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29: Pawn or Queen?
Last Updated:
2025-01-23 00:02:54
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How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 30: When Walls Begin to Crack
POV: RyuuI wasn’t expecting Fukui’s call that night. If he was reaching out, something was off. His only job was to keep Beatrice safe, and he wouldn’t be bothering me unless something wasn’t sitting right with him. "What happened?" I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the weight pressing down on my chest. I had just left a meeting with two of the other families, another wasted night chasing whispers and dead ends about the threats closing in on us. My patience was wearing thin, and now, standing in the lobby of our hotel—the polished front for our operations—I scanned the room with sharp eyes, searching for anything that might feel out of place. "Relax, Ryuu," Fukui’s voice came through the line, tight but not entirely reassuring. That single word only made my frown deepen. "Beatrice is fine, but… I’m worried about her. More than usual." His tone carried an exhaustion that settled like a stone in my gut. "Why?" I asked, my mind immediately jumping to our last encounter
Last Updated : 2025-01-24How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 31: When Shadows Knock
POV: BeatriceA worn copy of The Picture of Dorian Gray wasn’t something I ever imagined finding among Ryuu’s belongings. Yet, there it was, the creased spine and dog-eared pages betraying how many times it had been read. As I picked it up to place it among my own books, a few photographs slipped free, drifting silently to the floor like ghosts of a past I didn’t know existed. Two photos. Both folded, creased with time. The first one sent a jolt through me—my mother. I had never seen this picture before. She looked younger, more vibrant, yet eerily similar to the last image I had of her, taken not long before she died. The other woman in the photograph was unfamiliar. Dark curls framed her pale face, her delicate features sharp yet elegant. There was something in the curve of her mouth, the intensity of her almond-shaped eyes, that reminded me of Ryuu. His mother, perhaps? My fingers trembled as I shoved the photos back into the book, pressing it onto the dresser with more force
Last Updated : 2025-01-25How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 32: A Moment of Weakness
POV: RyuuMy hands trembled, the roar of blood rushing through my ears drowning out everything else. Each breath clawed at my chest, tight and unrelenting. I barely made it to the bedroom, the weight of Vincenzo Espósito's name pressing down on me like a curse.Beatrice stood there, watching in silence. I wanted her gone, to let me drown alone in this storm of fury and pain. But the words wouldn't come, trapped behind clenched teeth.I tore at my clothes, ripping fabric in my desperation to shed the suffocating weight of my past. That man—my grandfather—Vincenzo Espósito. A name whispered in hate, spat from my father's lips my entire life. And now, I understood why.Twenty-four years. A lifetime of lies. How had they buried something so colossal? How had I never known?My shirt hung off my shoulders, my pants unfastened, my tie slack around my neck. I collapsed to my knees, fingers digging into my chest as I fought to breathe. The ragged sound filled the room, and then Beatrice moved—
Last Updated : 2025-01-25How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 33: A Dangerous Alliance
POV: Beatrice"Surprised you showed up," Sophia said, watching me with that same quiet curiosity. "How are things? You and your husband left the party early. We didn’t get a chance to talk."I stared into my tea, fingers tapping lightly against the table. Being here felt off—same café, different reality. Ten guards blended into the background, but their presence was suffocating. Three behind us, two on either side, five outside. The café owner had been quick to cooperate; one mention of the Morunaga name was enough to secure compliance—and fear. Fukui wasn’t here today, a rare allowance I didn’t question."I met your uncle yesterday," I said, lifting the cup to my lips, watching for a reaction.Sophia straightened, her expression unreadable. "Uncle Vincenzo?" No surprise in her voice. "I haven’t seen him since he got out. Where did you run into him?""He showed up at my house. Forced his way in, brought some muscle. Rude as hell. Left Ryuu pissed."Sophia shuddered, picking at her pas
Last Updated : 2025-01-27How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 34: Red Wine and Resentment
POV: BeatriceThe Morunaga Hotel restaurant was exactly what I expected—sophisticated, calculated. Candlelight flickered across tables draped in white linen, vines twisted from the ceiling, their pale flowers swaying under soft golden lights. The air smelled of expensive wine and ambition. Every seat was filled, yet the strategic spacing ensured an illusion of privacy. Our table, tucked into a shadowed corner, felt more like a containment than a courtesy.Eyes followed us the moment we walked in. They always did. Ryuu thrived under it, the tailored darkness of his suit sharpening the edges of his already imposing presence. His hair, styled with precision, and the weight of gold rings on his fingers painted a perfect picture of power wrapped in elegance. A businessman on the surface. A predator beneath.I sat across from him, feeling the weight of his silence. He scanned the restaurant, eyes moving over every detail, every person, like he owned them all. When his gaze finally met mine,
Last Updated : 2025-01-27How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 35: The Taste of Temptation
