Chapter 324
The guy behind Stephanie let out a low laugh. “Stefi, still a little troublemaker, huh?” The second he opened his mouth, everything went quiet—except for the wind howling. A quick chop to her neck—sharp and clean—and Stephanie’s fight was done. Blackness hit her like a brick before she could even blink. Her strength melted away, and she flopped to the ground like a ragdoll. Through the fuzz, she barely heard Sebastian’s pissed-off yell, “Richard, how dare you!” He was so close—she could’ve touched him if she weren’t out cold.
Richard mumbled something into his walkie-talkie, and then—BOOM. A huge blast. Glass exploded everywhere, chunks flying like sharp confetti. Gunshots popped off all over Shallow Bay Area, turning the place into a warzone. Sebastian was beyond furious now. He ripped his gun from his waistband, snapping it up to aim at Richard, who had Stephanie slung under his arm like she weighed nothing. “Put her down,” he growled, his voice low and deadly.
Richard just grinned, holding Stephanie up in front of him like a shield. “What’s the move, Seb? Your bullets gonna punch through her?” Sebastian’s eyes flashed with something dangerous, his stare tightening. He glared at Richard—calm on the outside, but inside, he was ready to tear him apart. Richard noticed the veins popping on Sebastian’s hand, the tension rippling under his skin. His grin got even cockier as he scoffed, “Didn’t your father promise her to me way back? I’m just here to grab my fiancée—what’s the big deal?”
Sebastian’s jaw locked up tight. “Let. Her. Go.” Each word came out like a hiss. Elliot pulled his gun too, sneaking a nervous look at Sebastian. Sebastian was usually a crack shot, but now, with Stephanie in the mix, he was off. Those eyes, though? Cold as ice, sharp enough to cut. Outside, the madness cranked up—yelling and gunfire going back and forth in the dark. Richard shot Sebastian a sly grin, then chucked a smoke bomb. Bang! Thick fog flooded the room, and he bolted for the door, Stephanie still dangling under his arm. Sebastian and Elliot took off after him, boots stomping over shattered glass. But in that choking haze, they couldn’t risk shooting—every move was slow and careful. A chopper roared overhead, its blades chopping through the air above Shallow Bay Area, rattling everything.
Sebastian’s anger hit max, his chest puffing like a caged beast. Jonny, the security guy, crept up, voice wobbly. “Sir…” Sebastian didn’t even think—his foot slammed into Jonny’s stomach, no holding back. “You didn’t see a damn thing?” His voice was ice-cold, cutting like a knife. Jonny had been Sebastian’s right-hand man in Fiorenza forever, always clutching his book. Tonight, however, Richard had slid in like a freaking shadow, and Jonny didn’t have a single excuse to throw out. Elliot was just as shocked—Richard popping up in Long Harbor? Out of the blue, totally blindsiding them. Sebastian’s kick had hit like a truck. Jonny doubled over, grabbing his chest, wheezing, barely keeping his feet. He started to say something, but Elliot shot him a look—zip it—and he shut up real quick.
Stephanie was gone, nabbed by Richard, and the air still stunk of that damn smoke bomb. Trying to explain now was asking to get smoked. Jonny clenched his jaw, eating the pain. Sebastian’s eyes narrowed, sharp and dangerous. “Why’re you still standing there?” Elliot gave a quick nod. “Got it.” He turned and bolted out of there. Jonny stumbled after him, hell-bent on fixing this screw-up, his legs wobbly but moving. Outside, the mess was still going strong—Richard’s crew had Shallow Bay Area’s security pinned, a complete disaster. About ten minutes later, it finally chilled out, leaving nothing but a trashed, snowy mess behind. Elliot jogged back, keeping it cool. “Sir, it’s over. Richard’s guys are gone—all of them.” Sebastian didn’t wait. He took off after Richard, steps long and pissed.
Stephanie couldn’t stay with that jerk. The thought of Richard’s creepy obsession with her over the years twisted his stomach, his brows pulling tight. A cold, killer vibe flashed in his eyes, simmering just under the surface. Stephanie snapped awake to the loud thump-thump of chopper blades, her head all fuzzy as she blinked herself conscious. She was sprawled on the helicopter floor, the noise pounding her ears like a drum. Her body felt like mush, weak and shaky. Richard was kicked back a few feet away, legs crossed like some wannabe hotshot, swirling a glass of red wine. A medic was patching up a nasty cut on his shoulder. The white bandage turned red with ugly streaks. He caught her staring and threw a slimy grin her way. “Tough little thing, huh? Up in just half an hour.” The chopper’s whump-whump hammered her skull, but her head cleared fast. She locked eyes with Richard, anger flaring up in her chest like a spark.
“Where the hell are you taking me?” she snapped, voice cold, fire leaking out. Richard raised an eyebrow. “Take a guess, sweetheart. My fiancée.” Stephanie’s jaw tightened. “Fiancée, my ass?” She shot him a death glare, fury practically pouring out. That word “fiancée” set her off. The chopper was cramped, but she dragged herself up, legs wobbly but ready, and lunged at him. Richard just smirked, not even flinching, his grin stretching wider. Before he could say a word, a huge bodyguard yanked her back, his grip like a clamp, holding her still. “Let go—let me go!” she shouted, squirming hard, her voice bouncing off the walls. But her skinny frame didn’t stand a chance against that wall of muscle. She kicked and twisted, all for nothing. Richard watched her struggle, a hint of disgust in his eyes.