Chiara
CHIARA
T he estate is eerily quiet, and the shadows seem longer, more menacing. I’m making my way back to my room, hoping to catch some peace after the day’s events.
“.”
Fucking great. Just what I need after today.
Giovanni’s voice is low, almost a growl, and it sends a shiver down my spine. Not because I’m scared—no, it’s something else, something that makes my heart beat a little faster.
Ever since he went down on me in the library and cornered me by that pool house, I’ve been wound up like a coiled spring. Not even bringing myself to orgasm after I got home helped me get rid of my frustration.
Damn him and his talented tongue.
I turn to find him leaning against the wall, his usual cocky smirk firmly in place. “What do you want, Giovanni?”
He pushes off the wall, walking towards me with that swagger of his, the one that says he owns every inch of the ground he walks on.
“I’ve got something special planned for tonight,” he says, eyes gleaming with excitement and something darker. “You need to be ready.”
I raise an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “Should I be worried?”
His grin widens, and there’s a spark of mischief in his eyes. “Only if you’re afraid of a little fun.” He steps closer, and I can feel the heat radiating off him. “It’s The Chase tonight, Kitten. And I can’t fucking wait.”
I should feel nervous, anxious even. But I don’t.
Instead, there’s a part of me that’s almost … intrigued. The way he’s looking at me, like I’m the prize at the end of a very dangerous game, sends a thrill through me that I can’t quite ignore.
“Fun, huh?” I say, trying to sound casual, even though I can feel my pulse quickening. “And what makes you think I’m going to play along?”
Giovanni chuckles, leaning in so close that I can feel his breath on my skin. “Oh, you will. You won’t be able to resist.”
My heart skips a beat at the memory of how he looked on his knees for me, and a shiver runs up my spine. He doesn’t even need to touch me and I’m already fucking throbbing for him.
Is this what I missed with Leo? Ugh, just thinking about Leo has me even more confused. What the fuck am I going to do?
“I’m not scared of you,” I say, more to convince myself than him.
“I know, Kitten,” he says, his voice low and dangerous. “That’s what makes this so much fucking fun.”
I push past him, needing some distance. His presence is suffocating, like he’s always two steps ahead, waiting for me to slip up. I know tonight isn’t going to be easy, but I refuse to let him see me flinch.
“I’ll be ready,” I say, not looking back as I head down the hall.
“Don’t keep me waiting, Kitten,” he calls after me, his voice laced with dark amusement .
I don’t respond, just keep walking, my mind racing as I try to figure out how I’m going to handle this.
It’s not long before the call comes for all the initiates to gather. The Crowns are waiting, and the tension in the air is thick enough to cut with a knife.
We assemble in the courtyard, the night air cool against my skin. The other initiates are here, too, all of us standing in a tight circle while The Five Crowns loom over us wearing those fucking masks I’ve come to loathe.
I blanch when I don’t see Cat. She’s been quiet all day as well. Did she fail the Day of Silence?
Giovanni, wearing his Spade mask, steps forward while the other three hang back.
“Tonight is The Chase,” he announces, his eyes sweeping over us. “You’ve all been tested, pushed to your limits, but this is different. This is about survival, instincts, and knowing who your enemies are.” He pauses, letting the weight of his words sink in.
“You’ll be given a head start. After that, it’s up to you to make it through the night. And remember,” he says, his voice dripping with anticipation, “there’s no mercy in The Chase. You either outrun your hunter, or you don’t.”
His eyes land on me; I can feel his gaze burning into mine, and it only makes my resolve harden. I won’t let him win. Not tonight.
There’s a beat of silence, everyone on edge, waiting for the signal. Nikolai, in his Diamond mask, is watching me, too, his expression unreadable, but there’s something in his eyes that unsettles me. It’s like he’s planning something—something that involves me.
“Ready?” Connor calls out, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife.
My heart pounds in my chest as I brace myself, every muscle tensing, ready to take off the moment the signal is given.
“Go! ”
The word explodes in the air, and we’re all off, sprinting toward the woods. The forest looms ahead, dark and foreboding, but I don’t hesitate. My legs pump as I tear across the ground, the sound of footsteps all around me as the others scatter, trying to find their own paths.
