55. Connor
Chapter 55
Connor
The morning sun feels different today. Brighter. Warmer. Maybe it’s just me—hell, it probably is. But walking the grounds of the Crown Suites today feels like walking in a whole new fucking place.
I’ve walked this place a thousand times before, with an arrogant swagger and cocky smirk, knowing exactly who I am and exactly what I can do. But now? Shit, now, it feels like I’ve got something else.
Something better.
I’m smiling like an idiot as I head down the path toward the fountain, hands in my pockets, the warmth on my face feeling fucking good. Last night keeps replaying in my head like some highlight reel, each kiss, each touch, each word.
Malachi forgave me. He actually fucking forgave me. Yeah, he said he needs his freedom, needs time to find himself, and fuck—I get it. After everything, after the way I kept him locked up, after what I put him through, he deserves that.
If that’s what my boy wants, who the hell am I to deny him? As long as he knows who he belongs to, as long as I get to see him smile like that again, I can deal with anything.
I catch up to the boys and we make our way to campus, piling out of Mihai’s obnoxious black Range Rover in the parking lot soon afterward. Nikolai steps out first, all swagger and tattoos, a smirk playing on his lips that immediately sets me on edge.
Mihai follows, relaxed, amused as always, but his dark eyes catch mine, silently checking in. Giovanni’s next, shaking his head with a teasing grin, Konstantin right behind him, quiet but looking entertained as hell.
Nikolai throws an arm around my shoulders, squeezing tight as we head toward the quad. “Someone’s glowing,” he drawls, eyeing me sideways. “Good night, was it?”
I roll my eyes, shoving him off, but I can’t quite hide the smile still tugging at my lips. “Piss off, Niko.”
Giovanni chuckles lowly, shaking his head. “Shit, Connor. You’re practically skipping.”
Konstantin arches a brow, smirking at me with quiet amusement. “I didn’t realize you knew how to smile, Irishman. Looks good on you.”
I flip them both off, unable to stop the laugh from escaping. Fucking arseholes, the lot of them, but they’re my brothers. I wouldn’t change a goddamn thing.
Nikolai winks, nudging me as he steps in beside me again. “Come on, princess, give us some details. You finally make shit right with Malachi?”
I glance over at him, narrowing my eyes. “If I tell you yes, are you gonna shut the fuck up?”
He laughs, deep and genuine, and shoves me back. “Not a fucking chance.”
Giovanni groans dramatically, shoving his hands into his pockets as we walk. “Yeah, man. We’ve had to watch you mope around like some lovesick bastard for months. Least you could do is tell us you finally got your boy back.”
Mihai chuckles beside me, clapping a firm hand on my shoulder. “Ignore them, Con. You look happy, brother. That’s all we care about.”
I feel myself relaxing slightly at Mihai’s steady presence. He’s always had my back, never judged, never given unnecessary shit, but he knows exactly how deep this runs for me.
“Yeah,” I finally say, exhaling a long breath, a genuine smile pulling at my mouth again. “We talked. I fucked up, but we’re figurin’ it out. He needs some space, though. Wants his freedom.”
Nikolai scoffs, feigning horror as he places a dramatic hand over his heart. “Freedom? You mean you aren’t going to lock him up like a pretty bird in a cage anymore? Jesus, next thing you know, you’ll be bringing him flowers and writing poetry.”
I glare at him, flipping him off again. “Go fuck yourself, arsehole.”
Giovanni grins, nudging me slightly. “Nah, he’s right. Never thought I’d see the day. Big, bad Connor Cunningham, crown prince of the Irish mob, whipped and smiling like a lovesick kid.”
“Whipped?” I shoot him a look, trying—and failing—to hold back a smirk. “Fuck you. I’m not whipped.”
Nikolai snickers, giving me a look that clearly says bullshit. “You kidding? Malachi’s got you wrapped around his pinky. Face it, you’re gone. Lost cause. Completely fucked.”
Konstantin hums quietly, a small smile tugging his lips. “He’s right. But honestly, it looks good on you.”
I huff a laugh, running a hand through my hair as I glance around at these bastards I call brothers. They’re grinning like idiots, giving me shit, but I can see the relief and genuine happiness in their eyes. They know what Malachi means to me. They know how bad I fucked up, how much losing him broke me.
