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Chapter Twenty-six: Striking First
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-12 16:35:51
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Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Twenty-seven:The Aftermath
Dante Russo was a man who thrived on dominance. Every piece of his empire operated with merciless efficiency, and he eliminated any threat before it could become a problem.But tonight—tonight, everything was on fire.He stood at the perimeter of the devastated dockyard, fists clenched, smoke swirling around him like the very breath of the devil. The flames had been extinguished hours earlier, but the acrid scent of burnt metal and lost wealth hung heavy in the air.A chilling breeze whistled through the blackened remnants of his cargo, rattling shattered crates and dispersing the ashes of what had once been his most prized merchandise. His men stood behind him, tense and silent, fully aware that it was unwise to speak when their leader was in this kind of mood.Silence meant rage.Silence meant death.Dante slightly turned his head. “How?” His voice was low, laced with menace.One of his lieutenants swallowed nervously. “We—we don’t know, boss. Security was tight. There were no alarm
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-13Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Twenty-eight:No Turning Back
As soon as Luca spoke, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy with tension, like a storm about to unleash its fury.Adrian's thoughts raced as he processed the implications of what he had just heard. If his father was indeed alive—if Dante had him locked away in some secret locale—this was the chance he had been yearning for. Yet, there was also the unsettling possibility, the very real and dangerous possibility, that this could be a trap.Leila’s keen gaze shifted between Adrian and Luca, her expression inscrutable. “Are we just supposed to believe him?” she asked, her tone laced with skepticism.Luca winced as he adjusted himself in his seat, his injuries still tender. “I know I don't have much credibility,” he admitted, his voice rough yet unwavering. “But think about it—if Dante wanted to deceive you, why would he send me? A man he has already condemned?”Connor leaned against the wall, arms folded and wearing a skeptical expression. “Maybe because he knows we’d hesitate,” he repli
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-13Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Twenty-nine: The Raid
The atmosphere was charged with anxiety; the gravity of their mission weighed heavily on them. The estate loomed ahead, secured by high walls, motion sensors, and armed guards patrolling in regular patterns. Adrian crouched behind a line of trees with Leila, Connor, and Luca, their gaze locked on the compound.Connor adjusted his earpiece. “The surveillance reports indicate guard shifts change every twenty minutes. We have a ten-minute window before the next rotation.”Leila tightened her grip on her silenced pistol. “That doesn’t leave us with much time.”Adrian replied calmly, “It’s enough.”The plan was straightforward—at least in theory. Connor had set explosives around the perimeter, designed to disable the lights and disrupt Dante’s communications. Once the guards were thrown into confusion, they would infiltrate the compound, find Adrian’s father, and escape before reinforcements could arrive.Straightforward.But, Adrian knew that the night wouldn’t be simple.He turned to Luc
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-13Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Thirty:The Betrayal
The adrenaline was still pumping through Adrian's veins as the SUV sped down the dirt road, its headlights piercing the dense darkness of the countryside. The sounds of gunfire faded behind them, but the tension within the vehicle remained high.He tightened his grip on his father's arm, needing to reassure himself that his father was truly present and alive. He looked worn out but not broken.Leila, still catching her breath, looked back. “We’re safe for now, but we have to ditch this car. Dante won’t stop coming after us.”Connor, at the wheel, nodded. “The safehouse is fifteen miles away. We’ll switch vehicles there.”Luca, in the passenger seat, remained unusually silent.Adrian squinted at him. “Is something wrong?”Luca tapped his knee nervously. “Just thinking.”Adrian didn’t like the tone of his voice.Before he could inquire further, his father spoke up, his voice steady despite its roughness. “How long has Dante been in charge?”Adrian paused. “Quite a while.”He let out a s
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-13Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Thirty-one:Fire and Blood
Adrian felt a sharp pain in his side, but it was overshadowed by the overwhelming reality that his father was gone—taken from him in an instant amidst the chaos and flames.Thick smoke filled his lungs as he pushed himself to stand, moving unsteadily forward. Gunshots rang throughout the warehouse, a deafening roar mingling with the crackling flames that consumed the wooden structure above. His mind focused on only one thing; getting to his father.A steady hand clutched his arm, preventing him from falling.“Adrian, you’re hurt—” Leila urged, her face drawn tight with worry.“I don’t care.” He shrugged off her grip, his eyes scanning through the smoke and debris. Where was his father?Then he spotted him.Amidst the swirling haze, Adrian saw the blurred figures of Dante’s men retreating toward the back exit, dragging his father along. He caught the glint of metal handcuffs on his father's wrists and saw his father's struggles even in his weakened state, the weakness evident from what
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-14Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Thirty-two:A line in the Sand