POV: RyuuBeatrice looped her arm through mine, leaning in just enough to sell the illusion. The act was seamless, but I could feel the fatigue weighing on her. The way she stifled a yawn behind her hand didn’t go unnoticed, and I doubted it was just the wine or the sickly sweet cocktail the waitress had brought her. Maybe she was just tired of my presence. The dinner had lapsed into silence, thick and suffocating.I watched her from the corner of my eye, irritated by the stares from across the room. Some tried to be discreet, others didn’t bother. The whispers, the curiosity—it was expected. I rarely entertained company, let alone a wife. News of our marriage had spread, and people had questions. Some had forgotten who I was, the influence I held. If anyone looked at Beatrice with something other than passing interest, I’d remind them exactly why that was a mistake.Despite the heavy atmosphere, I didn’t suggest leaving early. I should have, but something held me in place. Maybe it w
Last Updated : 2025-01-29How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 36: The Uninvited
POV: BeatriceDisgust settled deep in my chest as I caught my reflection in the bathroom mirror. My face twisted, fingers trembling as they traced the bruises blooming along my collarbone. Evidence of him. What the hell had he done to me?Shame burned hot on my cheeks. My body was still damp from the shower, wet hair clinging to my skin, but I couldn’t look away. I stood there, motionless, staring at the woman in the mirror—a fool, a traitor to her own principles. I didn’t recognize her. And the longer I looked, the heavier last night pressed down on me.I couldn’t even blame the alcohol. I had barely drunk anything. The memory of his hands, his mouth, the way he unraveled me piece by piece—it sent an unwanted pulse of heat through me. My thighs pressed together against my will.There was no undoing it now. No taking it back. The marriage I never wanted was now fully consummated.I squeezed my eyes shut, willing it to be a dream, some fleeting moment of madness. But the crumpled shee
Last Updated : 2025-01-29How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 37: The Man Who Sold Me
POV: BeatriceSeated in the high-backed leather armchair, I kept my breathing steady, my heart hammering beneath my ribs. The air felt thick, suffocating, weighed down by the tension between the men in the room. Ryuu had left to retrieve some paperwork, and with each passing second of his absence, my vulnerability became more apparent. I was trapped between my father and Esposito, two men I had no reason to trust.Giacomo and Esposito sat at opposite ends of the couch. My father, rigid and uneasy, couldn't conceal the nervous tremor in his leg, his face a storm of bitterness and shame. Esposito, by contrast, was the embodiment of ease, lounging in his seat as if he belonged here, his hands clasped, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.Dario stood beside me, arms crossed, a silent barrier between me and whatever disaster was about to unfold. His stare flickered between Giacomo and Esposito, but neither man seemed concerned by his simmering contempt."What a charming family reunion," Esposi
Last Updated : 2025-01-30
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How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 98: The End and the Beginning
Ryuu’s POV"We have a rare opportunity," I said, my voice edged with steel. "The power I inherited from Esposito gives us an advantage, but it also raises expectations. From now on, we can’t allow anything—or anyone—to threaten the foundation I’m building. That means betrayal will be met with a punishment that is swift and unquestionable."Sofia’s expression hardened. "Daiki’s family," she said, her voice clipped. "They’ll serve as the example?"I nodded."Exactly. They will be a reminder of what happens when you cross the Don. When we eliminate a threat, we don’t leave loose ends. Loyalty in our world isn’t optional."Mateo’s smirk deepened in satisfaction. Nitta and Sofia both gave small nods, unde
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 97: The Price of Betrayal
Ryuu’s POVThe heavy scent of metal and dampness filled my lungs the second I stepped into the basement. The cold was almost tangible, seeping from the concrete walls like a ghost of everything that had happened here. Ahead of me, Daiki knelt on the ground, wrists bound behind his back, his expression flickering between fear and defiance.The man who had once treated me like something disposable. The father of the bastard who had used my wife’s blood as his weapon.Mateo, Sofia, and Nitta stood around him, guns drawn, aimed straight at his chest. A circle of steel and hostility, a reflection of the atmosphere pressing down on the room. He saw me—his nephew—standing before him, but not the boy he had once manipulated. That version of me had died long ago."Y
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 96: The Darkness We Share
Beatrice’s POVA heavy silence settled between us, thick enough to take form. I watched Ryuu, waiting for a response he seemed hesitant to give. Then, finally, he exhaled deeply, his voice low but steady."I'm here. With you. I promise."The words hung between us, weighted and certain. His gaze met mine, carrying the full gravity of that vow. And before I could think better of it, I leaned in, pressing my lips to his. It was soft, hesitant—charged with something raw and unspoken. I wanted to lose myself in him, but this wasn’t the time. There were too many cracks between us, too many wounds—both seen and unseen—that needed healing first.His hands slid to my face, holding me with a tenderness I barely recognized. He kissed me b
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 95: A Fragile Confession
Beatrice’s POVRyuu’s gaze stayed locked on the group as he tightened his grip around me, turning me toward the other side of the bar. His arm around my waist pulled me away before I could see Sophia’s next move. The possessive hold, the tension crackling in the air, told me everything I needed to know.I didn’t have to look to know what was coming next."What was that?" I murmured, frowning as he guided me through the dimly lit space, straight toward a cluster of men who greeted him with quiet reverence."What was what?" he replied without looking at me, his jaw set."Mr. Morunaga?" I echoed, the words barely above a whisper, dripping with exasperation.
