Madam Billionaire

“Matteo, you’re in so much trouble. I just found out from Peter.” Amara greeted him at the door.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Oh, yeah about that. I was just about to tell you. You should really stop snooping around.”

“I told Peter to go here, how could you guys leave him alone at his place…”

“You did what??”

“I told him to hideout here, his address is stated in the company’s records. He could…”

Amara kept on talking while our underboss was already pressing his speed dial and connecting himself to Paolo. 

“Peter’s place, now. Get your guy to his door.” He hangs up with his last words. 

“I’m dropping you off at Leo’s. Just hope his guy can be there on time. Come on I’ll explain everything on our way there.”

Amara was quick to put on her flats then get her purse and coat, she was confused and secretly worrying if she had put her precious assistant in real danger by telling him to go to Matteo’s.

“Paolo had tracked Duffy to his place just minutes before, and Paolo was already on his way there. We were thinking that he would still be safe as long as he didn’t step outside his apartment.” He started his explanation as he put the car in third gear and accelerate before shifting it into fourth gear.

She gasped when she heard his explanation.

“No… no… you have to let me come with you.”

“Amara, some things are non-negotiable and your safety is one of them. I will not risk losing you. I don’t care if you’re going to be mad, but you are it.”

He looked at her and took her hand and kissed her knuckles lovingly. She bit her lip but nodded to his words, for once she felt loved yet worried at the same time. Her mind was all over the place and she could not focus, his words were blurred with her worry for Peter.

It was not long until they arrived at Leo’s mansion. Amber greeted them at the foyer and hugged Amara tightly.

“Go Matteo, she’ll be waiting for you. And look out for those stray bullets.”

He groaned knowing he had just been hit by one couple of days ago, he cursed on the inside knowing Leo must’ve told his wife.

Matteo was quick to get in his car and speed off the driveway, leaving his fiance in the safety of the mansion. And with Amber around, he was sure that Amara will not slip away from her watch.  

Meanwhile, Paolo had just arrived at Peter’s apartment and cursed when he finds his guy unconscious by the emergency stairs. His body went numb knowing what must’ve happened, then all emotions were washing him like a strong tidal wave. 

“I’m coming in, our guy is down,” Paolo said in a hurry once he was connected to Matteo.

“Be careful.” That was all he said then hangs up. It took Matteo seconds to change gear and speed up his car.

Paolo took a deep breath before he carefully entered Peter’s unit. The door opens and closes soundlessly, then he could see Peter. He was sitting on a couch facing him and was hit on the head from the bruise that was starting to show. Peter looked at him and they both locked eyes for a fraction of a second. 

And in that tiniest time frame, Duffy managed to catch Peter’s eyes and looked his way. Then he was fast to grab the wounded assistant and shield his body with Peter’s.

“Now, who do we have here? it’s not your boss Peter, where is she?”

Peter struggled as Duffy put his arm around his neck, he was not letting him go while Paolo was walking closer to them trying to control the situation. But Duffy obviously felt threatened and told him to stop and not come any closer. 

“More of my men are coming, Duffy. Let go of him and we might let you walk.”

Paolo moves closer to them, while Peter was shaking his head silently telling him to stop moving any closer. He didn’t want his mob guy hurt, he knows he’d take a bullet for him. He had done it before, and Peter didn’t want to find out whether Duffy is a good shooter or not.

“I’m taking Peter, you better move out of the way.” Duffy was dragging Peter who was trying hard to breathe as his arm was pressing on his throat. Choking him. 

Paolo move closer to them, he was ignoring Duffy’s order, and it was making the man swing his gun all over the place like a mad man, then he shoot in Paolo’s direction. Luckily it didn’t hit him, but the sound was so loud it made Peter whimper in his hold. 

His eyes were teary and he was struggling to get away from his grips and that made Duffy upset and gripped him tighter, almost cutting off his airway. Peter’s hands were trying to loosen his grip, but the man was strangely very strong.

“Open the damn door and let me pass!” Duffy shouted at Paolo.

“You’re not going anywhere, Duffy.”

“Oh yeah?” he challenged him by putting the end of the gun which was still hot to Peter’s temple. The burning sensation was making him shout at Paolo.

“Just do as he said!” Peter cried in pain while his hands were back to Duffy’s arm trying to stop him from strangling him. Paolo was clenching his jaw but did as he was told when the mob retreated and slowly opened the door for them. 

It all happened in a split second, Paolo was definitely not ready when Peter punched Duffy with his elbow so strong that it made the big guy lose his footing and almost fall. But he quickly gets his bearing and shot blindly and time seems to stop when the bullet hits Peter, making him drop to the floor. 

“Damn it!!” Paolo cursed and was to Peter’s side within seconds. He checked his lover then all his rage that was shimmering moments before finally burst and he was to Duffy who was about to run knowing that he had just shot a man.

Paolo could hear Matteo curse then quickly rushed to Peter. He tends to Peter’s wound, pressing it as he tried to stop the bleeding. 

Then Paolo’s attention was taken back to Duffy when the man was about to get away from him. Paolo was on top of him, yelling and letting his anger out, and punched his face repeatedly. He didn’t stop until Duffy’s face was covered in blood. Then he heard Matteo call him to get Peter back to the mansion and told Paolo that he would clean the mess when he saw more of their men coming for the cleanup. 

“Paolo! snap out of it! we need to hurry before the cops arrive.” 

His words took him back to the present and he carefully takes Peter in his arm and carried him to his car. But a sleek black SUV was already waiting for him in the lobby and one of his men opened the door for them, everything passed by quickly while he kept his hold on his precious Peter.

Paolo whispered his words while he kissed his hair, his hand was holding onto his body, while his other hand was pressing on his wound.

“I’m so sorry, baby. You’re going to be okay. I love you. You’re going to be just fine…”