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Chapter 81 An Emergency Call
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 82 Failed Transaction
Thorton Gallardo POVRome, ItalyThe city is built on a river, a mosaic of the old and the new. The centuries-old cobblestone streets are lined with modern lamp posts, and the exterior walls of buildings are painted in an array of muted beiges and pastels. On the surface, it’s a quaint riverside city. A perfect vacation spot for those who don’t mind the year-round cold.But I know the truth. Just below the surface, the capital city of Rome has a swarming, thriving criminal underbelly. It’s simply a matter of knowing where to look.“They’re late,” Samuel grumbles. He cracks his knuckles, then his neck, then his back, the loud popping similar to squeezing a fistful of bubble wrap. It’s one of his biggest tells when he’s nervous. If there’s a joint he can crack, he will.“Have a little patience,” I remind him as I fiddle with my lighter. “They’ll be here.”“What if it’s some kind of trap?”The possibility this meeting might be a set-up did dawn on me, but we’re not in a good enough posit
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 83 A Trap
Zandra Valderrama POVI need to see you. It’s urgent. I stare at my phone, mildly confused. Isn’t Thor out of town?Is something wrong? Can’t tell you over text, our usual spot at the Crown Hotel. Tomorrow morning by nine.A strange, sinking feeling grows in the pit of my stomach. Call it intuition. A sixth sense. If this is Thorton, then whatever he has to tell me is clearly something big and sensitive in nature.I’ll be there.“Sweetie?”I look up to find my mother stepping into the kitchen. She wears a soft smile, bundled up in one of Dad’s sweaters. It’s surprisingly drafty in the house today, and I frankly don’t blame her for stealing one of Dad’s comfiest cashmere knits.“Is something wrong? You look troubled.”I shove my phone into the back pocket of my jeans. “It’s nothing. Just… work.”Mom joins me by the counter, reaching for a mug to make herself a cup of tea. “How are you handling things? I know it must be such a huge responsibility.”“Nothing I can’t handle. I’m getting u
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 84 Misunderstanding
Thorton Gallardo POV“What the fuck is going on?” Samuel roars after me as we rush into the taxi depot.It’s a lot closer than driving all the way to my place for an emergency meeting. Besides, if the Valderrama decides to come after us in retaliation, we have no shortage of taxis to use as escape vehicles.“You drove us right into the middle of an ambush!” Leo grumbles. “What the hell were you thinking?”Damien remains calm and collected. “Let’s just take a minute to breathe, okay? Is anyone hurt?”“No,” Samuel growls as he cracks his knuckles. “But someone’s about to be if I don’t get some fucking answers!”“They’re going to come down on us after that,” Roman points out. “We managed to strike a balance with them. A temporary truce. Now that’s gone out the window!” My brothers shout at each other. At me. It’s damn near impossible to think.“What the hell happened out there, Thorton?” Damien asks. “You should have told us if you were planning to go to war with the Valderrama Mafia.
