Page 79 of Reckless Royalty

She’s quiet for a moment, then she pulls back, glancing at Mihai and then me with wide eyes. She looks hesitant, almost like she doesn’t want to speak in front of us, but the concern on Connor’s face seems to break through her hesitation.

“It’s nothing,” she whispers, but her voice shakes, betraying her.

Connor frowns, his hands still on her shoulders. “Don’t lie to me, Catriona. What happened?”

Mihai and I exchange a glance, sensing the gravity of the moment. I can feel the worry settling over me, seeing Cat like this, and the change in Connor—it’s like a completely different side of him I haven’t seen yet, one that doesn’t joke and doesn’t brush things off.

Cat takes a deep breath, looking down at her feet. “I… it’s just… something stupid. Really, CC, I’ll be fine.”

CC?

Connor’s gaze hardens slightly, his grip on her shoulders steady. “Doesn’t matter if it’s stupid or not. If it’s got you this upset, it matters to me. Now tell me who the hell am I killin’?”

Mihai, who’s been quiet this whole time, speaks up gently, his tone a little softer than usual. “Cat, if you want, we can give you guys some space.”

She hesitates, but then she shakes her head. “No, it’s okay! I just… I didn’t expect to see everyone here.” She glances back at Connor. “I didn’t mean to make a scene and interrupt you guys.”

Connor squeezes her shoulder gently. “You know I’d move mountains if it meant you’d feel better. Don’t apologize, alright?” Connor shakes his head, pulling her into a gentle hug. “You didn’t interrupt anything. Whatever it is, we’re here. Right, Maddy?”

He glances at me, and I nod, giving her a reassuring smile. “Absolutely. Whatever you need, Cat,” I say softly.

She looks between us, her expression crumbling as she lets out a small sob. “Thank you… I just… it’s been a rough day.”

Connor brushes her hair back, his voice gentle. “Alright, but you need to tell me what happened, Cat. I can’t fix it if you don’t tell me, okay?”

She bites her bottom lip and shakes her head, but her brother doesn’t let up, his gaze intense as he looks at her, the concern etched deep in his face.

“Catriona,” he says softly, brushing another strand of hair from her face and cups her cheeks. “I can’t just sit here guessin’. You need to tell me. I’m here. We all are. But you have to let me in.”

Cat’s shoulders shake, and she presses her lips together, her hands twisting anxiously in front of her. I can tell Connor is just about ready to kill whoever hurt his little sister by the way his hand is twitching.

“Hey—”

“I’m pregnant!” she screams, her voice raw, breaking as the tears finally spill over. “I’m pregnant, okay!”

MIHAI

Cat’s confession lands like a bomb. I barely have time to register the shock before I see the look on Connor’s face.

He doesn’t even ask the obvious question—who the father is. It’s like he’s beyond needing to know that. Instead, his voice is soft, filled with a tenderness I’ve rarely seen from him.

All he does is look her in the eye and ask, “Then why are you crying?”

Cat’s composure crumbles completely. She drops to the floor, burying her face in her hands as the sobs break free. Connor holds her, and between ragged breaths, she finally speaks.

“Because… he doesn’t want me or the baby.” Her voice is barely a whisper, broken and defeated. “He said it would ruin everything.”

The silence is thick as Connor rubs her back, but then Maddy’s voice breaks it, clear and sharp. “Nikolai said that?”

The entire room seems to freeze. I watch the shift in Connor, how every bit of concern drains from his face, replaced by an anger so cold it sends a chill up my spine.

His jaw clenches, and without a word, he moves away from Cat and stands up, his entire demeanor shifting. He doesn’t askfor confirmation. He doesn’t even glance back at Cat. He just walks out of the room, a man on a mission.

“Connor!” I call after him, but he doesn’t stop. I turn to Maddy. “Lock the door behind me, alright?” Her eyes are wide, and she nods as I step out after him, the urgency pulsing through me.

As I trail him down the hall, my mind’s spinning.How the hell did Maddy know it was Nikolai?But that’s a question for later. Right now, my focus is on Connor, because I know him, and I know what’s coming.

I catch up to him just as he reaches Nikolai’s suite, and I grab his shoulder. “Connor, think this through?—”

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