Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 191

Chapter 191

Christian’s POV

I was still trying to process what had just happened as I held Zoey against my chest, feeling the tremor running through her body. She clung to me like I was her anchor in a storm. Matt was safe in her arms, unharmed, but in her eyes I could still see the shock and adrenaline from what she’d just survived.

In a matter of hours, I’d set up an entire operation with police surrounding the area, snipers in position, negotiators on standby, and drones sweeping overhead for real-time visuals. Every single detail had been planned to precision. I was supposed to go into that warehouse pretending to comply with Lawrence’s demands, while the tactical unit waited for the signal to move in.

Then, five minutes before the negotiation was set to begin, the voice crackled through my earpiece, “Target escaped on her own. Repeat, the hostage escaped on her own.”

“You’re completely insane,” I said, pulling back just enough to look into her face, my voice a mix of relief, disbelief, and awe. “You know that, right?””

“I’m just a desperate mother making sure her child was safe,” Zoey said, her voice shaking, though I could hear that familiar steel of determination beneath it.

“I had everything under control,” I insisted, brushing a strand of hair from her face, my thumb tracing her cheek.

“I know.” Her voice broke, tears filling her eyes. “But I also know you, Christian. If Matt and I were still in danger, you’d never go all in to catch Lawrence. You’d choose to protect us first. Even if that meant letting him get away.”

Her words hit like a punch because she was right. No matter how many plans I’d made, how many officers I’d brought, or how carefully I’d thought it all through… if it came down to a choice between capturing my father or keeping my family safe, I would choose them every single time.

“And I couldn’t let that happen,” Zoey whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. “I couldn’t live knowing he was still out there, that he could come after us again. So when he said you were close, I knew I had to move before you got there. It had to end. Right then. Once and for all.”

I pulled her close again, this time wrapping my arms around both her and Matt, holding them so tightly it felt like I could fuse us together.

“You’re a warrior,” I murmured against her hair, my voice thick with emotion. “A brave, brilliant, completely reckless warrior. But you’re my warrior.”

“Is it over?” she asked softly, her voice fragile, almost childlike. “Really over?”

“It’s over,” I promised, kissing her forehead tenderly. “The police are handling everything. Lawrence will what he’s done. Elise, Francesca… all of them. You and Matt are safe now, love. Truly safe.”

Hours later, after leaving Zoey and Matt at home under Carmen’s watchful care, while Isabelle refused to leave Zoey’s side for even a moment, I drove to the police station. I needed to see Lawrence one last time. I needed closure.

He was sitting in a small, cold cell, wearing the standard orange inmate uniform. When he looked up, I saw the same blue eyes I’d inherited. They were hollow now, defeated.

“Come to gloat about your victory?” he rasped, his voice rough and bitter.

“I came to say goodbye,” I said quietly, standing on the other side of the bars. “And maybe… to understand.”

Lawrence gave a humorless laugh. “Understand what? You’ve always been the favorite. The chosen one. You have no idea what it’s like to live in the shadow of a child.”

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