Page 93 of Ruthless Royalty

Marina sits down on the edge of the bed, her hand resting lightly on my knee. “We’re just glad you’re okay.”

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I’m glad too. I…” I trail off, not sure what to say next. Fuck, I am so tired of crying already.

There’s a heaviness in the air, an unspoken acknowledgment of how close we all came to losing something precious. The thought of it makes my chest tighten, but I force myself to take a deep breath, to stay calm.

Mihai finally speaks, his voice low. “What you went through … not many people could have come out of that the way you did.”

I shake my head; the tears welling up again. “I didn’t feel strong. I felt … broken.”

Cat squeezes my hand again. “But you’re not broken. You’re still here, and that’s what matters.”

“And you’ve got all of us to make sure nothing like that ever happens again,” Connor says. “We’re not letting you out of our sight, darlin’.”

There’s a warmth in his words, a protective edge that makes me feel safe, even in the wake of everything that’s happened. I know they mean it—that they’ll do whatever it takes to keep me safe, to make sure I never have to go through something like this again.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “I … I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” Marina says, her voice soothing. “We’re here for you, Chiara. You’re family now.”

They stay with me for a while, their presence comforting, grounding me in a way that I desperately need. We talk about everything and nothing, the conversation light, easy, but with an undercurrent of relief that we’re all still here, still together.

Eventually, they start to leave, one by one. Marina and Cat hug me tightly before they go, promising to come back later to check on me.

Connor and Mihai linger for a moment, exchanging a glance before they follow the girls out. There’s something unspoken between them, something they don’t say but that I can feel, a sense of protectiveness that makes me feel a little bit safer.

As the door closes behind them, I let out a breath. The room is quiet again, the only sound is the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. I’m about to settle back into the pillows, to try and rest, when the door opens once more.

Nikolai steps in, his expression guarded, but there’s something in his eyes that I’ve never seen before—something raw, vulnerable. He closes the door behind him, and for a moment, he just stands there, looking at me, his gaze intense.

“Nikolai,” I start, my voice hesitant. “I … I’m sorry. I should have listened to you. I should have been more careful.”

He shakes his head, cutting me off before I can say more. “Don’t apologize, Chiara. You don’t have to apologize to me.”

“But I do,” I insist, my voice trembling. “You tried to warn me, and I didn’t listen. I was stubborn and stupid, and I put myself in danger because of it.”

Nikolai moves closer, sitting down on the chair beside the bed. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together.

“You weren’t stupid, you were hurt, and you made a choice. We all make choices we regret, especially when we’re hurting.”

I look down at my hands, the guilt gnawing at me. “But if I had listened to you … if I had just stayed away from Leo…”

Nikolai reaches out, placing his hand over mine, his grip firm but gentle. “You’re alive, that’s what matters. You’re alive, and you’re safe. And I’m just glad I didn’t lose you.”

I look up at him, my heart pounding in my chest, and I see something in his eyes that makes my breath catch. He’s never looked at me this intensely before.

“Nikolai…” I start, but he shakes his head, his expression pained.

“I’ve already lost one person I loved to the Volkovs,” he says quietly, his voice rough. “I couldn’t stand the thought of losing another.”

The confession snaps me out of my pity party, and I feel a tear slip down my cheek. “You … you love me?”

His lips twist into a sad smile, and he nods, his eyes dark with something I can’t quite name.

“For a while now,” he says with a shrug. “But I know I can never have you. I know that Gio … Gio’s good for you. He makes you happy. And that’s all I want—for you to be happy.”

I don’t know what to say; the words sticking in my throat, my mind reeling. I’ve always known that Nikolai cared about me, that he was protective, but this … this is different. This is something I never expected.

So this is why he called me his on the night of The Chase.

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