Chapter 5 I instinctively turned my head . Stella was already lying unconscious on the corridor floor . Before I could react , the butt of a gun slammed into the back of my neck , and everything went black . When I came to , both Stella and I were bound inside an abandoned warehouse . She whimpered softly , " Who are you people ? Why did you take us ... ? " A scar - faced man silenced her with a brutal slap . " Because of your fiancé , Herbert ! He stole my West District turf , cut off my livelihood ! " So it was the West District gang . That was the territory Herbert had only just claimed , using my settlement agreement as the bargaining chip . Luckily , they didn't recognize me . The one who had recently been paraded at Herbert's side , Stella was their chosen target . Quietly , I flexed my wrists , using the tiny blade I kept hidden beneath my manicure to slice through the ropes . Years of living on the edge had taught me to always leave myself an escape . Scarface assumed I was just another gambler . He spat at me with disdain . " Tough luck , lady . You got caught up with her . Call your family - five million buys your release . " Stella was sobbing , her tears falling like shattered glass . " Miss ... I'm sorry , this is my fault . But don't be afraid , my fiancé is powerful . He'll come for us , I promise ! " At the mention of Herbert , her eyes lit with blind faith . I said nothing , only sped up my work on the ropes . Scarface cursed as his phone failed to connect . Kicking over a fuel drum , he snarled , " Damn it ! Morgan won't even pick up ? Looks like we'll have to send him a gift to jog his memory . " He picked up a knife , eyes crawling over Stella with vile intent . " I saw you two at the hospital . You're carrying his bastard , aren't you ? Perfect . I'll carve that brat out and show Morgan myself . " My heart plummeted . So she was already carrying Herbert's child . Stella froze in terror , her face white as death . " No ! Please ... don't hurt my baby ! " The men laughed obscenely , reaching for her . That was when I snapped my restraints . In a flash , I lunged like a predator , driving my elbow into Scarface's jaw . Snatching the knife from his hand , I slashed through Stella's ropes and shoved her behind me . " Kill her ! " Scarface roared , clutching his chin . Five or six thugs surged forward with iron rods in hand . Even with combat training , I was fresh from my injuries . Against so many hardened criminals , I quickly lost ground . The rods cracked against my body , agony threatening to drop me to my knees . All I could do was shield Stella with my body , forcing her into the corner , taking every blow meant for her . Scarface's patience ran out . With a metallic click , he chambered a round and aimed the pistol at me , " You filthy bitch , die ! " Chapter 5 BALLARE CLO'S D Dreame - Read Romance Stories When he realized his feelings , he had lost her forever 4.4 * FREE Installed Novels reading of rught Open 45.45 % A The instant he pulled the trigger , a deafening crash split the air from the warehouse entrance . Gunfire erupted . Herbert stormed in with his men , a furious lion unleashed . He cut a straight path toward us , scooping Stella into his arms . " Stella , don't be afraid . I'm here . " She sobbed once in his embrace , then collapsed unconscious from shock . Herbert carried her tenderly to the car , securing her with a care I had never once known . Then he turned back to me . " Julia ! " His voice was sharp , laced with ice . " What the hell are you doing here ? " Clinging to consciousness through the pain , I forced a cold smile . " Are you accusing me ? " Before I could finish , his hand cracked across my face . The slap sent me crashing to the ground , blood spilling from my lips . "I knew it - you've been scheming against Stella all along . You want to drive her away , don't you ? " Spitting blood , I rasped , " I didn't . " He yanked up a half - dead thug and pressed a gun to his skull . " Tell me . Who hired you ? " The man trembled violently , eyes darting toward me . In a desperate bid for survival , he shrieked , " It was her ! She paid us to rough up the girl ! " My blood turned to ice . Herbert sneered . Without hesitation , he pulled the trigger . He tossed the corpse aside , then pressed his boot onto my hand . Pain ripped through me , a scream clawing up my throat . His tone was almost weary , a twisted sigh . " These hands ... they used to obey me . Now you use them against the one I love most ? " He drew a knife , its blade gleaming . " I told you , Julia - don't touch what's mine . " The words fell , and the blade drove down . My lungs ached for air . The knife pinned my hand to the cement floor , flesh torn apart . " Ahhh ! " The agony wracked me , my vision swimming , my body convulsing . From the brink of despair , a hoarse scream tore free . " Herbert ! Eight years ago , I should've left you to die in that alley ! I should never have lifted you onto the top of San Francisco ! " In that instant , he destroyed the last shred of bond between us . With a dismissive snort , he left , his men trailing behind without a backward glance . Only when numbness dulled the searing pain did I force my left hand into my clothing , dragging out the tiny tracker I kept hidden . With trembling fingers, I pressed it , My confidant arrived soon after . His eyes reddened when he saw me sprawled on the ground , hand mangled beyond recognition . Carefully , he pulled the knife free . My right hand was ruined , nothing but blood and pulp . My voice was weak , yet filled with an iron resolve I had never felt before . Chapter 5 45.45 % BILLIONAIRE COO'S Dreame - Read Romance Stories When he realized is feelings he had lost her forever ! Novels reading at night 4.4 FREE Installed Open " Set a fire . Burn this place down . Erase it all . " " From this day forward , there is no Queen of Cards in San Francisco . Julia Robinson is gone . "