Protecting The Principessa (Complete)

~ Chapter 52 ~

"You can't be serious," Ace said as he finally stood, swiping at his jaw. "Since when did you lay a claim on her? It wasn't like you wanted her or anything, you just didn't want anyone else to get close. You had Sara, wasn't that enough for you? What the fuck happened in this short amount of time that you'd be with Izzy here? Or is the sex and that pussy so mind-blowing you're risking everything just to get a piece on the side?" Adriano saw red and let his fist connect with Ace's jaw yet again, causing him to fall to the ground once more. But this time, Adriano didn't give him time to get up, because he was jumping on him, landing another blow.

"Don't talk about Ignazia like that, asshole. She deserves much more fucking respect than that!"

"Adriano!" He heard the cry, but he didn't piece where it was coming from. Frankly, he didn't give a fuck either. He was tired of men treating his woman like that as if they had some right to her. He also knew that landing his ass in jail, even overnight for a bar fight in his own Goddamn bar wasn't smart. With an effort he didn't know he had, he finally stood up, but he kept his stare on Ace, his hands clenching but the look on his face dared the man to say something, anything else. But Ace ignored the look and swiped at his nose again, his eyes darting to the woman who stood behind Adriano.

"Adriano, stop!" Adriano heaved and finally turned to look at Izzy. She cupped his cheeks, making him stare into her eyes. His breathing slowed and she smiled. "Ace isn't a bad guy, so stop," she told him, brushing her lips over his cheek. "You gave everyone enough talk, we're good."

"This is what you want, Ignazia? I thought you had better taste in men. At least be smarter in your choices than to get mixed up with an asshole like him," Ace muttered, holding onto his jaw. "He's a jerk who only fucked you because you were easy, he doesn't want you. Adriano doesn't want anyone." Izzy's eyes flashed as she let Adriano's face go and stepped over to Ace.

"So, I'm easy is what you are saying now? Then why the fuck do you want me? You could have any number of ladies." Ace smirked as he wiped a hand over his nose again, seeing as the blood wasn't stopping.

"For that reason. You are sexy but I'm sure as a bigger woman you don't get many offers. Thought I'd blow your mind or something." She gritted her teeth and before anyone could register what she was going to do and stop her, her fist connected with his eye, once more knocking his ass down.

"Fuck you, Ace. I may be a bigger woman, but I know my worth. And I don't just fuck around with anyone because they pay me some attention. God damn fucking prick." Adriano took her hand, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. She glanced at him, catching his wide smile, and lifted a brow. "What?"

"You throw a solid punch. I stand corrected, you can fight. Not that I want you to." Izzy just shook her head and then tugged him back to the bar, seeing the crowd that had doubled in size.

"There's a lot of people that just saw that, Adriano. And a lot of people that just heard that claim. Are you okay with that? I mean, that's all news, and that all happened so fast." He glanced around briefly, his eyes locking with Mike's before he looked back at her.

"In the heat of the moment, I wasn't thinking about that." She snorted in response, and he just lifted a brow. "But I'm still not sure I mind people knowing about us. Regardless of how fast things were between us and how fast it ended with Sara. Let people fucking talk. They do it anyway." She crossed her arms and the look he gave her told her wanted nothing more than to untangle them and be wrapped up in them.

"Look," she said, slowly shaking her head but the flash of a camera threw her. She glanced around, saw a man there with a mini camera, and groaned.

"What the hell was that?" Adriano said, looking around.

"The press, who probably got a couple more damn good shots of not just the fight but us," she whispered. "Adriano, you have to get out of here before this blows up and it's all over the papers. Though I'm sure it's going to be now anyway."

"And leave you here to suffer through it? No way. The press will bug you just as much as they will bug me," he told her as he took her head, leading her towards the back. "Her shift is done," he told his manager, who had stopped them.

"I can't have her leaving, Adriano. We're slammed tonight, and she's one of the best and fastest bartenders." Izzy smirked at that, knowing that probably took a lot for him to say.

"Let me stay." Adriano rolled his eyes before walking back the way they came.

"Like I'm letting you stay alone. I'll be up in my office, watching." She nodded and he brushed a kiss over her cheek before walking away, Mike in tow after him.

"You don't like to fly under the radar much, do you?" Mike asked, slapping Adriano on the back. "I don't think I've ever seen you so into a chick before that you would beat up one of your best customers." Adriano glared at Mike before shaking his head.

"It's not that I meant to punch him, but fuck, he was rubbing me the wrong way. And Izzy is mine, so he shouldn't be talking about her like that."

"Oh, I don't think you have to worry about defending her honor there. She did a damn good wallop on him anyway."

"Trust me, Mike, that's really not at the forefront of my mind." They walked into the office, Adriano's eyes dancing over the crowd. They were busy, there was no denying that. The place was packed wall to wall, and there was a steady stream of customers at the bar. He couldn't stop smiling as he watched his girl who effortlessly worked the line, smiling and talking with the people, working the crowd so well. He was proud of her and even proud to have her on his arm; fuck what people think. "Did you talk to the boss?"

"Yes," Mike grumbled, and Adriano smiled.

"It's not that bad."

"She's a spoiled brat, Adriano. Marrying Sara is going to take some serious willpower on my end!"

"You'll have fun breaking her, I know you." Adriano checked his watch and sighed, seeing how the night was going to tick by on him.

Five hours later, Adriano rubbed his eyes, glad to see the crowds had finally started drifting out the door. He was tired of being held up in his office, but he was glad to see no one bothered Izzy while she worked. Of course, that may have been because he had some men down there watching the scene. Not that he thought she couldn't handle herself, but reporters, they could be jerks, and if some had gotten in unbeknown to him, he was going to have their heads rolling.

With a sigh, he stood up from his desk, glanced out the window again, and made his way back to his car. It was a cooler night thanks to the front they had moving in, and he wanted to make sure the car was warmed up enough for her. Walking out, he couldn't help but laugh at himself. When had he ever cared about shit like that before? That was beyond him. Women were just playthings to him really. Just something to screw and not think twice about, not care about. But things with Ignazia, they were different, and fuck if he could figure out why. He did know that it went just beyond attraction at this point.

He paused as he opened his door and glanced around. He could have sworn he heard the rev of an engine, and it didn't sound too far off. But no cars around him were on and no lights were showing. Carefully, he started to get into the car but stopped and turned as the sound of the car was fast approaching. He tried to dive out of the way, seeing the glint of metal before the shots rang out. He grunted at the pain that tore through him, but he lifted his head enough to catch sight of the car, it being the same one that chased him and Izzy down the other day.

With another grunt, he ran his hands over his stomach, closing his eyes at the warm liquid soaking into his fingers. He would never live this one down. He groaned as he heard a car squealing past him, slowing down enough to get another round-off and he just laid there, unable to even lift his hand to shoot back. The bullets had grazed him, if not gotten him, and he was struggling to even breathe. But before they could get more than a couple of shots off, the banging of the door from the building had them leaving just as fast as they came.

"Fucking hell, Adriano." He heard Izzy and felt her kneel next to him, her body pressing along his. He felt the warmth of her hand as she cupped his cheek, urging him to open his eyes, and then he felt the coldness of her tears as they fell on his skin. With his next breath, he felt nothing else, giving into the blackness that had been creeping up on him.