Page 21 of His Prize

“There we are. Let’s get you tucked in all nice and tight. Like this.”

I stared at the wall as the woman slid her hands beneath the edges of my body.

“Miss Rankoff, this really isn’t—”

She pointed at me. “Now, you listen here. I know you’re all big and bad and powerful. But, until your body heals? You’re the biggest liability to yourself. Once you heal? You do anything you want. Until that point, though? You’re to obey my directions. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself back in the hospital, yes?”

I blinked. “Sure.”

She picked up the tray of food. “Great. I’m glad we’re on the same page. Now, sandwich?” She set the damn thing onto my thighs before I had a chance to tell her that I wasn’t hungry—again—and I stared down at the meal. A tuna sandwich with the crust cut off, a fresh fruit salad, Jello pudding for dessert, and vegetables with dipping sauce.

I have the lunch of a five-year-old.

“Enjoy!” Miss Rankoff chirped.

I watched as she practically skipped out of my bedroom, not quite shutting the door behind her. I hated it when people did that. Either leave the door open or close it. Don’t crack it. That always made me feel like someone was trying to listen in.

And I didn’t take kindly to shit like that.

Once I heard her footsteps heading down the stairs, though, I set the tray onto my bedside table. I snuggled down beneath the covers and pulled them over my head, ready to let sleep drag me under. I didn’t want to wake up until my body had healed. I didn’t want my eyes to open until my beauty was back and Israel wanted me again.

But instead of sleep, my mind started swirling. It started working and analyzing and planning something fruitful. I slowly raised myself. I found myself reaching for a piece of that sandwich. And as I sat back in bed, a plan unfolded in my mind—a plan to steal even more power from my uncle and send a message that told people never to mess with me.Ever.

Unless they wanted to pay with their life.

“You’re going down, Pava,” I murmured.

And as I took a bite of my sandwich, I threw the covers off my body.

I need to get to the files in my bag.

* * *

Alice smiled. “Well, I’m glad we’re finally alone for this date, Israel.”

I looked around us at the table I’d been able to snag for a quick lunch.

“Aren’t you glad?” she asked.

I nodded. “Of course.”

She smiled. “And it’s a shame, really that your ex-wife had to bombard our first date like that. I’m sure she won’t be bothering us today, though.”

I kept a smile on my face. “Of course not. And she was never my wife. The marriage was null and void when she used someone else’s name to marry.”

“I still can’t believe she did that to you. You deserve so much better. And trust me, I know that from experience.”

“I know, yes.”

She tried to reach for my hand, but I didn’t make any move to reach for hers. However, when she settled her hand on top of mine, I wanted to rip it away. I wanted to shove her to the ground and get back to Bonnie. She needed me. She needed all the help she could get right now. But, it took everything I had to smooth things over with my father and snag another date with Alice, so the entire Esposito family didn’t gun for our heads in boxes.

So, I had to tough this out.

“I heard her accident was pretty bad,” Alice said.

I slid my hand away. “Have you taken a peek at your menu yet?”

She smiled. “Not with this handsome man in front of me.”

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