Chiara
CHIARA
I knock on Connor’s door, my knuckles barely brushing the wood before it swings open. I’m half expecting to see Connor’s smirking face, but instead, it’s Cat standing there, looking as quiet and withdrawn as ever.
“Hey, ,” she says softly, her eyes flicking nervously over my shoulder.
“Hey, Cat,” I reply, forcing a smile. “I’m looking for Nikolai. Have you seen him?”
Cat fidgets with the hem of her sweater, glancing back inside the suite. “He left with Connor about an hour ago. They said something about going to the gym.”
I nod, taking a step back. “Thanks. I’ll go check there.”
I’m about to turn and leave when something makes me pause. Cat hasn’t moved, and she’s barely made eye contact since she opened the door. She looks more withdrawn than usual, and I can’t shake the feeling that something is off.
I glance at her again. “You okay?”
She hesitates, her eyes flicking down to the floor. “Yeah, I’m fine,” she says, but her voice is unconvincing, shaky even .
I frown. “You sure? I haven’t seen you around much lately. You’ve been kind of … distant.” I study her, noticing the way her shoulders tighten, like she’s ready to bolt.
“Cat, you know you can talk to me, right?” I add softly, stepping inside and closing the door behind me. “I mean, if something’s up, you don’t have to keep it to yourself.”
Her breath hitches slightly, and she looks like she’s debating whether to tell me something or not. Finally, she sighs, running a hand through her blonde hair and sitting down on the couch, almost defeated.
“It’s just … complicated,” she says quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know if I should even say anything.”
I walk over and sit down beside her. “Hey, if it’s bothering you, you should talk about it. I’m here. You can trust me.”
Cat’s eyes meet mine, and I can see the conflict written all over her face. After a long pause, she finally speaks, her voice trembling.
“It’s about … Nikolai.”
My heart skips a beat. “Nikolai?”
She nods, biting her lip as if she’s unsure how to continue. “Something happened on the Day of Silence,” she admits, her voice strained. “He … he pushed me to talk, and things just … things went too far.”
Shock ripples through me, and I blink at her, not quite believing what I’m hearing. Fuck, this sounds eerily familiar.
“Cat,” I say gently, stepping into the room and closing the door behind me. “What exactly happened?”
Tears well up in her eyes, and she wraps her arms around herself, her voice barely a whisper.
“I’ve had a crush on him for ages, . He’s always been Connor’s best friend, and he’s always treated me like a little sister. But on the Day of Silence, it was different. He kept pushing me, trying to make me break, and … and things just went too far. ”
I feel a lump forming in my throat. I’ve seen Nikolai’s ruthless side—when it comes to the Crowns’ traditions, he’s relentless. But this? I never thought he’d push Cat like this.
“Did he hurt you?” I ask, my voice a little sharper than I intended.
Cat shakes her head quickly, her tears spilling over now.
“No, it wasn’t like that. He didn’t mean to. He just … he doesn’t know how I feel about him. He’s always seen me as Connor’s little sister, but I’ve had feelings for him for so long, and now…” She chokes on a sob. “Now it’s worse because I know he doesn’t feel the same way.”
I sit there, stunned, as Cat’s words sink in. Nikolai and Cat? The thought had never even crossed my mind. She’s always been quiet, shy, barely a blip on his radar. But now I can see the depth of her feelings, the pain she’s been carrying.
“Oh, Cat…” I whisper, reaching out to pull her into a hug.
She stiffens for a moment, then collapses into my arms, her body shaking with sobs.
“I know it’s stupid,” she mumbles into my shoulder. “I know he’ll never see me that way. But it hurts, . It hurts so much.”
“It’s not stupid,” I murmur, stroking her hair. “Guys are stupid, but feelings, Cat. You can’t control them.”
She pulls back slightly, wiping at her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater. “But now I’ve ruined everything. Things between us are awkward, and I don’t even know how to be around him anymore. He hasn’t said anything about it since it happened. It’s like he’s pretending it didn’t.”
I sigh, my heart aching for her. I’ve known Nikolai long enough to know that he’s not good with emotions. He buries them, ignores them, pretends they don’t exist. But this? This is different. He doesn’t do relationships, sure, but Cat is not just some random girl. She’s one of us.
“He’s an idiot,” I say softly, tucking a strand of hair behind Cat’s ear. “He probably thinks that if he ignores it, it’ll go away. But I’ll talk to him, okay?”
Cat’s eyes widen in panic. “No! Please don’t say anything to him. I don’t want him to feel pressured or awkward. I just … I needed someone to talk to, that’s all.”
I nod slowly, understanding her fear. “Okay, I won’t say anything. But you deserve someone who sees you for who you are, not as someone’s little sister. You’re strong, beautiful, and anyone would be lucky to have you.”
