Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

4/5 90% Chapter 180 Chapter 180 The guy behind Stephanie let out a low laugh. "Stefi, still a little troublemaker, huh?" The second he opened his mouth, everything went quiet-except for the wind howling.

A quick chop to her neck-sharp and clean-and Stephanie's fight was done.

Blackness hit her like a brick before she could even blink.

Her strength melted away, and she hopped to the ground like a ragdoll.

Through the fuzz, she barely heard Sebastian's pissed-off yell, "chard, how dare you!" He was so close-she could've touched him if she weren't-out coll.

Richard mumbled something into his walkie-talkie, and then-BOOM. A huge blast.

Glass exploded everywhere, chunks flying like sharp confetti.

Gunshots popped off all over Shallow Bay Area, turning the place into a warzone.

Sebastian was beyond furious now. He ripped his gun from his waistband, snapping it up to aim at Richard, who had Stephanie slung under his arm like she weighed nothing.

"Put her down," he growled, his voice low and deadly.

Richard just grinned, holding Stephanie up in front of him like a shield. "What's the move, Seb? Your bullets gonna punch through her?" Sebastian's eyes flashed with something dangerous, his stare tightening.

He glared at Richard-calm on the outside, but inside, he was ready to tear him apart.

Richard noticed the veins popping on Sebastian's hand, the tension rippling under his skin.

His grin got even cockier as he scoffed “Didn't your father promise her toway back? I'm just here to grab my fiancée- what's the big deal?" Sebastian's jaw locked up tight. "Let. Her. Go." Each word cout like a hiss.

Elliot pulled his gun too, sneaking a nervous look at Sebastian.

Sebastian was usually a crack shot, but now, with Stephanie in the mix, he was off.

Those eyes, though? Cold as ice, sharp enough to cut.

Outside, the madness cranked up-yelling and gunfire going back and forth in the dark.

Richard shot Sebastian a sly grin, then chucked a smoke bomb. Bang! Thick fog flooded the room, and he [ted for the door, Stephanie still dangling under his arm.

Sebastian and Elliot took off after him, boots stomping over shattered glass.

But in that choking haze, they couldn't risk shooting-every move was slow and careful.

A chopper roared overhead, its blades chopping through the air above Shallow Bay Area, rattling everything, 1/5 10:05 Fri, Mar 14 B B Chapter 180 Sebastian's anger hit max, his chest puffing like a caged beast.

Jonny, the security guy, crept up, voice wobbly. "Sir...

Sebastian didn't even think-his foot slammed into Jonny's stomach, no holding back.

"You didn't see a damn thing?”" His voice was ice-cold, cutting like a knife.

Jonny had been Sebastian's right-hand man in Fiorenza forever,lways clutch in his book.

Tonight, however, Richard had slid in like a freaking shadow, and Jonny didn't have a single excuse to throw out. Elliot was just as shocked-Richard popping up in Long Harbor Out of the blue, totally blindsiding them. Sebastian's kick had hit like a truck. Jonny doubled over, grabbing his chest, wheezing, barely keeping his feet. He started to say something, but Elliot shot him a look-zip it-and he shut up real quick. Stephanie was gone, nabbed by Richard, and the air still stunk of that damn smoke bomb. Trying to explain now was asking to get smoked. Jonny clenched his jaw, eating the pain. Sebastian's eyes narrowed, sharp and dangerous. "Why're you still standing there?" Elliot gave a quick nod. "Got it." He turned and bolted out of there.

Jonny stumbled after him, hell-bent on fixing this screw-up, his legs wobbly but moving.

Outside, the mess was still going strong-Richard's crew had Shallow Bay Area's security pinned, a complete disaster.

About ten minutes later, it finally chilled out, leaving nothing but a trashed, snowy mess behind.

Elliot jogged back, keeping it cool. "Sir, it's over. Richard's guys are gone-all of them." Sebastian didn't wait. He took off after Richard, steps long and pissed.

Stephanie couldn't stay with that jerk. The thought of Richard's creepy obsession with her over the years twisted his stomach, his brows pulling tight.

A cold, killer vibe flashed in his eyes, simmering just under the surface.

***** Stephanie snapped awake to the loud thump-thump of chopper blades, her head all fuzzy as she blinked herself conscious.

She was sprawled on the helicopter floor, the noise pounding her ears like a drum.

Her body felt like mush, weak and shaky.

Richard was kicked back a few feet away, legs crossed like swannabe hotshot, swirling a glass of red wine. A medic was patching up a nasty cut on his shoulder.

The white bandage turned red with ugly streaks.

He caught her staring and threw a slimy grin her way. "Tough little thing, huh? Up in just half an hour." The chopper's whump-whump hammered her skull, but her head cleared fast.

She locked eyes with Richard, anger flaring up in her chest like a spark.

2/5 10:05 Fri, Mar 14 Chapter 180 "Where the hell are you taking me?" she snapped, voice cold, fireaking out.

Richard raised an eyebrow. "Take a guess, sweetheart. My fiancée Stephanie's jaw tightened. "Fiancée, my ass." She shot him a death glare, fury practically pouring out.

That word-"fiancée"-set her off.

The chopper was cramped, but she dragged herself up, legs wobbly but ready, and lunged at him.

Richard just smirked, not even flinching, his grin stretching wider.

Before he could say a word, a huge bodyguard yanked her back, his grip like a clamp, holding her still.

"Let go-letgo!" she shouted, squirming hard, her voice bourcing off the walls.