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 85 It's Detective Rossi
Cassandra Valderrama POV“What were you thinking?” Dad asks me. He doesn’t shout, doesn’t raise his voice. In fact, his tone is perfectly calm and level, like this is just any other run-of-the-mill conversation.And that’s how I know he’s pissed.I sit across from him on the living room couch, rubbing my hands together. They’re stained red with my brother’s blood. Somewhere upstairs, I can hear him groaning and wailing in pain. Aunt Natalya is with him, tending to his injuries. Nothing too serious, she told us. All he needs is a couple of stitches, some antibiotics, and some rest. The bullets had gone through and had hit nothing vital. But her prognosis does little to settle my fried nerves.“Did you see the shooter?” Uncle Craig asks me. “Can you give us a description?”I nod numbly. “He was an older guy. Thinning white hair. A mustache, very bushy brows. His eyes were blue, I think.”“Did he say anything?” Uncle Montero presses on.My response sits on the tip of my tongue, but I hes
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 86 Very Anxious To See Zandra Valderrama
Thorton Gallardo POVWe’re holding our own. As a matter of fact, we’re doing phenomenally on the war front. No major losses, and my brothers and I have even managed to gain traction in the east, driving back Valderrama's presence long enough to swoop in to claim their abandoned territory. I should be over the moon about this…I’m nothing but bitter, angry, and anxious.My attempts to track down Rossi have been fruitless. I’ve turned over every stone, checked every dark corner—nothing. The man vanished like the wind and is probably hiding for his life.Which is smart, considering I’m going to kill him.The Valderrama Mafia have gone into hiding, too. Not the entire Mafia, but the core family. My network of informants can’t seem to locate Manfred Valderrama, any of his relatives, or Zandra. They’re operating from the shadows—a distinct advantage where they’re concerned—but in a strange way, I’m almost glad. I can breathe a little easier knowing Zandra is far from the violence.But soone
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 87 Mafia Management
Zandra Valderrama POVAt the Valderrama Mafia Meeting Greggy slams his fists against the table, his grim expression made much more bitter by the harsh light overhead.“I lost an eighth of my men last night to those Gallardo dogs!” he seethes. “And they’re disrupting my businesses. I’ve seen an almost fifty percent decrease in profit since this war you started.”I let the old man finish, frankly too irritated to trust myself with a responsible follow-up. The family heads and I am gathered today in the private backroom of one of my family’s restaurants—a front for smuggling weapons in and out using the clever disguise of food crates—for an emergency meeting. My uncles and even Dad are here to sit in on the meeting, a testament to how serious things are getting. We’re all flabbergasted at the amount of progress Thorton has made in such a short amount of time, and he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.“This is your fault,” Greggy continues, the vein in his temple popping as he point
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 88 I Want To Talk To You Personally
Zandra Valderrama POV“It’s most likely stress and exhaustion,” Aunt Natalya says as she stands up from the edge of my bed. “You should be fine with an aspirin and some much-needed rest.”I shake my head, struggling to sit up. “I can’t. There’s too much work to do.”Mom rests her hands on my shoulders and practically pins me to my pillows. She’s frighteningly strong when she wants to be. “Oh no you don’t. You’re going to listen to Nat, or so help me God I’ll tie you down and knock you out with a hammer.”“Don’t be so dramatic,” Alessandra sighs. She’s seated on the stool in front of my vanity table.“You weren’t this rough with me when I tried getting out of bed,” Jovito points out. One arm is in a sling while his other is thrown over a crutch to support his injured leg.“Because you were shot,” Mom points out.I throw my head back and groan as my family squabbles. What I wouldn’t give right now for a little peace and quiet. I love them all to death, but good grief we’re a loud bunch.
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 89 Surprise Meeting With Alessandra
Thorton Gallardo POVFor a man who works in law enforcement, Detective Rossi sure knows how to hide like a criminal.I’ve scoured every inch of Italy for even a whisper of the man’s whereabouts. There’s a chance he might have left the city altogether, but my gut tells me he hasn’t. Rossi was so determined to see the Mafia shred itself to pieces. Wouldn’t he want to be nearby to watch the madness unfold? He has to be here somewhere; it’s just a matter of narrowing down possible hideouts.If I were a disgraced detective hell-bent on avenging my dead wife and daughter, where would I be?There has been relative peace on the war front, a temporary lull I’m taking full advantage of. It was a massive risk trying to get to Zandra, but it was worth it. Getting to see her beautiful face again was all the motivation I needed to keep going. The sooner I find Rossi, the sooner we can put all this behind us.And maybe—just maybe—Zandra and I can turn over a new leaf.“Anything?” I ask Leo as I pace
