Page 122 of Reckless Royalty

Mihai stays silent, his presence a comforting anchor as I take the final step of letting them go. When we step back into the sunlight outside, I feel lighter, like a small part of the weight I’ve been carrying has been lifted.

The others are quiet as we walk. I catch a glimpse of Connor standing at the entrance, his hands clenched at his sides. He gives me a small nod, his face soft with understanding. Marina, Cat and Chiara are further back, their expressions solemn. Even Nikolai, standing off to the side, looks subdued.

I glance back at the tomb one last time, the words of the song still echoing in my mind. It’s not goodbye, not really. It’s apromise to carry them with me, to let their love be a part of me instead of my guilt.

We walk further to the SUV at the edge of the gravel path, its engine purring softly as everyone starts preparing to leave. Mihai leaves my side for a second, he mentioned confirming that we’ll all meet back at his penthouse. I was such a mess and couldn’t even thank them all for being here.

I stand off to the side, fiddling with the hem of my coat, when the soft crunch of boots on gravel draws my attention, and I look up to see Connor walking toward me.

His hands shoved into his pockets. His usual playful demeanor is replaced with something gentler, more thoughtful. When he reaches me, he doesn’t say anything at first, just pulls me into a hug.

I sink into his embrace, letting his warmth and strength ground me. It’s different from Mihai’s—Connor’s hugs feel like he’s trying to absorb some of my pain into himself.

“Hey, darlin’,” he murmurs, his voice soft. “You did good today.”

I pull back slightly, looking up at him. “Thank you, Connor. For earlier, I mean. I needed that.”

He gives me a small smile, his green eyes filled with a warmth that makes my chest ache. “No need to thank me, lass. I’m glad I could be there for you. It… meant a lot to me, too.”

I nod, chewing on my bottom lip. “How are you, though? I’ve been worried about you.”

Connor shrugs, his hands still in his pockets. “Things could be better, but I’m workin’ on it. Takes time, you know?”

I reach out, touching his arm lightly. “Just… don’t let it eat you alive, okay? I know it’s not my place, but I don’t want to see it change who you are. You’re a good man, Connor Cunningham. Don’t lose that.”

His eyes soften, and he tilts his head, studying me for a moment before a small smirk curves his lips. “You’ve got a way with words, you know that? Alright, just for you, darlin’. I’ll work on it.”

I grin, feeling a flicker of hope. “Good. Because I still want to meet your dogs one day.”

At this, he throws his head back and laughs. “Ah, Bella and Whiskey. You’re usin’ them to keep me in line, are you?”

“Whatever works,” I say, a small smile tugging at my lips.

Connor leans down, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll work on it, I promise. Can’t be letting you down, now, can I?”

The words make my chest tighten, and I step back, giving him a grateful smile. As he turns to walk toward one of the SUVs, I feel Mihai’s presence behind me before I even hear him. His hand settles on my lower back, grounding me in that quiet, steady way of his.

“Ready?” he asks, his voice low and warm.

I nod, and we walk to our vehicle together. The ride to the penthouse is quiet at first, the hum of the engine filling the space between us. I glance at Mihai out of the corner of my eye, his profile sharp and unreadable as he scrolls through his phone.

Suddenly, his phone buzzes, and he answers it immediately, his tone clipped.“Da? Ce s-a întâmplat?”

I don’t catch every word, but the tension in his voice and the quickness of his Romanian let me know something’s wrong. His grip on the phone tightens, and his brows knit together.

“Am în?eles. Vom fi acolo în curând.”

When he hangs up, his jaw is set, and there’s a new urgency in his movements. “We need to get back to the estate,” he says, looking at the driver. “Now.”

The shift in his demeanor sends a jolt of worry through me. “Mihai, what’s wrong?”

He shakes his head, his hand resting on my knee briefly. “Nothing for you to worry about right now, baby. I just need to handle something.”

The SUV speeds up, and I clutch the edge of the seat, my heart racing. The rest of the drive blurs into a haze of tension and unspoken questions. By the time we pull into the long, winding driveway of the Vasile estate, Mihai’s phone has buzzed twice more, each call answered in the same sharp, controlled tone.

Mihai is out of the car before it even comes to a full stop. He circles around to my side, opening the door for me, but his usual calm demeanor is replaced by something more urgent.

“Stay close,” he says, his hand on my back as he guides me inside.

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