Page 80 of Ruthless Royalty

I force a smile, but it feels hollow even to me. “I’m fine, Mom. Just … tired from the trip.”

She doesn’t look convinced, but she doesn’t press further, and for that, I’m grateful. The last thing I need right now is to explain what’s really going on, especially when I’m not even sure I understand it myself.

Dmitri, who has been silent for most of the meal, finally speaks up, his voice calm but commanding. “Chiara, I’d like to speak with you in my study after dinner.”

My heart sinks at his words, but I nod, not trusting myself to speak. There’s a firmness in his tone that leaves no room for argument, and I know that whatever he has to say, it’s not going to be a pleasant conversation.

The rest of the meal passes in a blur, my anxiety mounting with each passing minute. When we finally finish, I excuse myself from the table and head to Dmitri’s study after he leaves, my stomach churning with unease. I’ve been dreading this conversation since the moment Giovanni mentioned the marriage, and now that it’s here, I don’t know if I’m ready for it.

I knock on the door, my knuckles rapping lightly against the wood. There’s a brief pause before his deep voice calls out, “Come in.”

I push the door open and step inside, the room dimly lit by the warm glow of the desk lamp. Dmitri is seated behind his large mahogany desk, his hands folded neatly in front of him. He looks up as I enter, his expression stern but not unkind. It’s a look that tells me he means business, and I’m already bracing myself for what’s to come.

“Sit down, Chiara,” he says, gesturing to the chair across from him.

I obey, lowering myself into the chair, my hands clenched tightly in my lap. The silence stretches out between us, heavy and oppressive, and I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, the tension almost unbearable.

He studies me for a moment, his gaze sharp and assessing. When he finally speaks, his voice is steady, but there’s an edge to it that sends a shiver down my spine.

“Giovanni spoke to me about your refusal to marry him.”

I swallow hard, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “Okay…”

“And why did you refuse?” His tone is calm, almost too calm, and it only heightens my anxiety.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “Because I don’t think marriage is the answer. We’re not ready for something like that, and I don’t want to be forced into a decision like this just because of the situation we’re in.”

Dmitri’s eyes narrow slightly, his expression unreadable. “You don’t want to be forced into a decision. But do you understand the situation you’re in, Chiara? Truly understand it?”

I hesitate. “I understand that things are dangerous, that there are people who could … who could hurt me because of who I’m with. But marriage?—”

“Marriage is not just about love or readiness in our world,” Dmitri cuts in, his voice firm. “It’s about alliances, protection, and power. By refusing Giovanni’s proposal, you’re not just rejecting him—you’re rejecting the safety and protection that comes withbeing his wife. You’re putting yourself in danger, Chiara. A danger you don’t seem to fully comprehend.”

His words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I can feel the panic rising in my chest. “I’m not trying to put myself in danger. I just don’t think getting married is the solution to everything.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Dmitri says, his tone growing more intense. “It’s about the reality of the world you’ve now chosen to be a part of. This is not some fairy tale where you can ignore the dangers and live happily ever after. You are in the Mafia now, whether you like it or not, and that comes with certain risks—risks that you need to start taking seriously.”

I open my mouth to argue, but Dmitri holds up a hand, stopping me. “I know you didn’t choose this life initially and I know you’re still trying to find your place in it. But you need to stop thinking like a child and start understanding what’s at stake here. You’re not just Chiara anymore—you’re Giovanni Basile’s girlfriend as well as my step-daughter, and that makes you a target.”

His words cut deep, and I can feel the sting of tears in my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall.

“I’m not a child,” I say, my voice trembling slightly. “I know what I’m involved in. I know it’s dangerous, but marriage isn’t the only way to protect me.”

Dmitri’s expression softens slightly, but his tone remains firm. “You’re right—marriage isn’t the only way. But it’s one of the strongest forms of protection you can have in our world. It’s a declaration to everyone that you are untouchable, that you are under Giovanni’s protection, and that anyone who dares to harm you will face the full wrath of the Basile name.”

I shake my head, the tears threatening to spill over. “I don’t want to be seen as some … some possession, some trophy that needs to be guarded.”

“You’re not a possession,” Dmitri says, his voice gentler now. “But you are a person who has made a choice to be with someonepowerful, and with that choice comes responsibility. It’s not just about you anymore,Printsessa.It’s about the people who care about you, who want to keep you safe. Giovanni is one of those people, and his offer to marry you is not just about power—it’s about his desire to protect you. A proposal from a future Capo dei Capi isn’t child’s play, Chiara.”

I look away, unable to meet his gaze as the tears start to fall. “But what about what I want? What about my choice in all of this?”

“Your choice is important,” Dmitri says, his tone softening further. “But you need to understand that in this world, choices are not always as simple as they seem. Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices, to do things we don’t want to do. You need to understand that.”

I bite my lip, trying to hold back the frustration that’s bubbling up inside me. “I understand more than you think.”

“Do you?” Dmitri’s gaze hardens, and there’s a coldness in his eyes that sends a chill down my spine. “ Chiara. Do you understand what that means? Do you understand that there are people out there who would take you, assault you, even kill you, just to prove a point? Just to get to Giovanni?”

His words squeeze my heart painfully and for a moment, I can’t breathe. I’ve always known, on some level, that being with Giovanni was dangerous, that it came with risks. But hearing it laid out so bluntly, so starkly, makes it all too real.

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