All Novel XO
Chapter 71
Even though Jason was angry, Estrella was still pleased that he managed to find her. She tried to lighten the mood with a cheeky kiss, but Jason’s expression darkened. Despite himself, he felt a wave of relief wash over him.
Shoving her back gently, he grumbled, “Keep your hands to yourself. We’re in the car.”
Estrella dialed it back, looking earnestly at him “Look, you’re steamed right now. Let’s cool off for a couple days, then talk it out.”
Jason remained stoically silent. He knew himself too well, just as he knew Estrella. Her charm was his kryptonite, but the thought of her nearly being cornered today-that she could have been seriously hurt- sent chills down his spine.
Even though she had managed to knock down that sleazebag Richie before he arrived, he couldn’t shake the fear. If he hadn’t shown up, the outcome on someone else’s turf could. have been much different.
Half an hour later, the two arrived home, and Jason’s expression remained gloomy.
Estrella, ever the optimist, tried to break the ice. “Still holding a grudge? Let’s put this behind us. Maybe I should get a few bodyguards for my commute?”
Jason didn’t snap at her. Instead, he said, “Get some rest. I need to step out for a bit. I’ll be back later.”
This whole debacle wasn’t Estrella’s fault. She had acted with integrity. The blame lay squarely with Richie.
Estrella caught his arm. “Where are you headed?”
He peeled her hand off. “Don’t wait up.” Without waiting for her approval, he exited the
bedroom.
Estrella had a sinking feeling. When Jason set his mind to something, he was unstoppable. She knew this all too well after all these years. And today’s incident with Richie had truly shaken her. It wasn’t her home turf, and her word held no weight against. Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
his.
After a moment’s hesitation by her desk, Estrella grabbed her phone and checked in with Drew about Jason’s whereabouts. Drew assured her he was tied up with work, though she had her doubts. Accepting it for now, she retreated to the bathroom to change.
Fresh from her shower half an hour later, a sudden pounding at the door startled her. “Who is it?” she called out, toweling her hair.
“It’s me, Estrella,” came Thomas’ voice from the other side.
Ditching the towel, Estrella opened the door to find Thomas in a state of urgency. “Estrella,
11:31
you need to talk some sense into Jason. If he doesn’t back down soon, someone’s going
to end
up dead.”
“Richie?”
“Yeah, that nouveau riche idiot,” Thomas fumed. “Drew said it was a personal vendetta.”
That was all Estrella needed to hear. She picked up the pace, following Thomas out the door. If Jason got blood on his hands for someone like Richie, it would be a senseless loss, and she wouldn’t stand for it.
“What exactly happened, Estrella?” Thomas quizzed, gripping the steering wheel with furrowed brows.
She quickly filled him in on her confrontation with Richie. Thomas raged about the man’s audacity, not having done his homework before targeting her. “No wonder Jason’s livid,” he scoffed.
They drove in heated conversation until they reached an abandoned warehouse-Nelson International’s old storage site.
“Estrella, he’s in there.”
Thomas and Estrella unbuckled and made for the warehouse. Inside, Bryce, Grayson, Taylor, Drew, and some other guys were gathered. It was clear they’d tried to intervene, but to no avail. :
At that moment, Jason was still hitting Richie. The robust Richie, who had been fine in the evening at the villa, was already badly beaten and disfigured.
“Estrella, thank God you’re here. Jason’s lost it. No one can get through to him,” Bryce explained as she approached.
Drew greeted her guiltily; he had lied to her over the phone, claiming Jason was preoccupied with work.
“Estrella, both Grayson and Taylor chimed in.
She acknowledged the group and then turned her attention back to Jason, who was wielding a lead pipe with a wrathful vengeance.
Seeing Estrella’s arrival, a battered and bloody Richie pleaded with her from his knees. “Ms. Estrella, I’m terribly sorry. I was blind not to look into things, and ignorant not to know the law. I beg for your forgiveness, and I plead with you to ask Mr. Jason for mercy.”
Estrella’s gaze shifted from the pleading Richie to Jason, whose eyes burned with unbridled fury, oblivious to anyone else present.
Knowing Jason for 23 years, this was only the second time she’d seen him in such a monstrous state, like a beast possessed.
Watching him kick Richie to the ground with a forceful sweep of his legs, Estrella stepped forward and grabbed his arm. “Jason, stop it.”
Her plea seemed to fall on deaf ears as Jason continued his assault, unrelenting. Richie spat out a mouthful of blood and curled up on the ground, motionless. If Jason didn’t stop, Richie was really going to end up dead.
With her right hand gripping Jason’s arm tightly, Estrella said, “Enough, Jason, let’s go home.”
Her voice lingered in his ears, and Jason paused for a moment. Estrella pressed on. “Let’s head back, Jason. Didn’t we have plans today?”
Noticing Jason’s hesitation, Estrella spoke again, “Let go, Jason. We need to get out of here.”
She didn’t have pity on Richie. She just didn’t want Jason to have blood on his hands. She didn’t want him to face a lifetime of whispers and judgment or bear the weight of a harsher sentence.