Page 36 of Bitter Prince

Dante tapped Phoenix on her slim shoulder and her eyes darted to him. “Let Amon take her. He’ll keep her safe.”

She must have read his lips because she let go of Reina. But then to my surprise, she flipped him off. I didn’t have time for their shit. I didn’t know what he did to piss off the Romero girl, and at this moment, I didn’t care. Reina was my priority.

“There… are… galaxies,” Reina muttered incoherently, trying to raise her hand, but it fell back loosely. I scooped her up and she buried her face into my chest. “So many galaxies.”

I shook my head. The girl was in rough shape. “Where are the rest of your friends?”

Her eyes darted around, unfocused, pupils dilated. She opened her mouth, but then closed it without saying a word.

“Cesar is with them,” Dante answered. “The girls tried to beat up Roberto. Rightly so.”

I nodded and was about to head back to my office when Phoenix pinched my bicep for my attention. She started signing, but I didn’t understand any of it. I glanced at Dante and he seemed just as clueless. He pulled out his phone and handed it to her.

“Here. Type.” She glanced at his phone, then back up to him, glaring. She turned her eyes to me, but before I could say or do anything, Reina gagged, her face turning a shade paler.

“You two figure it out,” I grumbled. “I’m taking her into the office.”

Leaving them behind, I pushed through the crowd of dancing bodies. Her dazed blue eyes found mine, peering up at me through thick lashes. They searched my face, her fingers wrinkling my shirt.

“So many stars,” she murmured, her breathing labored.

A burst of anger shot through me as I watched her helpless in my arms. I wanted to go on a rampage, killing and hurting people. Instead, I channeled all my focus on her. I didn’t understand this response or this rage when it came to her. All I knew was that I felt responsible for something happening to her in my club. I was back in my office, her small and vulnerable body leaning into me.

“Shower,” she muttered. “Need shower.”

I frowned. I’d never been roofied, but I didn’t think a shower was something that would help.

“You need to rest,” I told her softly, placing her on the couch.

Her fingers clung to my suit with surprising strength. “Shower.” I didn’t move, confused at her demand for a shower. Nobody had touched her, right? She squirmed in my hold, shivering. “I’m going to be sick.”

I picked her up and made it to the bathroom just in time to hold her head over the toilet as she threw up, shaking.

“Don’t look,” she whimpered, sounding miserable.

“I’ve seen worse.” I wrapped my arm around her waist and helped her up, closed the lid to the toilet, and flushed it. I turned to the sink, soaked a towel, and held it up. Her hands shook as she took it and wiped her mouth. “Better?”

Another shudder rolled down her body. “I—I need a shower.” I glanced over to the large shower. I didn’t think it was a good idea for her to shed her clothes. I’d never touch her in this state, but if her sister came back here, I knew how it would look. Plus, she was aRomero, I couldn’t forget. “P-please.”

I sighed, letting go of her to turn on the shower. Her shaky legs failed to support her and she lost her balance. I caught her, seating her on the toilet.

“I guess we’ll take a shower together,” I muttered under my breath, scooping her up. She attempted to raise her hands, reaching for those flimsy strings. “Leave your clothes on.”

At least I’d be able to say we’d remained fully clothed.

We stepped under the water and slowly slid down onto the tiled floor. She let out a heavy sigh and cuddled into me.

“Thank you.”

“Sure.” Glancing down at her, I asked, “Why shower?”

She gave her head a small shake, burying her face into my chest. “Helps… with the panic.” There it was again.Panic attacks. “Your eyes are galaxies,” she murmured sleepily. “So beautiful.”

I let out a sardonic breath. It was the first time anyone had called me beautiful. The girl had a serious obsession with galaxies. And the color pink, by the looks of it.

The bathroom door opened and Dante appeared with Phoenix. They studied the two of us on the tiled floor while water rained over us.

“Did you find him?” I asked my brother.