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Humans are like a complex machine, yet almost laughably simple. Push the right buttons, and a well-mannered and gentle person can turn into a hellish demon. And right now, my buttons are being pushed, but it’s the mistress hiding behind her subjects that’s my opponent—not the puppet smiling at me like she thinks I’d waste my attention on her.
As soon as I reach the bar, I bend and rip the seam of my skirt. Then I place one hand on the surface, using it to push myself up as elegantly as possible. I don’t even look at Grayson and Rhiannon. No, my glare is firm on the Cruz Cunt that sees me as beneath her.
Big. Fucking. Mistake.
“Why aren’t you participating in the fun?” I ask in a deceptively sweet tone. Cocking my hip, I stare her down. “Or are you too scared to do your own dirty work?”
“Zo,” Sasha mutters.
When she tries to reach for me, I take another step toward Rose.
“You think I’m scared of you?” Throwing her head back, Rose lets out a laugh so shrill it hurts my ears. “Come at me if you think you can take me, Princess.”
As she sneers my nickname, Grayson forcefully removes Rhiannon from him by literally pushing her down from the bar. Then he sits up, slowly turning toward me.
“Princess,” he calls, holding his hand out to me.
I shake my head and turn back in Rose’s direction. If I give up now, I’m letting him save me, and that won’t get me the fucking respect I want. There’s only one way to get that. You can’t get real respect by taking it, you need to earn it. Which is why I’m coming for the woman pulling the strings, instead of the puppet dancing when its strings are pulled.
“Oh, I know I can take you,” I insist, making sure that my tone reflects the confidence I feel. “Because unlike you, Rose, I don’t hide behind others. You want to hurt me? Now’s your fucking chance. So are you woman enough to take it?”
After giving my little speech, I jump off the bar. I reach for the tequila bottle next to Grayson, and before I can second-guess myself I take three large swigs, breaking my promise to myself about not drinking around these people again.
Then I kick off my heels. Fuck, I have no idea how I’ve managed not to stumble wearing those damned things up there. But if we’re about to have a proper cat fight, which I think it’ll take, I’m not about to risk my win by jeopardizing my balance.
“Aren’t you scared of breaking a nail?” Rose mocks as she, too, gets down on the floor.
Ignoring her verbal jab, I spread my arms out to the side. “What are you waiting for?”
When she hesitates for a brief moment, I know she’s realized what I already knew. She’s the only one with something to lose. If she refuses my challenge, she’ll look weak. If she loses to me, she’ll look weak. But if she wins… it’s a hollow victory. Who cares about winning over the princess that’s nothing more than a fucking captive at their mercy.
“Rose,” Grayson growls. “Don’t even fucking think about it.”
My eyes are firmly on Rose as I snap, “Stay out of it, Grayson. This is none of your fucking business.”
The crowd rumbles their agreement, so without looking, I feel pretty confident the Kings will hold him back if needed.
Not wasting another second, Rose comes at me, but I stand my ground, refusing to budge. So when she lifts her hand and slaps me, I don’t try to dodge it. I remain in position, taking it.
Try as I might, I’m not sure I keep the surprise off my face. That hurt more than I thought it would.
In an attempt to mask the pain, I grin at her. “Is that all you got?”
Quick as lightning, she reaches for my hair and pulls at it until I’m forced to bend my neck to alleviate the pressure.
“I haven’t even gotten started,” she hisses into my face. Then she spits, her saliva landing on my cheek.
The onlookers gasp and chuckle, clearly enjoying this. Good. Now that I’m sure I have their attention, it’s time to fucking fight back. With a low snarl, I raise my knee, jamming it up and into her ribs.
Rose lets go of my hair with a gasp. While she’s busy clutching her side, I move one leg between hers, and push her while tripping her at the same time. When she falls to the floor, I willingly follow.
As soon as we’re both down on the dirty floor, Rose spins us around so she’s straddling me.
“You’re not as bad as I thought you’d be,” she taunts.
I smile up at her. “What can I say? You’re not the first bitch trying to stealmycrown.”
My comment earns a few laughs from Kings and Cunts alike.
