Sweet Vengeances
Chapter 66: Breaking the Silence

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Breaking the Silence

Long after they had departed, Lily continued to think about the aftermath of the struggle at the docks. Adrenaline rushed through her veins, the sight of falling victims, and the stench of gunpowder had made it all too real. Now that Carlisle was defensive, he would only return with greater vigor.

The beast had not been killed, but it had been injured.

Lily sat at the kitchen table back at the safe house, gazing at the phone. On the screen, a single message from an unidentified number blinked.

"You have no idea what you’ve begun. Get out of here while you can.

As soon as Ethan entered, his gaze instantly focused on her stiff posture. "What is it?"

Lily gave the phone to him. His face darkened as he read the letter. Without saying a word, he grabbed the gadget and threw it in the sink, then he turned on the tap and let the water ruin it.

"That is not a possibility," he stated bluntly.

Lily let out a breath. "Carlisle is unstoppable."

"No," Ethan concurred. "But we won’t either."

Grim-faced, Liam walked inside the room. "We must speak."

Ethan folded his arms and leaned against the counter. "Now what?"

After a moment of hesitation, Liam stated, "We have a problem." A leak has occurred.

Lily felt sick to her stomach. "A leak?"

Liam gave a nod. "Carlisle has been receiving information from someone."

The room was silent. Lily and Ethan looked at each other as Liam’s words sank in. They had been exceedingly cautious. But they had been betrayed by someone close to them.

Liam took a seat and massaged his temple. "I reviewed every detail, including our interactions and movements. This room contained the only people who were aware of the meeting with Alejandro.

Lily’s heartbeat accelerated. You’re implying that one of us

"No," Ethan interrupted. Not us. But a person we can trust.

Liam gave a somber nod. "And we must ascertain who."

A few hours later, Lily sat in the living room and mentally reviewed every detail. While Liam called to confirm their security, Ethan was outside conversing with Alejandro.

Her thoughts turned to the individuals concerned—who might have given Carlisle information?

Daniel? No, he was too preoccupied with hiding his identity.

Alejandro? Not likely. He had just put everything on the line to oppose Carlisle.

Then who?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a gentle knock on the door.

"Enter," she said.

Ethan shut the door behind him and entered. Alejandro’s double protection. He shares our current level of commitment to this.

Lily nodded but continued to ponder. Ethan looked at her. "The leak is on your mind."

She looked him in the eye. "I feel like there’s something we’re missing."

Ethan took a seat next to her. "We’ll work it out."

Lily let out a breath. "What if we don’t?"

Ethan grounded her with his touch as he grabbed her hand. "We’ll."

She wished to have faith in him. She had to.

Later that evening, as Ethan and Liam were planning, Lily snuck out of the safe home and drove to a historic downtown pub where secrets were exchanged over whiskey and people whispered in low tones.

She had made a call to someone she never would have imagined contacting.

Daniel.

The sight of him seated in the farthest booth, his customary smugness replaced with a nervous strain, made her stomach turn.

Lily moved to the opposite seat from him. "I didn’t anticipate you showing up."

A half-smile formed on Daniel’s lips. "My curiosity overcame me."

She didn’t spend any time. "Who is giving Carlisle information leaks?"

Daniel’s eyebrow went up. How come I would tell you?

Leaning forward, Lily spoke softly. "Because you won’t be far behind if Carlisle defeats me."

Daniel laughed, but his laughter was not amused. "Lily, you’ve changed. You were softer once.

She tightened her jaw. "I was naive once."

He sighed after examining her for a while. "You’re not really sure?"

Lily’s heartbeat accelerated. "You know what?"

Daniel sipped his drink, then looked her in the eye. "You’re not looking in the right spot."

"What is meant by that?" She made a demand.

His voice was hardly more than a whisper as he drew closer. "Not just a person close to you is the leak. It’s someone you have total faith in.

A shiver went through her body.

Ethan.

No. It isn’t possible.

Daniel read her reaction and grinned. "I didn’t specify who. However, perhaps you ought to start posing appropriate queries.

Lily took a deep breath. "If you’re telling lies—"

Daniel said with ease, "I have nothing to gain by lying to you." Don’t claim I didn’t warn you, though.

Her chair scraped the floor as she jerked to her feet. She turned and left without saying another word, doubt roiling inside her head.

Ethan was waiting for her when she got back to the safe house. As soon as he spotted her, his face changed. "Where did you go?"

Lily paused. "I required clarifications."

He clenched his jaw. "From whom?"

She inhaled deeply. "Daniel."

Ethan’s face grew serious. "Are you serious?"

She blurted out, "He knew something." "We have complete faith in the leaker," he stated.

Ethan’s gaze flickered. "And you think he’s real?"

Lily looked into his face. "Should I not?"

There was a crack of tension between them.

Ethan let out a loud sigh. "I would never—" said Lily.

She answered, "I understand," in a calmer tone. She also did. However, the nagging doubt persisted.

Ethan took a step forward. "Don’t let Daniel shake us, no matter what he tries to do."

Lily’s pulse was racing as she gazed up at him. "Then assist me in identifying the true identity."

Ethan’s determination sharpened his eyes. "We’ll."

That has to be sufficient for now.

However, one thought persisted in Lily’s thoughts as she lay awake that night.

If it wasn’t Ethan who leaked... Who, then, had deceived them?

And how much would it cost to know?