Page 14 of Reckless Royalty

“I know,” I murmur, resting my chin on top of her head. “I know you do.”

She’s always been tough, but underneath that fire, there’s a softness to her she rarely lets anyone see. But I’ve seen it. I’ve always seen it.

We stand there for a long time—her sobbing quietly, me holding her like I used to when we were younger, when things were simpler. There was a time when I thought we’d be together forever. But life doesn’t work like that. Not for people like us.

After a few moments, she pulls back slightly, wiping at her tear-streaked face.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers, her voice barely audible. “I just… I don’t know what to do, Mihai.”

I cup her face gently, forcing her to look at me. “You don’t have to do anything right now, but youdohave to trust me, Sofia. You have to let me do my job.”

She sniffs, nodding slightly, her eyes searching mine. “Do you want her?”

The question hits me like a knock to the head and I blink, taken off guard by her words. “What?”

“Madison,” she says, her voice shaky. “Do you want her? Is that why you’re protecting her?”

I shake my head, letting out a bitter laugh. “No, Sofia. This isn’t about her, this is about what I have to do. What my father instructed me to do; I have no choice in this.”

She stares at me for a long time like she’s trying to decide if she believes me. And then, finally, she nods, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “Okay.”

I let out a breath, pulling her back into my arms. She doesn’t resist this time, just leans into me, her breathing steadying as the last of her sobs fade away.

There are so many things I want to say, so many things I could say, but none of them feel right. None of them will change what’s already happened.

“Sofia,” I murmur, my voice low. “I’m going to find out who did this. I promise you.”

She pulls back, her green eyes locking onto mine. There’s still that fire in them, but it’s tempered now, softened by the grief she’s trying so hard to push down.

“I know you will,” she whispers. “I just… I want them to pay, Mihai.”

“They will,” I say firmly, my hand still resting on her shoulder. “But we have to be smart. We can’t let this spiral out of control.”

She nods again, her lips pressed into a tight line. “I know.”

I let go of her, taking a step back, trying to regain some semblance of control. Being this close to Sofia always makes things… complicated. The feelings I thought I’d buried long ago are still there, lingering just beneath the surface. But I can’t afford to think like that right now. There’s too much at stake.

“We’ll get through this,” I say, my voice steady. “But you need to keep it together. No more slapping people.”

A small, tired smile tugs at the corner of her lips, and for a second, I see a glimpse of the old Sofia—the one who used to laugh at everything, who didn’t carry the weight of the world on her shoulders.

“Fine,” she mutters, wiping at her eyes. “No more slapping. For now.”

I chuckle softly, shaking my head. “Good.”

As I turn to leave, she stops me with a soft voice. “Mihai?”

I glance back, meeting her gaze. “Yeah?”

“Thank you,” she says in a small voice.

I nod, the words catching in my throat. “Always.”

I turn to leave, my hand resting on the doorknob, but before I open it, I glance back at her one last time.

“Sofia… I’m sorry for everything. For not being there when you needed me.”

Her eyes soften, and she nods, her voice quiet. “I know. Just… don’t let her die, Mihai. Don’t let them win.”

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