Page 46 of Ruthless Royalty

There’s a beat of silence, everyone on edge, waiting for the signal. Nikolai, in his Diamond mask, is watching me, too, his expression unreadable, but there’s something in his eyes that unsettles me. It’s like he’s planning something—something that involves me.

“Ready?” Connor calls out, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.

My heart pounds in my chest as I brace myself, every muscle tensing, ready to take off the moment the signal is given.

“Go!”

The word explodes in the air, and we’re all off, sprinting toward the woods. The forest looms ahead, dark and foreboding, but I don’t hesitate. My legs pump as I tear across the ground, the sound of footsteps all around me as the others scatter, trying to find their own paths.

The darkness swallows me as I plunge into the woods; the trees closing in on all sides. I can hear the others crashing through the underbrush, but my focus is singular: don’t get caught. The thrill of the chase pulses through my veins, adrenaline giving me speed as I push forward.

Somewhere behind me, I can feel Giovanni closing in. His presence is like a shadow, a constant reminder that he’s there, that he’s after me.

My breath comes in ragged gasps as I weave through the trees, trying to lose him, trying to put as much distance between us as possible.

I break through a clearing, and the ground gives way to a steep slope. I stumble, trying to keep my balance as I scramble down, the loose dirt slipping beneath my boots. Giovanni is right behind me, his footsteps pounding against the ground, and I know I have seconds before he catches up.

But it’s no use. He’s too close, and I know it. I can feel him gaining on me, his footsteps heavy and relentless. Panic surges through me as I push harder, my muscles screaming in protest.

Then I’m grabbed from behind. A strong arm wraps around my waist, pulling me back, and I twist around, expecting to see Giovanni’s face leering down at me.

But it’s not Giovanni.

It’s Nikolai.

He doesn’t say anything, just grins as he leans down toward my face.

“Got you,” he says, his voice low and possessive, and before Ican react, he’s lifting me off my feet and carrying me back up the slope.

“Let me go!” I hiss, trying to wrench myself free, but he’s too strong.

“Not a chance, little sister,” he says, his grin widening. “Giovanni’s not getting his hands on you tonight.”

I can hear Giovanni’s furious shout from somewhere nearby, and a part of me wants to laugh at the sheer audacity of it all. Of course Nikolai would swoop in at the last second, ruining Giovanni’s chase just to piss him off.

“Fucking let go, Nikolai,” I snap, struggling against him.

He just chuckles, holding me tighter. “Sorry, little sister. Rules are rules.”

When we reach the top of the slope, Giovanni is there, his eyes burning with fury.

“What the fuck are you doing?” he snarls, stepping forward as if he’s ready to rip Nikolai apart.

Nikolai’s grin doesn’t falter. If anything, it only grows wider. “What’s the matter, Gio? Didn’t think I’d let you have all the fun, did you?”

Giovanni’s fists clench at his sides, and I can see the rage simmering beneath the surface. “You think this is funny? You’re fucking with The Chase, Nikolai. You had no right.”

Nikolai shrugs, unbothered by Giovanni’s anger. “Maybe I am, but she’s my sister. You really think I was going to let you have her that easily, especially after what you pulled last time?”

“You’ve always been a fucking thorn in my side, asshole,” Giovanni spits, his voice low and dangerous. “But this? This is crossing the line. She was mine, and you fucking knew it.”

Nikolai’s smirk fades, and he meets Giovanni’s gaze head-on. “The line was crossed the moment you thought you could put your hands on what’s rightfully mine.”

What the fuck? Did Nikolai just—WHAT?!

I don’t know what to say, don’t know what to do. The two of them are squaring off like predators, and I’m caught in the middle, still held tight in Nikolai’s grip around my waist. I can feel Giovanni’s eyes on me, dark and furious, and there’s a part of me that wonders if he’s going to try to take me back by force.

Giovanni’s jaw tightens, his hands clenched into fists. “You’re a fucking coward, Nikolai.”

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