Page 61 of Reckless Royalty

“I won’t.”

He’s quiet for a moment, then he says, “I’ll be there in a few hours. I want this matter handled directly and swiftly. She understands the implications of coming forward, yes?”

“She does. And she trusts us.” I bite back on anything else that feels too personal, reminding myself that this is business as much as it is personal.

“Good. I’ll see you both soon.”

“Tata,” I say before he hangs up. “I… I need to tell you something.”

The line is quiet for a moment, and I almost think he’s hung up until his voice cuts through. “Go on, Mihai.”

I take a deep breath, leaning my head back against the wall, trying to sort through the mess in my head. “I think… I think I’m starting to grow closer to Maddy and not just… professionally.”

The silence on the other end stretches longer this time, and I brace myself for some form of disapproval, maybe a reminder of my responsibilities or how dangerous attachments can be. But then my father speaks, and his tone surprises me.

“Closer, you say?” There’s a note of curiosity there, almost teasing.

I grit my teeth, already regretting opening my mouth. “Yes. Closer. She’s… not what I expected, okay? And being around her—she’s been through so much, but she’s still holding on, still fighting. I can’t help but admire that.”

He hums thoughtfully, and it sets me on edge. “And how does this closeness make you feel, Mihai? Out of control, perhaps?”

I let out a sharp exhale, frustrated but unable to deny it. “Yeah, maybe. It’s like she’s under my skin,Tata. And I know what you’re thinking, that it’s a distraction, but?—”

“I wasn’t thinking that at all,” he cuts me off, his voice calm. “I’m glad you told me.”

I blink, caught off guard. “You are?”

“Yes, Mihai. You’ve been wound so tightly for so long, carrying the weight of your responsibilities and pushing away anything—or anyone—that might make you vulnerable. But maybe this girl… maybe she can be what you need. But we’ll talk more when I arrive, okay?”

I nod even though he can’t see it. “Thanks,Tata.Have a safe flight.”

The line goes dead, and I pocket my phone, feeling a weird blend of relief and tension. I hadn’t expected him to be okay with this, but then again, my father and I have always been close.

I run a hand through my hair, feeling the stress of it all settle on my shoulders. Maddy speaking again, remembering whathappened that night—it puts her in even more danger. And if my father readily agreed to coming here in person, it means he sees the gravity of the situation too.

I need to talk to Connor.

I find him in his suite, sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone. When I walk in, he raises an eyebrow, sensing the tension immediately. “You look like shit, mate.”

“Thanks for the observation,” I mutter as I sit down across from him, running a hand through my curls again. “I need to tell you something. But first, this stays between us.”

Connor’s expression grows more serious as he leans forward. “You’ve got my word. What’s going on?”

I let out a heavy sigh. “Maddy’s talking again.”

Connor’s eyes widen in surprise. “Shit. Really?”

I nod. “Yeah. She wants to talk to my father in person.”

“Fuck,” Connor mutters, rubbing a hand over his face. “That’s… that’s huge, mate. Does anyone else know?”

“No,” I say firmly. “And it needs to stay that way. At least until we know what we’re dealing with. My father will be here in a few hours to see her.”

Connor nods slowly, processing the information. “Right. So what’s the plan? You gonna keep hovering over her like you have been?”

I lean back, crossing my arms over my chest. “Yeah, my father asked me to keep her close because once this gets out, we’ll be on high alert. Whatever Maddy knows is important, the hit last night and the day we left Bucharest has proven that.”

Connor studies me for a moment, his green eyes narrowing slightly. “There’s more to it, isn’t there?”

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