Ruthless Prince (The Mancini Mafia #2)

Chapter 7

Chapter

Seven

VINCENT

M y rib is still broken when I have to participate in the fourth round of the competition. Every punch and kick and swing and uppercut hurts like a son of a bitch.

But in the end, I take down my opponent and win.

I’m one step closer to meeting Nico Mancini and getting the answers I need. If he tells me he killed Igor, then he’s dead. No one kills my father and gets away with it, even if I hated my father to begin with.

Women flock to my side once I step out of the ring, all of them wanting to spend the night with me. But after what happened with Rachel the assassin, I’m not taking the risk right now. Not when I’m still hurt.

So, instead, I walk past them and up to Ellie. “Care to go out for dinner tonight?”

She blushes and looks away. “My father wouldn’t like that.” She nods at Mr. Moore, who’s talking to some man I don’t know.

“What your father doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”

“Vincent, we have to be careful. My father would kill you if you put me in a compromising position.”

“Then I won’t put you in a compromising position. It’s just dinner, Ellie.”

She hesitates then nods. “I should at least ask him.” Walking over to her father, she asks if she can go to dinner with me.

Mr. Moore gives me a long hard look before he nods once. “Fine. But be back home within two hours.”

Ellie is smiling widely as she follows me out of the club.

“You’re cute when you smile,” I tell her, nudging her arm.

Once again, she blushes, and it does something to me. “My father never lets me do anything. I’m an adult, and yet he treats me like a child.”

“He doesn’t even let you go out for dinner?”

“Not really.”

I shake my head. “Man, and I thought I had it rough with my own dad.”

“You make your father sound tough.”

We head down the street and end up in the nearest restaurant—a simple, little dinner.

“It’s not fancy,” I say.

“I don’t always need fancy.”

After taking our seats and ordering food, I finally answer her comment. “My father was tough. Honestly, I don’t think he ever loved me. I was more of a means to an end for him than anything else.”

“That’s terrible, Vincent. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”

I shrug. “He’s dead now.”

“And yet you want revenge on Nico?”

“My father said his name before he died. That had to mean something.”

“I could still talk to Nico for you. I know you don’t want me getting involved, but I’m involved now. And someone doesn’t want you to participate in this competition. Wouldn’t it just be easier if I asked Nico to meet with you in person?”

“It would be easier,” I admit. “But it’s not what I want, Ellie. I want to win this competition so I can prove myself worthy. Nico is the most powerful man in this city. I don’t want to be handed a win. I want to earn it myself.”

“I can respect that. Just know I’m here for you anyway.”

“Why are you so nice to me?” I ask. “No one’s ever been this nice to me before.”

“That’s sad, Vincent.”

“It’s the truth.”

“I’m nice to you because I want to be. You … fascinate me. You fight for a living. You’ve been fighting all your life. I’ve lived in a sheltered mansion my entire life. We’re completely different and yet I think you understand me better than a lot of other people do,” she says. “We both know what it’s like to have strict fathers. Not everyone can relate to that.”

“True.”

Ellie’s hands are placed on the table, and I get a strong urge to grab them, hold them in my own. I want this to be a date. I like her more than I should.

But her father would have my balls if I tried anything with her.

So, I keep my hands to myself.

I’m just not sure how much longer I’ll be able to do that.

We’re heading back to Ellie’s car when someone steps out of the shadows, stopping us.

It’s a man I don’t know. He has a long scar across his nose, making his face more distinctive.

“Are you Vincent Antonov?” he asks in a gruff voice.

“No,” I say instinctively. I don’t want this man to know who I am.

He smirks. “I think you are.” He whips out a knife and slashes it at my face.

I push Ellie out of the way, and she falls to the ground. I grab the man’s arm, stopping him just in time from slashing my eye out. My broken rib is screaming in pain.

Shoving the man back, I kick him in the stomach. He doubles over slightly but regroups and charges at me. I duck out of his way and land a hit to his chest, but he slices the knife down my arm, drawing blood.

“Vincent,” Ellie gasps. Before I can react, she runs at the man and jumps on him from behind. He shakes her off, knocking her back down, but it gives me what I need. A chance to attack.

I grab the assassin’s wrist and force him to drop the knife. I catch it as it falls and stab him in the arm with it. He groans, backing away.

I use one of my signature moves and kick high, landing a solid hit to his head. That knocks him to the ground.

Grabbing Ellie’s arms, I help her back up, and we run for the car. The assassin gives chase.

“Get in!” I shout at her. Ellie scrambles for the car door, but the assassin is there, grabbing her by the hair and yanking her back. He hits her in the stomach.

The sight of Ellie in pain causes my stomach lurch.

“Let her go,” I growl, charging the man, barreling right into him. He releases Ellie, and she dives into the car and turns it on.

