Início / Mafia / Healing The Devil I Once Loved / Capítulo 71 - Capítulo 80

Todos os capítulos de Healing The Devil I Once Loved: Capítulo 71 - Capítulo 80

137 Capítulos

CHAPTER 71

RENZO I remembered a lot of things: especially who Talov was. He was a loyalist. We call a loyalist, someone who surrendered from an old gang to a new one.He had surrendered from Emilio's gang… to mine.How fucking fantastic. Slowly, the dots were connecting.Hawk studied me carefully. He had known me long enough to recognize the shift in my tone, and the slight flattening that meant I was filing something away rather than reacting to it.That was one of the parts I allowed those close to me to see and understand.“You think it’s him?” Hawk asked.“I think,” I said calmly, “that men show you who they are when they believe you’re distracted.”“And you’re not distracted.” Hawk wasn't asking a question.I almost smiled. “I’m dying, Hawk. That doesn’t make me stupid.”He nodded once, accepting that.Yakov laughed at something across the room, looking a little too relaxed for a man who had just challenged me publicly, and when his eyes met mine he didn’t look away.He held the stare for

CHAPTER 72

RENZO I shrugged. Hawk exhaled slowly. “If he makes a move while we’re gone—”“He won’t,” I interrupted calmly. “Not immediately anyway.” You’re sure?”“I’m sure he thinks I’m leaving.”Hawk went still.“But you’re not,” he said.That was not Hawk's opinion to give so I ignored his question. _____________The first wave of men left just after dark with no fanfare or stupid goodbye hugs. They all exited as expected through different doors and vehicles. In thirty minutes, they've all disappeared into separate directions of the city. From the office window above the floor, I watched the taillights fade, remembering what my right hand and left hand said to me. Asher had approached me first before his departure. “Boss, are you coming?” he said plainly.I nodded.“Don't die on us, Boss.” That simple statement brought a smile to my face. “I’ve played with things worse than death.”“Your death… Boss…” Asher's voice died out. He didn't look too happy leaving me.“I won't, Asher. Instead

CHAPTER 73

RENZO There'd be no risk, no drawn-out doubt or slow rot in the ranks.It'd be clean. But clean actions sometimes create dirty consequences. If I killed Yakov without proof, the men would feel it. They would not challenge me openly, but their loyalty would change. In my empire, fear is useful, but paranoia fractures loyalty faster than betrayal does.My men would be worse off.I exhaled slowly.If Yakov was ambitious, he would move when he believed the throne was unattended. Tonight I had shown him the throne was empty.And yet he hasn't shown his card for four hours. Fucking hell. I'd better stop being paranoid myself. The coffee had stopped helping anyway and my eyes were heavy. I jerked upright immediately.God, I was sleeping…No.I stood and paced once across the office, with my gun still within reach. I checked the time.3:42 a.m.Enough.If an assassin had been sent, he would have come by now. If Yakov was orchestrating something, it wasn’t immediate. Either he was smarter th

CHAPTER 74

ZARIA There was the day Rai Li decided he was done waiting inside me. My little brat didn't come down gently. He came like a riot.It started at dawn. __________________Three years back.I felt a sharp twist in my stomach that made me pause mid-step while carrying a basket of herbs. I told myself it was nothing.“You've endured worse pain and survived worse men, Zaria…” I took a deep breath, prepared to take a second step.Then the second contraction hit.I dropped the basket.Mama Li looked up. Her eyes narrowed. “Ah.” “Don’t ‘ah’ me,” I snapped, already sweating.She shuffled closer, calm as ever. “Baby coming.”“No, he is not,” I growled. “He can wait.”The third contraction nearly folded me in half.Wang happened to be outside fixing the broken gate latch when I grabbed the doorframe. The scream that came out of me was not mine.No, scratch that. That kind of scream was raw and filled with agony. Wang ran inside like someone had shouted fire.“What happened?”“I’m dying!” I y

CHAPTER 75

ZARIA “No letter for a long time,” she said.I stiffened slightly.She glanced at me. “You ignore the last one, right?”I nodded slowly.The last letter had read:I will come when you stop pretending.I had folded it, placed it back in the envelope, and never opened it again. I stopped reacting in case they were watching me, (Uncle Thomas spoke about the one time a drone was brought down at the large tea field), and stopped reading them immediately. Mama Li leaned on her broom. “Maybe the writer is tired.”“Maybe,” I said.But the ominous feeling did not leave.Something was going to disrupt this peaceful feeling.I was sure._______________Two weeks later, Uncle Thomas came again. I was a bit worried because he was coming over to our house longer than usual. He and Mama Li may be dating, but there was a little kid now. Whatever they were doing should be taken outside. I hid a smile the last time Uncle Thomas attempted to kiss Mama Li on the cheek. Mama Li had turned red like a t

