All Chapters of My Consigliere, I Will Not Stand Behind You Anymore: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

His tone was teasing and familiar, more flirtatious than predatory.Sofia was clearly charmed, covering her mouth as she laughed."Jasper, don't scare her. This is Ava Moretti, our new Chief Financial Officer."She turned to me and winked."Miss Ava, this is the infamous Jasper Falcone, the headache of all of Nevada."Jasper immediately took a step forward and extended a hand to me with effortless confidence.His hand was calloused, a faded tattoo barely visible on the webbing between his thumb and forefinger."Ava. Nice name."His voice was deep and magnetic, his gaze fixed on me."I heard headquarters was sending a master to clean up this mess. I didn't expect… such a captivating one."His palm was hot and strong. When he took my cool fingers, he didn't just give a polite touch but squeezed my fingertips with a hint of aggression.A dangerous jolt shot up my arm.I was unsettled by his casual intimacy and pulled my hand back after a brief shake. "You flatter me, Mr. Falcone. I'm here

Back in my suite at the Oasis, I thought of the children's shining eyes as they stared at the poker cards, and Jasper's nonchalant smile as he leaned against the fence and said, "We're a perfect match."The wasteland in my heart, frozen for so long by Damian, seemed to have been cracked open by the desert wind.A clandestine family deal was set to take place in a deserted mining area deep in the Nevada desert.It was a negotiation with a smuggling ring over a batch of seized high-tech chips.As the Chief Financial Officer, I was responsible for inspecting the goods and handling the transfer on-site, while Jasper and his crew were in charge of security.We rode together in a black armored SUV.In the car, Jasper was his usual cocky self. He opened a bottle of champagne and told dirty jokes with his men, turning the tense atmosphere absurdly casual.But the moment we arrived at the transaction point, the instant the car door opened, he was like a different person.The devil-may-care play

The heavy bulletproof door clicked shut behind me, sealing me off from the world outside.I thought I would feel something upon seeing Damian again, even if it was just a ripple of hatred or pain.But apart from that initial, reflexive sense of suffocation, all that remained was exhaustion.It was a weariness that was almost numb, like setting down a heavy burden after trekking a thousand miles across a desert.The next day, I woke up early.I took the service corridors instead of the main elevators, deliberately avoiding Damian.But when I finished my morning meeting and walked out of the accounting office, I saw that familiar figure again at the end of the hall.Damian looked like he hadn't slept all night.There were faint dark circles under his eyes, a bit of stubble on his chin, and for the first time, his expensive custom suit looked slightly rumpled.When he saw me, he immediately stubbed out his cigarette and stood up straight, his voice dry and hoarse."Ava."I stopped, lookin

That weekend, there was a small celebration in the casino's VIP lounge. A few of the old hands brought out their prized whiskeys, and the atmosphere was rowdy.Jasper was playing cards and drinking with the guys, his laughter hearty, but his eyes kept drifting to me in the corner.I was quietly sipping red wine, occasionally joining the conversation."Ava, don't just sit there, have a drink!" someone offered.I was about to refuse when Jasper smoothly intercepted."Marco, give her a break. We've got a border run tomorrow, and I need her sharp for the books. I'll drink for her."He tilted his head back and downed the glass, earning a round of cheers.He winked at me, and I looked down, a small smile playing on my lips.Damian sat at another table, watching this scene, his knuckles white.Jasper was too brilliant, a fire that only made Damian feel colder and more clumsy in comparison.He downed the whiskey in his glass, the burn in his throat sharp.After the party, I went to the rooftop

The joint convoy set out at six the next morning, right on time.Jasper jumped down from the armored vehicle and stuffed a hot breakfast burrito and coffee into my hands. "Eat up. You'll need the energy on the road."During the drive, Jasper told me stories about his childhood street fights in Chicago. When he got excited, he'd take one hand off the wheel to gesture, making me laugh in spite of myself.He would occasionally find my hand with his. His callused fingertips were warm, grounding me.I didn't pull away, just squeezed back gently, and saw a faint blush creep up his ears.At noon, the convoy stopped to rest in a deserted mining area.Jasper moved in to help me fasten the buckles on my tactical vest. As he leaned in, his scent—a mix of gunpowder and cologne—brushed past my ear."This kind of terrain is a sniper's dream. Stick close."Not far away, Damian started to walk over but was intercepted by Sofia to confirm some security points."Eat this."Jasper pulled a container of c