The Billionaire's Dangerous Obsession (Nivera) novel Chapter 188

Chapter 188

Chapter 188

.:.

The flashing of cameras was beginning to feel like a permanent fixture in Alejandro’s life.

85

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Everywhere he turned, reporters swarmed like vultures, circling for the juiciest shred of blood they could carry back to their headlines.

When the SUV screeched to a halt, Alejandro already knew who it was.

Zabelle. He’d recognize that car anytime, anywhere. He had hoped she wouldn’t see the news but he knew that was too good to be true.

Her determination radiated off her as she even stepped out, eyes set like stone as if she could bulldoze through the army of cops and journalists waiting at the doors. Alejandro moved instinctively, intercepting her before she could get swallowed whole.

“Zabelle, what are you doing here?” he demanded, voice low but sharp, the exhaustion in him pushing his temper closer to the surface.

The last thing Antonio would want was her there, getting sucked into the chaos.

She lifted her chin, gaze unyielding. “I came to see Antonio.”

Alejandro’s jaw clenched. He didn’t have the patience for this. Not today, not when his brother’s face was already plastered on every TV screen in the country with the ugliest accusations attached.

If they couldn’t get a statement or reaction from him, then the media would turn to the next available option -the one who had just led herself to them.

“That’s a bad idea.” He stated.

“I don’t care,” she snapped in irritation as she returned his sharp gaze with one of hers.

“Zabelle, you know he wouldn’t want you here. This is a mess—one that you don’t need to get involved in.”

Her eyes flashed, fire sparking in the middle of her fear. “I’m already involved. He’s my husband. I’m not leaving without seeing him.”

Alejandro stared at her for a long moment. Stubborn woman. She was as immovable as Antonio when she set her mind to something. Finally, he sighed and stepped back. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I’ll be fine.” Zabelle responded as she stormed ahead, swallowed by the sea of reporters the moment she broke cover and came in view.

Alejandro stayed behind, leaning against his car with his arms crossed, watching as the reporters bombarded her with a mirage of questions.

When Zabelle disappeared inside, swallowed by the flashing cameras and the shouts of reporters, Alejandro exhaled heavily and pressed the bridge of his nose. For a moment, fatigue dragged at him, but he forced himself upright.

11:11 Tue, Sep 30

Chapter 188

And that was when he saw her.

Nivera.

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She was stepping out of the SUV. He had wondered if she had followed Zabelle but had assumed she hadn’t when he hadn’t seen her.

Their eyes met, and something inside Alejandro tightened, the stress of the day momentarily eclipsed by the sight of her. She looked tired, haunted even, but the moment her eyes landed on him, relief softened her features.

He hadn’t realized how much he needed that look until he saw it.

Alejandro pushed off his car and crossed the short distance to her. And before he could brace himself, she threw herself into his arms.

“Alejandro…” Her voice cracked against his chest, and she clung to him like she had been holding her breath all day, waiting for this one exhale.

His arms wrapped around her automatically, locking her against him. He inhaled the faint scent of her hair, something soft and grounding amidst the chaos that had devoured his entire day.

His heart kicked against his ribs in a way it hadn’t in years, and he realized with bone–deep certainty—he’d almost lost her once. He couldn’t survive losing her again.

“You shouldn’t be here, Cabezota,” he said slowly, his voice carrying more edge than he intended.

“Yet here I am,” she muttered in response.

She tipped her face up, searching his features like she was making sure he was real. Her lips parted, trembling. “I was so worried… with everything happening… and Antonio…”

“I know,” he said softly. He lowered his forehead to hers briefly, letting the contact ground him too. “But I’m not going anywhere.”

For a long moment, they stood like that—two bodies tethering each other in the middle of chaos. It wasn’t until reporters shifted closer, snapping photos, that Alejandro pulled back slightly, his arm still tight around her waist.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said firmly, steering her toward his car.

Inside, the doors closed, muting the storm outside. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken words. Alejandro gripped the steering wheel, his jaw tense as he sighed deeply.

“You look like hell,” Nivera murmured before she could stop herself.

His lips twitched, and for the first time since the chaos ensued, he smiled genuinely. “You always know the right words to soothe me.”

The faintest warmth touched her cheeks, but she rolled her eyes.

11:11 Tue, Sep 30

Chapter 187

wanted their empire in flames, their reputations ruined, and their families broken.

And he’d find them.

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By the time he arrived at the station, his phone was buzzing with constant notifications. Articles already screamed headlines in bold: Garcia Heir Accused of Sex Crimes. His blood boiled hotter with every ping.

He immediately muted the notifications, as they’d do nothing but make his blood boil.

The media frenzy was at its peak. Flashes from cameras blinded him as he stepped out of the car.

“Mr. Garcia! Is your brother guilty?”

“Do you deny the trafficking allegations?”

“Is this linked to the federal raids?”

Alejandro ignored every question, his jaw set, his expression carved from stone.

Inside, the walls closed in on him. He hated police stations. The stench of cheap coffee and disinfectant mixed with the smugness of men who thought they had power because they carried guns. Alejandro knew better. Real power didn’t need a badge.

He spotted Santiago near the front desk, speaking quickly to an officer. The lawyer’s face was calm and composed, but Alejandro saw the tightness in his jaw. He strode over.

“Well?” Alejandro demanded.

“They’re booking him now,” Santiago replied smoothly. “We’ll get access to him once he’s processed. The charges are… severe, Alejandro. They’re claiming multiple witnesses, including a woman willing to testify.”

Alejandro felt his throat close for a second before fury filled the void. “A woman? Who the fuck is she?”

“They haven’t released her name yet.”