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The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 101 The Fire Of Loving You Forever
Cassandra Valderrama Gallardo POVI never wanted a big wedding. Growing up, I wasn’t the type of girl who dreamed about flowing white dresses, enough flowers to open a florist shop, or exorbitantly expensive multi-tier cakes. I’m perfectly content with what I have—my family in attendance and my man standing proudly at the altar.We’re in a small chapel, tucked away in one of the quieter, more peaceful corners of the city. I’m dressed in the same wedding dress Mom wore when she married Dad, the very same veil on my head. There are no words to describe how honored I am to wear it. I hope one day, I get to pass it on to my own daughter to wear at her wedding, and perhaps even my granddaughter after her. Little things like these, full of sentiment and love, are how traditions are born.Dad and I stand just in front of the main entrance to the chapel. Everyone’s taken their seats, and the music is beginning to swell. I know he had his reservations when I first agreed to marry Thorton, but
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 100 Triplets Pregnancy
Thorton Gallardo POVOne Month LaterSeparately, the Valderrama and Gallardo Mafias are capable of incredible things. They both rule with iron fists and awe-inspiring efficiency. Where the Valderrama commands the respect of their peers, my brothers and I are tenaciously ambitious. Combined—we’re a force to be reckoned with.We’re only a month into our merger, but all of Italy works like a well-oiled machine. With the Valderramas’ connections and my transportation network, we’re virtually unstoppable. I don’t think the criminal underworld has ever seen a more impressive organization. With Leo running the numbers, Samuel enforcing our laws, Roman negotiating our deals, and Damien keeping his ear to the ground for any whispers of dissent, we have the entire city under our thumbs. But right now, the last thing I want to think about is work. Zandra, unfortunately, has other plans.“Remind me to ask Samuel to pay the Southern Administrative District a visit. A couple of businesses haven’t
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 99 I Can't Believe You're Alive!
Zandra Valderrama POVI only have so much time. Before long, my baby bump will begin to show, and then the jig is up. I need to figure out how to break the news to Dad without sending him into full-on cardiac arrest. My decision is final, though, no matter what he or the rest of my family has to say. I’m keeping this baby, and I’m going to protect him or her with every fiber of my being.Do I think Dad might disown me when he learns the truth? Probably not. He’s always been a level-headed guy. I doubt he’d do anything so drastic… But that doesn’t stop me from coming up with a Plan B, C, and D—just in case.I’m just about to pull out my phone to look up some rudimentary information on what mothers should expect when I hear a strange sound coming from outside. The screech of car tires, angry shouting. My heart automatically leaps into my throat and lodges there. Oh, God. Are we under attack? All this excitement and paranoia can’t possibly be good for the baby.My little brother comes ho
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 98 Take Me To Zandra Valderrama
Thorton Gallardo POVHalf of Italy belongs to the Gallardo Mafia.I should be over the moon.I’m anything but.“We’re seeing staggering profits,” Leo tells me from the other side of my desk. One of his detailed spreadsheets is pulled up on his tablet. “We’ve had next to no resistance from the remaining Valderrama in the area. They’ve all but fled to the north of the city. The raid left them scrambled, but I don’t think now is the time to keep pushing. There’s still a heavy police presence in the area.”“Sure,” I mumble. I’m only half listening, partially because I know Leo’s got everything under control, and partially because I can’t bring myself to care. It’s almost cruel how we have everything we want, yet I have nothing I need.“The taxi business practically runs itself at this point,” Leo goes on. “Since Detective Rossi, uh, passed, there’s been no reason for the police to keep sniffing around. He was the only one who could link us to our criminal interests, and it doesn’t look l
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 97 I'm Pregnant
