Craving My Ruthless Ceo novel Chapter 197

Chapter 197

Anna’s POV

I yanked the door open. fury already burning through me.

Zenco stood there, his face twisted with anger, his eyes scanning me with disapproval.

I half expected him to ask why I looked like hell after not sleeping last night, but he did not.

“What the fuck were you thinking?” He pushed past me into the room. “You put your fists on Pierre? Our biggest paying elite client Without running it by me first?”

I scoffed. I should have known that was why he came barging in. News travels fast around here.

I slammed the door and followed behind him.

You have no idea what he did.”

‘I do not care what he did.” Zenco’s voice rose. “You cannot just beat the shit out of clients because they pissed you off. We nave a business to run, Roman. Protocols to follow.”

‘Protocol be damned.” I stepped closer, my voice furious. “Last night he almost…”

The words cut off. The thought of Pierre hurting Anna, touching her while she was unconscious, taking what was not his, made my blood boil all over again.

My fists clenched at my sides, my knuckles still raw from beating his face in.

Zenco’s brows lifted, waiting for answers.

I sucked in a deep breath and forced the words out.

‘He laced her drink in our club, took her to the VVIP room, and was about to hurt her.”

The words came out cold. “If I had not gotten there in time, he would have taken advantage of her while she was unconscious.”

The color drained from Zenco’s face.

‘Oh God” He ran a hand through his hair. “That bastard. I never knew all that.”

‘Now you know.” My face hardened. “I had a very good reason, and Pierre should be lucky he is still breathing.”

‘And his lawyers had the nerve to call me?” Zenco gritted out. “Raining fire and brimstone when he committed an illegal act in our club? He is lucky we did not call the police on him.”

They called this morning?” I asked, processing. “I should have kept going until he stopped breathing. The world would be

better off without scum like him.”

“It is best you did not. Zenco’s hand landed on my shoulder “We do not need murder on your hands Besides, from what I gathered, you did enough damage. He is hospitalized. Major bones broken. A concussion.”

“A concussion?”

The voice came from behind me, panicked and terrified.

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Chaps – 197

Anna

I turned immediately, instinct taking over. She had changed back into her jeans and blouse, but her hair was still messy from earlier from my hands tangled in it, from being bound to my bed. The reminder sent heat through me even now

I moved to her without thinking. My hands found her shoulders first, then slid down to pull her close against me.

One hand came up to cup her cheek, my thumb brushing across her skin. She must have heard everything, and now fear was written all over her face.

“Do not worry about any of this.” My voice softened for her, affection bleeding into every word. “I will handle it.”

But she was not listening. Her eyes were wide, fixed on Zenco, who was watching us with barely concealed surprise.

“What if Pierre dies?” Her voice shook. “And Roman, you get arrested? What if they charge you with attempted murder or…”

I pulled her even closer, my other hand moving to cup her other cheek, holding her face gently between my palms, cutting off her spiral.

That will not happen.”

“But the lawyers…”

‘He has no proof that I beat him up.” I kept my voice calm, trying to steady her.

My thumbs stroked her cheeks softly. “It is his word against mine. There are no cameras inside the VIP rooms, only outside. But we have the upper hand here.”

I looked at Zenco over her head. “Call my guys. Get them on this immediately.”

Zenco nodded, his eyes still lingering on how I held her, on the tenderness in my touch.

‘Pierre will regret sending his lawyers against us.” I turned back to Anna, my hands still cradling her face. “Instead of licking his wounds, he chose to challenge me. That was his mistake.”

This is my fault.” Anna’s voice cracked. “If I had not…

‘Do not. I gripped her face a little tighter, forcing her to look into my eyes, to see the truth there. “Do not blame yourself. The one to blame is that maniac Pierre. He drugged you. He tried to assault you. None of this is on you.”

‘Roman is right. Zenco stepped forward, extending his hand, though his gaze kept shifting between us with curiosity “It is nice to meet you again, Anna. I am glad Roman rescued you and that you are safe.”

Anna took his hand, shaking it weakly. “Thank you for understanding.”

‘Do not worry about the legal side. Zenco’s tone was reassuring “Roman and I will handle it. I trust him, and you should too. We have dealt with worse than entitled bastards like Pierre.”

Anna nodded, but I could still feel the panic radiating through her body where it pressed against mine

I let one hand slide down from her face to rest at the small of her back, keeping her close “Anna, could you please give us a moment?” I said softly. my lips close to her ear I need to discuss strategy with Zenco.”

Her gaze moved between us, reluctant.

I pressed a kiss to her temple before letting her go.

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Chapo PC

She nodded and headed back into the bedroom.

She shut the door, but not completely.

Zenco turned to me, his expression caught between shock and understanding. Surprise, maybe. Like he had just witnessed a side of me he never thought existed.

I am sorry about what that bastard did to Anna. That is beyond fucked up.”

Cold dread moved through me. The kind of fear I had not felt in years, not since I was a kid cowering in dark corners. The thought of losing her, of being too late, of Pierre’s hands on her while I was not there to stop it clawed at my throat, making it hard to breathe.

‘If I had been a minute later…” My voice came out rough. “Just one minute. He would have…” I could not say it out loud.

‘I would not be able to live with myself if anything had happened to her.”

Zenco’s hand found my shoulder again. “Thankfully she is safe. And she is with you.”

“Yeah.”

Zenço looked suspicious now, his eyes scanning the room, taking everything in.

The rumpled bed visible through the slight opening in the bedroom door, my disheveled state, the intimacy he had just witnessed between Anna and me.

“What?”

‘I mean…” He gestured around. “She is here in your private space at the club. You never bring anyone from work here. For you to bring her here, it has to be serious.”

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