Giovanni
GIOVANNI
I ’m pacing the length of my Suite, my thoughts a tangled mess of what-ifs and how-the-hells.
This wasn’t how I pictured spending my night, but after Dmitri’s warning last week, I can’t get his words out of my head.
Marry her. As if it were that simple. As if I could just solve everything with a ring and some vows. Like marriage would be a magic shield against all the shit coming our way.
I stop in front of the window, looking out at the moonlit campus of Willow Bridge, but the view does nothing to calm the storm in my head.
Fuck, I need to talk to someone about this before I drive myself insane. There’s only one person who might have a clue what the hell I’m supposed to do next. But I don’t know if he even wants to speak to me anymore.
“Fuck it,” I say and grab my phone, dialing Nikolai’s number. He picks up on the second ring.
“G,” he says, his voice cautious. “What’s up?”
“I need to talk,” I reply, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. “You busy? ”
There’s a pause, then a sigh. “Not really. You want to meet up?”
“Yeah, your place?”
“Fine. Give me ten.”
“Be there,” I say, ending the call and grabbing my jacket.
The walk to Nikolai’s Suite is short, but it feels like it takes forever. When I finally reach his door, I knock twice, and it swings open almost immediately.
“What’s going on, G?” he asks, stepping aside to let me in.
I walk past him and into where I know his bedroom is, running a hand through my hair. Thank fuck Chiara and the others are having a sleepover at Mihai’s Suite. I can’t deal with having her here right now when I’m not in the right headspace.
“Your old man came to see me.”
Nikolai sighs, closing the door behind me. “Yeah he told me he would be coming. What the hell did he say?”
I turn to face him, my mind still reeling from the conversation from a few days ago. “He thinks I should marry Chiara.”
Nikolai’s eyes widen slightly, but he recovers quickly, crossing his arms over his chest. “What, just like that? He walks in, drops that bomb, and leaves?”
“Pretty much,” I mutter, dropping onto the couch. “He says it’s the only way to keep her safe. Said it would make her untouchable.”
Nikolai nods slowly, processing the information. “Sounds like something he would say. Telling you to marry Chiara is his way of making sure she’s under control, tied to you—and by extension, tied to him. My father plays the long game, G. He’s always thinking five steps ahead, and if he sees an opportunity to solidify his power, he’ll take it.”
I let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, well, I’m definitely not fucking ready for this. I mean, marriage? That’s a whole different ball game. It’s not just about us anymore—it’s about everything that comes with it.”
Nikolai takes a seat across from me, his expression serious. “You care about her, don’t you?”
I don’t even hesitate. “Yeah. I do.”
“Then if marrying her is the only way to keep her safe, you need to consider it. But don’t do it because my father told you to. Do it because it’s what’s right for her.”
I let out a frustrated sigh, running my hand through my hair again.
“That’s the thing, I don’t know if it’s right for her. I don’t know if it’s right for us. We’ve been through so much shit already, and throwing marriage into the mix … it could complicate everything.”
Nikolai leans back, his gaze steady. “You’re overthinking this, G. You’ve already claimed her in every other way—making it official wouldn’t change much, except give her more protection.”
“But what about her?” I ask, my voice tight. “I can’t just make that decision for her.”
Nikolai gives me a pointed look. “Have you talked to her about it?”
I shake my head, feeling like an idiot. “No. I wanted to figure things out first. I didn’t want to dump this on her without knowing where I stand.”
“That’s your first mistake,” Nikolai says bluntly. “Chiara’s not some delicate flower, we both know this.”
I stare at him, letting his words sink in. He’s right, as much as I hate to admit it. Chiara’s stronger than anyone gives her credit for, and I know she’d want to be part of this decision, not just swept along by it.
“What are you saying?” I ask, frowning.
“I’m saying that you need to talk to her,” Nikolai replies, his voice calm but firm. “You need to lay it all out on the table and let her decide what she wants. If you want to do this right, you need to see how she feels about it.”
I nod slowly, taking in his words. It makes sense, but it doesn’t make the decision any easier.
“I’ll talk to her. But what if she says no? What if she doesn’t want to get married?”
“Then you’ll find another way to keep her safe,” Nikolai says, his tone resolute. “You’re Basile, for fuck’s sake. When have you ever had to rethink shit? You’ll figure it out.”
I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
Nikolai stands up, walking over to me and clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Look, man … I know this is a lot to take in. And I know you’re not the type to back down from a challenge. But you need to remember that this isn’t just about you. It’s about Chiara too. Whatever you decide, make sure it’s what’s best for her.”
I nod, appreciating his words more than I can say. “Thanks, I needed to hear that.”
“Anytime,” he replies, his expression softening slightly. “Just … don’t let my father get into your head. I love him, but he’s a master manipulator, and he’ll do whatever it takes to get what he wants.”
“I won’t,” I promise, my resolve hardening. “This is my decision, not his.”
“Good,” Nikolai says, stepping back and giving me a small nod of approval. “Now, go talk to her. Figure out what the hell you’re going to do.”
I take a deep breath, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. “I will. Thanks, man.”
There’s a moment of silence between us, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air. Then Nikolai speaks again, his tone more casual .
“You know, if you do go through with this, there’s going to be a hell of a party.”
I snort, shaking my head. “Of course that’s where your mind goes.”
“What? You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about it,” he says, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “The Basile-Mikhailov wedding? It’s going to be the event of the century.”
“Yeah, because that’s exactly what I need—more attention,” I reply dryly, but I can’t help the small smile that creeps onto my face.
Nikolai chuckles, the tension easing slightly. “Whatever happens, you’ve got my support. You’re family regardless, G. Now go figure your shit out, and if you need anything, you know where to find me.”
“I will,” I say again, feeling a bit lighter as I head for the door. But before I leave, I turn back to him. “And Nikolai?”
He looks up. “Yeah?”
“I’m sorry about everything that’s happened,” I say, the words coming out more sincere than I expected. “I know things have been rough between us, but … I appreciate your support.”
Nikolai blanches, but he hides his surprise and he nods. “We’ve all got our shit, G. But at the end of the day, we’re all family. Don’t forget that.”
“I won’t,” I say, meaning it.
Later as I walk back to my own Suite, I find myself thinking about the future, about what it would mean to make that commitment, to tie our lives together in a way that can’t be undone. It’s a big step, one I’m not sure I’m entirely ready for, but if it’s what’s best for Chiara—if it’s what will keep her safe—then I’ll do it.
But first, I need to hear it from her. I need to know that she’s with me, all the way.