Page 10 of Reckless Royalty

I glance over at the back of the plane where Madison is sitting with the girls. Marina’s talking to her with animated hands as she chats away, probably trying to make her feel more comfortable.

Cat and Chiara are nearby—both watching Madison closely like they’re ready to jump in if she needs anything. The girls are doing their best to distract her, but I can see how Madison’s eyes dart around, her anxiety rising even in this supposed safety.

She shouldn’t be in this situation. She’s just a girl—scared, traumatized. And yet, she’s the key to all of this.

“Look,” Connor says, pulling me back to the conversation, “we’ve got a window. She’s safe for now. But you’re right. Someone knows, and they won’t stop.”

“She’s more than just a witness,” Nikolai cuts in, his voice dark. “If she talks, the Cartel could fall apart. But if they get to her first…”

I don’t need him to finish the sentence. We all know what will happen if she doesn’t make it.

“They fucking won’t,” I snap, my eyes narrowing at him. “We’ll make sure of it.”

Nikolai raises an eyebrow, his expression half-amused, half-skeptical. “Yeah? You sound real confident for a guy who didn’t want to babysit in the first place.”

I glare at him, my fists clenching at my sides. “This isn’t babysitting. This could lead to a fucking war.”

Connor shifts in his seat, his expression a more serious one than I’m used to seeing. “War or not, we need to tighten our circle. Whoever tipped these cunts off is still out there, and if they’re connected to us, it won’t be long before they make another bloody move.”

Nikolai leans back, rubbing his temples. “No Blood Trials, either. We can’t afford the extra attention; it’s the last thing we need right now.”

I turn to look at him, my brow furrowing. The Blood Trials are offered to the families who didn’t complete Legacy Week. It gives them one last opportunity to show their worth to The Five Crowns.

Nikolai is deadly serious. I don’t blame him, though—The Blood Trials is always a risk. With everyone’s attention on the Crowns, it’s a time when enemies could strike.

Giovanni, who’s been quiet this whole time, finally speaks up. “No.” His voice is steady, but there’s an edge to it. “We can’t cancel The Blood Trials.”

I raise an eyebrow, not sure if I heard him right. “Are you fucking serious? After what just happened?”

Giovanni’s eyes meet mine, and I can see he’s already thought this through.

“We don’t have a choice. If we pull the fucking plug on The Blood Trials, whoever’s watching us will know something’s up,” he says, shaking his head. “The second they see us tightening things down more than usual, it’ll be like blood in the water. They’ll know we’re vulnerable. We need to make it look like nothing’s changed.”

Nikolai narrows his eyes. “Or maybe they’ll think we’re not fucking idiots and realize we’re preparing for war.”

Giovanni doesn’t back down, his eyes dark and serious. “It’ll draw more attention, and not just from whoever killed Santiago. Everyone’s watching us—every family, every faction. You cancel The Blood Trials, and it’ll look like we’re scared. And when they think you’re scared, they pounce.”

I glance between them, weighing Giovanni’s words. He’s right, as much as I hate to admit it. The Blood Trials are a spectacle, and any deviation from that would send a signal. We can’t afford to show any weakness, not now.

Connor nods slowly, his fingers now tapping against the armrest. “He’s right. The Trials are more than just a show. It’s about control. We cancel it, and we lose control of the narrative. People start askin’ questions, and that’s when shit gets messy.”

“You really think keeping up appearances is worth the risk?” I ask, leaning back in my seat.

Giovanni nods. “Yes. If we don’t, they’ll know we’re onto them. We keep everything as normal as possible, and we watchfor any cracks in the system. If they’re going to make another move, it’ll be then.”

Nikolai glares at Giovanni. “You’re assuming they’ll wait. What if they don’t? What if they strike before then?”

“Then we’ll be ready,” Giovanni says calmly. “We’ll have eyes on everything. Tighten the circle by moving the initiates to a separate suite, just like Connor said, but keep The Blood Trials going.”

I sit back, letting the silence hang in the air for a moment. He’s right, but this shit is risky as fuck. I look over at Connor, who gives me a small nod, agreeing with Giovanni’s assessment.

“Fine,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “We keep The Trials going. But no fuck-ups. We watch everyone, and if anything feels off, we shut it down immediately.”

Nikolai mutters under his breath, but he doesn’t argue. Giovanni’s logic is sound, and deep down, I know it’s the right call. Even if it makes my gut twist with unease.

“Alright,” Nikolai finally says, “but the second someone blinks wrong, I’m pulling the plug.”

“Fair enough,” I say, glancing out the window at the clouds below us. “Let’s do this shit.”

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