Page 70 of Reckless Royalty

We sit in silence for a moment, and I can feel a strange sense of closure, as if finally getting these words out has released some of the weight I’ve been carrying.

Ion breaks the silence with a warm smile, his tone lighter. “Now, Madison, I hope Mihai has been treating you well. He can be a bit… intense.”

I let out a small laugh, glancing over at Mihai. “Intense is an understatement,” I say, my tone teasing, and Mihai rolls his eyes, though there’s a hint of a smile on his face.

Ion laughs, clearly amused. “Well, that’s my son for you. Stubborn as they come. But he has a good heart.”

Mihai huffs, pretending to be annoyed, but I can tell he’s pleased by his father’s words. It’s a rare glimpse into a side of him that’s softer, more vulnerable, and I feel my heart warm at the sight.

Ion’s gaze softens before he turns serious again, his voice gentle. “You’re in safe hands, Madison. Mihai will do everything to protect you, as will I.”

I nod, feeling reassured, even as the tension of the past weeks lingers. “Thank you, Mr. Vasile. It means a lot to hear that.”

“Call me Ion,” he says with a warm smile. “And know that you’re part of our family now, from what I’ve gathered.”

Ion’s words hang in the air, warm and unexpected, and I feel the familiar tension in my chest start to loosen just a little. Part of their family—it’s a sentiment I hadn’t thought I’d ever hear, and it settles over me with a strange sense of comfort.

“Thank you… Ion,” I say, hesitantly, testing the name, and he smiles in approval.

But then I glance at Mihai, who’s shifted next to me, muttering something under his breath in Romanian too fast for me to catch. I catch the faintest glint of irritation in his expression as he glares at his father, though it’s more playful than serious.

Whatever he’s just said has his father chuckling as he gets to his feet, and Ion claps Mihai on the back with a grin that’s almost too smug.

“Ah, Mihai,” Ion laughs, his tone full of amusement. “Don’t let me get in your way. I’ll leave you two alone. But,” he adds, looking at Mihai with a pointed gaze, “join me in an hour.”

He nods to us both, giving me a final warm smile before he strides out, leaving Mihai and me alone in the massive room. I can still feel the echo of Ion’s words, a lingering warmth in the air.

But as I turn to Mihai, I notice the faint flush on his cheeks, his jaw clenched just enough to show that something about his father’s teasing got to him.

“What was that about?” I ask, half-grinning.

Mihai rubs the back of his neck, avoiding my gaze for a second. “Nothing important. Just… fatherly things,” he mutters, as if dismissing it will make his reaction disappear.

I raise an eyebrow, leaning a little closer. “Fatherly things?”

He lets out a low groan, meeting my eyes with a look of exasperation. “You don’t want to know,” he grumbles, though I can see the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “Let’s just say he thinks he’s funny.”

I tilt my head to the side and Mihai shakes his head, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “It’s nothing. My father just… he likes to mess with me. Don’t worry about it. Come on, I’ll show you around a bit, get your mind off this whole thing.”

I chuckle, watching the way he fidgets, almost shy in a way that doesn’t match his usual confidence. It’s strange, seeing him this way, vulnerable and almost… flustered. It makes me want to ask more, to tease him like he always does to me, but I hold back, knowing there’s a line he might not want me to cross just yet.

“Okay, I’ll let you keep your secret,” I say with a small smile, and he visibly relaxes, though his gaze stays on me. “Let’s go.”

MIHAI

As I step into my father’s study in the main building, I’m met with the scent of leather and old wood, a familiar mix that always brings a sense of comfort. He’s already seated by the bar with a glass of whiskey in hand and a sharp gaze as he looks up at me.

I hate how well he knows me sometimes—can’t keep a damn thing hidden from him.

I grab a glass and pour myself a drink, taking a seat across from him. He watches me in that way he does, like he’s waiting for me to say something, to crack open whatever I’m holding close. And, hell, I know what he wants to talk about. He’s been smug about it ever since that damn call when I let slip that I might be feeling something for Maddy.

After a few moments of silence, he leans back, a hint of amusement on his face. “So, Mihai, have you given any more thought to what we talked about?”

I roll my eyes, setting my glass down with a quiet clink. “You mean Maddy, don’t you?”

He shrugs, but there’s no denying the spark in his eye. “Well, yes. I thought maybe you’d want to talk about it. It’s not everyday my son finds someone who actually gets under his skin in a way that matters.”

I let out a breath, frustration curling in my chest. “And what exactly are you hoping to hear,Tata? That I’m head over heels? That I’m planning to throw tradition out the window for her?”

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