Chapter 37 A Diversion
 
 
 
 
 
 
Antonio stepped out of the casino, heading straight for the hospital. Rose consumed his thoughts, unable to focus on anything else. The audacity of Lorenzo to ambush Rose’s car enraged him further. It wasn’t a mistake; it was deliberate.
Damn it! It was intentional, wasn’t it?
The fury building inside him intensified as he realized Lorenzo had orchestrated this not only to harm Rose but also to create chaos in the casino, drawing his attention away. If Lorenzo had the audacity to invade his territory, Antonio vowed it wouldn’t end well for him.
Moments later, his luxury car pulled into the hospital’s parking lot. Antonio strode purposefully toward the patient ward, seeking Rose.
“Where’s Rose?” he demanded, his tone sharp.
“She’s inside,” one of the staff responded.
Antonio pushed the door open, stepping into the pristine white room. A single bed stood in the center. He approached quickly, his gaze softening as it landed on Rose lying unconscious on the bed.
Thank God, he silently prayed.
His large hand brushed a strand of golden hair away from her face, tucking it gently behind her ear. Guilt clouded his features as he blamed himself for her predicament.
As if sensing his presence, Rose stirred and slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Antonio’s warm smile, bringing comfort to her unsettled heart. She smiled back, attempting to sit up. Antonio moved swiftly to assist her.
“I remember… the car being shot at,” Rose murmured, her gaze drifting as she recalled the harrowing event.
“Yes,” Antonio replied, his voice laced with regret. “I’m sorry this happened to you.”
“I’m okay. Rossi… he saved me,” Rose said softly, gratitude evident in her tone. She recounted how Rossi had fired back at their attackers and protected her until help arrived, even at the cost of his own injuries.
“I know,” Antonio whispered.
“How is he?” Rose asked, concern etched on her face.
“You should rest,” Antonio deflected, avoiding a direct answer.
“But I—” Rose started, still worried about Rossi.
Before she could continue, Antonio leaned closer, exhaling softly against her ear. “Do I need to kiss you goodnight to help you sleep?” he teased, his voice low and playful.
Rose’s cheeks flushed red. She turned her head away, trying to create distance between them, but Antonio moved even closer.
“N-no, thank you,” she stammered.
“Then rest,” Antonio insisted, his tone gentle but firm. “If you don’t, I might just kiss you until you do.”
The smirk playing on his lips made her blush harder. “I’ll rest now!” she said quickly, lying back down and turning her back to him to hide her smile. Her heart raced uncontrollably.
“You’ll be discharged tomorrow morning,” Antonio said, his voice soft as he leaned in one last time. “I’ll come to pick you up. Sleep well.”
After a last glance, he left the room, his heart still heavy but relieved that Rose was safe.
Antonio then made his way to check on Rossi, whose room was nearby. Entering quietly, he found his loyal bodyguard asleep. Deciding not to disturb his rest, Antonio left as silently as he came.
He drove back to his casino, determined to handle Lorenzo’s schemes. This wasn’t just about business or territory—it was about protecting Rose with everything he had, including his life.
 
CRASH!
The sound of glass shattering echoed through Lorenzo’s hideout. Pieces scattered across the floor as Lorenzo’s temper erupted. His meticulous plan to ambush Rose and distract Antonio had failed spectacularly. His men had botched the job, failing to capture Rose and returning battered and bruised.
“What the hell were you all thinking?!” Lorenzo roared, glaring at the four men before him.
One of them stepped forward hesitantly. “We tried, boss. We aimed to capture her—”
“And yet, here we are! Did I tell you to capture her or to cause a goddamn shootout?” Lorenzo’s fury flared as he cut the man off.
“She had protection, and things got complicated,” another stammered.
“Complicated? You idiots couldn’t wait for the right moment?” Lorenzo spat, his frustration boiling over. “Leave! All of you, out of my sight!”
As his men scurried away, Lorenzo sank onto his sofa, his mind racing. He knew Antonio wouldn’t take this lying down. He had to prepare for retaliation, and fast.
 
Returning to the casino, Antonio immediately ordered his staff to clean up and restore the facility to its pristine state. He tasked another trusted bodyguard, Char, with secretly investigating Lorenzo’s operations while Rossi recovered.
Antonio then headed to the back room, where the captured man who had helped orchestrate the chaos was being held. The man’s expression betrayed no fear, a detail that irked Antonio. His guards restrained the man and tied him to a wooden chair, despite his protests.
“I’ve told you everything I know! Let me go!” the man pleaded.
“You haven’t told me everything,” Antonio countered coldly. He pulled out his pistol, aiming it directly at the man.
“Don’t—please!” the man begged.
Antonio fired a warning shot near the chair’s leg, the deafening crack echoing through the room.
“Alright, I’ll talk!” the man yelled, his voice trembling. “They said it was to distract you. That’s all I know—they didn’t tell me anything else!”
“Distract me?” Antonio’s expression darkened. This wasn’t just a random attack—it was part of a calculated scheme.
“Damn it!” he cursed, realizing Rose had been a target all along. She wasn’t just collateral damage—she was part of their plan.
Antonio holstered his gun, signaling his guards to release the man. Without a word, he turned and left the room, his focus sharper than ever. Lorenzo had made a grave mistake, and Antonio was going to ensure he paid dearly for it.