“Vincent!” she shouts, opening the passenger side door.

I give the assassin one more punch and then get into the car. He slams into the door as I close it.

Ellie doesn’t hesitate to speed away. “Who was that?”

“Another assassin. Somone was watching us. They want me dead, and they’re willing to come at me on a public street. Whoever wants me dead really wants me dead.”

“Then we need to find out who and stop them.”

“No. Not you, Ellie. I can handle this on my own.”

“No,” she says in a fierce voice. “I’m a part of this now, too, Vincent. I was attacked, too. Yes, the assassin was coming after you, but he was willing to hurt me to get you. I’m involved. I want to help.”

“But you can’t fight. You’re a liability.”

She flinches. “How can you say that?”

“Ellie,” I say, sighing deeply. “I didn’t mean it as an insult. I like you. I don’t want to see you get hurt because of me. I’ll find out who’s going after me and end this.”

“My father will find out about this. I need to tell him. Maybe he can help.”

“Maybe,” I murmur, unsure if anyone could help me now.

ELLIE

My father is waiting for us the moment we get home. “Good. You’re back.” He checks his watch. “And early, too. If you had returned her home late, Vincent, I wouldn’t have been happy with you.”

Vincent smiles, but it’s tense. “I wouldn’t risk Ellie’s safety, sir.”

“An assassin attacked us tonight,” I blurt out.

My father frowns. “What?”

“Someone’s going after Vincent, Father. You need to find out who and stop them. And please don’t blame Vincent for this. He saved me tonight. You should give him a medal for it.”

Father stares Vincent down. It would chill most people to the bone, but Vincent doesn’t look afraid. I’ve never seen him look afraid in any of the fights he’s participated in.

The only time I’ve seen him afraid was tonight. Was it because of me?

“You saved my daughter?”

“Yes.”

Father nods once. “Good. But she wouldn’t have needed saving if a hitman wasn’t coming after you. I’ll find out who and stop this. I want you in this competition, Vincent. I want you to win.” He turns to me. “Ellie, go to bed now.”

I have no choice but to go to my room. After a few moments, I hear footsteps behind me. It’s Vincent.

“I just wanted to make sure you were all right,” he says.

“I will be. I’ll probably bruise.” I nod toward my stomach where the assassin hit me. “But I’ll be fine. Vincent, you looked scared tonight.”

“Well, it’s not every day a hitman comes after you.”

“I know, but …” I shake my head. It’s silly to even assume he cares about me enough to be afraid if I was hurt or not.

“What, Ellie?” he asks in a softer voice. It makes my heart flutter.

“Why are trying to protect me?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“No,” I whisper.

He pushes a lock of my hair behind my hear and gives me a warm smile before walking away. Even though he didn’t speak, he told me all he needed to say.

Vincent cares for me.

And that’s dangerous.

Father and I go out to lunch again. It’s mandatory on my part. He expects us to share time together, and time together we shall share.

“You’re getting close with Vincent,” he comments, cutting into his steak. I think it’s too heavy meal to be having for lunch, but I don’t say a word about it.

“He lives in our house. We’re bound to talk.”

“Oh, I know. But make sure you don’t get too close to him. For your own benefit, Ellie.”

“He’s not going to hurt me, Father.”

“Being around him puts you in danger. I wont have your reputation ruined because of this boy. He’ll win this competition and then leave. Understood?”

“Yes, I understand.” Meaning, Vincent is not here to stay, so I shouldn’t get attached.

My eyes widen when I see Nico Mancini walk through the restaurant door. He spots us and comes to our table.

“Moore,” he says, giving my father a handshake.

“Is your competition shaping up how you wanted it to go?” Father asks.

“It’s been … enlightening. That Vincent is proving to be a formidable fighter. You took him in?”

“I did. Vincent has a natural talent.”

“Maybe you should meet him,” I offer. I know it’s not what Vincent wants, but I can’t help but say it. I want Vincent to meet Nico. If I can give him that chance, I will.

Nico shakes his head. “No. I’m all right.”

“May I ask why?”

Father clears his throat. “Ellie, it’s not appropriate to ask people questions they don’t want to answer.”

“It’s all right,” Nico says to him before turning back to me. “Actually, Ellie, the reason is because he reminds me of someone. It’s better I don’t get my hopes up.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Most people wouldn’t.” He clears his throat and gives my father another nod before walking away.

Father stares at me. “You’re getting bolder. Vincent must be influencing you. Remember, Ellie, be careful with him. I’d hate to have to kill him for looking at you a certain way.”

Vincent dying is the last thing I want.

And the thought of my father being the one to do it is inconceivable.

I take a bite of my sandwich and keep my mouth shut like the good girl I’m supposed to be.