Sweet Vengeances
Chapter 63: The Enemy Within

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: The Enemy Within

Daniel’s icy remarks echoed in Lily’s head as she sat motionless at the table. She could not get the picture of Ethan, bloodied and tied, out of her head. Her chest ached from fear, but she pushed it away and replaced it with icy resolve.

She had to prevent Daniel from winning.

Even though she really wanted to jump on him and demand Ethan’s release, she realized that wasn’t the right course of action. Daniel thrived on dominance, and he thought he was in complete control at the moment. He must have thought she was breaking. That she will do what she was told.

However, she refused.

Rather, as he had done to her for so long, she would outmaneuver him.

With a start, Lily picked up the picture and tucked it into her coat pocket. Her heart thumping in her ears, she ran out of the eatery. As she walked, her thoughts racing, the city lights became blurry. The time had come for her to have a strategy.

A block away, Liam was waiting in the car. He realized something was off when Lily got into the passenger seat.

He said without his customary grin, "What happened?"

With a trembling breath, Lily gave him the picture. "Ethan is with Daniel."

Liam gripped the wheel and muttered curses. "Fuck it." He crumpled the picture in his fist after staring at it. "That jerk is truly desperate."

With a hauntingly composed tone, Lily stated, "He gave me an ultimatum." "Destroy the proof. Leave. Additionally, he might let Ethan leave.

Liam’s mouth clenched. "You don’t think so, do you?"

"No," Lily acknowledged. "Daniel has never fulfilled his commitments." Her eyes were hard as she turned to face Liam. "This implies that we are regaining Ethan on our own."

Liam’s face lit up slowly with a smile. "I recognize that Lily now."

Lily paced the little living room back at the safe home as Liam called everyone he knew. The space felt oppressive, with each moment seeming to drag on forever.

Liam shoved his phone into his pocket and finally said, "Got something." "One of my guys believes Daniel is keeping Ethan in one of Carlisle’s warehouses close to the docks after tracking down a suspicious delivery order."

Lily’s heart was racing. After that, we head there. Right now.

Liam paused. We’re not sure how many men Daniel has there, Lily. If we enter blind—

"I refuse to wait," she yelled. "Daniel wins if we wait."

Liam let out a sigh. "So we do this cleverly."

He took out a map and used his finger to trace the docks. Carlisle does his more... covert business out of this warehouse. It won’t be simple to track because it’s not in Daniel’s name. However, security will be strict if Ethan is present.

Lily’s fists clenched. "After that, we remove each one individually."

Liam grinned. "You’re talking my language now."

They squatted in the darkness outside the warehouse hours later. The metallic smell of oil and rust blended with the salty harbor breeze. The perimeter was monitored by two guards, who moved with trained precision.

Liam produced his blade. "We carry out this task in silence."

Grasping the revolver he had handed her earlier, Lily nodded. She didn’t hesitate, even though it felt heavy in her grasp.

They went quickly. Liam silently struck down the first guard, his blade swift and deadly. The second was handled by Lily, who put the revolver to his temple before he could sound the alarm.

Crates were piled high along the walls of the poorly illuminated warehouse. Voices drifted faintly through the large room.

Lily and Liam walked through the darkness until they came upon a temporary holding facility close to the rear.

And there he was.

With a small line of blood running down his jaw and a damaged face, Ethan was strapped to a chair. With their rifles idly by their sides, two men stood watch.

Lily felt her blood boil.

"You take right, I’ll take left," Liam muttered.

She gave a nod.

Like ghosts, they moved. The guard crumpled silently as Liam’s dagger made contact with its target first. Before the second man knew what was happening, Lily’s revolver was shoved against his back.

"Stop it," she growled.

The guard paused. The click reverberated like a threat as she withdrew the hammer.

He let the pistol fall.

Liam used the butt of his knife to knock him unconscious.

Untying the ropes, Lily’s hands shaking, she hurried to Ethan. "Ethan," she said in a whisper.

He raised his head feebly, yet the corner of his mouth twitched with laughter as his eyes locked with hers. "Knew you were coming."

With a trembling giggle, she assisted him in standing up. "As if I would let you perish."

Liam’s voice interrupted. "We must relocate. Right now.

Lily followed Liam into the warehouse, supporting Ethan, but as soon as they got to the exit, a gunshot was heard.

Pain raced through Lily’s side before she could even respond.

Ethan tightened his hold on her as she stumbled.

"Lily!"

She put a hand to her wound while gritting her teeth. Warm, sticky blood trickled down her fingers.

With a smug smile on his face and his gun still elevated, Daniel came into view.

He drewled, "Well, well." "It appears that you were unable to leave after all."

Daniel tsked as Liam raised his revolver. If I were you, I wouldn’t act in that manner. Unless you wish to hasten Lily’s bleeding out.

Ethan was trembling with anger. "Daniel, you are dead."

Daniel laughed. You’ve always had a hero complex, Ethan. How does it feel to know that you can’t save her, please?

Lily forced herself to remain upright even as her eyesight became blurry. She only had one chance.

She lifted the rifle just enough and gripped it tighter in her free hand.

Daniel didn’t anticipate it.

She squeezed the trigger.

He was shot in the shoulder when the bullet struck its target. His rifle clattered to the ground as he lurched back with a hoarse yell.

In an instant, Liam had him pinned down.

Pressing his hands over Lily’s wound, Ethan turned to face her. "Remain with me," he said.

She smiled weakly at him. "I promised not to let him win."

Knowing that she was finally free for the first time in a long time, Lily allowed herself to close her eyes as sirens sounded in the distance, heralding the end of Daniel’s rule.