Chiara
CHIARA
I head back to the Crown Suites, tired from today. The familiar noise of laughter and chatter fills the air, and I see Nikolai, Mihai, Connor, Cat, and Marina lounging in the living room.
Marina’s face lights up when she sees me. “, perfect timing! Come on, we need to get you ready,” she says, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the stairs. Cat follows with a shy smile, trailing behind us.
“What’s going on?” I ask, a bit bewildered.
“There’s a party tonight,” Marina explains as we reach my room. “It’s a ‘welcome back’ bonfire thing that’s always held in the Volkov Suite. You have to come.”
I groan, flopping onto my bed. “I’m really not in the mood for a party, Marina. Especially not after last night.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “Trust me, a night out will do you good. Plus, you can’t miss this. It’s like a rite of passage.”
Cat nods in agreement. “It’ll be fun, . We’ll be there with you. ”
“See? Even Cat is excited!” she says. “A night out will do you good. Trust me.”
I sigh, knowing they’re not going to take no for an answer. “Another rite of passage? Will there be more blood involved?”
Marina’s smile falls slightly, and she bites her bottom lip. “Nikolai said you were upset about that. But please know?—”
“Alright, fine. But only because you two are so persistent,” I say, cutting off her excuse as I slip off the bed. “Just let me go get cleaned up. I smell like paint.”
This feels awkward as hell, but I’m not going to pretend I’m okay. I’m done with pretending.
When I walk out of the bathroom later on, Marina is still rummaging through my closet while Cat sits me down in front of the mirror.
“We need to find something that shows off that amazing tattoo of yours,” Marina says, pulling out a tight red halter neck dress with a draped neckline.
“That’s perfect,” Cat agrees. “And I just know you have a pair of killer heels, since you seem to have more shoes than clothing.”
I roll my eyes at her quip, taking the dress and slipping it on. Marina helps me with my hair, pinning it up to show off my tattoo, while Cat does my makeup. By the time we’re done, I’m feeling more confident than before. The dress hugs my curves, and the stilettos give me an added boost of confidence.
“Wow,” Marina says, grinning. “You look stunning. Giovanni won’t know what hit him.”
I scoff at that. “That’s not the point, Marina.”
“Sure it isn’t,” Marina teases, linking her arm with mine as we head out.
When we get downstairs, all three of the guys look at us: Mihai and Con staring at me open-mouthed, while Nikolai looks like he’s about to murder me.
“If I kill anyone tonight, their blood will be on your hands, little sister,” he says, grabbing his cell phone and keys from the coffee table in front of him. “Fair warning.”
“Don’t blame your bloodlust on me,” I say with a scoff, but the look on their faces tells me that Nikolai is serious.
On the drive over, I tell Cat and Marina about Leo, but they don’t seem to know much about him. Marina mentions that he’s a fantastic artist, but other than that, he’s like a ghost.
I find that weird.
“By the way, where’s Sofia? Wasn’t she supposed to start this year as well?”
Cat and Marina look at each other, then Marina leans closer. “Gio told us she’s not coming this year. Her father … well, someone snitched on the Reyes Cartel and her dad got locked up. There’s a massive trial against him; word is he’s going to get life.”
My eyes widen, but I have no idea how to respond to that. He’s a criminal, so he should be locked up, right? Then again, all of their fathers are criminals; so I rather shut up before I offend them.
When we reach the Volkov Suite, the music is already pounding, and the place is packed. Marina and Cat lead me straight to the bar, and I can feel eyes on me as we walk through the crowd.
“Let’s get some drinks,” Marina says, flagging down the bartender. “Three vodka cranberries.”
I look around the room, trying to ignore the eyes on me. But then my gaze immediately falls on Giovanni. He’s dressed in black as usual; standing across the room, staring at me with an intensity that sends a shiver down my spine.
I force myself to ignore him, focusing instead on Marina and Cat; there’s no way I’m going to let him get under my skin like this.
“Let’s go outside,” Cat suggests, sensing my discomfort.
We make our way to the back, where a few people are gathered around a bonfire; the fresh air is a welcome relief .
“!” a familiar voice calls out. I turn and see Leo standing by the fire, looking pleasantly surprised to see me. His hair is hanging loose around his shoulders and he’s dressed in a simple black shirt and jeans, but he looks effortlessly cool.
“Leo!” I say, smiling. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
He laughs, running a hand through his blond hair. “I could say the same about you. You look incredible, by the way.”
“Thanks,” I reply, feeling a bit self-conscious under his gaze. “This is Marina and Cat. Guys, this is Leo, the one I met in the art studio.”
“Nice to meet you,” Marina says, giving him a once-over. “’s been talking about you.”