Adrian stared at the photo on his phone, his heart racing. His father's face was bloodied, his arms tightly bound to a chair. The blood-red words behind him conveyed Dante’s challenge.WAR.Adrian's grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white.“Dante has just signed his own death warrant,” Leila muttered, standing behind him, her voice was sharp, tinged with anger.Luca let out a heavy breath, his hands on his hips. “If we rush in without a plan, we’re falling into another trap.”Adrian forced himself to calm down. He couldn’t allow his fury to take over—not now. That was exactly what Dante wanted.“We won’t go in with a rush,” he stated, his tone icy and controlled. “We’ll track him down, strategize, and then we’ll finish this.”Connor, who had been unusually quiet, finally chimed in. “I might have a lead.”All eyes turned to him.Connor tossed his laptop onto the table and turned the screen toward them. “I analyzed Dante’s usual locations—warehouses, safe houses, pro
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-14Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Thirty-three: The Devil's Final
Gunfire shattered the stillness of the deserted steel mill, each shot echoing loudly against rusted beams and damaged machinery. Sparks flew as bullets hit off steel, and the burning oil filled the air with a sharp odor. Smoke curled upwards, mixing with the dust stirred up by the battle raging within.Adrian barely noticed much around him. His focus was solely on a single target—one man.Dante Rossi.The man who had haunted his family for years, who had twisted the rules of the underworld to suit his own ambition. What had once been a mere shadow in Adrian's past had grown into a storm threatening to destroy everything he held dear.And now, that storm was dying.Dante clutched as he pressed his injured shoulder against a thick metal pillar for protection. He was out of breath and running out of time and options.Leila crouched next to Adrian, swiftly reloading her firearm. Her dark eyes met his with an intensity that conveyed urgency. “We need to move. Now.”Adrian tightened his gri
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-14Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter Thirty-four: Aftershocks
The night was far from quiet. Flames still licked at the sky, thick plumes of smoke rising from what remained of the steel mill. The fire cast an eerie glow over the city’s outskirts, a grim beacon signaling the end of Dante Rossi’s reign.Adrian stood near the SUV, his gaze locked on the fire. The heat from the flames wasn’t enough to thaw the cold settling in his chest.For years, he had imagined this moment—envisioned the satisfaction of pulling the trigger, of watching Dante fall. Of knowing the man who had tormented his family, orchestrated their suffering, was finally dead.But there was no relief.Only a quiet, unsettling emptiness.The war against Dante was over.So why did it feel like something was still missing?A familiar voice pulled him from his thoughts.“Adrian.”Leila stood nearby, her expression unreadable, but he could hear the exhaustion in her voice. She had fought beside him every step of the way, and the weight of it all was beginning to show. “We need to get yo
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-15
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Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Five — When Familiar Comes Home
Gwen's Arrival Gwen arrived on a cloud-covered afternoon, when the world seemed to hold its breath. Leila stood on the sacred-feeling brownstone steps, her pale wool scarf wrapped around her, her coat partially zipped over her gently rounded stomach. The air was infused with the scent of wet stone and lavender, faint traces of the cleaning oil lingering around the house's edges.When the cab arrived, Leila remained still, watching Gwen emerge, carrying a worn canvas bag. Gwen's thin coat appeared more appropriate for warmer weather, and her hair was pulled up in a messy knot, strands flying loose in the breeze.They exchanged silent glances across the distance for a moment.Then Gwen dropped the bag and bounded up the stairs in two swift strides.Leila stepped forward just in time to catch her, and they embraced—tight and sudden, yet utterly right. Gwen's arms wrapped around Leila's back, her breath hitching against Leila's shoulder."You look like spring," Gwen murmured, her voice t
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Four — The Spaces We Fill
Few days later, they navigated the renovated brownstone as if they were gliding through the pages of a story they'd once only dared to imagine.The floors, once scattered with splinters and gaps, had been replaced with reclaimed wood that hummed gracefully beneath their feet. The staircase—rebuilt, sanded, and stained—no longer creaked under their weight but instead welcomed them into their newly crafted existence. Each room exuded the lingering aroma of fresh paint, pine wood polish, and lavender oil—an unusual yet soothing blend that lingered in the air like a cherished memory.Leila paused in the entryway, running her fingers along the newly fitted doorframe. Her other hand rested on the slight curve of her belly, subtly hidden under her sweater but undeniable to her. She watched as Adrian moved through the living room, skillfully opening the windows to let in the gentle spring breeze.She smiled slightly. “It feels like it’s alive.”Adrian looked back at her, his gaze softening. “
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Three — What we're Building
LeilaThe nausea didn't creep in-- it slammed into her suddenly, like a crashing wave.One moment, she was on the gallery floor, crouched in a patch of warm light, her hands buried in fabric samples she'd been collecting over the past week. She had midnight blue for the reading nook and a muted rose she hoped would work in the nursery—gentle and grounding. This task felt reassuring, providing a rare sense of control amidst the chaos.Then, without warning, everything shifted.The room spun violently, causing her stomach to turn with it. Her hands slipped off the pile of swatches, and she barely managed to get to her feet and rush to the bathroom, gripping the doorframe for support as her heart raced. She felt clammy and disoriented, as if her own body had betrayed her.Nausea struck in relentless waves while she leaned over the sink, gripping the cold porcelain and breathing shallowly through her nose. Her reflection revealed pale skin and heavy, shadowed eyes.By the time Adrian arri
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Two: Told in Gentle Light
