Billion dollar adventure: Meeting Mr arrogant

Chapter 22: The Gamble with the Mafia

The atmosphere in the casino shifted from vibrant to tense the moment Marcus’s voice buzzed through the earpiece: “We’ve got company. Two men entering the casino—armed. They’re making their way toward your location.”

Lucy’s heart lurched. Her pulse thundered in her ears as the bustling casino suddenly felt like a battleground. She glanced nervously around, trying to spot the threat, but all she saw were glittering lights, gamblers hunched over tables, and servers gliding between patrons with trays of drinks.

“Stay calm,” Ryder whispered, his voice steady, but she saw the storm brewing in his eyes. His hand slid to the back of her chair, a protective gesture that didn’t go unnoticed by Liam Reed, who watched them with cold amusement.

“I take it you’re expecting some friends?” Liam drawled, his tone oozing arrogance.

Ryder ignored him for the moment, his focus razor-sharp on the problem at hand. “How many, Marcus?” he asked quietly, his gaze darting across the casino floor.

“Two confirmed. Could be more outside, but these two are heading your way fast. We need to get you out of there now,” Marcus replied, his voice tinged with urgency.

Lucy’s mind raced, but Ryder’s calm exterior helped anchor her. This was no longer just a business confrontation—it was something far more sinister. Liam Reed wasn’t the mastermind behind the breach; he was merely a pawn. The real threat was far bigger than they’d anticipated. She had a sinking feeling in her gut that they were dealing with something darker, something that went beyond corporate espionage.

Mafia.

The word sent a chill through her. Ryder had warned her once about the shadowy figures in his world—powerful men who operated in the gray areas of legality, men who would stop at nothing to protect their interests. And now, it seemed, they had turned their sights on him.

“I don’t think your little security team will be enough, Ryder,” Liam said, his smirk growing wider. “You’ve pissed off the wrong people this time.”

Ryder’s eyes darkened. “Who are they, Liam? Who’s coming for me?”

Liam leaned back in his chair, the picture of calm as the tension thickened around them. “Let’s just say that the men who’ve been watching you are bigger than you can handle. You’ve been stepping on toes—powerful ones. And these guys? They don’t like it when their empire gets threatened.”

Lucy felt Ryder’s hand grip the edge of the table tightly, his knuckles white. “Are we talking about the Delvecchio family?” Ryder asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Liam’s smirk faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered. “Smart guess. The Delvecchios aren’t the type to forgive or forget.”

Lucy’s breath hitched. The Delvecchio family was one of the most feared mafia organizations in the country. Their reach extended far beyond casinos and high-end businesses—they controlled politicians, law enforcement, and the black market. If Ryder had crossed them, this wasn’t just about money or power. This was a matter of life and death.

“You brought the mafia into this?” Lucy blurted out, unable to keep her voice steady. Her mind spun with the implications.

“Not quite,” Liam said with a casual wave of his hand. “Let’s just say the Delvecchios have been watching Ryder for a while now. He’s been making moves they don’t appreciate. Expanding into markets that aren’t his to take.”

“Damn it,” Ryder muttered under his breath, his calm cracking just slightly. He turned to Lucy. “We need to go. Now.”

Liam chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment. “You’re not getting out of here so easily, Ryder. The Delvecchios don’t like loose ends. And they’ve decided you’re one of them.”