Page 9 of Reckless Royalty

Mihai’s not like the others. Nikolai and Connor seem more playful, but Mihai is colder, more distant; but I can’t shake the feeling that there’s more beneath the surface. A side he’s not showing anyone.

“He’s always like that,” Chiara says, following my gaze. “Mihai, I mean. Don’t take it personally. He’s got a lot on his plate.”

Cat nods, her smile widening. “Yeah, but once you get to know him, he’s not so bad. Just… don’t expect him to throw you a party or anything.”

“Or smile,” Marina adds, her tone soft but amused. “Smiling isn’t really his thing.”

I manage a small, almost invisible smile at that. Not enough for them to see, but it’s there, buried beneath all the fear and anxiety.

The plane starts to move, the engines roaring louder as we taxi down the runway. The movement jostles something inside me, like the start of a chapter I can’t quite understand yet.

Connor walks over, giving me a quick nod and that same, gentle smile he had earlier. “We’ll be in the air soon, darlin’. If you need anythin’, just let us know, yeah?”

His accent rolls smoothly, his words like a soft blanket against the chaos in my mind. I nod, gripping the armrests as the plane picks up speed, lifting us off the ground.

Mihai stays near the front of the cabin, still talking in low voices with the other men. I watch him, my eyes tracing thesharp lines of his face, the tension in his shoulders. He looks like he carries the weight of the world on his back, and I wonder what that feels like.

“Don’t stare too long,” Chiara teases, nudging my knee with hers. “He might actually notice.”

My eyes snap back to her, and I feel a flush creeping up my neck. I didn’t even realize I’d been staring. Chiara’s smirk deepens, but she doesn’t push further.

“Anyway,” Marina says, drawing my attention back to her, “we’ve got a long flight ahead. Get comfortable.”

Cat nods, her hand resting lightly on my arm, a silent offer of comfort. I don’t pull away, even though part of me wants to. I’ve been alone in this nightmare for what feels like forever, but maybe… maybe I don’t have to be.

The plane levels out, the hum of the engines becoming steady now. Mihai glances over at us—at me, for just a second—before returning to their conversation. I still can’t hear what they’re saying, but I catch glimpses of their expressions—serious and focused.

I lean back in my seat, my eyes drifting to the window. The sky is endless, stretching out in all directions, free and open in a way I haven’t felt in days. Perhaps things will get better, or they won’t.

But for now, I’m here, in this moment, with people I barely know and a future that feels uncertain.

And for the first time in days, that feels okay.

MIHAI

Isit down in one of the seats at the front of the jet, running a hand through my hair. My mind’s still buzzing from the ambush. Someone tipped them off. There’s no way they knew we were moving without help on the inside. We planned this too carefully for it to be a coincidence.

Nikolai slides into the seat across from me, slouching down like he doesn’t have a care in the world. But I can see the tension in his jaw and the way his fingers tap restlessly on his thigh. Connor sits beside him, arms crossed, his usual grin replaced by something much more serious.

“This was too fucking close,” I mutter, leaning back in my seat, staring out the window. The ground below is already fading into clouds, but I can’t shake the feeling that we’re still not far enough away.

“Someone’s leaking information,” Nikolai says, projecting my thoughts. “They knew exactly when we’d be moving and where to. That convoy was hit at the worst possible time. Coincidence, my ass.”

Connor nods, his jaw tight. “You think someone in our circles tipped them off?”

“It’s a possibility,” I reply, though it’s one I don’t want to believe. “We’ve got eyes on all sides right now. The Cartel’s pissed because their king got taken out in Vasile territory, the Syndicates are sniffing around, and now… this.”

Nikolai leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze sharp as he meets mine. “So what do we do? Keep running with Madison and hope she doesn’t get killed before she opens her mouth?”

I clench my fists, trying to keep my temper in check. The last thing I need is for this whole situation to go sideways because I lose it. But Nikolai’s right—it’s a ticking time bomb, and Madison is at the center of it.

“If they know she’s under our protection, they’ll keep coming,” I say, my voice cold. “Someone wants her dead and they’re not going to stop until she’s buried.”

Connor tilts his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. “And you think someone in the Crowns sold us out? Why? What do they gain?”

I grit my teeth, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. “I don’t know yet. But I’m going to find out.”

Nikolai shakes his head, leaning back in his seat. “This whole thing stinks. Too many fucking moving parts. First, the snitching and subsequent hit on Santiago, then Chiara’s kidnapping orchestrated by Giannini, then today it was the ambush. And now, we’re sitting ducks with her.”

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