Pregnancy RevealLeila dialed Gwen from the gallery, her fingers quivering slightly as she made the call.The space was empty that morning, still resonating with the echoes of laughter and footsteps from the other night’s opening. Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, creating long, golden lines on the smooth concrete floor. Her latest collection adorned the walls—images that felt like fragments of her heart captured in ink and shadow. Yet none of these works, not even the proudest or most vulnerable work she'd hung there, compared to what she felt within her now.Gwen picked up on the third ring, her voice thick with sleep and that familiar, dry-edged affection.“Hello?” came the croaky murmur.“I didn’t wake you, did I?” Leila asked, slowly pacing between two canvases. She paused in front of one featuring Adrian at the lake, wind tousling his hair and vulnerability etched in every feature. It was one of the few photos she had been unable to let go of.“You did,” Gwen replied w
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twenty-One-Laying the Foundation
----LeilaThat morning, their conversation was sparse—not due to avoidance or a lack of topics, but because the weight of what had just shifted between them made words feel.....too small.Silence wrapped around them like a comforting blanket—not chilly or distant, but respectful. It felt as if speaking too soon might shatter the delicate truth lingering between them.Leila retreated to the window seat, captivated by the view even though she barely noticed it. She curled her knees beneath her, a throw blanket resting on her legs, while an untouched cup of tea—over-steeped and cold—sat on the windowsill. Thirst was not her concern; she wasn’t even sure what she felt. Just that something within her was in flux, rearranging.Across the room, Adrian quietly moved around the kitchen, the sounds of a mug clinking, water boiling, and his soft footsteps creating a soothing background. He didn’t press her with questions or attempt to fill the silence, but every so often, she sensed his gaze on
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Twenty – Foundations
The Brownstone Restoration The rhythmic sound of hammering resonated through the old walls, reminiscent of a heartbeat—steady and alive.Leila stood barefoot in what used to be the sitting room, now stripped to its bare frame. The plaster had been removed, exposing wooden beams and weathered brick. The floorboards had been taken up days earlier, leaving an uneven subfloor covered in old nails and bits of insulation. Light streamed through a gap where a windowpane had been taken out, casting long, flickering shafts that danced along the dust-laden walls.The air was filled with the scent of sawdust, earth, and memories.Adrian had kept the crew minimal—just four carefully selected individuals, chosen through contacts Connor trusted—experts in restoration rather than demolition. Skilled craftspeople who recognized when a building was more than just timber and stone; when it carried significance, a legacy, or grief.No one asked questions; they didn’t have to. The house communicated its
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Nineteen – The Letters
AdrianThe envelope in his hands felt incredibly delicate, as if it would crumble if he applied too much pressure. It wasn't just the paper; it was the significance of its contents. The burden of long-hidden truths, something treasured. The past was enclosed in fading ink, infused with the gentle quiver of a woman who hoped her words would eventually reach him.Adrian Michael Blackwell.She had written out his full name in cursive, slightly slanted, demonstrating a carefulness he hadn't seen since he was a child when he used to watch her write grocery lists and school permission slips. Though years had passed since he heard her voice, as he gazed at those letters, he could almost hear it—soft, steady, a bit weary, yet filled with warmth she hadn't dared show too openly.He sat on the edge of the couch, his elbows on his knees, a shoebox of letters resting like an artifact between him and Leila. She hadn't broken the silence since their return home. Instead, she had made tea, draped a
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Eighteen – Echoes
----LeilaThe studio's light always conveyed honesty.Morning light, in particular, arrived gently and contemplatively, filtering through the frosted panes of the warehouse windows and slicing through the dust motes like unresolved memories. Leila stood barefoot on the well-worn oriental rug at the room's center, camera held delicately in her hands, her eyes focused on the framed photo hung on the opposite wall.The lake.And Adrian.He was sitting on the edge of a dilapidated dock, his profile directed toward the horizon, one arm resting on his knee. His expression was difficult to interpret—not because it lacked emotion, but rather due to its complexity. It contained a blend of quiet longing, newfound tranquility, and an underlying hint of regret. She had captured that moment instinctively—without poses or prompts.Simply, it was truth.She couldn’t explain why she kept coming back to that specific photograph. She had many from that trip and countless more that followed. But this o
Trapped with a Ruthless Billionaire Chapter One Hundred Seventeen – The Weight of Quiet Things
The aroma of coffee clung to the penthouse like a lingering memory.Dark roast. Rich. Intense. With just a trace of cinnamon—Leila’s quiet rebellion against his typical straightforward tastes. He’d initially rolled his eyes at her first attempt but now found himself missing it when it was absent.The atmosphere was calm. Not dead still—unlike the oppressive silence that once made him instinctively reach for hidden weapons. This silence—warm and inviting—felt domestic.It came from the freshly brewed coffee and the soft ticking of water in the radiator, accompanied by the sounds of a city gradually waking. The soft sound of bare feet on polished hardwood broke the stillness.Leila.She moved seamlessly—her hair still tousled from sleep, one sleeve of his shirt slipping off her shoulder, a lazy half-smile on her lips as she entered the living room with a mug in hand. She kissed him earlier, instinctively, a gentle press of lips against his jaw, still in a dreamy state. It was spontaneou
