Sweet Vengeances
Chapter 61: Hearts Entangled

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Hearts Entangled

Lily and Ethan left the apartment in the cool early air, moving quickly and strategically. They still felt the effects of the revelation from last night, but they didn’t have time to think about it. They needed to get to work.

Ethan traversed the silent streets while driving in silence, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly. With her mind racing with ideas, Lily sat next to him and gazed out the window. The safe home Ethan described was tucked away from prying eyes on the city’s outskirts. It was their best chance to keep Daniel and Carlisle at bay.

She couldn’t ignore the building tension between them, though, as much as she wanted to concentrate on their task. Not the kind that comes from peril or mistrust, but something more profound, something that cannot be expressed.

"Are you alright?" She was startled out of her reverie by Ethan’s voice.

Lily looked over at him. Indeed. Just pondering.

He gave her a quick glance before going back to the road. "How about?"

Lily paused. How was she going to describe it? The distinction between them had started to get hazy. She wasn’t sure she was ready to characterize what had begun as a hesitant partnership, but it was evolving into something more.

"Almost everything," she finally uttered. Daniel. Carlisle. What will happen after this is all over?

Ethan’s mouth tightened. "We prioritize overcoming it first. After that, we work out the rest.

Even though it was a straightforward response, it didn’t calm the fury within her.

The tall trees that encircled the safe house offered natural shelter as it was tucked away in the middle of the forest. The cabin itself was simple but solid, safe but not opulent. Ethan silenced the engine as he turned into the gravel driveway.

He took their suitcases from the trunk and remarked, "We’ll be safe here."

Lily trailed after him, looking around the room. The living room was little, with a shabby couch in the middle and a fireplace in the corner. It was far from the opulent way of life she and Daniel used to lead. Strangely enough, though, it felt reassuring.

She said, "You’ve been here before."

Ethan gave a nod. "A couple of times. There is no paper trace back to me, thus it’s off the grid. We can do nothing and make plans for the future.

Lily observed him as he walked around the room, his presence lending a silent power to the atmosphere. After everything, she shouldn’t have felt secure in his presence, but she did.

She was frightened by that.

The cabin was filled with warm flickers of light as night fell and the fire blazed in the hearth. Ethan stood by the window, looking out at the darkness, while Lily reclined on the couch with a blanket over her shoulders.

She whispered, "You don’t have to keep watch all night."

Ethan looked over at her. "I don’t want to take any chances."

With a sigh, Lily pulled the blanket closer to her body. "Do you ever let your guard down, Ethan?"

He was silent for a moment. He rubbed the back of his neck and breathed. "Not very often."

Lily studied him, tilting her head. "Why?"

Ethan paused. "Because I’ve always had to pay for it."

Her chest constricted at the unvarnished honesty in his voice. "But you’re still assisting me."

Something inscrutable flickered on his face as his eyes met hers. "You are unique."

Lily gasped for air. Something neither of them dared to name charged the thickening air between them.

"Ethan," she murmured.

Before she could finish, he moved across the room, bridging the gap between them with a few steps. His presence was overwhelming, and the warmth of his body was intoxicating.

He whispered, his fingers grazing her cheek, "Tell me to stop."

Lily remained still. She remained silent. She was unable to.

Since she wished for him to continue.

Before Ethan eventually drew them closer, the moment hovered between them, brittle and uncertain. His lips met hers in a slow, purposeful kiss that both conveyed longing and restraint.

With her hands clutching his shirt as though he were the only solid object in the universe, Lily sank into him.

Furthermore, she wasn’t considering betrayal or retaliation at the time. Carlisle and Daniel weren’t on her mind.

All she could think about was Ethan.

Of how he gave her a sense of life.

That night, they didn’t get much sleep.

Overwhelmed by the intensity of the kiss, Lily had finally pushed away. Without her having to speak, Ethan had nodded in understanding and had not pushed.

However, the unsaid energy between them persisted.

Although neither of them acknowledged it, they were both worn out by morning.

While Lily sat at the tiny kitchen table going over the papers they had stolen from Daniel’s office, Ethan made a pot of coffee.

Despite the maelstrom inside of her, she spoke steadily as she stated, "We need a plan." "We still need something tangible to bring them down, even though we have proof that Daniel’s money is connected to Carlisle."

Ethan leaned against the counter and placed a coffee mug in front of her. "Last night, I made a couple calls. Someone I know might be able to assist.

Lily raised her head in surprise. "Who?"

An old acquaintance. Someone who has access to documents that we do not.

Lily’s eyes narrowed. "And is this person someone we can trust?"

Ethan paused. "We have no faith in anyone in this mess."

They didn’t have many choices at this point, so that wasn’t exactly comforting.

Lily let out a breath. "All right. When are we going to meet them?

"Tonight."

Lily nodded while firmly holding her coffee cup. They were getting closer to the truth with each step, but they were also getting closer to danger.

"Ethan," she uttered softly. "Regardless of what occurs... I simply wanted to let you know how much I value this. All of your actions."

Ethan looked at her for a while. She was shocked as he reached out and brushed a lock of hair away from her face.

"Lily," he continued quietly, "I told you." "You’re not alone in this."

Her throat constricted. She couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment when Ethan transformed from a mere ally into something more.

However, one thing was evident.

Whether they liked it or not, their emotions were now intertwined.

Furthermore, there was no going back.