Sweet Vengeances
Chapter 22: In the Darkness

Chapter 22: Chapter 22: In the Darkness

As the crew got ready for the night’s mission, the quiet of the deserted bookstore became deafening silence. Jack had given them clear instructions on how to carry out their plan: sneak inside the warehouse, locate the package Victor was protecting, and collect as much evidence as they could without getting caught.

Anticipation and terror entangled Lily’s nerves as she paced the little space. Every step seemed like the countdown to an unanticipated explosion.

Ethan sat close by, quietly loading a tiny pistol he had earlier pulled from his luggage. Without raising his gaze, he said, "Lily, you don’t have to come." "This is something Jack and I can manage."

She halted her pacing and gave him a fierce look. "I won’t stand by and watch you two put your lives in danger. This is also my battle.

Jack smirked as he leaned across the desk, a cigarette resting between his lips. That’s the essence. But keep in mind, Lily, that this isn’t a fantasy of retaliation. Victor will know we’re on him after one misstep. We enter, remain silent, and exit.

Jack’s comments weighed heavily on Lily as she nodded. "I get it."

Jack put his cigarette out in a broken ashtray. "All right. Let’s leave.

It was an anxious drive to the warehouse. The only sound in the car was the hum of the motor as Jack drove with familiar ease. Ethan sat in the passenger seat and looked at Lily in the backseat every now and then.

Lily gazed out the window, reliving the sequence of events that had brought her to this point in time. All the dangers and betrayals had led her to this point, to a life she never would have dreamed of. She couldn’t tell if she was excited or afraid.

Jack broke the silence by saying, "We’re here."

In the dim moonlight, the warehouse’s tall structure created lengthy shadows as it loomed ahead. Several guards with flashlights patrolled the perimeter of the property, which was enclosed by a chain-link fence.

"Security is tighter than I anticipated," Ethan muttered in a hushed voice.

Jack turned off the engine and parked the automobile a safe distance away. This is due to the fact that everything within is significant. It indicates that we are in the proper location.

Lily swallowed forcefully, her hands shaking a little. Reassuringly, Ethan reached back and squeezed her hand. "Remain near me," he whispered.

Appreciative of his presence, she nodded.

In order to avoid being noticed, the three of them moved slowly toward the barrier. Jack quickly removed the chain-link barrier after taking a pair of wire cutters out of his luggage.

"We stay in the shadows once we’re inside," Jack said. "No needless dangers."

They crept through the gap, Lily right after them. Crates and cargo containers cluttered the large warehouse yard. The subtle scent of rust and gasoline permeated the air.

Jack took the lead, moving with precision and silence. Ethan remained by Lily’s side, looking at everything about them as he continuously assessed their situation.

They arrived at the warehouse’s side, where they could enter through a little door. Jack took out a set of tools after inspecting the lock. "Give me a moment," he muttered.

As Lily observed Jack at work, her heart raced. It seemed like every second went on forever. She continued to look over her shoulder, half expecting to see one of Victor’s guards.

The lock finally clicked open. Jack motioned for them to follow him as he pulled the door open.

The warehouse was unusually silent inside. Crates with mysterious code labels were arranged in rows on metal shelving that extended toward the ceiling. The concrete floor was covered in lengthy, flickering shadows from dim overhead lights.

"Spread out," Jack said softly. "Search for anything bearing the codes we talked about."

After nodding, Lily and Ethan parted ways and went down separate aisles. Lily looked at the labels on the cartons, her hands shaking. She trusted Jack’s intuition even if she didn’t know what she was looking for.

Every sound, including the distant buzz of equipment and the creak of the floor beneath her feet, appeared to be amplified by the suffocating quiet as she proceeded more into the warehouse. She made herself keep her eyes on the containers, looking for anything that may catch her attention.

"Lily."

She turned to see Ethan coming toward her, his face tight. He produced a little notebook he had discovered on a desk close by. "Take a look at this."

Lily’s eyes widened as she read the contents of the notepad. Victor’s entire business was documented in black and white in this ledger, which was full of specific records of shipments, payments, and names.

Her heart quickened as she muttered, "This is it." "What we need is this."

Ethan gave a nod. "Let’s locate Jack and leave this place."

Footsteps reverberated around the warehouse before they could move. Lily’s heart leaped into her throat as she froze. With a finger to his lips, Ethan took her arm and dragged her behind a pile of crates.

With their headlights piercing the darkness, two soldiers stepped into the aisle.

One of them questioned, "You hear something?"

The other guard gave a head shake. It’s probably just the wind. Let’s continue our journey.

The guards’ footsteps faded into the distance as they went by, and Lily held her breath.

Ethan whispered, "That was close."

With her hands still shaking, Lily nodded. "Leave now."

Near the rear of the warehouse, they discovered Jack looking at a huge crate that had the same codes as the ledger on it.

"Discover anything?" Jack inquired.

Ethan gave the journal to him. "This."

Jack’s expression hardened as he turned the pages. "This is priceless. If this comes out, Victor won’t get well.

"We must depart immediately," Lily remarked. The guards are out on patrol. It won’t be long until they discover us.

Jack put the notebook in his bag and nodded. "Let’s go."

The trip back to the vehicle was terrifying. Every sound sounded like a possible foe, and every shadow a hazard. However, they arrived at the fence without any problems.

A tiny sigh of relief escaped Lily’s lips as they squeezed through the gap Jack had previously made. They had succeeded. They possessed a weapon that might defeat Victor at last.

However, a figure emerged from the darkness as they got closer to the vehicle.

"Well, well," said a chilly voice. "You seem to have been quite busy."

Two of Victor Kane’s guys stood on either side of him. His eyes flared with rage, and his sharp features were lighted by the fire of a cigarette.

Lily’s throat tightened with breath. How did he discover them?

"You believed you could beat me?" With a tone full of disdain, Victor spoke. "Did you honestly believe I wouldn’t anticipate this?"

Jack took a step forward, his face composed but lethal. Victor, let them go. This is private between us.

Victor grinned. "Oh, Jack. The hero is always present.

Lily glanced between Jack and Victor, her heart racing. The promise of violence permeated the air, and the tension was evident.

"What should we do?" she asked Ethan in a whisper.

He gave her hand a firm squeeze. "Remain composed. We’ll find a solution to this.

However, as Victor’s soldiers drew closer, Lily understood that there was no certainty of escape.