Page 147 of Shameless Royalty

Malachi

Connor’shandstaysfirmlywrapped around mine, possessive and warm, and even though I roll my eyes every time he pulls me closer, deep down, I can’t deny I fucking love it. Every lingering touch, every soft look he gives me like I’m the only thing worth looking at—it’s everything I’ve secretly been craving.

But of course, I’d rather die than let him know how much I love his clingy behavior. He’s already so full of himself; there’s no way I’m inflating that ego even further. He presses another kiss against my temple, and I groan dramatically, lightly shoving his chest.

“Christ, Connor. You’re like a giant fuckin’ puppy,” I complain, though I can’t keep the small smile from slipping through. “You have no concept of personal space.”

He just grins, unfazed, his eyes sparkling. “Not when it comes to you, Babyface. I’ve got five months of affection to make up for, remember?”

My cheeks burn hot, but I pretend to glare, shrugging his arm off me. “Well, you could at least try to pretend you have some dignity left.”

“Dignity?” He chuckles, stepping right back into my space. “Left that behind the second I met you, darlin’.”

I roll my eyes, turning away to hide how red my face is. Connor follows, slipping his hand back into mine as he guides me through the crowd. My stomach knots with sudden anxiety as we approach a small group standing near the bonfire. Connor squeezes my hand reassuringly, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a way that makes my heart stutter.

“Alright, Babyface,” he says softly, leaning closer. “Time to meet the family.”

I tense slightly. “Great, I’m about to be thrown to the wolves.”

Connor smirks, eyes playful. “Relax. They’ll love you.” Then louder, “Hey, arseholes. Meet Malachi, the love of my fuckin’ life.”

My cheeks fucking burn at that introduction before all eyes immediately shift to me, and I suddenly feel like a deer caught in headlights. Four intimidating guys and two stunningly beautiful women stare at me, curiosity lighting their expressions. I swallow nervously, feeling the full weight of who these people are—the power radiating from each of them is enough to leave me speechless.

Connor wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me to his side. “Malachi, this is Nikolai Mikhailov. Bastard is about to be my brother-in-law.” He gestures to the tall, blond-haired man with a smirk and piercing blue eyes that study me closely. Nikolai nods, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.

“Konstantin Drakos.” A guy with intense gray eyes and an unreadable expression tilts his head, giving me a cool nod. “Giovanni Basile.” The handsome, confident guy wearing a black leather jacket raises his brows with clear amusement.

“And Mihai Vasile, my best friend and a royal pain in the arse.” Connor points at a guy with dark, curly hair, brown eyes, and a lazy smirk. Mihai gives me a nod, looking me up and down briefly.

The girls beside them smile warmly. The blonde with Mihai offers me a bright, welcoming grin. “I’m Maddy,” she says with a light English accent. “Ignore Mihai, he’s harmless.” Mihai snorts, rolling his eyes.

The brunette next to Giovanni laughs softly. “I’m Chiara. Nice to finally meet you, Malachi.”

I try to smile back, suddenly aware of how Connor’s grip on my waist tightens slightly, silently reassuring me he’s here, and that he won’t let anything happen. Still, my pulse races, anxiety coiling tight in my stomach.

Nikolai smirks, eyes gleaming. “So, you’re the one who turned our Irish asshole into a lovesick puppy. Gotta say, I expected someone taller.”

I blink, caught off guard, and glance at Connor, who looks seconds away from punching Nikolai. But Giovanni snorts, chuckling softly. “Ignore him. He’s just jealous someone actually puts up with Connor.”

I laugh despite myself, relaxing just a bit. Mihai crosses his arms, eyes glinting with amusement. “True. You deserve an award for tolerating him. We should buy you a drink just for surviving his company this long.”

Connor glares playfully, rolling his eyes. “Fuck off, Mihai. You’re lucky Maddy hasn’t dumped your ass yet.”

Maddy shrugs, smiling sweetly. “He’s got his moments.”

Konstantin raises a brow, dryly amused. “Personally, I’m impressed Connor managed to convince anyone to date him at all.”

Connor flips him off, laughing, but pulls me closer. “Alright, arseholes, that’s enough. Don’t scare him away.”

Nikolai chuckles, winking at me. “We’re harmless. Welcome to the madness, Malachi.”

I glance around, warmth spreading in my chest. They’re intimidating as hell, but the way they tease Connor feels genuine and playful. My anxiety fades slightly, replaced with something like cautious optimism. Maybe these people aren’t as terrifying as I first thought.

Okay, wait, no. These are trained killers, so they’re definitely terrifying.

Connor leans in, his breath warm against my ear. “Come with me,” he murmurs, his voice low enough for only me to hear. I shiver slightly, nodding once.

He pulls me away, guiding me towards the suites, his hand firm around mine. As soon as we’re away from everyone else, Connor turns me to face him, his expression softening.

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