But her skinny frdidn't stand a chance against that wall of muscle. She kicked and twisted, all for nothing, Richard watched her struggle, a hint of disgust in his eyes.

He snorted. "Sofia had you for a whole month back then, and this is it?" Stephanie clamped her teeth down, grinding them.

Richard passed his wine glass to the medic who'd just patched him up, moving slow and smooth like he was on vacation.

He slipped on a black shirt, taking his sweet time, that perfect hair making him look like swholesguy- next-door- clean and polished on the outside.

But Stephanie wasn't fooled. She knew he was trash underneath.

He plopped down next to her, all lazy and cocky. "What, you think you're hot stuff to Sebastian? That he'll always crunning to save you?" Stephanie didn't waste words-just rolled her eyes so hard it practically screamed disgust.

Richard was her personal plague, always showing up when she least wanted to see his face.

Years ago, his sister had ripped her away from Sebastian. Now here he was again, grabbing her like she was his. Richard caught her eye-roll and grinned bigger, loving every second of it.

"Stefi, oh my little Stefi, After all this time, you're still a little brat, huh?” he said, his voice soft but dripping with mockery.

"Don't you dare 'Stefi'with that nasty mouth," she shot back, her tone thick with loathing.

The Casalini and Giovanni families used to be tight-until her dad died.

Then the Casalinis flipped, kicking her family when they were already down, leaving her with nothing.

She didn't always hate Richard this much, but now? Just looking at him made her want to puke-she'ather he be on the other side of the planet.

Richard got up and squatted next to her, staring her down, his eyes locked on hers, intense and creepy.

Then the chopper jerked hard, knocking him off balance. He almost fell right on her, the whole cabin shaking. Stephanie dodged quick, twisting out of the way just in time.

10:05 Fri, Mar Chapter 180 His hurt hand smacked the floor to catch himself, and he groane, pain scrunching his face.

"What the hell's happening?" he snapped, annoyance cutting through his voice.

The pilot-who doubled as a bodyguard-glanced back from the front. "Sir, Mr. Giovanni's catching up.” Richard smirked at Stephanie, a smug little spark in his eyes.

"He's got smessed-up taste, huh? Chasing after the sister he grew up with?" He stretched the words out, slow and sharp, digging at her on purpose.

The bodyguard wasn't holding Stephanie anymore-her hands and feet were free.

That "messed-up taste" jab lit her fuse. Stephanie jumped up and m slapped him hard across the face, the crack bouncing around the cabin. "None of your damn business. Worry about your own sorry ass," he growled, anger roaring through her.

Richard's face went dark, something ugly flashing in his eyes.

He snatched her wrist, yanking it hard. "This little stick? Bet it'd break like nothing," he said, squeezing 'til it stung.

All those years running, and her temper had only gotten worse.

Facing Richard, Stephanie felt like a trapped animal-years torn from Sebastian because of the Casalinis, and no way to let out all that bottled-up rage. Seeing him flipped her switch, her fury ready to blow.

His threat? Didn't faze her one bit. She lunged and chomped down on his hand, biting hard, teeth grinding into skin and bone.

In seconds, her mouth tasted like rust-blood, bitter and metallic.

"Gah-" Richard sucked in a sharp breath, pain twisting his face, brows digging in deep.

Richard's free hand clamped onto Stephanie's jaw, digging in hard-mean, no mercy.

He had to. She was like a rabid cat, damn near ready to tear a piece out of his hand.

The pain pried her mouth open, blood smearing her lips as she let go.

Their eyes locked, and hers were shiny with tears-big, watery, like an angry kitten, half pitiful, half badass. That look was a dagger, sharp and full of hate, slicing right into him.

Richard snorted. "You draw my blood and you're the one crying Stephanie didn't flinch. She spat the blood in her mouth right onto his face. “Tastes like shit-take it back.” Richard's teeth clenched, rage twisting his face as the blood dripped, making him look like skin Before he could shoot something back, the pilot cut in, voice tense. "Sir, they're gaining on us fast." "Lose them," Richard snapped, irritation biting through his words.

He shoved Stephanie off him, her body slamming into a seat with a dull thud.

monster.

"Tell Sebastian, that bastard-if he doesn't back off, I'll haul Stephanie out of this chopper and we'll both go splat," Richard 10:05 Fri, Mar 14 BB Chapter 180 growled, every word dripping with spite.

Stephanie froze. Her jaw dropped, eyes wide with shock.

The bodyguards in the cabin went quiet too, thinking he'd lost his mind.

That threat was too sick and low, even for him.

Richard turned to Stephanic, flashing a nasty grin. "Stefi, want to crash and burn with me?" She lost it. "No, thanks. You deserve a cell in hell, alone!" she hissed, her voice cutting sharp.

Richard clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk. That mouth-I liked you better back in Fiorenza. Where'd you pick up this trash talk?" "Such a dirty little mouth now," he muttered, teasing but poking at her.

He leaned in, thumb brushing her pale lips-slow, messing with her-until she chomped down on it.

She bit hard, like she'd rip his thumb off, teeth digging in deep.

The bodyguards stared, eyes bugging out." In minutes, she'd gone from gnawing his hand to his thumb-she wasn't a hostage, she was like a freaking tornado.

But Richard? He didn't snap her neck. Just squinted at her, locking eyes.

He ruffled her soft hair with his free hand. "Stefi, let go. Be good, he said, voice smooth but with a hard edge. That just her clamp down NO harder, her teeth shaking from the effort. P.5 Comment Send gift mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1