The darkness swallows me as I plunge into the woods; the trees closing in on all sides. I can hear the others crashing through the underbrush, but my focus is singular: don’t get caught. The thrill of the chase pulses through my veins, adrenaline giving me speed as I push forward.
Somewhere behind me, I can feel Giovanni closing in. His presence is like a shadow, a constant reminder that he’s there, that he’s after me.
My breath comes in ragged gasps as I weave through the trees, trying to lose him, trying to put as much distance between us as possible.
I break through a clearing, and the ground gives way to a steep slope. I stumble, trying to keep my balance as I scramble down, the loose dirt slipping beneath my boots. Giovanni is right behind me, his footsteps pounding against the ground, and I know I have seconds before he catches up.
But it’s no use. He’s too close, and I know it. I can feel him gaining on me, his footsteps heavy and relentless. Panic surges through me as I push harder, my muscles screaming in protest.
Then I’m grabbed from behind. A strong arm wraps around my waist, pulling me back, and I twist around, expecting to see Giovanni’s face leering down at me.
But it’s not Giovanni.
It’s Nikolai.
He doesn’t say anything, just grins as he leans down toward my face.
“Got you,” he says, his voice low and possessive, and before I can react, he’s lifting me off my feet and carrying me back up the slope.
“Let me go!” I hiss, trying to wrench myself free, but he’s too strong.
“Not a chance, little sister,” he says, his grin widening. “Giovanni’s not getting his hands on you tonight.”
I can hear Giovanni’s furious shout from somewhere nearby, and a part of me wants to laugh at the sheer audacity of it all. Of course Nikolai would swoop in at the last second, ruining Giovanni’s chase just to piss him off.
“Fucking let go, Nikolai,” I snap, struggling against him.
He just chuckles, holding me tighter. “Sorry, little sister. Rules are rules.”
When we reach the top of the slope, Giovanni is there, his eyes burning with fury.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he snarls, stepping forward as if he’s ready to rip Nikolai apart.
Nikolai’s grin doesn’t falter. If anything, it only grows wider. “What’s the matter, Gio? Didn’t think I’d let you have all the fun, did you?”
Giovanni’s fists clench at his sides, and I can see the rage simmering beneath the surface. “You think this is funny? You’re fucking with The Chase, Nikolai. You had no right.”
Nikolai shrugs, unbothered by Giovanni’s anger. “Maybe I am, but she’s my sister. You really think I was going to let you have her that easily, especially after what you pulled last time?”
“You’ve always been a fucking thorn in my side, asshole,” Giovanni spits, his voice low and dangerous. “But this? This is crossing the line. She was mine, and you fucking knew it.”
Nikolai’s smirk fades, and he meets Giovanni’s gaze head-on. “The line was crossed the moment you thought you could put your hands on what’s rightfully mine.”
What the fuck? Did Nikolai just— WHAT? !
I don’t know what to say, don’t know what to do. The two of them are squaring off like predators, and I’m caught in the middle, still held tight in Nikolai’s grip around my waist. I can feel Giovanni’s eyes on me, dark and furious, and there’s a part of me that wonders if he’s going to try to take me back by force.
Giovanni’s jaw tightens, his hands clenched into fists. “You’re a fucking coward, Nikolai.”
Nikolai’s eyes narrow, his grin turning into a sneer. “And you’re a sore loser. Get over it.”
Before Giovanni can respond, Connor and Mihai almost rush past us, both of them panting from the run. They take in the scene, the tension between Nikolai and Giovanni, and Connor walks toward us, his expression serious.
“What the fuck is goin’ on here?” he asks. “This isn’t the time for any of your bullshit.”
Giovanni glares at Nikolai, his chest heaving with anger, but he doesn’t say anything. He knows better than to push Connor when he’s in this mood.
Mihai’s eyes flick between the three of us. “What the fuck happened?”
Nikolai smirks, still holding me tight. “Just a little rivalry, that’s all.”
“He fucking cheated.” Giovanni snarls, his eyes blazing with fury.
“Cheated?” Connor raises an eyebrow. “There are no rules in The Chase, Gio. You know that.”