“Has she now?” Leo says with a grin, raising an eyebrow.
I shoot Marina a look because that sounded so wrong, but she just grins and takes a sip of her drink. The little shit.
“Just mentioned you’re an artist,” I say, trying to play it cool.
Leo chuckles. “I’m flattered. What brings you to this madhouse?”
“I needed a break,” I admit. “Figured a party might help.”
“Well, you came to the right place,” he says, looking around. “Volkov parties are legendary, but just stay away from the punchbowl … trust me.”
He pulls a face and I can’t help but chuckle. We fall into an easy conversation, and I find myself relaxing for the first time all day.
Marina and Cat exchange looks before giving me space, moving off to mingle. Leo and I find a quieter spot to talk, and I notice how different he looks in the party setting. Still handsome, but more relaxed.
“Thank you again for the sketch,” I say later on as we stand around the bonfire. “I didn’t realize anyone could…see that side of me.”
Leo nudges my shoulder with his own, a playful grin on his face. “Anytime you need cheering up, you can always come to Studio 3. I would say you could call me, but I don’t have your number, so...”
I chuckle and raise my eyebrow. “Smooth way of asking me for my number, there,” I say and hold my hand out for his cellphone. When he hands it over, I input my number and call myself. “There. What’s your last name, by the way?”
When he doesn’t answer, I look up at him and notice the odd look on his face. “Leo?”
“Promise me you won’t freak out?”
“I’m afraid I can’t promise that,” I say, handing his cellphone back. “What is this about?”
Leo sighs. “My last name is Volkov, .”
My eyes widen and my mouth falls open slightly. This is his Suite. How could Marina and Cat not know that?
“You’re one of them?”
He winces at this and I’m about to walk away, when he grabs my arm and pulls me close. He shakes his head.
“I’m not,” he says softly, almost pleading. “My family went legit a long time ago. We’re not involved in any of the Bratva’s business, and trust me, that hasn’t exactly made me popular around here.”
“But you still came here,” I say, my voice softer now, less accusatory. “You still chose to be part of this world.”
Leo sighs, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I didn’t choose this, . I didn’t have a choice. My family might be out of the game, but that doesn’t mean we’re free from it. My parents thought it would be safer for me to be here, surrounded by people who know the score, who won’t touch me because of who I am. And yeah, the art program here is the best. It’s what I live for. You get it, right?”
Leo hasn’t lied to me, but this new information leaves me feeling off balance. I’ve been so careful, so guarded since arriving at Willow Bridge, and now this — Leo Volkov, the guy I’ve been opening up to, the one who drew me that beautiful sketch, is part of a life I want no part of.
The thought makes me want to run, but something in his eyes stops me. When I look at Leo, I don’t see a threat. I see a friend; someone who understands what it’s like to be out of place, someone who’s here for reasons he can’t control —just like me.
“I get it,” I finally say, the words coming out slower than I intended. “You didn’t choose this either.”
He looks at me, relief flooding his features, and there’s a warmth in his gaze that makes my heart beat just a little faster. “Thank you,” he says, his voice soft and sincere.
I let out a small laugh, trying to lighten the mood. “So, you came here for the art, huh? That’s kind of romantic in a tortured-artist sort of way.”
He grins, that playful spark returning to his eyes. “I prefer to think of it as dedicated. But hey, if you want to call it romantic, I won’t stop you.”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips. “You know, you’re not as smooth as you think you are.”
“Who says I’m trying to be smooth?” he shoots back, stepping closer. His voice drops to a low, teasing tone, and I can feel the warmth of his breath on my skin. “Maybe I just like seeing you smile.”
My heart skips a beat, and I glance up at him, suddenly aware of just how close we are. There’s something in his eyes, something that makes the air between us feel charged, electric. I swallow hard; my mouth suddenly dry.
“Well, you’re doing a decent job of that,” I say, my voice a little breathless.
I don’t know if it’s the heat of the moment or the lingering tension from the day, but there’s a part of me that wants to close the distance between us, to see what it would feel like to kiss him .
“So, now that you know my last name,” Leo says, leaning in just a little closer, “does that mean I’m off the hook, or should I start worrying?”
I smirk, trying to lighten the mood. “Depends. Are you planning on keeping any more secrets from me?”
He laughs, a genuine sound that makes his eyes crinkle at the corners. “No more secrets, I promise. Well, unless you count the surprise I’ve got planned for our next studio session.”
I arch an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. “Should I be worried?”
“Maybe,” he teases, his tone playful. “Or maybe you’ll just have to trust me.”
“Trust, Leo?” I tilt my head, giving him a mock-serious look. “That’s asking a lot from a girl who just found out you’ve got a pretty intimidating last name.”
