Page 119 of Billionaire’s Heartbreak

Laura wiped at her tears. “He told me…” Her voice trembled. “He told me that if I proved I could lead, maybe Dannie would finally see me for who I really was.” Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. “I just wanted him to be proud of me.” She let out a broken laugh. “Just once… I wanted him to tell me I’d done a good job.”

Dannie took a step toward her. “Oh, sweetheart…” His voice was filled with regret. “I’m so sorry.”

A slow clap echoed through the silent temple. “Touching.” Every head turned as Roger emerged from a concealed compartment beneath the altar, a pistol already aimed at Dannie’s chest. “Happy family reunion, isn’t it?”

Nobody moved. Roger smiled as he kept the gun trained on Dannie.

“What do you want?” I asked. My voice sounded steadier than I felt. “Let’s negotiate.” Every pair of eyes turned toward me. I might not have known much about the triads, but I understood business. Everyone had a price. Everyone wanted something. If we could figure out what Roger wanted, maybe we could all walk out of here alive.

Roger chuckled. “I only want one thing.” He raised the gun slightly. “I want him dead.” The barrel never left Dannie’s chest.

“Go on,” Dannie said with a humourless laugh. “Do it. Shoot me.” He spread his arms slightly. “I’m a dying man anyway. I’ve got cancer.”

Roger shook his head. “Uh-uh.” His eyes never left Dannie. “That’s the lie you sold to the world.” He smiled. “I’ve watched you. I’ve seen the way you move.” His smile widened. “You’re not walking out of here.”

“It’s true,” Dannie replied calmly, tapping a hand against his chest. “I’m not afraid to die.”

“That’s true.” Roger nodded slowly. “You’re not scared of your own death. But…” He tilted his head. “…what about the people you love?”

The gun swung away from Dannie and stopped on Laura. My stomach dropped. “That’s your own daughter,” I said, unable to hide the disgust in my voice.

Roger didn’t even flinch. “She’s nothing more than a bastard born to a whore.”

“Dad?” Laura’s voice broke. Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks as she searched his face, desperately hoping he would take the words back.

He didn’t. Instead, he pulled the trigger.

The gunshot echoed through the temple. Laura cried out as the bullet struck the left side of her chest. The impact spun her backward before she crumpled onto the floor.

“Laura!” Dannie dropped to his knees beside her. “Laura… stay with me.” He pressed both hands against the wound, but blood seeped relentlessly between his fingers. Her eyelids fluttered, then closed. “Laura!”

There was no response. Dannie slowly lifted his head, his eyes burning with grief and fury. “How dare you.” His voice was low enough to chill the room. “I’m going to kill you.”

Roger merely smiled. “I’m not finished.” The pistol turned, its barrel settling on me. Instantly, Clare and the rest of my team raised their weapons, surrounding Roger from every direction.

“Drop the gun!” Clare shouted.

“No.”

“Don’t shoot.” Dannie’s voice cracked through the room. He never took his eyes off Roger. “He has nothing to do with this. Let him go.”

Roger’s smile widened. “Really?” His gaze moved between the two of us. “Why do you care so much about him?”

“I don’t.” The answer came too quickly.

Roger chuckled. “Oh…” His eyes narrowed. “I think you do.”

Before anyone could react, another shot rang out. Agony exploded through my leg. The bullet tore through my kneecap, and I crashed onto one knee with a cry of pain. Half a dozen safety catches clicked off around the room.

“Hold your fire!” I shouted through gritted teeth before anyone could return fire. I looked up at Dannie, then at Roger, fighting against the pain threatening to overwhelm me. “Listen…” I forced myself to breathe. “We can still negotiate.” I swallowed. “Tell me what you want.”

“I want everything,” Roger said. His smile disappeared. “You took what was mine and threw me into prison.”

“Fine.” Dannie’s voice remained steady. “Take it.” He slowly spread his hands. “I never wanted it in the first place.”

Roger laughed. “No.” He shook his head, a slow, unsettling smile spreading across his face. “I don’t want only your empire.” His eyes darkened. “I want you dead.” He paused, savouring every word. “But before you die…” His gaze shifted toward me. “I want you to suffer.”

The pistol swung back toward me. Time seemed to slow. Roger squeezed the trigger. A deafening bang echoed through the temple. I barely had time to react before something slammed into me.