Page 23 of Reckless Royalty

“There we go,” he says, giving me a nod of approval. “Now, I was thinking maybe we could start small. I’ll ask you some random questions, and you can just nod, shake your head, or text me your answers if that’s easier. Sounds good?”

I hesitate for a moment before nodding. It feels weird, but it’s not overwhelming. I can handle this.I hope.

“Alright then, maybe I can get a smile out of you, too,” he says, leaning back again. “Let’s start easy. Favorite color?”

I blink, surprised by the simplicity of the question, but I pull out my phone and type:

Blue.

“Blue, huh?” Connor says, smiling. “Good choice. Calm, reliable, easy on the eyes. Kind of like me, right?”

I feel a blush creeping up my cheeks, and I quickly look away, but Connor laughs softly.

“Okay, next one. Cats or dogs?”

I hesitate, then type:

Dogs.

“Nice, a dog person,” he says, nodding approvingly. “Good, good. I’ve got two rottweilers back home; I’ve had them since they were pups, but Cat hates them. Wonder if it’s because of her nickname.”

I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from smiling at that stupid-ass joke. There’s something comforting about his easy chatter, the way he keeps things light. It makes me feel less like I’m drowning in my own head, even if just for a little while.

“Alright, here’s a tricky one,” Connor says, grinning. “Coffee or tea?”

This one makes me pause. I type:

Both.

He raises an eyebrow, impressed. “Ah, a woman of taste! Can’t go wrong with either.”

I allow myself a small smile, and when he sees it, his grin widens like he’s just won some kind of victory. “See? Told you I’d get a smile out of you!”

I shake my head, feeling a little embarrassed but also… lighter. It’s not much, but right now, it’s enough.

Connor leans forward again, his tone softening as he looks at me. “Maddy—Ehm, do you mind if I call you Maddy?” he asks and I shake my head. “Good. I know things are hard right now, and I know you probably don’t want to hear a lecture about how things get better or whatever. But I want you to know that I’m here for you. For real. And not just because Mihai told me to be.”

I blink, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. He’s not teasing anymore, not playing up that charming persona. He’s being real, and it makes me feel something I haven’t felt in a long time—hope.

“If you ever need anything, and I mean anything, you can text me, okay?” he says, his eyes locking onto mine. “No pressure. No expectations. Just… know that I’ve got your back.”

I look down at the phone in my hands, my fingers hovering over the screen before I type:

Thank you.

Connor smiles softly when I show him the screen. “No problem, darlin’. Anytime.”

He stands up, giving me one last glance before heading for the door. “I’ll check in on you again soon. Don’t be a stranger, yeah?”

I nod, and just before he leaves, he gives me a little wink. “Take care of yourself, Maddy.”

As the door closes behind him, I sit there for a moment, staring at the phone in my hand. The room feels a little less oppressive now, a little less suffocating. Connor’s presence, his easy charm, it’s like a small light inside the darkness I’ve been trapped in.

MIHAI

I’m lying in bed knowing I shouldn’t be doing this. It’s not like I’m some social media stalker, but something about Madison has been gnawing at me.

I’m no Nikolai when it comes to cybercrime, but I can’t exactly go to him and ask him to stalk Madison’s social media accounts, can I?

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