Ruthless Prince (The Mancini Mafia #2)

Chapter 12

Chapter

Twelve

VINCENT

I t’s the final round of competition.

And I have to face off against the Mountain—the man who beat me before the competition even began.

To say I’m nervous is an understatement. I’m so close to winning. So close to meeting Nico and getting the answers I need. Did he really kill my father? And if he did, will I be able to kill him?

I pace the locker room, waiting for the announcer to bring me into the ring. Ellie and Mr. Moore are sitting out in the crowd. Mr. Moore expects me to win. I’ll do what Ellie told me to do—win this money, take care of Nico, then leave.

But I am going to bring her with me.

We haven’t even consummated our marriage because Mr. Moore is keeping us apart. Ellie needs to be free of him, and I can be the one to do that for her.

But not without this money, I can’t. Which is why winning today is so important.

When the announcer shouts into the microphone, “The Kraken!” I know it’s my cue to come on stage.

I enter the ring and stand opposite the Mountain. He’s so fucking big I feel my body shrink back slightly. I lost to him before. I can’t lose to him again.

The fight begins.

The Mountain lumbers toward me, using all his strength to tackle me. I manage to slip free from his grasp and dance around him. With a growl, the Mountain runs at me again, this time, landing a punch to my stomach. I groan, doubling over. Using that to his advantage, the Mountain grabs the back of my head and slams his fist into my nose.

Blood spurts out, landing on my bare chest. I can hear the crowd groan at my pain. My eyes find Ellie in the audience, and she’s clutching her hands to her mouth, her eyes filled with worry.

I have to fight. I have to win this.

The Mountain draws his fist back to strike again, and this time, I dodge out of the way. His swing carries him forward, and I run behind him, landing a kick to his back that sends him falling to his knees. Quickly, I scramble onto his back and dig my nails into his eyes. His scream is gut-wrenching.

Which only fills me with more excitement.

He chucks me off him, and I fall onto my back. The Mountain uses that opportunity to straight up body slam me into the ground. The pain is immeasurable.

It would be so easy just to lie down and let the Mountain win.

But when I open my eyes and see Ellie watching me, I know I have to win this. I have to win this for her so I can get her away from her father.

The Mountain stands back up to body slam me again, but I roll out of the way right as he slams into the ground. Then I attack.

I land on top of him and immediately lock my arms and legs around his neck and back. He tries shaking me off, but I hold on tight. This is it. I have to do this. I have to win.

The Mountain manages to stand up with me clinging to him and bangs my body into the rope of the ring, but I still hold on. While he’s running around, I grab his face and dig my nails back into his eyes.

He screams and falls to his knees. I keep holding on and digging my nails in …

… until he slams the ground three times, signaling his defeat.

I’ve won.

I let go of the Mountain and raise my arms wide. The crowd cheers me on. I’ve done it.

Ellie stands up, clapping with gusto. Mr. Moore slowly gets up next and claps along with her.

I’ve just won a hundred grand and the chance to meet Nico Mancini.

Out of the crowd steps Nico himself. He walks right up to the ring and offers me his hand. “Congratulations. Why don’t you get cleaned up and meet me outside.” He doesn’t wait for my reply before he walks away.

Once I step out of the ring, Ellie rushes over to me, throwing her arms around me. “You did it! You won!”

Mr. Moore clears his throat, standing right behind Ellie. Instantly, Ellie lets me go, and I feel the loss of her arms around me deeply. “You did win, Vincent. Congratulations. Once you receive the money, give me half.”

“That’s not fair,” Ellie says. “Vincent won the competition. He deserves more than half.”

“I let him into my home so he could train. I’m partly responsible for his win. Don’t argue with me, Ellie.”

She bows her head, and the sight of it hurts me. I’m not going to give Mr. Moore half the money. I’m going to keep it all and take Ellie with me.

But first, I have my meeting with Nico Mancini.

“I’m meeting Nico outside. I’m not sure when I’ll be back home.”

Mr. Moore nods once. “You do that.” He grabs Ellie’s arm and leads her away from me.

I quickly change and go outside to where Nico waits.

“You won,” Nico says. “It takes a strong man to bring down the Mountain. That’s someone I wouldn’t mind having in my employ.”

I blink. “You want to hire me?”

“I didn’t say that. I want to get to know you first. Come. I want you to meet my wife. She’s a good judge of character. I’ll get you the money you’ve earned.” He opens his car door and motions for me to get inside.

I need this opportunity to speak with Nico and see if he really did kill my father. So, I get into his car.

On the drive over to his house, I stay quiet. I don’t dare ask him about Igor, lest I raise his suspicions.

Nico’s house is a large mansion outside of the city. It’s so large that multiple families could live in it. Despite growing up in a mansion myself, my father never let me live luxuriously. He always had me sleep in a cramped room.

“Come along,” Nico says, guiding me up to the house.

Once inside, I’m blown away by the beauty of it all. The crystal chandeliers and the hardwood floors. The white furniture. The elegant decals everywhere.

“Is it just you and your wife?” I ask Nico as he leads me into the living room.

“It is.” He doesn’t elaborate more.

A pretty blonde woman walks into the living room.

“Vincent, this is my wife, Aurora. Vincent won the competition.”

Aurora smiles wide. “It’s nice to meet you, Vincent.” She studies my face for a long moment.

“Do … do I know you?” I ask, having the sudden flare of a feeling like this woman is familiar.

“No. It’s just … we used to have a son named Vincent. Sorry.” She steps away from me, fanning at her eyes. To stop herself from crying, I realize.

The longer I look at Aurora, the more I feel like I know her. But that’s not possible. I’ve never seen this woman before in my life.

It’s then I spot a photo on a table near the couch. It’s a family photo of Nico and Aurora and … a little boy.

And that little boy has a pendant around his neck.

It’s the exact same pendant I grew up wearing.

I also share the same name as Nico’s son. No. It couldn’t be …

I look at Nico and Aurora harder. I couldn’t be their son. Igor was my father.

And yet … I know I’ve seen Aurora before. She feels like … home.

“Do I know you?” I ask again.

Aurora frowns. “No. At least… I don’t think so.”

Nico stares at me harder. “Do you know us?”

“No,” I say quickly. “I’ve never met either of you before. Sorry. I … don’t think I can stay here.” I ignore the confused looks of Nico and Aurora and rush to the front door.