Page 117 of Billionaire’s Heartbreak

The moment Laura was captured, the momentum of the fight shifted. Her people hesitated, weapons lowering by a fraction as they looked toward their leader, waiting for instructions that never came. Within seconds, Dannie was at my side. His sword was stained from the battle, but his expression remained calm, cold, and completely in control. His eyes settled on Laura.

“So,” he said quietly. “Let’s talk.”

Laura looked around the ruined temple, her gaze catching on the broken statues and scattered offerings.

“Today…” she paused. “You know what today is?”

“Of course I know.” His eyes flicked toward the altar. “The anniversary of the club’s founding.”

She gave a humourless laugh. “Then why are you bringing a war into the temple?”

“Because all of you will be here.”

“You don’t believe in bad luck?” Laura’s gaze pierced through Dannie’s.

Dannie glanced around at the destruction. “I didn’t build my territory on superstition.”

“This is wrong.” Laura spat the words. “There are rules here.”

“Who do you think started those rules?” Dannie pointed at himself. “Me.”

“Whatever.” Laura lifted her chin. “You’re no longer part of the triad.”

“Says who?”

“We voted you out.” Her gaze dropped as guilt flickered across her face. “We had no choice. You forgot our roots. You forgot what we stand for.”

Dannie let out a humourless laugh. His voice was calm, but it carried across the silent temple. “You mean the casinos, the drugs, and the human trafficking?”

She looked up finally. “That’s how we made our money.”

“That’s the old way.” Dannie’s gaze never left hers. “The world has changed. If the club was going to survive, we had to go legitimate. I thought you understood that.”

“You sound like Grandma.” Laura's voice hardened.

“Don’t say her name.” For the first time, anger slipped into Dannie’s voice. “You don’t deserve to call her Grandma.”

Laura laughed bitterly. “I loved her. She never loved me back.”

My patience snapped. “Is that why you kill her?”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“Auntie?” Dannie pressed.

“She shouldn’t have been there.” Laura threw her head back and laughed. “Wrong place. Wrong time.”

“Why are you betraying us?”

The question escaped before I could stop myself.

“Betraying you?” She looked at me as though I’d just asked the most ridiculous question in the world. Her eyes moved between Dannie and me.

A guttural sound tore from her throat, almost animalistic. The room seemed to shake with it.

“You’re the one betraying me.” Then she lunged toward me. “Casting me aside…” Her voice cracked. “With him.”

Silence settled over the temple.