Cat sniffles, giving me a small, grateful smile. “Thanks, . I just … I don’t know how to move on from this.”
I squeeze her hand, giving her a reassuring smile. “One step at a time. You’ll figure it out. And if you ever need to talk, you know where to find me.”
She nods, wiping the last of her tears away. “Thanks. I’m sorry for dumping all of this on you.”
I shake my head, smiling softly. “I should be the one apologizing since I’ve been such a shit friend. You’re not alone, okay?”
Cat smiles again, though it’s still shaky, and I give her one last hug before heading out the door. As I walk away, my mind is racing with everything she just told me. Nikolai and Cat … how could I have missed that? I need to find Nikolai. He’s got a lot to answer for.
I find Nikolai in the gym, exactly where Cat told me he’d be. The place smells like sweat and musk, the air thick with the sound of fists connecting with punching bags and weights clanging together.
Nikolai’s in the far corner, pummeling a bag like it’s the reason for every problem he’s ever had. He’s shirtless, muscles glistening with sweat, and the intensity in his eyes makes it clear he’s deep in his own head.
I hesitate at the edge of the room, not wanting to interrupt since we’re not exactly on speaking terms, but I know I don’t have a choice.
Giovanni’s been off since yesterday, and I need answers. I need to know what’s going on in his head, why he’s been so distant. I need to know what the hell his father is capable of.
And knowing how fucking stubborn he is, getting information from him would be like pulling teeth.
I take a deep breath and walk over, the sound of my footsteps swallowed by the noise of the gym. God, how am I going to talk to him about Cat and Gio?
Nikolai doesn’t notice me until I’m standing right in front of him. He stops mid-punch, his fists still raised, and his eyes meet mine. For a second, he just stares, and I can see the gears turning in his mind, trying to figure out why I’m here.
“,” he says, his voice low and a little surprised. “What are you doing here?”
I cross my arms over my chest, trying to keep my voice steady. “I need to talk to you. It’s about Gio.”
His expression darkens instantly, and he drops his fists, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “What’s he done now?”
Right to thinking the worst of him.
“It’s not what he’s done,” I correct quickly, “it’s what’s happening to him. I think it’s his father.”
Nikolai’s jaw tightens, and I can see the muscles in his neck flex as he processes what I’m saying. He doesn’t say anything for a moment, just stares at me with those piercing eyes of his, like he’s trying to figure out how much I know, how much he should tell me.
“Let’s sit,” he finally says, grabbing a towel and throwing it over his shoulder as he leads me to a bench near the back of the gym. He doesn’t look at me as he sits down, and I can tell he’s not sure how much to say. But I don’t have time for him to second-guess himself.
“Alright,” he says, leaning with his back against the wall. “What’s going on?”
I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words.
“Gio’s been acting strange since yesterday,” I start, sitting down next to him. “He’s distant, distracted, and when I asked him what was going on, he just said it was his father not approving of us being together. He wouldn’t tell me more.”
Nikolai sighs, rubbing his temples like this conversation is already giving him a headache. “That’s because there’s not much more to say. Gio’s father is a piece of shit, always has been. He’s been fucking with Gio’s head for a long time.”
“He’s ruthless, and has been grooming G to take over the family business since he was a kid. But get this, he was never supposed to be the heir—his older brother Armand was. But when Armand couldn’t meet their father’s expectations, the old man had him killed. Giovanni was forced to step up, to become something he never wanted to be.”
My lips are a thin line as I think over what Nikolai has just said; my heart beating way too fast. If Giovanni’s father could kill his own son for stepping out of line, what could he do to Gio?
“He killed his own son because he couldn’t be as ruthless as him?” I ask, incredulously and shaking my head. “That’s fucked up.”
Nikolai’s jaw clenches. “Vito’s done a lot that’s kept Giovanni in check for a long time. He’s been trying to live up to the impossible standard his father set, and now he’s stuck in this cycle of proving himself.”
That … kind of explains why Gio is the way he is.
“Gio mentioned that his father was dangerous, that he wouldn’t let it go easily. What does that mean, Nikolai? What kind of danger are we talking about?”
“This is why I fucking asked if you knew what you were signing up for, ,” Nikolai says, pinching the bridge of his nose and sighing. “Vito is used to getting what he wants, no matter who gets hurt in the process, and he’s not above using violence to get his way.”
I feel a cold chill run down my spine. I knew Giovanni had a powerful name, but this … this is something else entirely.
“That’s why he’s so angry,” I murmur. “He’s been fighting against it all his life.”
“Exactly,” Nikolai says, crossing his arms over his chest. “But here’s the thing, —Gio’s good at playing the game. He’s learned how to walk that world with knives in his back and he knows how to survive in it. But he’s never wanted to be a part of it, and now that you’re in the picture…”
He trails off, but I can see where he’s going with this. “His father sees me as a threat to his little kingdom.”
