Page 22 of Ruthless Royalty

Cat nods. “Exactly. It’s about loyalty, strength, and endurance. They want to break you down to see if you can handle it.”

Is this why Nikolai didn’t mention anything to me? “I don’t even wanna be in this life!”

Cat gives me a grim smile. “I know, the same goes for me, but be careful, Chiara. I may have grown up with them, but I know these guys don’t play fair,” she says with a sigh, then she nods towards my Suite. “Get some rest. You’ll need it.”

I nod, feeling the exhaustion settle in. “Thanks, Cat. See you in the morning.” Then she gives me a small smile before heading toward her Suite.

I wasn’t even born into this life. What the hell am I going to do?

CHIARA

When I wake up earlier than usual the next morning, I am angrier than I was when I went to bed last night. I’m seething in the shower, while I’m doing my hair and makeup and when I choose my outfit for the day.

I’m pissed off because no one had the decency to tell me about Legacy Week, so I can prepare myself for it. Everyone hid it away from me, and I remember Nikolai telling Connor to shut up about it on the flight over.

Why would they all keep this from me? I thought Nikolai and I were closer now and even the girls were treating me like they’ve known me for ages.

The Suite is still quiet when I head downstairs, anger still bubbling beneath the surface and my palm stinging from the cut last night. I can’t believe they made me take a stupid oath. I just wanted to get my degree and fuck off and now I’ve sworn myself to the goddamn Bratva.

Nikolai is sitting at the kitchen island when I walk inside for some coffee and breakfast. He looks up when he sees me and smiles.

“Good morning,” he says, but I don’t return the smile, nor do I greet him back.

Instead, I head straight to pour myself a cup of coffee, and I catch the frown on his face when I look away from him. I’m more hurt thathewas the one who didn’t warn me, because I’m sure the girls would have thought he did.

“Someone’s in a bad mood this morning,” he quips, and I can’t help but scoff.

“Just trying to swallow this coffee down, but it’s hard to get past the betrayal I feel,” I say without looking at him.

There’s silence after this, and I still don’t bother to look at him as I pull the yogurt and muesli out for breakfast.

I can feel Nikolai’s eyes on me as I busy myself with breakfast, the tension in the room thick enough to cut through. The silence stretches, heavy and uncomfortable, until finally, he breaks it.

“Betrayal?” he repeats, his tone laced with confusion and a hint of defensiveness. “What are you talking about?”

I slam the spoon down on the counter, finally turning to face him. “You knew, Nikolai. You knew what was going to happen last night, and you didn’t say a damn word to me. You let them blindfold me, drag me out of bed, and force me into some twisted mafia ritual without any warning. How could you do that to me?”

He blinks, clearly taken aback by the force of my anger. “Chiara, I?—”

“Don’t,” I cut him off, my voice trembling with the effort to keep it steady. “Don’t try to justify this. You should’ve told me, warned me, something! You’re supposed to be my family, right? Isn’t that what you keep saying? That we’re family?”

Nikolai sighs, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly struggling to find the right words.

“You weren’t even supposed to fucking be there,” he murmurs, pushing his coffee aside. “But my word was overlooked.”

My heart stutters, and I feel my face flush as the shock gives way to a searing wave of anger. “What?”

He sighs, running a hand through his hair, avoiding my gaze. “Giovanni gave the word to bring you, so even if I wanted to warn you, it was too late. You’re one of the three initiates he’s chosen to take part in Legacy Week.”

The words slam into me like a punch to the gut. Giovanni chose me? I thought I was just swept up in all this because of circumstances, but Giovanni specifically wanted me to be part of this madness. I don’t know what’s worse—the fact that I’m involved in Legacy Week, or the fact that Nikolai, of all people, kept this from me.

“So, what? You were just going to sit there and let it happen?” I snap, my voice rising as the hurt bubbles up. “No warning? No heads up?”

Nikolai finally meets my eyes, his expression dark, unreadable. “You think I wanted this for you, Chiara? You think I didn’t try to stop it?”

I scoff, crossing my arms over my chest, trying to hold back the wave of betrayal that’s threatening to drown me. “Doesn’t seem like you tried hard enough.”

His jaw tightens, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t about what I want, this is Crown tradition and Giovanni was the one who called for you to be there. He chose you as one of his initiates for Legacy Week, and once that happens, no one can override it—not even me.”

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