Shattered Prince

“You signed up for it, princess.” He got in behind the wheel.

I got in the back. I tossed my bag on the seat and buckled in. He frowned in the rearview mirror and I flashed him a smile.

“Take me home, driver.”

His eyes narrowed. “I don’t work for you.”

“Actually, I think you do. My father left me in your care. Don’t you think he’d want you to extend every courtesy possible?”

“Careful,” he said, his voice a low growl. “You’re only useful so long as you don’t piss me off too much. But there are other cartels. I won’t respond well if you keep dangling your daddy over my head.”

I only smiled and shrugged. I didn’t care what he thought, so long as he left me alone and drove.

Which fortunately, that was exactly what he did.

I needed to ease off. Carmine was a mafia bastard and he drove me absolutely wild, but he wasn’t wrong. He hadn’t chosen this. Neither of us wanted our current situation. But my father forced me on him, and there wasn’t much he could do about it. If Carmine wanted to continue doing business with the Suarez cartel—which, despite what he said, he absolutely did—then he’d have to keep me safe while I was in his care.

Shoving my father in his face wasn’t smart. Carmine wasn’t the kind of man to respond well to threats. It worked this time, but sooner or later he’d call my bluff, and then I’d be in trouble.

Because I’d never go to my father. I’d never ask for that man’s help, no matter how bad things got. Not now, not when I was finally free.

But there was something about Carmine I couldn’t place. I’d been living in his massive penthouse apartment for the past two weeks and he still felt like a stranger. He was barely ever home, and when he was, he spent all his time stomping around the living room on his phone, yelling at his men, drinking too much whiskey, and staring out the big windows. He was like a vicious, depressed bear or something, and I wondered when he’d finally snap.

Not that it was my problem. He had a mafia war to fight, and all I wanted to do was get a degree, graduate with honors, and get into medical school. Then I could move out on my own and not have to rely on men like Carmine or my father anymore.

Then I could help people for real.

Carmine slid into his spot in the underground parking structure and we rode the elevator up in silence. I watched the numbers flit past as Carmine loomed behind me. He was big, and his presence was like a shadow threatening to crush me.

We were two stops away when he spoke up. “How bad is it today?”

I flinched, surprised, and looked back. “Excuse me?”

He nodded, his eyes on my leg. “How bad?”

“None of your business.” I looked away, my cheeks red. “I didn’t think you’d even notice.”

“Hard not to when you’re walking like you need crutches.”

My hands balled into fists. “Asshole. Is this how you talk to everyone?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, did you want me to go easy on you? Come on, princess. You can take it.”

I looked back, fuming, but he was smiling that charming grin. Some of my anger dissipated, and we reached the apartment. The doors slid open and I walked into a beautiful, modern space, with glossy gray tile floors and a massive bank of windows overlooking San Antonio.

The city was a rush. Even still, even after two weeks of staring and exploring, it felt fresh and amazing. I was from the Mexican countryside, and all I knew were cacti, desert flowers, and dust. But here there were more buildings than people, and it was incredible.

Carmine poured himself a drink in the kitchen while I dropped my backpack on the table. I had studying and homework already, and I was itching to bury my nose in my books, but I had a shift tending bar at the Lowdown soon. He’d drive us both over. Another awkward car trip. But I needed the money, and the work was easy enough, although I’d only worked a couple of shifts, and spending all that time on my feet inevitably ended in agony. But I could handle the pain. I was used to hurting all the damn time.

And at least I liked the owners, Mal and Cap. Two more mafia bastards—but Cap was okay. She was this pretty girl with auburn hair and a big smile, and Mal was this massive beast of a man with tons of tattoos and a constant glare. He and Carmine and Cap were best friends as far as I could tell. Their relationship seemed complicated, and I did my best to stay out of it. I wasn’t here to get sucked into their drama.