Alejandro cursed under his breath. This was worse than he thought. An anonymous witness meant it could be anyone, paid or coerced, and that meant the story could spin out of control before they even touched it. His pulse thundered in his ears.

He turned away, pacing the corridor. His thoughts were a storm. Antonio was no saint, but he was no trafficker, no rapist. They all had blood on their hands, yes, but not this.

He rubbed a hand over his face, forcing his breathing steady. He had to think. He had to act fast.

Santiago’s voice cut through his storm. “Alejandro.”

He looked back. The lawyer’s eyes narrowed slightly. “We have to play this carefully. If we push too hard, it looks like intimidation. If we don’t push at all, Antonio drowns. There’s a balance.”

Alejandro leaned in, voice low and venomous. “Then find the balance, Santiago. That’s what I pay you for.”

11:11 Tue, Sep 30

Chapter 187

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The lawyer didn’t flinch. “I’ll do my job. You do yours–hold the family together. Your employees are panicking, investors are calling, and the press wants blood. You’re the face of this right now, whether you like

it or not.”

Alejandro exhaled through clenched teeth. He hated that Santiago was right. Antonio was behind bars. That left Alejandro to stand at the front lines. Alone.

“Sir,” a police officer walked up to Santiago. “You may see him now.”

“Excuse me,” Santiago said as he followed the officer, leaving Antonio alone.

He wasn’t used to this feeling–powerlessness. Normally, money, influence, or sheer force of will could bend situations to his control. But now? He couldn’t storm in and drag Antonio out. Couldn’t put a bullet in the officer’s head. Couldn’t erase the words from the cameras outside.

He could only wait, and waiting was torture.

Alejandro leaned back against the cold wall of the police station, tilting his head up, eyes closing briefly.

This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. Whoever thought they could break the Garcías had just declared war. And Alejandro would burn the world down before he let them win.

Chapter 188

The flashing of cameras was beginning to feel like a permanent fixture in Alejandro’s life.

Mas

85

55 Jouchers

Everywhere he turned, reporters swarmed like vultures, circling for the juiciest shred of blood they could carry back to their headlines.

When the SUV screeched to a halt, Alejandro already knew who it was.

Zabelle. He’d recognize that car anytime, anywhere. He had hoped she wouldn’t see the news but he knew that was too good to be true.

Her determination radiated off her as she even stepped out, eyes set like stone as if she could bulldoze through the army of cops and journalists waiting at the doors. Alejandro moved instinctively, intercepting her before she could get swallowed whole.

“Zabelle, what are you doing here?” he demanded, voice low but sharp, the exhaustion in him pushing his temper closer to the surface.

The last thing Antonio would want was her there, getting sucked into the chaos.

She lifted her chin, gaze unyielding. “I came to see Antonio.”

Alejandro’s jaw clenched. He didn’t have the patience for this. Not today, not when his brother’s face was already plastered on every TV screen in the country with the ugliest accusations attached.

If they couldn’t get a statement or reaction from him, then the media would turn to the next available option. -the one who had just led herself to them.

“That’s a bad idea.” He stated.

“I don’t care,” she snapped in irritation as she returned his sharp gaze with one of hers.

“Zabelle, you know he wouldn’t want you here. This is a mess–one that you don’t need to get involved in.”

Her eyes flashed, fire sparking in the middle of her fear. “I’m already involved. He’s my husband. I’m not leaving without seeing him.”

Alejandro stared at her for a long moment. Stubborn woman. She was as immovable as Antonio when she set her mind to something. Finally, he sighed and stepped back. “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“I’ll be fine.” Zabelle responded as she stormed ahead, swallowed by the sea of reporters the moment she broke cover and came in view.

Alejandro stayed behind, leaning against his car with his arms crossed, watching as the reporters bombarded her with a mirage of questions.

When Zabelle disappeared inside, swallowed by the flashing cameras and the shouts of reporters, Alejandro exhaled heavily and pressed the bridge of his nose. For a moment, fatigue dragged at him, but he forced himself upright.

11:11 Tue, Sep 30

Chapter 188

And that was when he saw her.

Nivera.

:

She was stepping out of the SUV. He had wondered if she had followed Zabelle but had assumed she hadn’t when he hadn’t seen her.

Their eyes met, and something inside Alejandro tightened, the stress of the day momentarily eclipsed by the sight of her. She looked tired, haunted even, but the moment her eyes landed on him, relief softened her features.

He hadn’t realized how much he needed that look until he saw it.

Alejandro pushed off his car and crossed the short distance to her. And before he could brace himself, she threw herself into his arms.

“Alejandro…” Her voice cracked against his chest, and she clung to him like she had been holding her breath all day, waiting for this one exhale.

His arms wrapped around her automatically, locking her against him. He inhaled the faint scent of her hair, something soft and grounding amidst the chaos that had devoured his entire day.

His heart kicked against his ribs in a way it hadn’t in years, and he realized with bone–deep certainty–he’d almost lost her once. He couldn’t survive losing her again.

“You shouldn’t be here, Cabezota,” he said slowly, his voice carrying more edge than he intended.

“Yet here I am,” she muttered in response.

She tipped her face up, searching his features like she was making sure he was real. Her lips parted, trembling. “I was so worried… with everything happening… and Antonio…”

“I know,” he said softly. He lowered his forehead to hers briefly, letting the contact ground him too. “But I’m not going anywhere.”

For a long moment, they stood like that—two bodies tethering each other in the middle of chaos. It wasn’t until reporters shifted closer, snapping photos, that Alejandro pulled back slightly, his arm still tight around her waist.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said firmly, steering her toward his car.

Inside, the doors closed, muting the storm outside. The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken words. Alejandro gripped the steering wheel, his jaw tense as he sighed deeply.