Chiara
CHIARA
I ’ve been moved to one of Giovanni’s guest rooms, and honestly, I am just waiting for the shit to hit the fan with his father. The man hasn’t shown up yet, but knowing my shit luck, he’ll be here soon.
There’s a soft knock at the door, and before I can respond, it swings open. Marina and Cat walk in, their faces filled with concern, their steps hesitant, as if they’re not sure what to expect. Behind them, Connor and Mihai follow, their usual playful energy subdued, replaced by a seriousness that’s unsettling.
“Hey,” Marina says softly, her voice gentle as she approaches the bed. “How are you feeling?”
I manage a small smile, though it doesn’t reach my eyes. “I’m … I’m okay, I guess.”
Cat steps forward, her shy demeanor giving way to something more determined. She reaches out, taking my hand in hers, squeezing it gently.
“We were so worried about you, . When we heard what happened… ”
“I know,” I say, my voice cracking slightly. “I’m sorry I scared you all.”
Connor moves closer, his usually cheeky grin replaced by a somber expression. “Don’t apologize, darlin’. None of this was your fault.”
Mihai, always the one with a quick remark, is uncharacteristically silent. He nods in agreement with Connor, his eyes dark with concern as he looks me over, like he’s checking for any physical signs of damage beyond what’s visible.
Marina sits down on the edge of the bed, her hand resting lightly on my knee. “We’re just glad you’re okay.”
I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I’m glad too. I…” I trail off, not sure what to say next. Fuck, I am so tired of crying already.
There’s a heaviness in the air, an unspoken acknowledgment of how close we all came to losing something precious. The thought of it makes my chest tighten, but I force myself to take a deep breath, to stay calm.
Mihai finally speaks, his voice low. “What you went through … not many people could have come out of that the way you did.”
I shake my head; the tears welling up again. “I didn’t feel strong. I felt … broken.”
Cat squeezes my hand again. “But you’re not broken. You’re still here, and that’s what matters.”
“And you’ve got all of us to make sure nothing like that ever happens again,” Connor says. “We’re not letting you out of our sight, darlin’.”
There’s a warmth in his words, a protective edge that makes me feel safe, even in the wake of everything that’s happened. I know they mean it—that they’ll do whatever it takes to keep me safe, to make sure I never have to go through something like this again .
“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “I … I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Marina says, her voice soothing. “We’re here for you, . You’re family now.”
They stay with me for a while, their presence comforting, grounding me in a way that I desperately need. We talk about everything and nothing, the conversation light, easy, but with an undercurrent of relief that we’re all still here, still together.
Eventually, they start to leave, one by one. Marina and Cat hug me tightly before they go, promising to come back later to check on me.
Connor and Mihai linger for a moment, exchanging a glance before they follow the girls out. There’s something unspoken between them, something they don’t say but that I can feel, a sense of protectiveness that makes me feel a little bit safer.
As the door closes behind them, I let out a breath. The room is quiet again, the only sound is the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. I’m about to settle back into the pillows, to try and rest, when the door opens once more.
Nikolai steps in, his expression guarded, but there’s something in his eyes that I’ve never seen before—something raw, vulnerable. He closes the door behind him, and for a moment, he just stands there, looking at me, his gaze intense.
“Nikolai,” I start, my voice hesitant. “I … I’m sorry. I should have listened to you. I should have been more careful.”
He shakes his head, cutting me off before I can say more. “Don’t apologize, . You don’t have to apologize to me.”
“But I do,” I insist, my voice trembling. “You tried to warn me, and I didn’t listen. I was stubborn and stupid, and I put myself in danger because of it.”
Nikolai moves closer, sitting down on the chair beside the bed. He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together .
“You weren’t stupid, you were hurt, and you made a choice. We all make choices we regret, especially when we’re hurting.”
I look down at my hands, the guilt gnawing at me. “But if I had listened to you … if I had just stayed away from Leo…”
Nikolai reaches out, placing his hand over mine, his grip firm but gentle. “You’re alive, that’s what matters. You’re alive, and you’re safe. And I’m just glad I didn’t lose you.”
I look up at him, my heart pounding in my chest, and I see something in his eyes that makes my breath catch. He’s never looked at me this intensely before.
“Nikolai…” I start, but he shakes his head, his expression pained.
“I’ve already lost one person I loved to the Volkovs,” he says quietly, his voice rough. “I couldn’t stand the thought of losing another.”
The confession snaps me out of my pity party, and I feel a tear slip down my cheek. “You … you love me?”
His lips twist into a sad smile, and he nods, his eyes dark with something I can’t quite name.
“For a while now,” he says with a shrug. “But I know I can never have you. I know that Gio … Gio’s good for you. He makes you happy. And that’s all I want—for you to be happy.”
I don’t know what to say; the words sticking in my throat, my mind reeling. I’ve always known that Nikolai cared about me, that he was protective, but this … this is different. This is something I never expected.
So this is why he called me his on the night of The Chase.
Seeing the pain in his eyes, the raw honesty, makes my heart ache. I want to say something, anything, to make it better, but I don’t know how. I don’t know what to do with this confession. Nikolai must see the turmoil in my eyes because he smiles again, this time softer, more resigned .
“You don’t have to say anything, . I didn’t tell you this to make you feel guilty or to confuse you. I just … I just needed you to know. Because seeing you on that bed, broken … I think it took what was left of my heart.”
I can’t stop the tears now, and I reach out, taking his hand, squeezing it tightly. “Nikolai, I’m so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you.”
He shakes his head, lifting my hand to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles.
“You didn’t hurt me, . Life did. But you … you’ve always been a bright spot for me. Even if I can’t have you the way I want, I’ll just be here as your big brother … if you’ll have me”
The tears are falling freely now, and I nod, unable to speak, my heart heavy with everything that’s been said, everything that’s been left unsaid.
“Of course … You’re family,” I sob, wiping my tears away. I can’t ever reciprocate Nikolai’s feelings, not now. Not ever.
I know I can’t tell Giovanni about this. It would ruin their brotherhood, destroy the bond they’ve built. And I can’t do that to either of them.
Nikolai stands up, releasing my hand and leaning down to press a soft kiss to my forehead. “Rest, okay? You’ve been through enough. We’ll talk more later.”
I nod again, still in shock, still trying to process everything, as he leaves the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
I’m left alone with my thoughts, Nikolai’s confession feeling like lead in my heart. I don’t know what to do with this. I don’t know how to move forward, how to face Nikolai after this, how to pretend that everything is normal when it’s anything but.
But I know one thing—I can’t let this destroy what I have with Giovanni, and I can’t let it come between them.
I’ll figure it out. I’ll find a way to keep the peace, to protect the people I care about. But for now, all I can do is rest, as Nikolai said, and hope that somehow, everything will be okay.
But deep down, I know that nothing will ever be the same again.