Sweet Vengeances
Chapter 78: A Dangerous Revelation

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: A Dangerous Revelation

Standing motionless in Ethan’s flat, Lily inhaled sharply when she saw the blood splattered on the walls and floor. Aside from the distant hum of city life outside, the chamber seemed unnaturally quiet.

Her worst nightmare had materialized.

Ethan had left.

With his revolver in hand and his keen eyes searching the room, Alejandro moved in behind her. His face grew serious as he absorbed the scene. He mumbled to himself, "Damn it."

Legs shaking under her, Lily pushed herself to move. She felt it with trembling fingers while crouching beside the biggest patch of blood on the kitchen counter. It had not gone bad.

His absence had been brief.

"We must locate him." She spoke in a raspy voice that was hardly audible.

Alejandro took out his phone and nodded. "I’ll assign my men to it." He moved aside and started talking to one of his connections in quick Spanish.

Lily got to her feet slowly, her thoughts whirling. Ethan had been taken by Carlisle. That indicated that he had a plan.

Something significant.

A piece of paper was lying neatly on the couch when she turned to face it. As she lifted it up, her heart raced.

Checkmate.

Only one word.

One word—dreadful and damning.

Lily’s fists clenched. Ethan was suddenly the pawn in a game Carlisle was playing.

She looked across at Alejandro. "We must think. Carlisle would take him where?

Alejandro let out a sigh and hung up. The city is filled with safe houses for that scumbag. He might be anywhere.

Lily gave a headshake. "No. He would have killed Ethan here if he had wanted him dead. He had a cause for taking him.

Alejandro squinted his eyes. "Make use of leverage."

Lily felt a knot in her stomach. "He’s trying to reach me by using Ethan."

Alejandro gave a somber nod. "And he’ll see to it that you locate him—but on his terms."

In an attempt to calm her breathing, Lily ran a hand through her hair. "We have to outpace him."

Alejandro scowled as he considered. "James may have some information."

Lily paused. How much did James actually know about this, even though he had warned them?

Alejandro insisted, "We don’t have another lead." "We have to hurry if Carlisle is making his move."

Lily let out a loud sigh. "All right. Let’s leave.

Sweat and antiseptic odors filled the interrogation room.

James sat handcuffed on the metal table, staring at the two-way mirror with a blank expression on his bruised face. He grinned when Alejandro and Lily entered.

He drewled, "Well, that didn’t take long."

Lily leaned forward and banged her hands on the table. "Where is he?"

James’s eyebrow went up. "He?"

Alejandro snarled and moved to stand next to her, saying, "Don’t play games." "Ethan was taken by Carlisle. What place did he take him to?

James let out a loud sigh. "And you believe that I would simply divulge that information?"

Lily twitched her fingers. She desired to choke him. She yelled, "Carlisle left you for dead." "To him, you are nothing. We reached you first, which is the only reason you are still alive.

James’s grin faltered.

Lily persisted. Do you wish to avenge him? Assist us.

After examining her for a while, James reclined on his chair. "You’re correct. Carlisle let me down. But what would I gain if I tell you where he is?

James recoiled as Alejandro slapped a fist against the table. "What about avoiding an unmarked grave?"

James looked immediately uncomfortable and licked his lips. "All right. Alright. Rubbing his wrists against the restraints, he let out a breath. On the east side is a historic dockyard. Carlisle has previously used it to make people vanish.

Lily’s heart was racing.

Alejandro’s eyes narrowed. "Are you certain?"

James shrugged. "As certain as possible. But be prepared if you’re going in. He won’t make things simple.

Lily was on the go already. "Leave now."

With her pulse thumping in her ears, Lily huddled behind a stack of shipping containers in the salty, decayed night air. Beside her, Alejandro knelt with his revolver loaded and a somber expression.

Flickering floodlights barely lit the rusting walls of the building that loomed in the darkness ahead.

Lily felt a knot in her stomach. Inside was Ethan.

Alejandro’s voice was low. There are two guards at the door. More likely inside.

Lily gave a nod. "We remove them in silence."

Alejandro grinned. "I appreciate your thought process."

They went quickly. Alejandro grabbed the guard on the right, pulled him behind a crate, and put an arm around his throat. Lily took care of the other, slamming her gun’s butt into his temple.

Silently, the guard fell.

They made their way to the entrance and slipped through a side door.

The smell of oil and moist wood filled the air.

Deeper within, voices resounded.

As Lily followed Alejandro down a little hallway, her hold on her gun became more firm. They took a quick look around the bend.

With his arms folded, Carlisle stood in the middle of the room.

Ethan, too...

Ethan’s clothing was ripped, his lip was bleeding, and he was strapped to a chair. But across the room, his alert and piercing gaze locked with Lily’s.

Carlisle grinned. "You took too long."

With her gun up, Lily took a step forward. "Give him up."

Carlisle laughed. "Why would I do that now?" He cocked his head. As I had anticipated, you arrived. So predictable all the time.

Lily maintained a solid stance despite her hands shaking. "This concludes tonight."

Carlisle grinned broadly. "Oh, my dear. Do you truly believe you are in charge?

Just then, a dozen armed men emerged from the darkness, their weapons aimed directly at them.

Alejandro muttered an expletive.

Carlisle’s arms were stretched wide. "Lily, you stepped into my trap."

Lily felt sick to her stomach.

With a dangerously low voice, Carlisle took a step closer. "You ought to have simply fled."

Lily tightened her jaw. "And let you prevail? Never.

Carlisle let out a loud sigh. "I appreciate that about you. So unyielding. He gave Ethan a quick look. "Unfortunately, he will die because of your loyalty."

Lily felt her heart hit her ribs hard.

Turning, Carlisle faced one of his soldiers. "Death him."

Time slowed.

The shooter lifted his rifle.

Lily shifted.

There was a shot.

And anarchy broke out across the world.