Ruthless Royalty by J. Tarr

Author:J. Tarr [Tarr, J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-10-10T00:00:00+00:00

GIOVANNI

My body feels heavy, a pleasant ache reminding me of everything that happened last night. Chiara’s curled up beside me, her dark hair splayed out across the pillow, her lips slightly parted as she sleeps.

She looks peaceful, almost innocent, like she doesn’t have a care in the world. But I know better. I know the fire that burns inside her, the same fire that drew me to her in the first place. And as I watch her sleep, a cold realization settles in my chest.

She’s going to be my weakness.

Weakness is something I can’t afford, not out there in the real world. Not once we leave Willow Bridge. My enemies would take one look at her and know exactly where to strike. But fuck, even knowing that, I can’t make myself pull away. She’s mine now, and I’ll be damned if I let anyone take her from me.

A part of me wants to wake her up, to tell her that this—whatever this is—can’t happen. That it’s too dangerous for both of us. But then she stirs, her hand reaching out to touch me in her sleep, and the thought of letting her go feels like a fucking knife to the gut.

My phone vibrates on the nightstand, the sound cutting through the quiet. I reach over, careful not to wake Chiara, and glance at the screen. The number flashing across it makes my heart drop.

My father.

Fuck, I was wondering when he’d call. After yesterday, someone was bound to have told him I was flaunting Dmitri Mikhailov’s step-daughter as mine.

I untangle myself from Chiara, moving slowly so I don’t wake her, and slip out of bed. My heart pounds in my chest as I walk to the balcony, the cool morning air hitting my skin as I step outside. I close the door behind me before answering the call.

“Yeah,” I say, my voice low.

“Giovanni,” my father’s voice snaps through the line, cold and biting as always. “What the fuck are you doing?”

I grit my teeth, already feeling the anger rise. “I’m handling things.”

“You’re handling things?” He scoffs, and I can practically see the sneer on his face. “By chasing after Dmitri’s stepdaughter? Are you out of your fucking mind?”

My grip tightens on the phone, knuckles white. “It’s not your concern.”

“I didn’t raise you to be fucking stupid,” His voice is a sharp bark of laughter. “You’ve gone after the one girl you shouldn’t have, Giovanni. Dmitri isn’t going to stand by and let this slide.”

“I don’t give a shit what Dmitri thinks,” I snap back, my patience wearing thin. “I know what I’m fucking doing⁠—”

“No, you don’t,” he says, his tone harsh. “This isn’t some game, boy. Dmitri is like a brother to me, and you’re fucking with something that could get you killed. End it. Now. Before I have to step in and end it for you.”

His words is enough to make me fucking spiral, but I force myself to stay calm. I knew this was coming the moment I decided to go after Chiara, but that doesn’t make it any easier to hear.

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