CHAPTER 76

ZARIA 76:One of the newcomers stepped forward politely. “We only want to study irrigation potential.”“What potential?” another woman shouted. “Water falls from skyfree!”More laughter filled the room. I couldn't hide my smile anymore. What the man said was true. However, the question became relentless. “Who funds you?”“Why choose our village?”“Where's your family?”“You married?”“Why no ring?”The men answered carefully. It seemed to me they all practiced these questions before coming here and that wasn't good at all. There was a way to fool old people, and that was to be sure of whatever you did. These people knew what they were here for. But I shouldn't let them have free rein, right? I felt something mischievous crawl up my spine.Fine.Let’s test.When the village head asked if there were more questions, I stood up slowly.All eyes turned.Mama Li’s hand shot out like she wanted to grab my sleeve but missed.“Yes?” the head said.I smiled sweetly. “You say agricultural rese

CHAPTER 77

ZARIA This man was a bit taller, with broader shoulders. His hands were awkwardly shoved into his pockets like he didn’t know what to do with them.He offered a small, almost sheepish smile. “Zaria,” he repeated gently.My heartbeat ticked up.How does he know my name? The villagers didn’t introduce me formally. I had only stood up to ask questions, so no one addressed me directly.I forced my face into neutrality. “Yes?”He stepped a little closer but kept a respectful distance. “You asked good questions inside.”“That didn’t answer mine.”He blinked. “Your question?”“How do you know my name?”He paused for a second. Then he rubbed the back of his neck like a boy caught stealing mangoes. “The old people here talk a lot,” he admitted awkwardly. “They said your name many times after you sat down.”I stared at him.It was plausible because this village did not understand volume control.Still. There was something about his tone…He cleared his throat quickly, as if sensing my suspicio

CHAPTER 78

RENZO 78:They had missed.But not by much.The graze along my upper arm burned like someone had dragged a heated blade across muscle and skin and then left it there to simmer. Blood soaked through the sleeve of my jacket slowly… enough to leave a trail if I wasn’t careful.Besides, people were already staring, and some had already begun filming. Idiots. I slid my gun back into my waistband and walked back toward my car. If I ran, I'd look guilty and it'd also draw attention. I kept my shoulders straight, my breathing heavy.The fight had already taken a toll on my body.Inside the sedan, shattered glass glittered across the seats like ice. Thankfully, the windshield was cracked but not fully destroyed.I got in, started the engine, and drove off. The police would be too busy with the crash and the body. By the time anyone asked questions, the scene would be controlled by men who knew how to answer them.My arm throbbed.I glanced at it once.Blood was dripping down my fingers now.“S

CHAPTER 79

RENZO 79:“You should get stitches,” she said quietly.“It doesn’t need them.”“You’re not invincible, Boss Renzo.”She tried to sound stern, but there was a brightness in her eyes that betrayed her. She was too alive in that moment, too animated for someone staring at fresh blood. Her fingers trembled slightly as if she was excited and not afraid of what she was witnessing.I had a feeling Sabrina secretly fantasized about this moment. And I had knowingly pulled her into the current she had always secretly wanted to step into.I looked at her. “I never said I was invincible.”She finished taping the bandage with exaggerated care, smoothing the gauze like she was proud of her work. Instead of sitting back calmly, she leaned closer, almost bouncing slightly in her seat.Jesus.Was she high on sugar or something?“Done,” she announced, and there was a strange satisfaction in her voice.The parking lot lights flickered faintly across her face. Her cheeks were flushed. She was smiling a

CHAPTER 80

RENZO 80:Shit, Sabrina!I don’t know when she was hit. The doors burst open again and she stumbled out into the night air.“Renzo—” she tried to say. She reached toward my car, toward me, her hands slick with blood.Time slowed.I was already opening the door…already stepping out when the shot rang.I raised my head just in time to see the bullet pass through her forehead. Sabrina's body jerked backward mid-step and she dropped right there in the parking lot.Sweet, sweet Nurse Sabrina. Her heart sank as I watched her hand land palm-up on the asphalt, inches from my tire.Her eyes were still open, staring at me with fear, love… and trust. Trust that I'd save her before the cold hands of death would come. I averted my gaze from the door. The gunmen spilled out of the store seconds later, scanning the lot.One of them pointed toward my car.I ducked instinctively, sliding back into the driver’s seat and lowering my profile just as bullets tore into the hood and windshield.The glass e

ANTERIOR

...

...

PRÓXIMO

ESCANEIE O CÓDIGO PARA LER NO APP

DMCA.com Protection Status