emotions flashing across his face; anger, certainly, but also worry, and if I wasn’t mistaken, guilt.
As the silence in the room started to stretch into uncomfortable territory, Mia suddenly cleared her throat.
“Well, I think we’re all good here.” Standing, she began to gather her things and replace them in the bag I hadn’t noticed on the floor. “I’ll check in with you tomorrow after my shift, but I think rest and fluids will be all you need.”
“Thank you, Mia,” I said, making to stand, but the look she shot me had me staying put. “I appreciate you coming on short notice.”
“Yeah, well,” she replied, her expression turning carefully blank as she looked around the apartment, “that’s what you’re paying me for, isn’t it?” She was trying to appear unaffected, but I could tell she knew she was in the presence of more than a few members of the Las Vegas criminal underground and she was less than comfortable. “See you tomorrow.”
“Come on, doll,” Rocco pipped up, moving to intercept Mia as she headed for the door. “I’ll drive you home.”
“Don’t bother,” she said, blowing past him with sure steps. “I’ll find my own way.”