“He fucking interfered!” Giovanni snaps, his fists clenched. “I was winning, and he fucking stole her.”
Mihai’s eyes narrow as he looks at Nikolai. “You really couldn’t let him have this one, could you?”
Nikolai’s grin returns, and he shrugs. “I’m not in the habit of letting G have anything, especially when it comes to my sister.”
Connor sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You two are fuckin’ unbelievable. , you’re out of the game. Get your arse home. The rest of you, we have a fuckin’ job to do. Enough of this petty bullshit.”
Giovanni’s still fuming, but he knows there’s nothing he can do about it now. The game is over, and Nikolai has won—at least in his eyes.
“Next time,” Giovanni says, his voice low and dangerous, “you won’t be so fucking lucky.”
Nikolai’s smirk never falters. “I look forward to it.”
With that, Giovanni turns on his heel and storms off along with Mihai and Connor to finish the rest of The Chase. I can still feel the anger radiating off him, like a smoldering fire that’s only been stoked by Nikolai’s interference.
When Nikolai finally lets go of me, I take a step back, glaring at him. “What the fuck was that about?”
He shrugs, unrepentant. “Gio pissed me off, so I got him back.”
“You’re fucking impossible.”
He just grins at me, that same smug expression on his face. “And you love me for it.”
I shake my head, still trying to process everything. “This wasn’t just about The Chase, was it?”
The smug grin fades slightly, and something darker flickers in his eyes, but he doesn’t back down. “What else would it be about?”
“I don’t know, you tell me,” I snap, my anger boiling over. “Because that sure as hell didn’t feel like you were just trying to piss Gio off. You were … possessive. You called me yours. ”
His eyes narrow, and for a moment, I think he’s going to brush it off like he always does. But instead, he steps closer, his expression hardening. “Maybe I did.”
“What the hell does that even mean?” I demand, my voice rising. “We’re step-siblings, Nikolai. You don’t get to just claim me like some fucking prize.”
His jaw clenches, and I can see the muscles in his neck tightening. “I wasn’t trying to claim you, . I was making a point.”
“What point? That you can just do whatever you want, whenever you want, and everyone else be damned?”
“That Gio doesn’t get to have everything,” he snaps, his eyes blazing.
“So you what? Decided to stake your own claim?” I ask, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Because that’s not possessive or controlling at all.”
He growls, stepping closer, and I can feel the heat radiating off him. “I’m not trying to control you, . I’m trying to protect you.”
“By treating me like a pawn in your little pissing contest with Giovanni?” I shoot back, my frustration boiling over. “That’s not protection, Nikolai. That’s manipulation.”
His eyes flash with anger, but there’s something else there too—something vulnerable that he quickly tries to hide. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Then tell me!” I shout, my voice echoing in the hallway. “Tell me why you’re acting like this, why you’re so fucking determined to mess with my life. Because I’m tired of trying to figure you out!”
For a moment, there’s silence between us, the tension so thick I can barely breathe. His expression hardens, the grin vanishing completely.
“You’re not a pawn, . But you don’t get it. Gio’s been making stupid moves, and if I have to use you to knock him down a peg so he can realize that, then so be it.”
I cross my arms over my chest, my eyes narrowing. “Do you even hear yourself right now?”
Nikolai’s jaw tightens. “You’re overreacting. ”
“Overreacting?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “You’ve been treating me like some possession to be tossed around between you and Gio. First with this whole Chase bullshit, and now you’re acting like you have some claim over me? What’s going on, Nikolai?”
He glares at me, but there’s something beneath the anger, something he’s not saying. “You’re my sister, . I’m looking out for you.”
I stare at him, my heart racing as I try to understand what he’s saying. I feel like I’m missing something, that there’s more to this than just Nikolai pissing Giovanni off.
His gaze doesn’t waver, and there’s a hint of a smile on his lips. “Just know that whatever happens, I’ve got your back. Even if it means pissing off one of my closest friends.”
I don’t bother responding, just turn and walk away, leaving him standing there in the dark. I need to clear my head, to get away from the mess that is my life right now.
Fuck these Mafia brats.