Sweet Vengeances
Chapter 20: A Deal in the Shadows

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: A Deal in the Shadows

As Lily got closer to the docks, the air was thick with the smell of damp wood and salt. The warehouses were shrouded in a spooky veil as a dense fog rolled off the sea. As she approached Victor Kane’s secret world, which she had only seen from afar, her heart raced. She would be at the heart of it tonight.

Ethan moved silently and deliberately as he strolled next to her. He was a source of anxiety as much as solace. Although he had vowed to support her, she was aware that he didn’t quite agree with her choice to follow Jack’s plan.

As they arrived at the edge of the warehouse yard, Ethan said, "Stay close." "We’re leaving here if something goes wrong. No bravery.

Lily gripped her bag’s thin strap and nodded. Inside was a tiny recorder Jack had handed her, intended to catch any words Victor could say that would implicate him. It was all she had, yet it felt like a thin weapon against the man who had ruined so many lives.

Lily noticed Jack hiding in the shadows as they approached the warehouse. He nodded curtly to her and vanished into the mists. She was left to fulfill her duty, as his portion of the plan was already underway.

"All set?" Ethan said in a quiet voice.

"As ready as I’ll ever be," she answered, stifling her trepidation.

As expected, they parted ways. As Lily made her way to the warehouse’s side entrance, Ethan remained behind and watched from a safe distance. In the deafening silence, the sound of her heels clicking across the concrete was excessively loud.

She pushed the creaking door open to discover a vast room filled with bright overhead lighting. The building was filled with the gentle hum of voices and walls lined with stacks of wooden containers.

When Lily saw Victor at the far end of the room, her stomach turned. It was impossible to overlook his commanding presence as he stood close to a group of men. In sharp contrast to the dirty surroundings, his well-tailored suit and assured stance served as a reminder of his unwavering cockiness.

Lily inhaled deeply before moving into the light. Nothing could have prepared her for the way Victor’s icy gaze met hers, even though she had practiced this moment a hundred times.

His voice was brimming with fake astonishment as he said, "Lily." "What a pleasant surprise."

Ignoring the cold knot in her chest, she faked a grin. "I believed it was time for us to speak."

Victor motioned for the men surrounding him to disperse. Despite their uncomfortable looks, they complied and vanished into the darkness.

"What are you talking about?" With a casual tone and a keen stare, Victor asked.

Lily stepped forward, her pulse pounding. "About us. Regarding the chaos you’ve created in my life.

Victor laughed, but his laugh was cold. I see that you’re still harboring that resentment. I assumed you would have moved on by now.

"Got to go?" Lily’s voice rose as she shot back. Victor, you destroyed everything. My future, my marriage, and my mental health.

His face was unreadable as he arched an eyebrow. "Your husband was a weakling who gave in to temptation quickly. Don’t hold me responsible for his flaws.

She struggled to maintain her composure as her fingernails dug into her palms. "You played tricks on him. You manipulated him in your plans. You’re now attempting to ruin everything else that matters to me.

Victor’s eyes took on a menacing glimmer as his smile vanished. "Lily, you’ve always been dramatic. But you’d better have evidence if you’re here to blame me. If not, this discussion is now over.

Lily’s heartbeat accelerated. She had the opportunity to lure him in and persuade him to divulge anything damaging. She was careful with her word choice.

With a firm voice, she stated, "I am aware of the agreement you are making tonight." "The shipments, the vendors. Isn’t everything collapsing? You’re rushing to support your empire because of this.

A glimmer of rage appeared on Victor’s face as his jaw tightened. "You don’t know what you’re discussing."

"Don’t I?" Lily stepped closer and pressed. Victor, you’re desperate. And guys in a state of desperation make blunders.

His face grew serious, and she briefly feared he may snap. Instead, though, he laughed, a harsh, bitter sound that made her skin crawl.

Victor remarked, "I’ll give you that you’re brave." "But you won’t be saved by bravery."

Lily was about to reply when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see Jack, with a horrible mask over his face, come out of the shadows.

"What is this?" With a suspicious tone in his voice, Victor inquired. "A reunion?"

With his hands comfortably tucked into his pockets, Jack grinned. I just wanted to stop by. The fun would be too good to miss.

Lily’s heart fell. The plan did not include this. Jack was meant to avoid direct confrontation with Victor and remain out of sight.

Victor peered between them, his eyes narrowing. You two are now collaborating. How charming.

Call it a shared interest, Jack stated with ease. "Victor, you’ve made a lot of enemies. The moment had come for them to begin comparing notes.

A sneer curved Victor’s lips. "Jack, you are a fool. You believe that with her assistance, you can defeat me? She is merely a pawn in your scheme.

Lily became enraged. "Victor, don’t undervalue me. You never realized how far I’ve come, and I’m not going back now.

The air was sizzling with unsaid threats, and the tension in the room was oppressive. Victor stepped forward and stared at Lily.

"Coming here was a mistake," he stated in a low, threatening voice. "You believe you can win this game? Even the regulations are unknown to you.

A thunderous bang reverberated from outside the warehouse before Lily could react. A shouting sound ensued, and commotion broke out in the room.

As Jack took Lily’s arm and dragged her toward the door, Victor’s men stormed into the room with their rifles drawn.

"Time to leave," he stated sharply.

As they fled, Lily’s heart was racing, and she could hear gunfire in her ears. Ethan emerged from the darkness with a worried expression on his face.

When they arrived at the dock’s edge, he demanded, "What the hell happened?"

"Victor is on us," Jack remarked somberly. "We must reorganize."

Lily couldn’t get rid of the sensation that the walls were closing in on them as they ran into the night. The stakes had never been higher, and the fight with Victor was far from done.