Chapter 13
I couldn’t help but smile, a tear of disbelief rolling down my cheek as I laughed. “This is… this is unbelievable. I never thought-”
My phone buzzed in my purse, cutting off my words. Then it buzzed again. And again. A stream of notifications lit up my screen.
Frowning, I pulled out my phone. Multiple news alerts flashed across the display. My eyes widened as I read the headlines, my hand flying to my mouth.
“Lorenzo…” I turned the phone toward him. “It’s on the news. The house – Dominic’s house. They’re reporting about the explosion.”
The screen showed aerial footage of the smoldering ruins, emergency vehicles surrounding what remained of the modest two–story home where I’d spent the worst time of my life. The place where Dominic had…
I pushed those memories away, focusing instead on the breaking news coverage. Police tape cordoned off the area as firefighters sifted through the debris. The caption scrolled beneath: “Mysterious explosion destroys local real estate developer’s home – No bodies found.”
I looked up at Lorenzo. His expression remained impassive, but his eyes held that dangerous glint I was starting to recognize.
More notifications kept coming in. Local news stations were picking up the story one by one. My phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.
I refreshed my news feed compulsively, watching the story evolve in real–time. The headlines shifted before my eyes.
“Gas Line Explosion Destroys Local Home”
“Faulty Gas Main Caused Residential Fire”
“City Officials Confirm Infrastructure Failure”
THE
My jaw dropped as I read statement after statement from city officials, fire marshals, and utility companies. They painted a clear picture of an aging gas line that had finally given way. The story was so detailed, so perfectly constructed, complete with inspection records and maintenance histories.
“But… how?” I stared at my phone in disbelief. “Just minutes ago they were calling it mysterious, and now-”
Lorenzo’s lips brushed my cheek, soft and warm. A shiver ran through me at the contact. When I turned to look at him, his eyes danced with that
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རོབྷཱུ 95 །
particular gleam that made my heart race.
“Power and money, tesoro,” he murmured against my skin. “They can alter reality itself. Make truth from lies, and lies from truth.” His fingers traced my jawline. “The world sees what we want it to see.”
I glanced back at my phone. The news continued updating, each report more detailed than the last about the gas line failure. No mention remained of anything suspicious or unexplained. It was as if the original story had never existed.
“The police, the fire department, the news…” I shook my head in amazement. “They all just… changed their story?”
“Everyone has a price, Valentina. Some want money, others favor influence or protection.” Lorenzo’s voice carried that quiet authority that reminded me exactly who he was. “What matters is that certain… loose ends have been tied up neatly.”
My mind was still reeling from Lorenzo’s display of power when my phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn’t a news alert.
My blood ran cold as Dominic’s name flashed across the screen. My fingers trembled as I opened the message.
“I know it was you, you vindictive little bitch. You think you’re so clever now? Playing with the big boys? I’ll make sure you go through hell for this. You have no idea what’s coming.”
Another text followed immediately: “You’ve always been pathetic. But now? You’ve signed your own death warrant.”
The familiar panic started creeping in, my chest tightening as memories of his threats – and how he always followed through – flooded back. My hands shook so badly I nearly dropped the phone.
Lorenzo’s arm slid around my waist, pulling me against him as he read the messages over my shoulder. I expected anger, concern, maybe even worry. Instead, he chuckled. The sound was dark, dangerous.
“Let them try,” he murmured, his lips brushing my ear. His confidence wrapped around me like a shield, but…
My phone buzzed again. This time it was Camilla: “Oh sweetie, you really shouldn’t have done that. Remember what happened last time you tried to be brave?”
The moscanos kent coming a stream of threats from hoth of them Fach. Chapter 13
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The messages kept coming, a stream of threats from both of them. Each
one more detailed than the last, reminding me of past torments while promising worse to come.
I knew that smirk of Camilla’s. And Dominic… he never made idle threats.
Lorenzo’s hand covered mine, gently taking the phone. “They’re desperate,” he said, his voice carrying that quiet certainty that usually calmed me. “Like rats in a corner.”
Lorenzo’s words faded as a strange sensation washed over me. The room tilted, but not from fear – this felt different. My stomach churned, a wave of nausea hitting me out of nowhere.
“I…” The word came out slurred. I pressed my hand against my forehead, trying to steady myself. The phone slipped from my fingers, clattering to the floor.
“Valentina?” Lorenzo’s voice sounded distant, underwater.
Black spots danced across my vision. My legs turned to jelly beneath me. This wasn’t like my usual panic attacks. Something was wrong – very wrong.
The room spun faster, walls and ceiling blurring together. My knees buckled.
“Val!”
Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground. Through the encroaching darkness, I caught a glimpse of Lorenzo’s face above mine, his green eyes wide with concern. His lips moved, but I couldn’t make out the words.
Then everything went black.
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དཱི 95%
Chapter 14
