“No, it doesn’t,” she wailed. “Your handsome face is ruined forever.”
“You think I’m handsome?” He grinned down at her, his arrogance showing through the nose that was taped and the eye that was swollen.
“You used to be,” Ria made an attempt at humor, despite the horror of his looks.
Nicholas laughed. “Let’s go. Mitchell is waiting.”
“Where are we going?”
“Out to dinner.”
Ria followed him as he led her outside to the waiting limo. She sat next to him like she had the other men. This time, though, there was a difference; she didn’t try to scoot away from him. Nicholas, on the other hand, sat stiffly, as if he didn’t want to touch her.
Ria was confused. She’d thought he was trying to help her because he was attracted to her, yet his body language tonight was telling her he felt no such attraction. She remembered back to the other night. She had practically asked for his kiss, and he had pulled back.
When the car pulled up in front of a popular pub, Mitchell got out and opened the door for them.
Inside, Nicholas led her to a table that a couple was sitting at. Ria recognized Zane, but not the woman.
“Ria, I want to introduce you to my sister Melanie, and you already know Zane.”
“Hello.” Ria slid into the booth, and Nicholas sat down next to her. The couple in front of her stared in shock at Nicholas’s face.
“What in the hell happened to you?” Melanie almost jumped out of her seat, but Zane held her in place.
“I had a fight tonight.”
“Where? I’ve never seen you look like this after a fight, even when you lost to Zane.”
“I fought at the Dustbowl.”
“Oh, my God, what have you gotten involved in?” Melanie stared accusingly at Ria.
“Stop it, Mel. Ria had nothing to do with the fight.”
“Don’t lie to them,” Ria said softly.
“I’m not. You asked me not to fight. It was my decision.” Nicholas quickly told them why he had fought in the pit.
His sister had tears in her eyes. “I feel terrible. You’re in such a bad position,” Melanie told her. “But, Nicholas, this isn’t the answer. It’s too dangerous.”
“I don’t have a choice. I owe her.”
Ria tried not to show how upset she was. Now she understand why he was fighting for her—he felt responsible for her losing her job.
“Let me talk to Emiliano. Perhaps I can—” Zane began.
“Fuck no! You’re not getting involved with them again. I can handle this. It’s only until I get control of my money. I have an appointment with a lawyer on Monday.”
“Dad’s not handing control over?”
“No.” He refused to get into the argument he’d had with his father yesterday.
“But why? The money is yours,” Melanie said, becoming angry for her brother.
“He wants to know why. When I told him it was none of his business, he got angry. Said, by the time the courts made him hand it over, that at least I’ll have to think it over before spending such a huge sum.”
Actually, he wasn’t angry at his father but himself. He should have taken the responsibility for his money long ago, but his bills had always been paid without his bothering about them, and he had seen the financial reports. His father had tripled his money. His father simply couldn’t understand why he wanted the money without telling him the reason.
He was trying to protect him the way he always had. It was the same reason he had refused to watch Melanie fight, hoping his disapproval would stop her from achieving her own dream. His father’s methods weren’t the best; although, ultimately, he had their best interests at heart.
“Let’s eat dinner.” Nicholas picked up his menu, and the others followed.
“What are you going to have?” Nicholas asked Ria.
“The chicken.” She sat, feeling out of place at the closeness between the three of them.
Melanie blamed her for Nicholas becoming involved in the cartel, worried about his safety. Ria was, too.
Ria ate her dinner, half-listening to the conversation between them. Melanie was coming up with different ideas to get their father to loosen the purse strings.
“I know. Tell him you got her pregnant.”
As Ria choked on her food, Nicholas had to pat her on the back.
“I take it that’s a no,” Melanie said, her lips twitching.
“No,” Nicholas told her.
Melanie shrugged. “I’m only trying to help.”
“If you want to help, be quiet and eat your dinner,” Zane told her.
Melanie stuck her tongue out at Zane, who ignored her to finish his dinner.