Zandra Valderrama POVI’m bedridden for what feels like an eternity.Aunt Natalya keeps telling me it’s frankly a miracle I survived. Very few can take a bullet through the chest and live to tell the tale. It’s nothing short of divine intervention. But even if I did have the energy to get out of bed, I wouldn’t. A heavy fog clouds my mind, and it has nothing to do with the pain meds I’m on.I can’t stop thinking about Thorton. I can barely even think of his name without pins and needles stinging my eyes. No matter what I do, no matter how much time has passed, I can’t bring myself to accept he’s dead. The lives we lead are dangerous ones. Death and injury is an accepted workplace hazard. I just didn’t think it would actually happen.“Come on, Zandy,” Alessandra whispers at my bedside. There’s a bowl of chicken noodle soup on her lap. It’s all I’ve been able to stomach lately. Everything else makes me feel barfy.“You should eat something,” Mom adds softly. She’s seated on the other si
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 96 Now I Have Nothing
Thorton Gallardo POVIf obsession is a disease, then I’m sick and suffering.My waking thoughts bounce back and forth between Zandra and Rossi, trapping me in a never-ending cycle of cause and effect. I can’t stop thinking about her, about how cold and small she was in my arms as the lights faded from her eyes. My chest tightens at the realization that I’ll never get to kiss her again or speak to her again. Rossi has to pay—he has to.Tracking the man down this time is a whole lot easier. He’s paraded around like a damn war hero, showing up for interviews and public award ceremonies. I lie in wait, watching from the back of the crowd, dressed in an unassuming pair of jeans, a black sweatshirt, and a baseball cap. The hood’s drawn over to obscure my face. A whole line of TV cameras is here, along with nosy reporters and a handful of uniformed cops. I can’t just approach him. I may want vengeance, but I’m not suicidal. This place is too public, too many witnesses. I need to bide my time
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 95 Face-to-Face With Manfred Valderrama
Thorton Gallardo POVPulling up to the Valderrama’s private residence is practically begging for immediate execution, but I have no other options. I need to see Zandra, need to know she’s okay—even if it kills me.The place is swarming with armed guards, all of them training their weapons on us as the car screeches to a halt in front of the house. The moment I jump out, at least four of them barrel toward me. I came fully prepared for the beating of my life, but what happens next is so much worse.“Stand down!” Manfred Valderrama shouts at his men. They do so, snapping to attention as he trudges down the front path, his fists clenched so hard his knuckles are white. I see so much of Zandra in him.And that’s why I don’t react when he winds back and punches me in the jaw. I stumble to the ground, my ear ringing and my face throbbing. I deserved it. I deserve all of it. I will accept it.I see no point in fighting back. Even if I wanted to, Manfred Valderrama is almost three times my ag
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 94 The Man I Loved Is Dead?
Zandra Valderrama POVI awake with a start.There’s a blinding, throbbing pain in my chest, just below my left shoulder. I can’t make sense of my surroundings. Everything’s too loud, too bright. Confusion makes the room spin and fear makes my blood run cold. What just happened? How did I get here?“Easy, Zandy,” Aunt Natalya says as she hooks me up to a blood bag. O-positive, according to the sticker slapped on the front. “It was a high caliber round, so the bullet went right through you. You lost a lot of blood, but you’re lucky it missed all your important organs. Four inches lower and it would have pierced your heart.”Aunt Natalya is speaking perfectly clearly, but I don’t understand a word coming out of her mouth. Is it because of the shock? The pain? Probably both.I groan. “What happened?”“Relax, sweetheart,” Dad says. He’s at my bedside, his brows steepled together in grave concern.My uncles are here. So are Mom Amara, Alessandra, and Jovito. It’s a miracle my room is big en
The Billionaire's Love Game Chapter 93 My Heart In Pain For Zandra
Thorton Gallardo POVI don’t need to be an expert in reading body language to know tensions are running high. This is a public meeting—as is the tradition—hosted in a restaurant that’s been completely booked out.The lighting is dim. Armed men are everywhere. They don’t just belong to the Valderrama, but to the other families I’ve managed to piss off, as well. Why couldn’t we have done this in the back of some dingy room? Because this is a show of good faith, of honor, an unspoken code of conduct. There is nowhere to hide here, no secrets to be kept…which is exactly how I know everyone in this room hates my guts and they’re itching to reach for their guns and show it.Zandra—gorgeous, beautiful, fierce Zandra—sits at the head of the table. Her father and her uncles stand behind her like silent stone sentries. Around the table, the other Mafia heads sit. Some faces are familiar. Others are not. They all have one thing in common, though, and it’s the way they all stare daggers at me and
