Ruthless Prince (The Mancini Mafia #2)

Chapter 3

Chapter

Three

VINCENT

A ll the money I earned over the years went straight into Igor’s pockets. The apartment I lived in was owned by him, and now, it belongs to Dimitri. That’s why he was able to kick me out.

All I have is a couple of bucks in my pocket. Enough to buy a cup of coffee in some shitty diner as I nurse the wounds I got from the Mountain.

A man slides into the seat next to me. “I hear you’re homeless now.”

I recognize the man. I met him the night Igor died. He has that pretty daughter … Ellie. “What’s it to you?”

“I’m looking for a fighter like you, Vincent.”

I snort. “I just lost a fight. The first fight I’ve lost in years. I was known as the unbeatable fighter, and look at me now.”

“Everything thought the Titanic was unsinkable, and yet it sunk. That didn’t stop other people from getting on other boats.”

“But it did stop people from getting on the Titanic since it’s at the bottom of the ocean. You don’t want me as a fighter. I’m fucked up right now.”

“That’s exactly why I want you. You’re a fierce fighter. You have a passion inside you I haven’t seen in most men. I want to sponsor you. You bring in money, I get a cut of it, and you can keep the rest. You can even come live with me.”

I push my cup away. “Why are you offering me this?” I worked under my father’s thumb for years, and I don’t want to work under another man’s thumb for the rest of my life.

But if I try fighting on my own, Dimitri will just find a way to steal it.

I really am fucked.

“I’m offering this because I see a lot of potential in you, Vincent. And if I’m being honest, I think we can make a lot of money together. What other options do you have?”

He has a point.

“I get to keep some of the money for myself?” I ask.

“You get to keep the majority of it. I’ll just take a percentage. This is a good deal, Vincent. You’re not going to get a better one.”

“What did you say your name was again?”

He extends his hand. “Mr. Moore.”

I shake his hand.

Mr. Moore lets me come live with him and his daughter. The thought of being under one roof with Ellie excites me more than it should.

“My daughter is off limits,” Mr. Moore explains as we head to his house. “Don’t even think about her in any way, understood?”

“Understood.” It’s what I expected. I won’t risk my livelihood for pussy. Even I’m not that stupid.

Mr. Moore lives in a large, classical-looking mansion. A beautiful front garden filled with all different types of flowers. Glass windows everywhere. Hell, he even has statues out front.

It’s like I’ve stepped into a world of Grecian art.

“You’ll sleep here,” he says, showing me to a large bedroom. “It has its own bathroom, so you’ll have no reason to go to the other side of the house where my daughter lives. If you touch her, I’ll kill you.”

I don’t doubt he will.

I stand up straighter when Ellie approaches us. “Ellie.”

She blushes slightly and averts her gaze. “Vincent. I remember you. I’m so sorry about what happened to your father.”

“I’m not.”

The air goes awkward.

Mr. Moore clears his throat. “If you two decide to talk to each other, do it in the living room and only the living room. Now, Ellie, you have things to work on.”

She frowns. “What things?”

“Just leave Vincent alone for now.” He guides her away from me, giving me a pointed look over his shoulder.

Ellie is off limits. I get that.

But damn, she looks good walking away.

ELLIE

“Why is he living with us?” I ask my father once we’re in the kitchen.

“Because he needed a place to live, and Vincent can make a lot of money for us. Just stay clear of him. I don’t want your reputation ruined because of him.”

I’ve always been a good girl, but the sight of Vincent in our house makes me feel … things. Things I’ve never felt before. I blush at just the memory of him. Never before have I seen a man so handsome.

“But I can still talk to him?”

“Only where I can see the two of you.”

Without waiting for my father’s approval, I search for Vincent. He’s in his room, sitting on the bed, not moving.

“Are you all right?” I ask.

He jerks up. “Sorry. I was just thinking.”

“Do you want to talk? We have to go into the living room.”

The way he smiles causes my cheeks to flush all over again. “Sure. I’d like to chat.”

Once we’re seated on the couch in full view of the kitchen where my father is, I ask Vincent the question I’ve been dying to ask ever since I talked to him over the body of his father’s dead body.

“How have you been doing?”

He chuckles, but there’s no humor to it. “The father I hated is dead. I’m happy, but also … not. It’s weird.”

“It’s not weird. Grief can make us feel a lot of strange emotions.”

“You can say that again. I don’t even know why I’m telling you this. I don’t normally tell chicks what I’m feeling.”

I sit up straighter. “I’m not a chick. I’m a woman, Vincent.”

“No offense,” he says, holding his hands up.

“You’re a little uncouth, aren’t you?”

“Uncouth? Who says uncouth?”

“I do.”

He slowly smirks, his eyes looking me over. I can’t say I’m mad about it. “Ok. And yes, I am uncouth. I was raised to fight my entire life. And now, my father is dead. So, fuck him.”

“Wow.”

“But even though I hated my father, I still have to avenge him. Before my father died, he said a name. Nico Mancini. Apparently, he killed my father. But I have no idea how to get close to a man like that. All I know about him is the power he holds in this city. I could never get close enough to ask him if he really did kill my father.”

