114

Chapter 114

Jenny’s POV

Bianca and I walked briskly through the car park, our heels clicking against the concrete in unison. The late afternoon sun was beginning to dip, casting long shadows across the parked cars. I glanced at Bianca, who wore a look of fierce determination. Her eyes were fixed ahead, her jaw set. This wasn’t the Bianca I had grown up with—she’d changed, grown harder and sharper. But then, so had I.

We reached her car, a sleek black sedan that seemed fitting for the kind of conversations we’d been having lately. Without a word, she unlocked the doors, and we both slipped inside. Bianca’s hands were steady as she gripped the wheel and started the engine, her eyes flicking over to me as she shifted into gear.

“You ready for this?” she asked, a slight edge to her voice.

I met her gaze, giving her a small nod. “Of course. We’re in this together, remember?”

A ghost of a smile crossed her lips before she pulled out of the parking space, her eyes focused straight ahead. We drove in silence for a while, the tension in the car almost palpable. I could feel my heart pounding as we left the familiar streets behind, heading toward the outskirts of town. We were meeting Lex, the guy Bianca had contacted, in an abandoned lot near the old church. The place was deserted, far enough from prying eyes to ensure that our conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a dirt road that led to a clearing surrounded by trees. The old church loomed in the distance, its shadow stretching across the lot like a silent witness to whatever deals were struck here. As we pulled in, I noticed a dark figure leaning casually against his car, his arms crossed, watching us approach. Lex.

Bianca killed the engine and got out, and I followed her, trying to keep my expression cool and confident. Lex straightened as we approached, his eyes glinting with interest. He was tall, with a lean frame and an air of quiet menace that told me he was no stranger to doing the dirty work others avoided.

“Ladies,” he greeted, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Right on time.”

Bianca wasted no time with pleasantries. “Let’s get down to business,” she said, her tone firm. “You know why we’re here, Lex.”

He nodded, glancing between us with an amused look. “Getting rid of a problem, huh?” He crossed his arms, leaning back against his car as if he had all the time in the world. “You two must really want this girl out of the picture.”

“You have no idea,” I replied, my voice colder than I intended. Lia had been a thorn in my side for far too long, her presence making everything more complicated than it needed to be. She didn’t belong in our lives, and she certainly didn’t deserve Finn.

Lex chuckled, clearly unfazed. “Well, you’ve come to the right guy. I know exactly how to make problems like her disappear.”

Bianca’s eyes narrowed. “So, what’s your plan?”

Lex leaned in, his voice lowering. “I’ll take care of her on the day of the wedding. That way, no one will suspect a thing. There’ll be enough chaos that she’ll just slip through the cracks, so to speak.”

Bianca and I exchanged a look, a mutual understanding passing between us. Lex’s plan made sense. The wedding would provide the perfect cover; with all the guests and the confusion, Lia’s disappearance would go unnoticed until it was far too late.

“Are you sure you can handle it?” I asked, wanting to be absolutely certain. “I don’t want any loose ends. This has to be… clean.”

Lex gave me a slow, confident smile. “Relax, Jenny. This isn’t my first job. Once I’m done, she’ll be nothing more than a memory.” He glanced at Bianca. “All you two have to do is act normal. Leave everything else to me.”

Bianca’s expression softened a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. “Perfect. Make sure she’s… gone by the time the ceremony begins. We can’t afford any surprises.”

Lex nodded, his face serious now. “Consider it done. She’ll be out of the picture by the time you say ‘I do.’”

A twisted sense of relief washed over me as I listened to him. Finally, after all the frustration and uncertainty, things were falling into place. Lia would no longer be an obstacle, and I would finally have the life I’d been waiting for.

We shook hands with Lex, sealing our silent agreement. Without another word, he slipped back into his car, the engine roaring to life as he drove off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake. Bianca and I watched him go, each of us lost in our own thoughts.

As we got back into her car, Bianca looked over at me, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. “It’s almost done, Jenny. Just a little longer, and everything will be perfect.”

I smiled, the anticipation building inside me. “It’s about time. She won’t know what hit her.”

