Novels by johneltriggerz

Chapter 45: An Offer of Help*Valerie's POV*Hassan's dark eyes never left my face during the entire phone conversation. He sat perfectly still in his chair, but I could feel his attention like a weight, cataloguing every word, every change in my expression. When I spoke about law enforcement and someone potentially betraying Tony's location, I saw something shift in Hassan's posture, the kind of focused interest that suggested this conversation had just become much more serious than idle curiosity.“Could you come over to my father’s place?” I asked Tony and Hassan gave me a frown.“What?”"You shouldn't tell anyone about it," I continued saying to Tony, "including Vivian and Victor, because it could be anyone. I'll send you the address shortly. It's safe here, well-guarded. My father has excellent security."Hassan's eyebrows rose slightly at this, though whether from surprise at my invitation to a dangerous man or approval of my tactical thinking, I couldn't tell."Good," Tony's vo

Chapter 44: Invite to the mansion*Tony's POV*I'd been pacing the cramped hotel room we had lodged in again after the other invasion for the past hour, wearing a path in the threadbare carpet between the window and the door. My phone felt heavy in my hand as I dialed Valerie's number for the tenth time, each ring echoing in my chest like a countdown to something I couldn't name.She wasn't answering.The rational part of my mind knew she had every right to ignore my calls. She'd walked away from this situation, from me, from the danger and chaos that followed me wherever I went. Smart woman. Self-preservation was always the wisest choice when dealing with someone like me.But rationality had nothing to do with the knot in my stomach or the way I kept checking my phone every few seconds, hoping for some sign that she was alive, that she was safe, that she wasn't lying in a ditch somewhere because I'd dragged her into my world.I hit redial again, expecting voicemail, expecting silence

Chapter 43: An Unexpected Ally*Valerie's POV*After what felt like an eternity but was probably only twenty minutes, I heard my father's voice in the hallway, speaking in animated Italian to someone whose deeper voice responded with what sounded like Arabic-accented English. Business, then. Even in his semi-retirement, Papa never seemed to stop working.The study door opened and my father entered with a man who immediately commanded attention. He was younger than I'd expected from the mature voice, maybe mid-thirties with dark hair, olive skin, and the kind of effortless elegance that spoke of serious money. His suit was perfectly tailored, his watch was definitely Swiss, and when he smiled, it was with the confidence of someone who'd never been told no about anything important."Valeria, tesoro," my father said, switching to English, "I'd like you to meet Hassan Al-Rashid. Hassan, my daughter Valeria."Hassan stepped forward with fluid grace, taking my hand in both of his. "It is tr

Chapter 42: Manipulators and users*Valerie's POV*My father wouldn't let it go.After Cynthia left, he'd settled into his favorite leather armchair in the study and fixed me with that steady gaze that had made diplomats squirm across negotiation tables for decades."Valeria," he said, using the gentle but firm tone that meant he expected answers. "We need to talk about what just happened."I perched on the edge of the sofa across from him, feeling like a child called to account for breaking something valuable. Which, in a way, I suppose I had. I'd broken his trust by hiding so much of my life from him."I thought Cynthia was your best friend," he continued, genuine confusion clouding his features. "Whenever we spoke, you mentioned her. How wonderful she was, how grateful you were to have such a loyal friend. So when she reached out to me two months ago, I just thought she was a good friend, she arrived Italy a few days ago and offered to visit and that’s how I started you know…"Fuck

Chapter 41: The Father's Choice*Valerie's POV*"Papa! I need her out of here now!"The words erupted from me with desperate fury, my voice echoing off the high ceilings of my childhood home. I was shaking with rage, with betrayal, with the sheer audacity of finding Cynthia here in the one place that should have been safe from her poison.My father stared at me with wide, confused eyes. Francesco Newton, who had negotiated with world leaders and defused international crises, looked completely lost in the face of his daughter's hysteria."Valeria, cara, please," he said, his voice gentle but strained. "Tell me what's wrong. Help me understand why you're so upset.""Please, Valerie," Cynthia interjected, and I spun to face her. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, but I could see the calculation behind them, the performance she was putting on for my father's benefit. "Please, let me explain. I know you're hurt, but you have to understand…I saved you.""Saved me?" The words came out as

Chapter 40: The Long Con*Valerie's POV*"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE????"The scream tore from my throat with such force that it echoed off the marble walls, bouncing back at us like an accusation. My father actually stepped backward, his face going pale with shock at the raw fury in my voice."Valeria, please," he said, his diplomatic instincts kicking in even as confusion clouded his features. "What's gotten into you? Why are you shouting at our guest?"Our guest. He called her our guest, like she belonged here, like she had every right to be standing in my family's home wearing designer clothes and looking at me with those fake, apologetic eyes."I'm sorry you had to find out this way," Cynthia said, her voice soft and trembling with what I now recognized as practiced vulnerability. "But Valerie, I love your father. I know it might be hard for you to understand, but…""Love my father?" The words came out as a snarl. "What about Michael? You…"I caught myself just in time, the