Sweet Vengeances
Chapter 58: The Cost of Revenge

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: The Cost of Revenge

When Lily and Ethan reached the safe home, there was a lot of tension in the air. The small building, which stood in stark contrast to the pandemonium they had left behind, was tucked away in a remote area of the city. Although its remote position gave them a sense of protection, Lily felt that it also made their task seem more serious.

She looked around the room as she entered. The safe house had two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a tiny living area. The furniture was practical but not particularly welcoming, and the walls were empty except for a few old photos. It was obvious that this was a home designed for survival rather than comfort.

As Lily stood in the middle of the room with her arms folded securely across her chest, Ethan moved with the ease of practice, checking the locks on the windows and doors. As the truth of their predicament set in, her mind swirled.

"Do you believe they will pursue us?" The stillness was broken by her question.

Ethan gave her a quick glance, his face unreadable. "They’ll make an effort. However, this location is off the grid. For the time being, we are in the lead.

"For the time being," Lily said, her tone tinged with resentment. "That isn’t particularly consoling."

Ethan took a step forward, his eyes unwavering. "Lily, I won’t allow anything to happen to you. I want you to think that.

Despite her desire to trust him, Lily was deeply wounded by treachery. Once, she had also believed in Daniel, and it had almost devastated her. However, she saw a ray of optimism because of Ethan’s presence and his unwavering desire.

"I’m trying," she said quietly.

Ethan gave a seemingly contented nod. "Take a nap. We will begin anew in the morning.

Lily struggled to fall asleep as the hours dragged on into the night. As her imagination reenacted the events that had brought her here, she lay on the shabby mattress and gazed at the cracked ceiling. She had come closer to this point with each decision and discovery. However, the burden of retaliation now felt more pressing than she had expected.

The sound of footsteps in the corridor broke her reverie. The dim light from the kitchen outlined Ethan’s silhouette as he emerged in the doorway a moment later.

"You’re still conscious," he whispered softly.

She sat up and said, "So are you."

Ethan entered and crossed his arms while resting against the wall. "I couldn’t sleep." I have too much on my mind.

"The same," Lily acknowledged. After hesitating, she said, "Do you ever question whether it’s worthwhile? This whole thing—for retaliation?

Ethan averted his gaze as his jaw tensed. "Every day. But, Lily, it goes beyond retaliation. It has to do with fairness. The goal is to prevent individuals like Daniel and Carlisle from harming others.

Lily examined him, looking for any weakness in his determination. "How about us? How much does it cost us?

His eyes, dark and unreadable, met hers. "All of it," he said plainly.

For a few while, neither of them spoke as the weight of his words descended upon her. Ethan then moved across the room and sat on the side of the bed after pushing off the wall.

"Lily, I won’t tell you lies," he declared. "It won’t get any simpler. The danger increases as we go deeper. But they win if we stop now. And I’m unable to tolerate that.

Lily’s throat tightened as she swallowed. "I’m not sure if I can handle it either."

Ethan extended his hand and delicately touched hers. The gesture caught Lily off guard, and she experienced an unidentified emotional outburst.

"You underestimate your strength," he remarked quietly.

She let herself believe him for a second.

The chilly truth of their objective arrived too soon, along with the morning. With his laptop and papers arranged on the coffee table, Ethan had created a temporary command center in the living room.

As Lily joined him, he handed her a cup of coffee and said, "Here."

She took a drink and whispered, "Thank you." Her mood was reflected in the coffee’s harshness.

A map on the table was indicated by Ethan. "I’ve been reviewing Daniel’s files once more. These red markers? All of these places are connected to his offshore accounts. A warehouse located in the industrial district is one of them.

"A warehouse?" Lily frowned as she asked.

Ethan gave a nod. It is listed under a dummy company owned by Carlisle. It’s probably more than just a place to store things.

Lily’s thoughts were racing. "You believe it to be a front?"

"Exactly. Additionally, we might discover the proof we need to remove them if we are able to enter.

Lily put down her coffee, her hands shaking a little. "What is the strategy?"

Ethan had a serious look on his face. We hold off until dusk. It will be simpler to enter undetected.

"What if we get caught?"

With a firm voice, Ethan looked her in the eye. "We won’t be."

Lily found herself questioning every choice that had led her here during the stressful hours before the expedition. However, a feeling of peace descended upon her as night fell and they got ready to depart.

Clad in dark apparel, they moved with precision and calculation across the city like shadows. With its massive structure encircled by a chain-link fence, the warehouse loomed ahead.

They huddled behind a line of crates as Ethan murmured, "This is it."

Lily followed him to a side entrance, her heart racing. Ethan swiftly picked up a set of tools, picked up the lock, and gestured for her to follow.

The smell of metal and oil filled the air inside. The stacks of containers and equipment were shadowed in an unsettling way by the low lighting.

Ethan whispered, "Stay close," and guided her farther into the warehouse.

Lily couldn’t get rid of the sensation that they were being observed as they moved. Every distant sound, every floorboard squeak, made her nervous.

Ethan paused in front of a locked door and said, "Here." The door opened to show a small office after he swiftly worked the lock.

They discovered a filing cabinet full of papers and a desk piled high with papers. Ethan started looking right away, moving quickly and accurately.

He told them to look for anything that had Carlisle’s name on it.

Lily nodded while she rummaged through the folders, her hands shaking. She felt the weight of their task bearing down on her, yet she remained strong.

Ethan whistled softly after what seemed like a lifetime. "I got it."

When Lily turned around, he was holding out a ledger with pages full of damning information.

With a hint of victory in his voice, he declared, "This is it."

However, the sound of footsteps reverberated throughout the warehouse before they could celebrate.

"Ethan," Lily muttered as her heart began to race.

He took hold of her hand and dragged her to the door. "Go now."

Lily came to the realization that retaliation would cost more than she had ever thought as they ran away into the night. But she was prepared to pay the price as long as they were together.