Bianca gave a short, sharp laugh, and we pulled away from the lot, our plan firmly set in motion.


___

Luca’s POV

I’d been watching them for a while, lurking in the shadows of the car park. It had taken some time to piece together the threads of Bianca’s plan, but I had enough by now to be sure of one thing—she was planning something dangerous, and Lia was her target.

I saw Bianca and Jenny walking briskly toward a car, their expressions tense and focused. My instincts flared, sensing trouble. This wasn’t an ordinary drive—they were on their way to do something. As they got into Bianca’s car and drove off, I followed at a safe distance. A few minutes later, they arrived at a remote lot, a clearing I recognized from around the old church. My heart clenched as another figure came into view—a man leaning casually against his car, waiting for them.

The moment they stepped out to greet him, I felt my blood run cold. This wasn’t a friendly catch-up. No, the look in their eyes and the stiffness of their postures spoke of something darker. I waited in the cover of trees, out of sight but close enough to catch fragments of their conversation. Just as I suspected, they were plotting against Lia. I barely restrained myself, my fingers curling into fists. But I forced myself to stay still and wait until they were finished.

Eventually, Bianca and Jenny walked back to their car, satisfied looks on their faces, and drove off, leaving the man alone in the lot. The guy seemed in no hurry to leave, taking his time as he got back into his car. This was my chance. Staying far enough behind so he wouldn’t notice me, I followed him as he pulled onto the road, my senses sharpened and every nerve on edge.

He led me on a winding drive through back streets and quiet lanes, finally heading out to a more deserted part of town. When he turned down a narrow dirt road, I took my chance. Leaving my car behind, I shifted into my wolf form, letting my senses take over as I moved swiftly and silently, closing the distance with each step. The trees and night air seemed to blur around me as I surged forward, my focus locked on him, every sense attuned to his every move.

He pulled over near an abandoned warehouse, stepped out of his car, and headed toward the side entrance. In one quick, fluid motion, I shifted back to human form, striding out from the shadows and cutting off his path.

He froze, his eyes widening as he registered my presence. “Who the hell are you?” he asked, his voice a mixture of surprise and irritation.

I took a step closer, my voice low and dangerous. “Let’s just say I’m someone who knows you’re working with Bianca and Jenny. And I know exactly what you’re planning to do.”

A flicker of recognition crossed his face, followed by a wary look. “Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, attempting to sidestep me, but I blocked his path easily.

“Don’t play games with me,” I growled, my voice dropping to a deadly tone. “I know you’re planning something against Lia. And I know they’ve hired you to make her disappear. So I’ll make this simple—either you tell me exactly what they want you to do, or you’ll regret not cooperating.”

He swallowed, his confidence fading as he realized he was cornered. “Listen, I don’t want any trouble,” he said, his tone softening. “I was just hired to do a job. I didn’t know there’d be this much interest.”

“Spare me the excuses,” I replied sharply. “What’s the plan?”

After a tense pause, he sighed, looking down at the ground before meeting my gaze again. “The plan is simple. I was supposed to make sure Lia didn’t make it to the wedding. Disappear her in a way that wouldn’t raise suspicion until it’s too late.”

My jaw clenched as anger surged through me, but I forced myself to keep calm. “You’re going to forget that plan. You’re going to help me instead.”

He gave me a wary look, frowning. “Help you? Why would I—”

“Because if you don’t, I’ll make sure you’re the one who disappears. I don’t think Bianca or Jenny will care if you’re gone.” My voice was cold, each word laced with warning. “So here’s what we’re going to do: you’re going to meet with me tomorrow. We’re going to figure out a way to make this work in our favor, without harming Lia.”

He looked at me, his expression conflicted. I could see him calculating, trying to decide whether to take the deal or take his chances. But in the end, he nodded.

“All right,” he said, his voice quiet but resigned. “Tomorrow. Just… don’t make me regret this.”

“You won’t,” I replied. “But if you betray me, I promise you won’t be around to regret anything.”

With that, I turned and left him standing there, his face pale and uncertain. As I disappeared into the night, my thoughts were focused on one thing: Lia. Whatever Bianca and Jenny were planning, I would stop it. No matter what.