Page 99 of Ruthless Royalty

Gio smirks, a dark, satisfied look crossinghis face. “Damn right. And for the record, you’re more than good enough for me, Chiara. You’re everything.”

The intensity in his voice sends a warm rush through me, and I can’t help but smile, feeling a little more of the weight lift from my shoulders.

“Thank you,” I whisper, stepping closer and wrapping my arms around his waist. “I needed to hear that.”

He pulls me close, his arms wrapping around me protectively, and I rest my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

“I’m sorry he cornered you like that,” he murmurs, his voice still laced with anger. “I should’ve been here.”

“It’s okay,” I say, my voice muffled against his shirt. “I’m glad you weren’t here because I needed to face him on my own; I needed to prove to myself that I could.”

“And you did,” he says, pulling back slightly to look down at me, his eyes full of pride. “You fucking did.”

I smile, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over me, but it’s quickly replaced by a sense of unease. “Gio, do you think he’ll ever accept me? Or are we always going to have to fight him?”

Giovanni’s expression hardens, and I can see the cold resolve in his eyes. “I don’t give a fuck if he accepts you or not,” he says bluntly. “You’re in my life now and I love you. That’s all that matters. If he tries to come between us, he’ll have to go through me first, and he knows it. I’m not exactly expendable since I’m his only son.”

I nod, reassured by his words, but there’s still a lingering fear in the back of my mind. Giovanni’s father is a powerful man, and he’s made it clear that he’s not going to back down easily.

“We should go,” Giovanni says after a moment, glancing at the clock on the wall. “Everyone is probably waiting for us.”

I nod again, reluctantly pulling away from him to grab mybag. But just as I’m about to leave, I feel his hand on my arm, stopping me.

“Chiara,” he says, his voice soft, but there’s a serious edge to it. “I meant what I said. I’m proud of you. You handled yourself like a fucking queen back there.”

His words make my heart swell with emotion, and I can’t help but smile. “Thank you, Gio. That means a lot to me.”

He leans in, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips, and I feel the warmth of his love, the reassurance that no matter what happens, he’ll always have my back.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” he says with a smirk, pulling back and giving my hand a squeeze.

I follow him out of the room, my heart still racing from the confrontation with his father, but there’s a new sense of strength inside me. I faced down one of the most dangerous men I’ve ever met, and I didn’t back down.

I may not have the same blood running through my veins as Giovanni, but I’m no less fierce, no less determined to fight for the life we’re building together.

As we head down the hallway toward the exit, Giovanni’s arm draped protectively over my shoulders, I catch a glimpse of his father watching us from the shadows. There’s a cold, calculating look in his eyes, but I meet his gaze head-on, refusing to be intimidated.

I’m not going anywhere. And I’ll fight anyone who tries to take this from me.

We reach the door, and just as Giovanni pushes it open, I hear his father’s voice, low and full of warning.

“Watch your back, girl. You may have the blood of a killer in you, but I was born into this life. Your pride can only get you so far,” he says.

“I won’t forget who you are, Mr Basile,” I say, my voice steady. “But you should remember survival isn’t about who’s stronger.It’s about who’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep what’s theirs, and I’m more than willing to die for your son.”

He smirks, a dark, dangerous look in his eyes. “We’ll see about that.”

Without another word, I turn and walk out of the place, Giovanni’s hand still holding mine tightly and my head held high.

Gio glances at me, a proud smile on his face. “You were fucking brilliant in there, Kitten,” he says, his voice filled with admiration. “I’ve never been more proud of you.”

I smile back at him, feeling a warmth spread through me. “I had a good teacher,” I say, squeezing his hand. “And a good reason to fight.”

He grins, pulling me closer as we reach the car. “Let’s get out of here,” he says, opening the door for me. “We’ve got a future to plan, and I don’t want to waste another second.”

CHIARA

As soon as the car pulls up to Dmitri’s estate, I see my mom standing at the front door, her hands clasped nervously in front of her, her eyes searching for me. The moment our eyes meet, I feel a rush of emotion, and all the things I’ve been holding back for so long. Before the car even fully stops, I’m already pushing the door open, rushing toward her.

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