Page 26 of Princess's Revenge

I dump myself on the couch and play with my new toys while I watching television. I download a copy of Sun Tzu’sArt of Warand read as much as I can. I even end up taking a nap for the first time in years!

Finally, with nothing else to do and being bored senseless, I decide I might as well have an early dinner or a late lunch, so I take my usual route down to the kitchen…and that’s when I hear a commotion coming from some part of the house.

It sounds like two people struggling, wrestling and swearing.

I go in search of the noises and they grow louder—Son of a bitch! Motherfucker! Fuckin cunt!

Wow. The language on these people. This must be serious!

I make my way to the foyer and see Christopher on his knees, pummeling someone on the ground. Each punch makes the slapping sound of skin hitting skin.

There are three other men standing back and watching. I don’t know why this bothers me so much—Maybe it’s because four on one makes them a bunch of bullies.

I run up to them shouting, “HEY! GET OFF!”

A guard I don’t know grabs my arm and holds me back.

I’m about to kick him in the shin and punch him in the face when Christopher turns to me, “Don’t.” He has murder in his eyes.

The man lying on the ground has both eyes swollen shut like a boxer who’s just gone twelve rounds and lost. The rest of his face matches.

Judging from the blood on Christopher’s hands—they’re what did all the damage.

“Why the hell not?” I ask, like I’m ready to try and even the odds.

Christopher gets to his feet and signals two of his goons, “Get him to the basement.”

As the men fall into action he steps up to me like a gorilla, looking angry, sad, and concerned all at once. “You don’t want any part of this.”

My fingers go to his chest, “You can’t tell me what to do! Your father said I could go anywhere I want. Four-on-one isn’t much of a competition, Christopher. Let that man go! You’re going to kill him!”

He looks to the one thug not participating, “Nick, keep her here.”

“WHAT?! Fuck you, Christopher!” I lunge at him and I’m stopped byNick.

Christopher follows the two men who’re taking the guy away while the burly, fuzzy looking asshole named, Nick, blocks my way.

When I try to move around him, he puts his arms out to stop me. I watch everyone pass through a door that looks like it leads to a basement.

I tell the minion in front of me, “Don Vincenzo said I wasn’t to be touched and that I have the freedom to come and go as I please. You can either get out of my way or I can tell the Don about you, and your life won’t be worth spit!”

He frowns at me like he’s scared.

“That’s right! Now move!”

He steps aside and I head for the basement door with Nick trailing me. I hurry down the steps, following the muffledsounds, and come to an area that looks like a wine cellar. It’s gloomy.

There are massive casks lining red-brick walls and a maze of support beams to navigate between. I see Christopher watching as the other two men tie the beaten one to a chair under a lightbulb hanging from the ceiling.

“What the hell, Christopher?”

He turns and scowls at Nick, shoots his brow in frustration and says, “Really?” Then he looks at me, “You can stay or you can go, but this is happening.”

“Why?” I ask, “What did he do?”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to find out,” Nick smiles with a touch of sarcasm.

The guy in the chair sputters, “Please, Chris, I didn’t mean to!” Blood and spittle drip from his face. It’s like a horror movie…something you’d only see on a screenknowingthat it’s makeup and prosthetics…but this is real—and so much worse.

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