Billionaire's Bounty Cost Of Love And Revenge novel Chapter 99

Taylor’s POV

“You had one job, Don Mariano!” I snapped, my voice bouncing off the walls in the empty room. The room had once been a garage but had been transformed into Don Mariano’s lair. I wasn’t supposed to know this place existed, but the Don had snuck me here a few times. “One Simple Job Take care of Ivy. How hard can it be? We had an agreement. I didn’t ask you to start a gunfight in the middle of the city. Just one man and an acid bath it’s efficient. It’s doable!” I yelled through clenched teeth.

Don Mariano held up his hands in surrender and exhaled. “Taylor, listen to me. We tried. I swear we did,” he replied. His voice was calm and unbothered, which only infuriated me more. “But she’s not some second–rate model we can snatch off a street corner. She’s big, successful-”

“I know who she is!” I interrupted, throwing my arms up in frustration. “She’s my competition! That’s why I asked you to deal with her! What, did you suddenly realize you’re scared of her security guards? What’s next, you’re afraid of a little bad press? You grew a conscience, huh? You can’t get your hands dirty anymore?”

He exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose, as if trying to will himself not to lose his temper. “This isn’t about fear, Taylor. Her security team is trained to spot trouble a mile away. They were like a swarm around her. They’re always on her, like shadows. We couldn’t lure her into a vulnerable spot. And even if we had-”

“Don’t!” cut him off, jabbing a finger in his direction. “Don’t you dare make excuses. You’re supposed to be the deadliest man in this city. The one people whisper about in fear. And you can’t handle one woman? Ivy is not untouchable, Don Mariano. No one is.”

He stepped toward me, his voice lowering, as though that might make me calm down. “Taylor, think this through. If we’d botched it with her, if anything had gone wrong, there would’ve been blowback. She’s too high–profile. Everyone would be asking questions. We couldn’t risk exposing you.”

I laughed, a harsh sound that echoed in the dimly lit room. “Oh, now you care about exposure? How noble of you.” I folded my arms, glaring. “Let me tell you something, Don Mariano. I didn’t come to you because I wanted to play it safe. I came to you because you were supposed to get results. And now you’re telling me I should’ve done it myself.”

“I didn’t say that,” he said quickly, holding up his hands again.

“You didn’t have to,” I shot back. “That’s exactly what you’re implying, isn’t it? That I’m better off taking matters into my own hands because I can’t rely on you to do what I hired you to do.”

“Taylor,” his tone shifted, becoming deeper and more commanding. “You don’t know what you’re walking into. You’re too emotional about this. You’re thinking with your emotions, and it’s going to land you in a mess. You can’t hurt her without getting hurt yourself-”

“I’m not an idiot,” I snapped. “Don’t talk down to me like I’m some clueless little girl. I’ve been dealing with people like her my entire life. She thinks she’s untouchable? Fine. I’ll prove her wrong.”

He moved to block my path as I turned to leave. “You’re angry. I get that. But running off to handle this yourself isn’t the answer. Let me regroup. I’ll find

a way-”

“Enough,” I hissed, stepping closer, my voice low but sharp. “You had your chance, and you blew it. Do you think I have time to sit around and wait for you to ‘regroup‘? I’m done waiting, Don Mariano. I’ve been waiting for her life to crumble, and instead, she gets better. She lands more deals, and she’s still happily married to her husband while I am…” I trailed off, frustration bubbling up.

Another brand had just pulled out of a deal worth millions, two days ago. No one wanted to risk working with me. My team was growing concerned, and I was desperate. I was an angry, desperate woman.

“I’m warning you, Taylor,” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “If you go after her alone, you‘!! your life, everything you’ve built.”

utting everything at risk. Your career,

I scoffed, sidestepping him and heading toward the heavy wooden doors that led out of his lair. “If I waited for you to act, I wouldn’t have a career left to protect. I’m not risking anything, I’m ensuring my survival.”

“Taylor!” His voice boomed behind me, stopping me in my tracks. “This isn’t a game. Once you cross this line, there’s no going back.”

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