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 94: Stubborn to the End
Beatrice’s POVDays had passed before we finally parked in front of the church. Neither of us moved to get out. Outside, a sea of black-clad mourners gathered, their hushed voices blending into the weight of grief hanging in the air. I hadn’t expected so many people to show up. Even less, I hadn’t expected Ryuu to be here, not in his condition."You shouldn't be here," I murmured, my fingers tightening around his as we sat in the silent shelter of the black limousine.I had begged him to stay in bed this morning. Pleaded. But nothing I said mattered. Ryuu was determined to be here, and nothing short of death would have stopped him."Don’t you think it’s my duty to attend my grandfather Vincenzo’s funeral?" His voice was sharp, eyes fixed on the crowd filter
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 93: What He Left Behind
Beatrice’s POV"And Ryuu?" I pressed, my gaze flicking back to my husband’s unconscious body. "I can't leave him.""His cousins have already arranged everything. Trusted people, outside your grandfather’s empire." Sophia stepped closer, her voice laced with urgency. "Please, Beatrice."I gave in. I agreed to go with her, but every step I took away from that hospital felt wrong. Like I was making a mistake. Like I was leaving something vital behind.By the time I stepped into the Espósito estate, the echoes of what I’d left behind still rattled inside my head.I didn’t eat. I didn’t shower. I didn’t change my clothes.
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 92: A Truth I Never Wanted
Beatrice’s POVRyuu had fallen asleep again, and I took the opportunity to find something—anything—to keep myself awake. The moment I stepped into the hallway, I caught sight of Mateo, his lips curling in disdain as he shook his head. "You let your mother suffer for years, and now you punish me for setting her free? What Ryuu did was mercy. You should be grateful." His voice dripped with mockery. "Why are we even discussing this right now? This isn't the time. I'm here for them, not you." The cold fury in Mateo’s words echoed through the empty corridor. Whatever Ryuu had done to create this rift between Bion and him… it had cut deep. "Do you always eavesdrop?" A sharp, youthful voice snapped from behind me. I exhaled, pressing a hand to my chest as I turned slowly. Nitta stood there, watching me with a smirk that was both amused and knowing. "I wasn’t…" The words trailed off, my ears still tuned to the remnants of the conversation between Mateo and Bion. "Oh, save it," he
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 91: Stronger Together, Or Broken Apart
Beatrice’s POVHe looked better. A little more color in his skin, a little less fragile. But I knew, just as surely as I loved him, that appearances could be deceiving. He was still bound to this hospital bed, still far from the man I knew. His recovery would be slow, grueling. And he knew it too.I traced my fingers along his jaw, feeling the rough scrape of his unshaven beard against my skin. He exhaled softly at my touch, his features softening in a way I rarely saw. A vulnerable Ryuu. Exposed."Are you hurt?" His voice was deep, laced with concern, as he gently pushed strands of hair away from my face. I shook my head, my eyes locked on his, as if keeping him in focus was the only thing anchoring me to reality. He studied me a second longer, his gaze catching on the clean clothes I wore—so different from the last time he
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 90: The Battle Isn’t Over
Beatrice’s POVThe moment Giorgio took his last breath, it was as if a spell had finally broken. I turned slowly, my body heavy with exhaustion, my hands still stained with blood as my gaze found Ryuu.He was pale, his skin damp with sweat and pain. His face was contorted, his eyes shut tight as if keeping them closed would somehow lessen the agony. I leaned over him again, pressing my hands firmly against the open wound on his abdomen, but it was useless. It felt like trying to hold his life together with nothing but my bare hands. The blood kept coming, relentless, spilling between my fingers no matter how hard I pressed.Then, the basement door burst open, slamming against the concrete wall.I whirled around, lifting the gun instinctively. I didn’t know who was coming, but I wo
