Bought by My stepbrother, the don

Chapter 100: What could go wrong?

Vanessa

I missed my mom a lot.

Yes, I was allowed to video call her, but it wasn’t enough. The chemotherapy had started, and she looked much weaker, struggling to speak. I wanted to hug her and touch her, but I couldn’t.

I had been waiting for Nico to get back so I could ask for permission to travel, even if just for a day. I was ready to beg if I had to, only for there to be no sign of him.

Evening came, and still nothing. There were no signs of Carmen either, which was strange, but I couldn’t care less.

I headed straight to my room and the large living area attached to it before sinking into the couch and switching on the TV, intending to wait all night if I had to.

But I had barely turned it on when I gasped, my eyes widening in shock at the sight in front of me.

"Hospital shootout! Three dead!" the headline read.

Beyond that were visible pictures of Nico and Carmen being led toward a police car in handcuffs.

"What the hell happened?" I gasped, aware that there was no way Carmen Castilo and Nico would do such a thing in broad daylight and get themselves caught.

Having done my own research on the Gallias cartel, all I found about them was terrible. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

They were clever and utterly ruthless. There was no way they would kill and make such blatant mistakes.

Surprised? Yes.

But I wasn’t sad.

I instantly picked up my phone and began to dial a number until it connected.

"Adam!" I gasped, jumping to my feet as I spoke into the phone.

"Did you do this?" I asked, my heart racing as I moved closer to the TV, staring at it even as I heard Adam speak.

"Good! I was just about to call you! You’ve seen the news, right?"

"Of course! I mean, did the audio help? It had to, right?" I asked, wondering if that, along with whatever they had caught them for, would be enough.

"Me and the other agents are working seriously on it. It’s huge, but we need more if we’re going to hold them!"

"They’re not in the mansion right now. Can you get into his study and take pictures?" he asked.

I slowly nodded, only to shake my head immediately after.

"There are... there are cameras! He’s not stupid. I can’t do that!" I said, sighing, only to hear Adam snap in frustration, which annoyed me just as much.

"...what exactly can you do then?" he asked.

I sighed, aware that with them catching Carmen and Nico, of course they would be under pressure.

"I’ll check. I’ll see what I can do," I responded.

"Good! I’ll be waiting for your call then!" he said before hanging up.

I glared at the phone like he was standing right in front of me.

"Rude ass."

I tossed the phone onto the couch, glanced at the television again, then toward the door before making my way toward it.

My footsteps were slow as I headed out and straight downstairs, toward Nico’s side of the mansion.

Just because he and Carmen weren’t around didn’t mean I didn’t have to be careful. There were still guards, and I worried about what excuse I would give when I got there.

Only to get there and find no guards.

All I saw was a maid who stepped out and instantly hurried down another corridor I wasn’t sure where it led.

I recognized her as one of Carmen’s maids, which made me wonder why she was in Nico’s office, but I wasn’t there to ask questions.

I stepped in, surprised to see that the cameras were also off.

I headed straight for the drawers, pulling out folders and taking pictures, even if I had no idea what they meant.

As long as it was a folder with documents inside, I took a picture, intending to go through them later.

The goal was not to get caught.

I moved as fast as I could until the pounding of my heart made me stop, afraid it might burst out of my chest.

I quickly closed all the drawers, putting everything back in place before heading out of the room.

But instead of returning to my room, I went straight toward Carmen’s study, where I had met her before.

Whatever reason the cameras were off and the guards were missing, I needed to use the opportunity, not waste it.

But I had barely reached the door when I heard someone call my name.

"Vanessa!"

The voice was gruff and hoarse, but familiar.

I turned around, stunned, to see the huge, bulky man I had flirted with the last time I needed access to Nico’s study.

He had called himself a manager or something like that.

He was huge and buff, and the last time he had pressed himself against me, it was clear he was smaller than I expected.

"Ehm..." I began, struggling to remember his name, if I had even asked.

"Manuel! My name is Manuel! You’re not dressed?" he said.

I noticed then that he was wearing a blue suit, different from the usual black uniform, and he even held flowers in his hand.

"Ah!" I gasped, remembering that we were supposed to go on a date I never intended to go to.

The only thing fascinating about him was his height, and from what I had seen so far, he was more muscle than brains.

"...the reservation is by 8," he said.

I glanced at the study door, trying to think of a way to refuse, but nothing came to mind.

It was better to go on one date and blame a lack of connection than not go at all.

"Give me ten minutes," I said, turning back toward my room as I clenched my fists.

What was one date?

I tried to ignore the fact that if he worked for Nico, then he was connected to the mafia, especially with those tattoos.

"It can’t be that bad."