Page 98 of Playboy

“All in good time,” Ramon replied smoothly. “First, I need to know if you’ll help. Think of this as a two-for-one deal. You get to settle a personal score with my traitor of a sister, and I get my revenge.”

Omar was silent for a moment, weighing his options. Ramon knew the memories of Selena would flood Omar’s mind. The memories of the night she fled Venezuela and the anger and betrayal he felt when she left. But more than that, Ramon knew Omar’s need for control and retribution would drive him to agree to this deal.

“Alright,” Omar finally said, his voice steady. “I’ll handle it. But I want your word that you won’t interfere in my plans for Selena.”

Ramon’s smile widened. “My sister lost her place in our family the moment she turned her back on us. She is all yours.”

Omar was silent for a few seconds before his voice came across the line filled with determination. “Consider it done.”

“Excellent,” Ramon said. “I’ll send you all the details and a contact of mine who is already in Virginia Beach keeping an eye on things. I’m sure he’d be willing to assist you. Just keep me updated, and when the time comes, I’ll have a plane ready.”

Ramon hung up the phone, satisfaction coursing through him. He leaned back in his chair, thinking about how perfectly everything was falling into place. With Omar’s help, he would finally get his revenge on Gabby. And as for Selena, there was no doubt that she would pay for crossing Omar.

He poured himself a glass of whiskey. It was now only a matter of time before everything he planned came to fruition.

???

Omar ended the call with Ramon. His heart was racing. Selena. His sweet, sweet Selena. After six long years, he finally found her.

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling as memories of their time together flooded his mind. Selena had been the love of his life, his everything. But that one night,fueled by drugs and alcohol, he had lost all control. He had taken things too far, punishing her in front of his business associates to assert his dominance. The image of her bruised and broken in the hospital still haunted him. It was a constant reminder of his biggest regret.

He stood up and started to pace his office. Ramon’s request for this Gabriella woman was straightforward enough. He needed to handle Ramon’s business first, and then he’d deal with Selena.

He walked over to his desk and pulled open the top drawer. He reached for the photograph of Selena, which he had kept there. Her bright smile and sparking brown eyes looked back at him. It was a stark contrast to the last time he saw her. He gently traced her face with his finger as a lump formed in his throat.

“I’ll find you, my sweetness,” he whispered before returning the picture to the drawer.

As he went to sit down, his phone pinged with a text from Ramon. It was a phone number for a guy named Tyson.

As he dialed the number that Ramon provided, he pulled up his email and sent a message to her telling her to have his plane ready tomorrow morning for a flight to Virginia Beach. He wasn’t going to waste any more time.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Gabby walked with her head held high as she entered the packed room. Everyone was there: her family, her teammates, Playboy and his team, and even people wearing the Coast Guard uniform she didn’t know.

Hushed murmurs could be heard as she walked to the front of the room and stood behind the long table reserved for her. Her posture was straight and defiant. Her heart pounded in her chest as she faced the medical review board. The three members of the board sat opposite her, their expressions unreadable.

The chair of the board, Captain Stone, cleared her throat. “Petty Officer Second Class Gabriella Allen, we have reviewed your case thoroughly. The evidence provided by Vice Admiral Alley, along with doctors’ statements and statements from your Commanding Officer, Captain Graham, have all been considered. Before we announce our decision, do you have any final statements that you would like to make for your case?”

Gabby took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination. “Yes, Captain, I do.”

Before she began, her eyes swept the room. Playboy gave her an encouraging smile while Captain Graham nodded his head in support of whatever she was about to say. But there was one set of eyes that met hers from the back of the room that gave her the confidence for what she was about to do.

Turning toward the three members seated in front of her, she began.

“I’ve served the United States Coast Guard with dedication and honor. I’ve faced numerous challenges and have alwaysrisen to the occasion. My injury is serious, but it’s not insurmountable. In fact, I believe that you each have received a copy of the PFT that I took just the other day, which shows that I have met all the requirements needed to continue in the Coast Guard, along with all the physical requirements the MSRT requires.

I personally believe that I have the right to return to duty.”

Vice Admiral Alley’s lips curled into a small smirk, but he remained silent.

Gabby continued, her voice steady. “However, I’ve come to realize that my contributions are not valued as they should be. The actions of certain individuals have made it clear that bias and prejudice still exist within this organization.”

The members of the board shifted uncomfortably. Captain Stone opened her mouth to speak, but Gabby raised her hand, signaling she wasn’t finished.

“Before you render your decision,” Gabby said, her gaze locking with Alley’s, “I would like to make it known to the board that earlier this morning, I submitted paperwork for separation orders. My current enlistment contract ends in exactly ninety days. I am seeking an Honorable Discharge. So, no matter what your decision here today is, I will be leaving the Coast Guard.

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the room, along with family and friend’s shocked expressions as she kept this information close to her. It was only this morning that she informed Playboy.

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