Page 134 of Gamble with Me

A wide smile split Zara’s face, erasing the tears and pain Chester caused. She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly, hiding in my embrace.

“I’ll be the best daughter ever,” she promised, unwilling to let me go.

“You already are, princess.”

I kissed the top of her head, brushing her long hair back. My throat tightened with intense emotions. I was surprised and touched. I hoped to win Zara over and have a close relationship with her, but I would never have dreamed she would want me to become her father. It was completely unexpected, but I welcomed it with everything in me. The girl owned my heart, and if anyone ever hurt her, I would bring the apocalypse on them.

“I have chocolate, biscuits, and gummy bears!” Mom yelled, returning to the living room. “Who wants some?”

Zara pulled away from me, watching Mom’s heels walking around the couch curiously.

“Is she your real mom?” she whispered, moving away to see better.

“Yes,” I confirmed, suppressing a chuckle. “Why do you ask?”

“She looks like a movie star,” Zara breathed, admiration glowing in her almost silver eyes.

I knew how my mother affected people around her. They were in awe of her gorgeous looks and impressive intelligence. And to underline her unique personality, she had the kindest heart on earth. I never understood how my brooding, grumpy, and criminal father got so lucky to marry her. They were an extraordinary couple that demolished society norms with a seventeen-year age gap and an even bigger abyss between their society status. In their case, love indeed won over everything.

“Okay, I’m going to eat it all alone,” Mom sighed theatrically. Judging by the crunching of the paper, she was opening the chocolate.

“Can I?” Zara asked, giving me her best innocent look. I would allow her anything when she stared at me like that.

“Of course, princess.” I smiled at her, shaking my head when she swiftly crawled out and joined my mother.

For me, it wasn’t so easy. My back felt like someone had smashed me with a baseball bat. Not to mention my abdomen, which wasn’t completely healed yet. Next time, I would have to pick a higher, more comfortable place for a family meeting.

Watching my mom share chocolate with Zara, I took my buzzing phone from my coat. She offered me some, but I refused, accepting a call from Malin.

“Finally,” he grumbled, his voice laced with annoyance. “We have him. I’m taking him to the pharma warehouse.”

My heart skipped a beat in excitement. This was the moment I had been waiting for.

“No one touches him,” I commanded, walking away so Zara couldn’t hear me. “He is mine.”

“Yes, boss,” Malin confirmed, cutting the connection.

I hid the phone in my pocket, looking at Zara’s gentle smile as she listened to my mother talking about her long crimson-red nails.

The nightmare was over. Chester would never again hurt her or Valeria. Tonight, I would make sure of it.

-60-

Zyon

Iparked the car before the old building at the farthest corner of the abandoned pharma facility that my father previously used to operate his business with drugs. After taking over the organization, I cut off all ties with Colombian lords, and the area remained empty. My brothers occasionally used it to play with their toys, but other than that, no one visited this god-forsaken place.

Malin waited for me outside, smoking a cigarette. I had already called the people needed to execute my plan, but they hadn’t arrived yet.

“Where is he?” I asked when I stepped out of my Maserati, inhaling cold night air.

“Chained to a chair inside,” Malin replied calmly, blowing smoke through his nose.

“How did you find him?” I took a cigarette from his box, lit it, and leaned against the wall.

“I received a call.” He smirked, playing with his lighter. “Granny Santangelo will want her reward soon.”

“What?” My brows shot up as I stared at him. “She had information about Chester?”