He grins, and there’s a warmth in his expression that makes my chest flutter. “Fair point. How about I start by earning that trust with coffee? My treat.”
I chuckle, feeling the last of my apprehension melt away. “Coffee sounds good. I could use something to help me survive the rest of this week.”
“Great,” Leo says, his voice lowering to a more intimate tone. “And who knows? Maybe by the end of that coffee, I’ll have you convinced I’m not such a bad guy after all.”
I can’t help but smile at his confidence, the flirtation between us subtle but undeniable. “You’re really selling yourself, Volkov.”
He shrugs, his eyes never leaving mine. “I have to, considering the competition around here.”
The playful banter between us is easy, and for a moment, I forget about the chaos that’s been my life lately.
I forget about the Blood Oath, about Nikolai and Giovanni, and just focus on Leo, on how close he is, on how his presence makes the tension in my shoulders loosen .
His gaze drops to my lips for just a second, and I feel a flutter of anticipation in my chest. I take a small step closer, my hand brushing against his, and I see his eyes darken slightly, that playful grin fading as something more serious takes its place.
“,” he murmurs, his voice low and filled with something that makes my pulse quicken. He’s so close now that I can feel the warmth of his breath against my skin, and I find myself leaning in, too, drawn to him in a way that feels both thrilling and terrifying.
But just as our lips are about to meet, a sharp voice cuts through the moment like a cold blade.
“Well, isn’t this cozy.”
I jerk back, my heart slamming against my ribs as I turn to see Giovanni standing close to us, his arms crossed over his chest and a smirk twisting his lips.
The easy warmth that had settled over me with Leo evaporates, replaced by the icy chill that always accompanies Giovanni.
Leo straightens, his expression hardening as he turns to face Giovanni.
“Basile,” he says, his tone laced with irritation. “What do you want?”
Giovanni’s smirk widens, his eyes gleaming with something dark and knowing.
“Just came to see what our little princess has been up to. Didn’t expect to find you two getting so ... friendly.”
I grit my teeth; anger and embarrassment flooding me in equal measure. “What the hell do you want, Giovanni?”
He cocks his head to the side, clearly enjoying the fact that he’s managed to ruin the moment.
“Just making sure you’re not getting too comfortable with the wrong people, Kitten. Wouldn’t want you to forget where your loyalties lie; especially after the Oath you took.”
I roll my eyes, but I can feel the tension ratchet up several notches. Leo steps forward, his expression hardening as he faces off with Giovanni.
“She doesn’t need you to babysit her,” Leo says, his voice cold. “And she certainly doesn’t need your permission to talk to me.”
Giovanni ignores him, his focus entirely on me. “You know, , I’m starting to think you have a thing for dangerous men. First me, now Volkov. What’s next? You planning on making friends with every criminal heir in this school?”
I narrow my eyes at him, trying to keep my voice steady. “Not everything is about you, Giovanni. You don’t get to dictate who I spend my time with.”
Giovanni’s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I think he’s going to take a swing at Leo. But instead, he just laughs, the sound low and dangerous.
“Maybe not, but I think you should know better than to trust a Volkov,” he says, his tone dripping with contempt, then he looks at Leo. “Or has she not learned that lesson yet?”
I stiffen at his words, the reminder of Leo’s last name hitting me like a bucket of cold water. Giovanni’s words are meant to wound, to stir up the doubts that I’ve been trying to ignore.
And damn it, it’s working.
“What the hell is your problem? You’re not my keeper, Giovanni. You don’t get to decide who I talk to or who I’m friends with.”
“I’m not trying to keep you from making friends, Kitten. I’m just reminding you that in this world, names matter. Bloodlines matter, and the Volkov family aren’t exactly who you want to get caught up in,” he leans in, his smirk turning into something more sinister. “Just ask Nikolai.”
My eyes widen, and the anger gives way to confusion. What does he mean by that? Before I can ask, Leo pulls me back toward him and glares at Giovanni.
“That’s enough, Basile. doesn’t need your warnings. ”
Giovanni’s gaze shifts to Leo, and for a moment, the tension between them crackles in the air. But then he looks past Leo and sets his eyes on me again.
“You might not see it, but you don’t know what you’re getting caught up in, . Better to stick with the devil you know.”
With that, he turns and walks out, leaving the room feeling colder than when he entered. I’m left standing there, my heart still racing, my emotions a tangled mess.
Leo lets out a long breath, his shoulders relaxing as he turns back to me. “You okay?”
I nod, but the truth is, I’m not sure how I feel. Giovanni’s words have left a bitter taste in my mouth, and the moment Leo and I almost shared feels distant, overshadowed by what Giovanni has insinuated.
“Yeah,” I say, though the word feels hollow. “I’m fine.”