Page 87 of Gamble with Me

"I'm not sure," she said under her breath, zooming in on the picture. "He looks like Giovanni Valentino, but I'm not sure."

"Who is Giovanni Valentino?" I asked eagerly, hissing in pain when I hit my bruised calf against the coffee table.

"Some old Italian boss," Alice replied, returning the phone. "I don't know much about that stuff. I only remember faces." She shrugged, furrowing her brows at the empty glass. "I think he attended Zyon's mother's birthday party. I served drinks there, and he congratulated her."

"But, if they are friends, why would he want him gone?" I mused, my scowling expression matching Alice's.

"I don't know," she answered, worry swirling in her irises. "And I still don't know what you plan to do about Chester."

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, but a picture of my furious husband holding the belt instantly appeared. Fear took me hostage, and I felt my body quivering.

"He won't return today," I whispered, avoiding Alice's look.

"But he will come tomorrow, and then what?" she pushed, but her touch was gentle and calming when she took my hand. "You need a plan, girl." She tenderly pushed my messy hair behind my ear, glancing at me with love shining in her eyes. "What about taking photos of your beaten self and reporting Chester to the police? They will protect you."

"Yeah, sure," I groaned, recalling the memory of Officer Williams. "Chester will make the matter disappear and send me to hospital."

"This can't happen again, Valeria," Alice said firmly. "He will send you to the morgue instead."

"I know," I agreed, thinking about my options. Yet, every time I thought about them, I finished with only one that seemed the best.

"Triplets' birthday party is tomorrow, and I'm invited," I declared, turning to my best friend. "Zara will stay with Lisa, and I'll go to Starlight, find Zyon, and confront him about the stalker thing. Whether he confirms or denies it, I'll ask him for help."

"You promise?" Alice raised a doubtful brow at me. I could tell she knew my plan sounded solid, but the execution would be hard.

"I promise," I confirmed, feeling my chest tightening. But it was nothing compared to the panic that embraced me when I imagined staying with Chester.

"I still think you should call him right now." Alice crossed her arms over her chest, giving me a pointed look. "I don't like the idea of leaving you here when that bastard can return anytime."

"He won't," I claimed with absolute certainty. "He's already playing slot machines somewhere. I'll disappear before he comes here tomorrow."

Instinctively, I touched the swollen bruise on my jaw with my fingertips, glancing at Alice, who looked like she didn't understand my reasons one bit. But I knew what I was doing.

"My stalker can't see me like this," I said, motioning for my body. I purposely left out Zyon's name because no matter how badly I wanted him to be Zefarin, he had yet to confirm it. "He's insanely protective. He would do something stupid."

"That's exactly what you need right now," Alice claimed, frowning at me like a mother would on a misbehaving child. "Someone who would stupidly kick Chester's ass."

"I need one day, Alice," I begged, hoping she wouldn’t push me to do things I didn't want to do. This was bigger than me. Lives were at stake. "One day and Chester will be just a terrible memory."

She reluctantly nodded, but I saw in her eyes that she disagreed with me. Yet, she didn't understand what I felt toward my stalker. If something happened to him because of me, I would never forgive myself.

He did everything to protect me. He murdered a man to keep me safe. I knew he would take care of Chester without blinking, but if an influential person protected my husband, it could backfire.

A few bruises were nothing compared to the life of the man I loved. My best shot was to wait for the right moment to talk with Zyon and find a way out without explaining too much.

It was the best thing to do to avoid confrontation between him and Chester. That way, I would protect him and free myself and Zara of an abusive husband and father. I just had to find the courage to ask him that stupid question.

-41-

Zyon

My expensive silver watch showed exactly 3:55 pm when I exited the limousine driven by Jamal. The back door into the glassy five-story building was open, and the camera pointed right at it should be disabled.

Malin was already inside, hacking the security system, so we entered the perimeter unnoticed. Dorian handed me a pair of leather gloves and led the way into the tiny hall.

I felt my gun on my right hip when I followed him up the fire stairs while three of our men pulled masks on their faces and walked into the elevator. Their task was to get the employees out unharmed under the pretext of looting.

Our whole plan worked like a robbery. We had limited time to execute it and get out unnoticed. While our men pretended to steal important documents, my brothers and I would do the real job.