Page 25 of Ruthless Royalty

Leo breaks the silence first, glancing at the canvas I’ve been working on. “Do you mind if I take a look at what you’re painting?”

I hesitate, but then I nod. “Sure, but it’s not finished yet.”

He steps closer to the canvas, his eyes scanning the image with the same intensity he used on his sketch. I watch him closely, wondering what he sees, what he’s thinking.

“You’re really talented, you know that?” he says after a moment, his voice sincere. “This is … it’s powerful, Chiara. You have a gift.”

His words warm me, but I can’t help the self-deprecating chuckle that escapes. “Thanks, but I’m not sure if I’d call it a gift. It’s more like therapy.”

“Sometimes, that’s exactly what makes it a gift,” Leo counters, his gaze meeting mine. “You’re able to pour all your emotions into something beautiful, something real. Not everyone can do that.”

I don’t know how to respond to that, so I just nod, a lump forming in my throat. It’s been a long time since anyone has made me feel seen, truly seen. And in this moment, Leo does.

We spend a few more minutes talking, the conversation light and easy, a welcome distraction from everything that’s been dragging me down. When we finally pack up our things and head out, I feel a little less alone, a little more grounded.

CHIARA

Ihead back to the Crown Suites, tired from today. The familiar noise of laughter and chatter fills the air, and I see Nikolai, Mihai, Connor, Cat, and Marina lounging in the living room.

Marina’s face lights up when she sees me. “Chiara, perfect timing! Come on, we need to get you ready,” she says, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the stairs. Cat follows with a shy smile, trailing behind us.

“What’s going on?” I ask, a bit bewildered.

“There’s a party tonight,” Marina explains as we reach my room. “It’s a ‘welcome back’ bonfire thing that’s always held in the Volkov Suite. You have to come.”

I groan, flopping onto my bed. “I’m really not in the mood for a party, Marina. Especially not after last night.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “Trust me, a night out will do you good. Plus, you can’t miss this. It’s like a rite of passage.”

Cat nods in agreement. “It’ll be fun, Chiara. We’ll be there with you.”

“See? Even Cat is excited!” she says. “A night out will do you good. Trust me.”

I sigh, knowing they’re not going to take no for an answer. “Another rite of passage? Will there be more blood involved?”

Marina’s smile falls slightly, and she bites her bottom lip. “Nikolai said you were upset about that. But please know?—”

“Alright, fine. But only because you two are so persistent,” I say, cutting off her excuse as I slip off the bed. “Just let me go get cleaned up. I smell like paint.”

This feels awkward as hell, but I’m not going to pretend I’m okay. I’m done with pretending.

When I walk out of the bathroom later on, Marina is still rummaging through my closet while Cat sits me down in front of the mirror.

“We need to find something that shows off that amazing tattoo of yours,” Marina says, pulling out a tight red halter neck dress with a draped neckline.

“That’s perfect,” Cat agrees. “And I just know you have a pair of killer heels, since you seem to have more shoes than clothing.”

I roll my eyes at her quip, taking the dress and slipping it on. Marina helps me with my hair, pinning it up to show off my tattoo, while Cat does my makeup. By the time we’re done, I’m feeling more confident than before. The dress hugs my curves, and the stilettos give me an added boost of confidence.

“Wow,” Marina says, grinning. “You look stunning. Giovanni won’t know what hit him.”

I scoff at that. “That’s not the point, Marina.”

“Sure it isn’t,” Marina teases, linking her arm with mine as we head out.

When we get downstairs, all three of the guys look at us: Mihai and Con staring at me open-mouthed, while Nikolai looks like he’s about to murder me.

“If I kill anyone tonight, their blood will be on your hands,little sister,” he says, grabbing his cell phone and keys from the coffee table in front of him. “Fair warning.”

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