Sweet Vengeances
Chapter 67: A Lover’s Gamble

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: A Lover’s Gamble

That night, Lily hardly slept at all. Suffocating and unrelenting, the weight of Daniel’s words hung over her like a thundercloud. You have total faith in the leaker.

In her heart, she knew they had a traitor among them, but she wanted to brush it off as just another one of his tricks. And all of their hard work would be in vain if they couldn’t identify the person quickly.

The sun was shining through the safe house’s windows, and the morning was cold. When she entered, Ethan was already up and drinking coffee at the kitchen table, his piercing eyes darting up.

He put down his cup and muttered, "You look like hell."

Lily didn’t want to argue. "I was unable to stop thinking."

Ethan gave a knowing nod. "What did Daniel say?"

After some hesitation, she took a seat across from him. "What if Ethan is correct?"

He clenched his jaw. "You believe one of us is betraying the country?"

Lily let out a breath. "How else is Carlisle staying ahead of the game, even though I don’t want to accept it? He is being fed information by someone.

With an inscrutable expression, Ethan leaned back. "We then set a trap."

Lily blinked. "A trap?"

Ethan gave a nod. We spread misleading information, which only a select few are aware of. We will be able to identify the leaker if it reaches Carlisle.

A glimmer of discomfort swept through her. "And if he doesn’t receive it?"

Ethan shrugged. After that, we reevaluate. However, we must act now.

Lily nodded after biting her lip. "What is the strategy?"

A sneer formed on Ethan’s lips. "We take chances."

Constructing a plausible lie was the first stage.

In the study of the safe house, Liam, Alejandro, and two other reliable associates were summoned to a private meeting. Ethan laid out a fictitious layout on the table that described a purported strategy to assault one of Carlisle’s most important warehouses in order to bring down his company.

Ethan pointed to a spot on the map and declared, "This is our next move." "Carlisle has been using this port to handle shipments. We cut off his supply chain if we catch them.

Lily scanned the faces around her for any hint of remorse.

Alejandro gave his chin a rub. "Are we certain of this information?"

"Yes," Ethan responded with ease. "That’s our best chance."

Liam let out a breath. "Then let’s get started."

Lily felt a knot in her stomach. Carlisle would quickly learn of this scheme if any of them were the leak.

They laid the trap.

A few hours later, Ethan and Lily were sitting by themselves in his car, which was parked close to an abandoned warehouse where they had installed security.

They waited.

Observing.

Every second seemed to drag on forever.

Lily gave Ethan a quick look. "What if nobody falls for the trick?"

Ethan tapped the driving wheel with his fingertips. After that, we start over. However, I feel...

A black SUV came up close to the warehouse, and he stopped talking.

Lily gasped for air. "Is that"

Ethan reached for his revolver and whispered, "Yes." "Those are Carlisle’s men."

The automobile doors opened, displaying three individuals, and her pulse pounded. One of them turned toward the warehouse entrance after speaking into a phone.

Lily’s heart fell.

They had been alerted by someone.

Ethan let out a loud sigh. "Our traitor has come."

Lily took a deep breath. "Who do you believe it to be?"

Ethan’s eyes became gloomy. "We will soon find out."

They weren’t armed to the teeth. The plan was not to do that.

Rather, Ethan took out his phone and texted someone.

Ethan: They fell for the ruse. Everyone should be called back to the safe house. Right now.

Tension was high between them as they made their way back a few minutes later.

Liam, Alejandro, and the others were waiting in the living room when they got there. A sense of uneasiness permeated the air.

Ethan wasted no time. "The men from Carlisle arrived at the warehouse."

Not a word.

Alejandro then muttered a curse. "There is a rat here."

Liam tightened his jaw. "Who?"

Ethan’s eyes were calculating and piercing. "We will soon find out."

Lily crossed her arms. "We must all be truthful with one another. Carlisle received information from someone here.

Nobody said anything.

Then all of a sudden, Jonathan, one of the men, shifted uneasily. "This is absurd. You’re claiming that one of us

Ethan interrupted him. "One of you did, we know that."

Lily moved forward. You may ease the situation by confessing right away. Or we might go the difficult route.

More quiet.

Jonas took a deep breath. For a split second, his gaze strayed to the exit.

Ethan managed to catch it.

He moved quickly, knocking Jonas against the wall and putting his forearm to his throat. "How much did you get paid by Carlisle?"

With his hands grabbing for Ethan’s arm, Jonas gasped. "I—I have no idea what you’re discussing!"

Ethan remained still. "I promise that you will regret lying to me once more."

Lily’s chest clenched as she watched. Quiet and in the background, Jonas had always been. They had put their faith in him.

He had now betrayed them.

"Speak," Ethan snarled.

Jonas’s face flushed. "It wasn’t supposed to be like this," he eventually choked out.

Ethan relaxed just enough that he could talk.

Coughing, Jonas’s eyes flitted to Lily. "I had leverage because of Carlisle. My brother is deeply involved. Carlisle was going to murder him if I didn’t help.

Lily felt a knot in her stomach. "You sold us out, then."

Jonas had a desperate expression. "I didn’t want to! I tried to deceive him when I could, but—"

Ethan’s hold became more firm. "That doesn’t improve it."

Liam muttered curses to himself. "So, how do we handle him?"

Lily’s hands tightened into fists. Justice was what she desired. She demanded that Jonas make amends for the deaths he had taken.

She could see the terror in his eyes, though.

Ethan was observing her while he awaited her choice.

When she did speak, her tone was icy. "He isn’t going to leave this alone."

Jonas’s face went white. "Please, Lily—"

Ethan’s face was unintelligible. "This is over. Tonight.

Jonas began to tremble. "Please don’t—I can assist! I can make this right!

Lily stared at him. "It’s too late."

Short, terrified gasps were the source of Jonas’ breath. "Lily—"

She looked aside.

Ethan gave a nod. Jonas was seized by two of their men and pulled out of the room.

Lily gave a shaky sigh. The truth was what she had sought.

She wasn’t sure she could live with it now that she had it.

Ethan spoke quietly. "Are you alright?"

She gave him a look. "I’m not sure."

Ethan extended his hand to grasp hers. "We took the necessary action."

Lily closed her eyes tightly.

So why did she feel as though she was becoming less of herself?