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When our gazes meet, there’s something in hers that makes my heart twist in my chest.
For once, I have no words. None of us do.
Then suddenly, a voice, quiet but firm, breaks the tension in the room.
“Please.”
Chiara says softly.
Her voice trembles, but there’s enough strength there to make us all pause.
Every eye in the room turns to her, and Dario marches straight over to her, his arms tightening around her as though he doesn’t want her to speak.
Alessandro tilts his head slightly, the faintest glimmer of curiosity crossing his face.
Chiara straightens, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
She looks at each man in this room before she finally allows her gaze to settle on Otets.
“I would like to speak to Nikolai and Mikhail.” She says softly. Then, as her eyes move in the direction of ours, she adds, “Alone.”
Chapter Nineteen
chiara
It settled over the room like a heavy fog.
The silence became deafening, broken only by the sharp inhale of Papa by my side.
Dario’s expression twisted, so dark and angry. He opened his mouth, no doubt to object, but before he could say anything, Isaak raised a hand, commanding complete silence. The only thing my brother did was glare at him.
Isaak’s gaze on me was steady and piercing as he tried to read me, no doubt trying to pull apart the intent behind my words.
I glanced between Nikolai and Mikhail, both stood across from me in the room, both tense and unreadable. Nikolai’s eyes met mine briefly, his jaw tight, and his expression closed, but I saw the weight of my words reflected in the darkness of his gaze. I took a deep breath in, looking over at Mikhail, feeling my chest tighten slightly.
“Chiara.”
Papa began to say as he broke the silence, his voice shaking slightly as though he was desperately trying to hold onto all control.
I shook my head, not allowing him to say another word.
“Please!” I said once more. “Just let me speak to them for a moment. Please, Papa.”
He exhaled sharply, his breathing shaky as I turned to face him, a small, pleading smile on my face.
His lips pressed into a grim line, and he nodded slowly.
He. Nodded.
My heart began racing in my chest as Papa helped me up from the bed, and Dario escorted me to the bathroom to freshen up.
And now that I’m done, I step out of the bathroom, my hands trembling by my sides. My legs feel unsteady, but I push forward anyway, taking a step towards them both.
My voice is a little softer now that I’m so close to them both.
“Where can we go?”
Neither one of them speaks, but they move in unison as they take a step towards me, moving to stand on either side of my body.