“I could ask him for you.”

Vincent looks at me in an entirely new light. “What are you talking about?”

“I’ve met Nico Mancini before. He goes to the same restaurant my father and I go to all the time. I’ve met there. He seemed nice. I could ask him for you.”

“What? If he murdered a man?” Vincent rubs a hand down his neck, and I’m instantly distracted by how nice hands he has. “I don’t think he’d answer you.”

“No. I just meant I could ask him to meet you. That’s all.”

“I’m good. I’m part of a dark world, Ellie. A girl like you doesn’t belong in it. This is my mess. I don’t need you to do anything for me.”

“I was just offering.”

“You and your father like to do that, don’t you?” The way he says it rubs me the wrong way. It’s condescending.

“I was just trying to help. Sorry.” I stand and hurry away from him before I make an even bigger fool out of myself. This is why I don’t talk to men. I sound stupid and naive.

The truth is, I’m not fully versed in the world Vincent and my father belong to, but I know it’s dangerous.

I shouldn’t have offered Vincent my help. He’s the exact type of man my father wants me to stay far away from.

Father and I go to our usual restaurant for lunch. Vincent wasn’t allowed to come because my father wanted him to train so he doesn’t lose another fight.

I’m sipping on my glass of water when Nico Mancini approaches our table.

He shakes hands with my father. “Moore. Good to see you again.”

“And you, too. You’ve met my daughter.”

Nico smiles down at me. For being an older man, he’s quite handsome. “I have. Ellie, was it?”

“Yes. Nice to see you again.”

“You as well. So, Moore, I’ve heard you taken in a fighter. That you’re sponsoring one. Why?”

“He makes good money. I want to earn more money.” That gets a laugh out of both men.

“You should meet him,” I say, shocking both men. “Vincent’s a really good fighter.”

Nico tenses for a moment before straightening his tie. “I don’t concern myself with street fighters. It’s not my style.”

I try not to flush as I duck my head.

“It was good seeing you again, Moore,” Nico says before walking away.

Father levels a look at me. “Why did you suggest Nico meet Vincent?”

“Vincent wants to meet Nico. To ask him if Nico killed his father.”

“Ellie, don’t say things like that,” he hisses. “Not in public. Now, be quiet and eat your salad.”

All I can think about as I force down a tomato is that Nico strangely reminded me of Vincent. I’m not sure how or why—just that he did.

Later that day, I tell Vincent I spoke to Nico at lunch. “I suggested he meet you.”

“Ellie, why would you do that? For all I know, Nico is a dangerous man. I said I didn’t need your help, and I don’t.”

I flinch. “Sorry.”

He sighs, running a hand down his face. “Look, this situation is awkward between us. I’m living in your home. Your father doesn’t even really want us to talk to each other. I’m dealing with my father’s death. I know you wanted to help, but stay out of this. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“But why would you care if I get hurt? We’re strangers.”

The way he stares at me sends a heat to my core. “I don’t know. I just don’t want you to get hurt. That’s all I know. Nico may or may not have been involved in my father’s death. Because of that, he’s not someone I want you talking to.”

“I can talk to whoever I want.”

“With your father’s permission.”

He has me there.

“I thought you wanted to meet Nico. I know him. I could introduce you two.”

“I’ll find another way to meet him.”

As a woman, I know I have no say in the matters of these kinds of men. Vincent, Nico, my father—their lives are off limits to me. And yet, I’m so close to it that I can’t just ignore everything. I was there when Igor died. I know how dangerous this life can be.

Vincent may not want my help, but I want to help him, and I’ll find any way I can.

VINCENT

When I show up at the ring, ready to take on a new opponent to regain my reputation, I hear a low murmur inside the locker room. The men are discussing something.

“What’s going on?” I ask, dropping my gym bag to the ground.

“Nico Mancini is in the audience tonight,” a guy named Jake says. He dresses up as a Native American during the fights even though he’s white. In a place like this, cultural appropriation doesn’t mean a thing.

Every fiber of my being tenses. “What’s he doing here? He’s never come to the fights before.”

“Who knows? But he’s here. Apparently, he’s making an announcement before the first fight.”

I don’t bother changing before I head into the main room. The crowd is already going wild for blood. I ignore them and focus on the ring. Inside it stands Nico Mancini. He looks so out of place in his white suit.

“Attention, everyone,” he says into a microphone. “I’m here to announce a new competition. It’ll be ten rounds. The person who wins gets the chance to earn a hundred thousand dollars. Anyone can join.”

The crowd starts whispering. That kind of money can change your life.

“Not only will the winner get money, but they’ll also get the chance to meet me.” He passes the microphone off to the announcer and steps off stage …

… and lands right before me.

We lock eyes.

Nico’s eyes narrow then widen before he walks away.

I have no fucking clue what that was about.

But now I have my chance to meet Nico and see if he killed my father, and if he did, I’ll kill him myself. Not because I loved my father. No. But because without vengeance, I have nothing, and only my anger is keeping me going right now.

I will win this competition and get the answers I need from Nico Mancini.