Page 75 of Ruthless Royalty

I turn to face him, my mind still reeling from the conversation from a few days ago. “He thinks I should marry Chiara.”

Nikolai’s eyes widen slightly, but he recovers quickly, crossing his arms over his chest. “What, just like that? He walks in, drops that bomb, and leaves?”

“Pretty much,” I mutter, dropping onto the couch. “He says it’s the only way to keep her safe. Said it would make her untouchable.”

Nikolai nods slowly, processing the information. “Sounds like something he would say. Telling you to marry Chiara is his way of making sure she’s under control, tied to you—and by extension, tied to him. My father plays the long game, G. He’s always thinking five steps ahead, and if he sees an opportunity to solidify his power, he’ll take it.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, well, I’m definitely not fucking ready for this. I mean, marriage? That’s a whole different ballgame. It’s not just about us anymore—it’s about everything that comes with it.”

Nikolai takes a seat across from me, his expression serious. “You care about her, don’t you?”

I don’t even hesitate. “Yeah. I do.”

“Then if marrying her is the only way to keep her safe, you need to consider it. But don’t do it because my father told you to. Do it because it’s what’s right for her.”

I let out a frustrated sigh, running my hand through my hair again.

“That’s the thing, I don’t know if it’s right for her. I don’t know if it’s right for us. We’ve been through so much shit already, and throwing marriage into the mix … it could complicate everything.”

Nikolai leans back, his gaze steady. “You’re overthinking this, G. You’ve already claimed her in every other way—making it official wouldn’t change much, except give her more protection.”

“But what about her?” I ask, my voice tight. “I can’t just make that decision for her.”

Nikolai gives me a pointed look. “Have you talked to her about it?”

I shake my head, feeling like an idiot. “No. I wanted to figure things out first. I didn’t want to dump this on her without knowing where I stand.”

“That’s your first mistake,” Nikolai says bluntly. “Chiara’s not some delicate flower, we both know this.”

I stare at him, letting his words sink in. He’s right, as much as I hate to admit it. Chiara’s stronger than anyone gives her credit for, and I know she’d want to be part of this decision, not just swept along by it.

“What are you saying?” I ask, frowning.

“I’m saying that you need to talk to her,” Nikolai replies, his voice calm but firm. “You need to lay it all out on the table and lether decide what she wants. If you want to do this right, you need to see how she feels about it.”

I nod slowly, taking in his words. It makes sense, but it doesn’t make the decision any easier.

“I’ll talk to her. But what if she says no? What if she doesn’t want to get married?”

“Then you’ll find another way to keep her safe,” Nikolai says, his tone resolute. “You’re Giovanni Basile, for fuck’s sake. When have you ever had to rethink shit? You’ll figure it out.”

I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

Nikolai stands up, walking over to me and clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Look, man … I know this is a lot to take in. And I know you’re not the type to back down from a challenge. But you need to remember that this isn’t just about you. It’s about Chiara too. Whatever you decide, make sure it’s what’s best for her.”

I nod, appreciating his words more than I can say. “Thanks, I needed to hear that.”

“Anytime,” he replies, his expression softening slightly. “Just … don’t let my father get into your head. I love him, but he’s a master manipulator, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get what he wants.”

“I won’t,” I promise, my resolve hardening. “This is my decision, not his.”

“Good,” Nikolai says, stepping back and giving me a small nod of approval. “Now, go talk to her. Figure out what the hell you’re going to do.”

I take a deep breath, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. “I will. Thanks, man.”

There’s a moment of silence between us, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air. Then Nikolai speaks again, his tone more casual.

“You know, if you do go through with this, there’s going to be a hell of a party.”

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