Page 44 of Ruthless Royalty

“Nikolai, let him go,” I plead, my voice barely above a whisper, my mind racing with the implications.

With one last shove, Nikolai releases Leo, who slumps against the wall, rubbing his throat. Nikolai turns to me, his expression one of deep betrayal mixed with anger.

“This is who you want to spend your time with? Someone whose family destroys lives?”

I can’t muster a response, the shock rendering me speechless as I try to reconcile the Leo I’ve started to know with the horrific actions of his family.

Nikolai grabs my arm, his grip firm but not painful. “We’re leaving. Now.”

I don’t resist, allowing Nikolai to lead me away from Leo, who’s left standing in the shadowy corner of the studio with an unreadable expression on his face.

I finally find my voice when we’re outside, though it’s barely above a whisper. “Nikolai, you have to tell me everything. What happened with your mom?”

He stops walking, his face a mask of pain and rage. “It happened ten years ago and was a power play. Sergei Volkov tookher to get to my father, to break him. We were living this nightmare every day, wondering if today will be the day we get another... piece of her. Until he finally sent her head.”

Tears sting my eyes as the gravity of his words sinks in. The cruelty, the brutality of it—it’s too much. “I’m so sorry, Nikolai. I didn’t know.”

Nikolai’s expression softens slightly as he looks at me. “I know you didn’t. But you need to understand the kind of people the Volkovs are. You can’t be naïve about this, not with your life, not with your heart.”

I nod, my mind still processing everything. “I won’t be, I promise. Thank you for looking out for me, even when I don’t realize I need it.”

He gives a small, sad smile and pulls me into a hug. “That’s what family does, Chiara. And whether you like it or not, you’re family.”

As we walk back to the main part of the campus, my head feels foggy. Fear, sadness, betrayal. Leo’s face, the way he looked so lost, so desperate for me to understand—it haunts me. But Nikolai’s words, the reality of what his family has endured because of Leo’s—how can I reconcile that?

“Nikolai…” I start, taking a breath. “I won’t get close to him, but you must know that he’s not his father, right?”

Nikolai’s expression darkens, and he steps toward me, his voice low and dangerous.

“Don’t be naïve, Chiara. He’s a Volkov. His blood runs just as cold as his father’s. You think he’s any different? You think he’s some innocent bystander? They’re all the fucking same.”

I shake my head. “I’m not going to stop being friends with him, Nikolai. He’s been nothing but kind to me, and I don’t believe he’s like that.”

His eyes widen in disbelief, and for a moment, I think hemight explode, then he scoffs. “Are you out of your fucking mind? After everything I just told you, you still want to be around him?”

“I don’t believe that someone should be judged solely on their family’s actions,” I say, my voice steady despite the fear curling in my gut. “You’re my family too, Nikolai, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to turn my back on someone who’s done nothing wrong to me.”

Nikolai’s face contorts with anger, and he takes a step closer, towering over me. “This isn’t some fucking game, Chiara! You’re too goddamn stubborn to see the danger right in front of you!”

“I’m not stupid!” I snap back, my voice rising. “I know the risks, but I also know that Leo’s been nothing but good to me. I won’t just cut him out of my life because of something his father did.”

Nikolai stares at me, his chest heaving with the force of his anger. For a moment, I think he’s going to lose it completely, but then he takes a step back, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

“I don’t mean to hurt you. I just…” I trail off, sighing. “I don’t want to believe that everyone from that family is evil.”

Nikolai stops pacing abruptly, turning to face me with a glare that could cut through steel. “You think this is about me being hurt? This isn’t about feelings, Chiara. You’re so caught up in your idealistic bullshit that you can’t see the fucking cliff you’re about to walk off.”

“I’m not blind, okay,” I say, my voice trembling with frustration. “I know the risks. But I’m not going to live my life in fear, cutting people off just because of where they come from.”

He shakes his head, his blue eyes icy and filled with anger.

“You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t about fear, it’s about being smart. It’s about knowing who you can trust and who you can’t. And if you keep hanging around with Leo, you’re going to learn the hard way that trust can get you killed.”

I feel a lump form in my throat, but I swallow it down, refusing to back down. “I’m not going to stop being who I am just because it’s dangerous. I’m not going to change for anyone.”

He stares at me, his expression hardening. “Then you’re a fool,” he says, shaking his head before walking toward our waiting SUV.

CHIARA

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