Nikolai nods. “Yeah. Gio’s father is all about control. He’s not going to let anyone—or anything—stand in the way of his plans for Giovanni. And if that means taking you out of the equation, he’ll do it.”
My heart sinks. I knew being with Giovanni wouldn’t be easy, but I didn’t realize just how deep this went. “How do I help him?”
Nikolai sighs, running a hand through his hair. “The best thing you can do is stay by his side. Don’t let him push you away, no matter how hard he tries. G’s stubborn as hell, but he needs you. He won’t admit it, but he does. And if his father tries to pull some shit, we’ll deal with it together.”
I swallow hard, trying to keep the fear at bay. “Can someone like him be stopped?”
Nikolai looks at me, his eyes hard. “You can’t stop him, . You can only stay out of his way. ”
“Bullshit,” I snap, my anger flaring. “I’m not going to sit back and let that bastard hurt Gio. There has to be something we can do.”
Nikolai studies me for a moment, and I can tell he’s weighing his options. Finally, he sighs and leans back against the wall, running a hand through his hair.
“I’ll talk to my father,” he says reluctantly. “Maybe he can get through to Vito before this gets out of hand.”
“Would Dmitri do something about this? For someone like me?”
Nikolai raises an eyebrow. “Someone like you? You’re his stepdaughter, ,” he says, amusement dancing in his eyes. “My father has some influence over Vito, or at least enough to make him think twice before doing something stupid. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s better than nothing.”
I nod, feeling a little more grounded now that I have some clarity. “Thank you, Nikolai,” I say, meaning it. “I know we haven’t exactly been on the best terms lately, but I appreciate you telling me all this.”
He gives me a half-smile, the kind that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Gio’s a pain in the ass, but he’s like a brother to me, .”
We sit there in silence for a moment, the weight of everything we’ve discussed replaying in my head like a stuck record.
It’s no wonder Gio is the way he is—cold, ruthless, always in control. He had to be, just to survive.
“You know, despite everything, Giovanni never broke,” Nikolai says, a note of pride in his voice. “He did what he had to do, but he never lost himself completely. And now, with you … I think he’s starting to see a way out. A way to be something more than just his father’s puppet.”
Tears sting my eyes, and I blink them back, not wanting to break down in front of Nikolai. But it’s hard, knowing what Gio’s been through, and knowing that I’m a part of the reason he’s in danger now.
When I get back to my Suite, I realize that I didn’t even ask him about Cat. I sit down on my bed, my mind racing. I think about everything Nikolai told me, about the darkness Giovanni has been carrying with him for so long. I think about the pressure, the expectations, the constant threat of violence.
I think about the look in Giovanni’s eyes when he told me he wouldn’t share me with anyone. The possessiveness, the raw need—it’s all part of the man he’s been forced to become.
But beneath all of that, I see the vulnerability, the part of him that just wants to be free. And I know that I want to be the one to help him find that freedom.
I grab my phone and send Giovanni a text.
We need to talk.
A few minutes later, he replies.
Where are you?
At my Suite. Come over when you can.
It doesn’t take long for him to show up. When I open the door, he’s standing there, looking as troubled as I’ve ever seen him. He steps inside without a word, and I close the door behind him.
“Gio,” I say softly, reaching out to touch his arm. “We need to talk about what’s going on.”
He looks at me, his eyes searching mine. “?—”
“No,” I cut him off gently. “Don’t brush this off. I know something’s wrong, and I want to help. But I can’t do that if you keep shutting me out.”
He exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not that simple. There’s a lot you don’t understand.”
“Then help me understand,” I say, my voice firm. “I talked to Nikolai. He told me about your father … and what he did.”
Giovanni’s eyes darken at the mention of his father. “He had no fucking right to tell you anything. I didn’t want to drag you into this, ,” he says, his voice low. “This is my fight, not yours.”
“But it is my fight,” I argue, stepping closer to him. “Because I chose you, Gio.”
He looks at me, and for a moment, I see a flicker of something in his eyes—relief, maybe. But it’s gone as quickly as it came, replaced by the hardened exterior he’s so good at putting up.
“,” he says, his voice rough. “If you stay with me, you’re putting yourself in danger. My father doesn’t care about anyone but himself. He’ll do whatever it takes to control me, and if that means hurting you, he’ll do it.”
I swallow hard. “I’m not afraid,” I say, even though part of me is. “I knew what I was getting into when I chose you.”
Giovanni looks at me; frustration and admiration in his eyes. “You’re too stubborn for your own good, you know that?”
I smile, though it’s a little shaky. “I’ve been told that before.”
As he holds me close, I feel the tension in his body start to ease, just a little. Giovanni’s father might be a monster, but he’s not unbeatable.
No one is.