And they’re glad to see me come back from the brink.
“I didn’t realize until I lost him,” I admit quietly, sobering slightly. “I never treated him like he mattered. I thought he’d just be there, waiting for me. Fucked that up pretty royally.”
Nikolai sobers up too, glancing at me with surprising sincerity in his gaze. “Look, I give you a lot of shit, Connor, but if anyone deserves a second chance, it’s you. You made mistakes. We all have. If Malachi’s willing to forgive you, that means something.”
I glance at him, feeling something tight in my chest loosen slightly. Nikolai and I have our own tangled mess between us—our own betrayals and reconciliations. Hearing him say that means more than he’ll ever know.
Giovanni nods, throwing an arm around my shoulders and squeezing lightly. “Exactly. The hard part’s done. You faced it, owned it, and now you get to fix it.”
Mihai snorts, nudging Giovanni lightly. “Careful, Gio. That sounded dangerously close to genuine encouragement.”
Giovanni laughs, shoving Mihai off. “Shut up, asshole. Don’t ruin the moment.”
I shake my head, feeling lighter than I have in months. “Yeah, I got my second chance. He forgave me. But he wants to find himself first, figure out who he is without everyone else controllin’ him.”
Konstantin hums again, thoughtful. “And you’re okay with that?”
I nod without hesitation, a certainty settling deep inside me. “I owe him that. After everythin’ he’s been through, after everything I put him through, he deserves freedom. And if that’s what he wants, I’ll wait as long as he needs. He’s worth it.”
There’s a beat of silence, the guys exchanging amused, knowing looks around me.
“Fucking whipped,” Nikolai mutters again under his breath, grinning smugly.
I shove him hard enough that he stumbles sideways, laughing loudly. “I swear to God, Niko—”
He holds up his hands in surrender, still laughing. “Relax, Connor. It suits you. Actually humanizes your cold, arrogant ass.”
Giovanni snickers. “Yeah, might even make people around campus stop pissing themselves whenever you walk by.”
Konstantin grunts in amusement, eyes twinkling. “Let’s not go that far. Fear is still useful.”
I roll my eyes, smirking despite myself. “Fuck all of you. I’m happy. Deal with it.”
Mihai chuckles low and squeezes my shoulder again. “We’re just messing with you. Honestly, brother, we’re glad you figured your shit out. Malachi’s good for you. He balances you.”
I nod, exhaling deeply. “Yeah, he does. More than he even realizes.”
We walk in comfortable silence after that, each of us lost in our thoughts. I can’t stop replaying last night in my head—the way Malachi looked at me and the softness in his voice when he told me he loved me first. The fierce stubbornness in his eyes when he demanded time for himself, demanding freedom without letting go of us.
That’s what I love most about him. That fire, that strength hidden beneath his bratty exterior.
As we cross the quad, Nikolai suddenly clears his throat, a wicked grin returning to his face. “So, when are you bringing him around to meet us?”
I arch a brow, side-eyeing him warily. “Why? So you can traumatize him?”
Giovanni laughs loudly, nodding. “Obviously.”
Nikolai smirks. “Come on. We deserve to meet the guy who brought the almighty Connor Cunningham to his knees.”
I scoff, shaking my head, but I can’t quite hide my grin. “Fine. Soon. But I swear, if you scare him off—”
Nikolai waves me off, already chuckling. “Yeah, yeah. You’ll feed me to the fishes. Heard it all before.”
Mihai smiles warmly, nodding. “Malachi will be fine. He survived you, didn’t he? Compared to that, we’re harmless.”
Giovanni snorts. “Speak for yourself.”
I laugh, shaking my head as we keep walking, my chest feeling light and easy. It’s a new feeling, strange and unfamiliar, but I can’t deny it feels good. Better than good.
Malachi gave me something I didn’t know I needed—something real, something worth fighting for. And I’ll spend every damn day from now on proving to him that he chose right when he chose me.
But for now, surrounded by my brothers, laughing and giving each other shit, I let myself soak it in.
Because Malachi Dawson is mine, and for the first time in my life, I feel whole.