Page 29 of Reckless Royalty

He smiles, reading the note and then pulls me into a sideways hug. “No need to thank me, darlin’. I’m just doin’ what feels right.”

By the time we head back, I’m still holding the notepad, my mind buzzing with the thought that perhaps with Connor’s help, I can find my way back to the version of myself I thought was gone forever.

MIHAI

Istand by the fountain outside the Crown Suites, the cool spray of water misting the air around me. Sofia is next to me, leaning against the stone edge, her arms crossed over her chest.

Sofia’s voice drifts in and out as she talks about her plans for the weekend and a gala her father wanted her to attend before…everything. I nod along, forcing myself to look engaged, but my mind is elsewhere—stuck on Maddy and how she looked in my arms.

I can still feel the warmth of her body pressed against mine, the subtle weight of her as she leaned into me, the softness of her skin against my hands as I held her, cradling her like she was something fragile. And her strawberry scent, that hasn’t left me, either.

The thought keeps pulling me under, more powerful than I’d like to admit. I didn’t expect her to feel… right. Not like that. And the way her tattoos looked in the dim light, the way her shoulders softened as she started to relax… fuck.

Sofia clears her throat, snapping me back to the present. She’s giving me a look, one brow raised, waiting for me to respond to whatever she just said. I offer a half-hearted nod, trying to play it off, but she’s too sharp for that.

“What’s up with you?” she asks, giving me a once-over. “You’ve been miles away all day.”

I shrug, glancing past her, scanning the courtyard without really meaning to. “Just got a lot on my mind.”

She sighs, her tone turning a bit sharper. “You know, I used to be the one to keep your mind off things. Now you barely look at me.”

Her words catch me off guard, but before I can respond, movement from across the courtyard pulls my attention. It’s Connor, standing near the garden, and next to him… Maddy. She’s smiling, a genuine, soft expression that lights up her whole face, and I feel this bitter twist in my gut that I can’t quite shake.

Connor’s saying something, probably some joke or dumb story, and Maddy’s actually laughing. It’s a quiet sound, barely audible from here, but it hits me harder than it should.

Then he gives her a sideways hug and I feel my hand twitching.

Connor’s standing close to her, his green eyes locked on her as if she’s the most interesting thing in the world. He reaches out, probably just teasing her, and she playfully pushes his arm away, still smiling.

Something twists in my gut. Bitter. Sharp.

Sofia follows my gaze, and I can see her own smirk forming as she observes them. “Looks like Connor’s already making himself comfortable with her, huh?” She chuckles, crossing her arms. “I mean, theydolook pretty cozy.”

I clench my jaw, turning away before I can dwell on it any longer. But the image sticks, gnawing at me, that twist in my chest growing tighter. I glance back at Sofia, trying to shrug off the irritation, but it’s still there, lodged like a splinter.

“Yeah, whatever,” I mutter, shoving my hands into my pockets. “Connor’s just… you know how he is. He gets along with everyone.”

Sofia leans back against the stone, watching me carefully. “You don’t care, do you?” Her voice is light, but there’s a sharpness beneath it, like she’s testing me.

“I don’t,” I lie, keeping my tone flat. “She’s just a job Connor is helping with.”

“Hmm,” she hums, clearly unconvinced, but she doesn’t push it further. She knows me too well to believe what I’m saying, but she’s also smart enough not to call me out on it right now.

Instead, she shifts the conversation back to something I don’t even register because my mind’s still on them—on Maddy, and the way she smiled at Connor.

We talk for a few more minutes, but I’m barely present. All I can think about is the look on Maddy’s face, the sound of her laugh, the way Connor seems to pull her out of the shell she’s been locked in since the shootout.

And the way it fucking bothers me.

Eventually, Sofia pushes off the fountain and gives me a soft smile. “I’ll see you later, Mihai,” she says, her fingers brushing against my arm before she walks away.

I watch her go, but the second she’s out of sight, my gaze snaps back to the garden. Connor and Maddy are gone now, but the feeling that’s been gnawing at me hasn’t left.

I turn and head back to my suite, my steps heavier than they should be. When I get inside, I slam the door shut, leaning against it for a moment, trying to breathe through the frustration that’s been building.

Why the hell does it matter? Why the hell do I care that Connor made her laugh? It’s not like I’ve got any reason to feel this way. Maddy’s just… Maddy. She’s fragile. Broken. I’m supposed to protect her, not get worked up over something as simple as her smiling at someone else.

But that’s the thing, isn’t it? She smiled at him. She laughed. And it wasn’t me.

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