Chapter 327
It turned out Stephanie had more than just Sebastian backing her—big shots everywhere. Whoever turned Shallow Bay Area into this mess wasn’t a lightweight—thinking of that, panic started creeping up her back.
“Danger?” Lorenzo thought it over, taking a drag. “Not danger, exactly. She might catch some heat, though.”
Richard was a twisted creep—he knew that for sure. With the wall between Stephanie and Sebastian finally gone, no one knew what that slimeball might try. Still, Richard showing up in Long Harbor now? Probably sniffed out that Stephanie and Sebastian were tight.
Ella’s eyes got watery at “catch some heat.” “What do we do? Mr. Giovanni can get her back, right?” “He’s tough as hell,” she added, staring at Lorenzo, begging for some comfort.
With Stephanie’s temper, she’d go head-to-head with anybody. Ella was scared she’d be too hardheaded and get hurt. Lorenzo wasn’t here to play babysitter. He walked off, his back a dark shape fading into the snowy night.
Macro watched Ella trembling in the wind, tears streaking down, and scratched his head. “She doesn’t need you stressing. That girl’s got people wrapped around her finger—her fiancé won’t touch her,” he said, throwing out some offhand reassurance.
Richard, though? Total dirtbag, Macro thought, lip curling. It was just some old dude’s random promise, but he’d latched onto it—parading around Fiorenza, bragging that Stephanie was his fiancée. For two years, he’d chased her down with that excuse, loud and obnoxious about it. Sebastian had sent men to take him out, but Richard slipped away every time, slick as hell. It was like he lived to get under Sebastian’s skin—didn’t care about the Casalini family or his sister Valentina. Threats? Didn’t faze him. He just shrugged them off.
Ella piped up, her voice quiet. “But Stefi and Mr. Giovanni are already…”
“Girl, no need to worry… Or you should feel sorry for yourself. Lorenzo holds grudges—you almost pulling his pants down? He’s going to get you back for that someday,” Macro said with a smirk, all playful and poking.
Ella shrank back, her heart thumping hard. Lorenzo had started walking away but spun around, snagging Macro by the collar and hauling him off like a limp toy. Guess he’d shut Macro’s big mouth first—his face was stone-cold.
Back in the chopper, when Richard barked about wanting something from Sebastian, the vibe got heavy, charged up. Stephanie’s fuse lit. She swung a kick at him. “Richard, you bastard, I’ll take you out!” But he grabbed her ankle midair, his grip like a vice, stopping her cold.
In one quick move, he pulled her onto his lap before she could even blink. A smirk crept up his face. “You’re throwing yourself at me now?”
“That’s how you rolled with Chris in Long Harbor? Guess he wasn’t biting,” Richard teased, his eyes flashing with a taunting glint. She was already pissed. Her hand shot up to slap him—only for him to snag her wrist mid-swing.
“You itching to smack me?” he laughed, cool as anything. “You’re a backstabbing dirtbag. I’d tear you apart if I could,” she spat, her eyes burning with hate. Richard screwing Sebastian over years ago was still fresh in her head, raw and unforgiving. That grudge wasn’t going anywhere. She meant it—wanted him in chunks. Her fingers shook with the urge.
Richard snorted. “Guess how much you’re worth to Sebastian. Think he’d cough IT up for you?” Right as he said it, he grunted, his face twisting in pain. Stephanie wasn’t just all talk—she’d sunk her teeth into his neck, right on the artery. Richard’s face screwed up, pain tearing through him. This girl didn’t play—hands, teeth, whatever got the job done. No mercy. Long Harbor had made her a scrapper—no style, just pure rage until something stuck.
“Let go, or I’ll blow your head off,” he growled, the joking vibe gone, swapped for something dark. She didn’t flinch—bit down harder, teeth digging into his skin. Richard’s face went stormy with rage. He grabbed her by the neck, yanking her off with a snarl. “You little…” he hissed through gritted teeth, blood pouring from his neck.
The doctor and bodyguards stared, white as sheets, as blood soaked down his collar. Stephanie’s lips were slick with red, like some wild animal ready to pounce, her glare icy and fierce. The doctor scrambled over, fumbling with bandages to stop the flow. Richard’s eyes narrowed, dangerous. “You want me dead that bad?”
She used to call him gently and softly back then, all sweet smiles and sweet words—damn nice to hear. Now? She was showing teeth. His gaze flickered. Stephanie sneered. “You’re a natural-born asshole. Breathing’s too good for you.” That venom made Richard’s brow twitch, his face clouding over. He held it together—barely—chest pumping like a furnace. Then he snapped, pulling his gun and pointing it at her. “You believe me when I say I’ll shoot you right now?”
“Go for it, right here—think I’m scared of you?” She sat up straight, staring him down, no fear.
Chapter 327
Richard looked at her, a jolt of surprise in his eyes. This girl—she was surprisingly tough now. He squinted, caught off guard. Back in the day, a threat would’ve had her shrinking, barely making a sound. Now she was daring him to pull it.