CHAPTER 187 Missing Bride

*Liam*

We were scurrying to the diner when we heard several loud explosions from above.

I quickly looked up and saw fireworks exploding into vibrant colors against the light blue sky. Fireworks was a symbol of merriment and celebration, but at that very moment, I felt no joy.

Fortunately, the fireworks helped ease the tension among the people. Many of the townsfolk stopped to watch the extravagant display, and from a glimpse, I could see a crowd beginning to form on Main St.

Despite the sharp, cracking sounds from the fireworks, I could distictively hear the many 'oohs' and 'aahs' as the people looked up into the sky in admiration; their earlier agitation was now replaced with excitement.

As we walked past several people, I happened to catch the sound of nervous laughter as if all that had happened was just a mere prank.

*If people only knew*...

I ran my fingers through my hair, somewhat relieved the worst was over, and sighed wistfully.

I missed my father. Despite his cold indifference towards me, he would have handled this situation calmly with utmost finesse. He and Lorenzo would have eventually come to an understanding, since both shared similar qualities and were closer in age.

However, if my father *were* here, he would have called me a tremendous failure, a disappointment to the Cohen name.

I admit, I should have done more.

But I couldn't touch Lorenzo Ortiz, not with Virtue present. He would have divulged every deepest, darkest secret I had without any qualms. Although I knew in my gut it would be easy to convince Virtue that Lorenzo was a liar, the doubt in her mind would always be there.

*Admit it*, *you panicked*! *All that greasy sofabitch had to do was utter the name Joy Taylor*!

I rubbed my forehead, angry at myself for my lapse in judgment. *But who could blame me*? Just the mere mention of Joy Taylor's name was enough to give me a panic attack.

Joy was the one person who all of us had tried our hardest to forget. After ten long years, we were still being haunted by her ghost.

*And Lorenzo undoubtedly knew what we did to Joy*. Pete must have told him... for leverage.

The image of Pete's smug smile made my blood boil. I swear, when I find him, I will kill him.

Suddenly, I remembered something Virtue had said while Dan was busy whispering in Lorenzo's ear. "*He must be the nephew Lorenzo mentioned earlier*..."

*Shit*! That prick was here... in New Salem! My eyes quickly darted from left to right, scanning the faces of the people around us. The money, the blood curdling scream, and the smoke were likely a diversion to get to Virtue!

As I searched for any sign of Pete, my thoughts wandered back to Lorenzo Ortiz and that proud, taunting look in his eyes.

*That look in his eyes*... It was as if he had proof to support his allegations, but that was impossible. The Sheriff himself stole all the evidence that linked the four of us to Joy Taylor's assault and handed that evidence to the coroner so he could destroy it.

Still, Pete and Cynthia McDowell lived right in front of the coroner's house. Cynthia must have paid the coroner for the evidence and it was possible, given their relationship, that evidence was now in Lorenzo's possession.

*Fuck*!

I should have just asked Henry to kill Lorenzo Ortiz. From experience, it was easier cleaning that type of mess than the mess I was currently in.

Well, all I could do now was give in to Lorenzo's demands or at least pretend I was giving in to his demands.... That is, until the wedding was over.

I couldn't risk losing Virtue. Having her by my side made me feel like I was a better man.

*That settles it then*. I just need to keep Lorenzo Ortiz comfortable until Virtue and I exchange our *I do's*.

*Oh*, *and better yet*, *I should keep him away from her*. I don't want her vows unexpectedly coming out as, "*You are a rapist*, *a murderer*, *and a drug trafficker*... *involved in the holy trinity of crime*. *I could never marry someone like you*."

The thought of her saying that made my heart constrict inside my chest. I quickly made a mental note to ask Jack to guard Virtue at the mansion later.

"As for now, we can't touch Lorenzo Ortiz, Liam," the Sheriff whispered in my ear as we followed Jack to the diner. Apparently, the both of us were thinking the same thing. "One, he'll lawyer up so fast that he'll be out of police custody before we can even book him. Two, he has help. Expensive mercenaries. And three, he probably has evidence against all of us. All Ortiz has to do is leak all of what he has on us to the media and we're done in this town."

"Come on. It will be his word against mine," I argued, but the Sheriff shook his head.

"I'm not talking about the assualt of Joy Taylor and whether or not the great people of New Salem will believe him. I'm talking about the FBI. If word gets out about the drugs, come tomorrow morning, this town will be swarming with federal agents," he explained. "They'll arrest all of us, Liam, then they'll freeze your assets pending an investigation. I suggest you move all that cash you have in that basement of yours to a secure location, somewhere that isn't connected to the Cohen name."

"Alright. Have your deputies move all the money to the Hillcrest clubhouse and some of it to the church," I instructed the Sheriff. I turned around to address Dan. "Dan, I need you to talk to Pastor Jeff and tell him I need to use the basement-" I suddenly stopped, noticing Virtue was missing. "Where's Virtue? Dan, where's my bride?"

Dan stopped walking and turned around with a confused look on his face. "She was right behind me a minute ago." I felt my anger bubble up to the surface.

"I told you to keep an eye on her! How could you lose her?!" I bellowed.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. There was just too much happening all at once-"

"What's going on?" Jack asked, wondering why we had stopped following him.

"Virtue is missing!" Dan cried out in a girly voice while he ran his fingers through his hair and stomped his foot in frustration. "She was right behind me! I swear!" Jack muttered a curse under his breath, his eyes dark with anger.

"Damn it, Dan. All you had to do was keep an eye on her," he yelled, angered at Dan's neglect. "I can't believe you-" But instead of finishing his sentence, he took several deep breaths, forcing himself to stay calm. "Arguing won't help. Leave it to me. I'll go and look for her."

"I'll come with you," I insisted, however the Sheriff stopped me and shook his head.

"No," the Sheriff growled. "I need to take you to safety."

"The Sheriff's right, Liam," Jack asserted, agreeing with the Sheriff. "Out here, you're a sitting duck. Don't worry, I'll find her."

"Jack, you have to hurry. My gut tells me Pete's here somewhere. You know what he'll do to her," I said, utterly worried. Despite the brave face Jack had on, I could see his eyes mirrored mine.

"Calm down, Liam. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I assure you, I'll find her," Jack promised while placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I slowly nodded my head, trying desperately to relax, but *how could I*? My bride was missing and I could only think the worst. "While I go find Virtue, I need you to give Henry a call and have him pick you up the station."

"Come on, son," the Sheriff placed a hand over my shoulders. "My patrol car is right over there."

"And what about me?" Dan asked, panicking. "You guys aren't going to leave me here, right?"

"Of course not, Dan. You can ride with them," Jack murmured sweetly before taking hold of Dan's arm and twisting it behind him.

"What are you doing? That hurts!" Dan cried out, unable to move.

"You know, that was some chat you had with Lorenzo Ortiz earlier," Jack spat out through clenched teeth. "Once you get to the station, I want you to tell the Sheriff everything the two of you discussed. If you lie to us or omit anything, I will personally barge into your house and burn all your designer clothes. You got that?" When Dan didn't answer, Jack yanked his arm roughly. "I'll ask you again. You got that?" Dan quickly nodded his head, before whimpering in pain.

Satisfied, Jack let go of his arm and pushed him toward the Sheriff. "Sheriff, I'll call when I have some news."

As he walked away, Jack pulled his radio from his belt and quickly asked for assistance from the deputies who were scattered within the area.

"You heard Jack. He'll handle this," the Sheriff said, nudging me to the direction of his car. "Anyway, people will notice if someone tries to hurt Virtue. I reckon they'll even try and help her... She being a nice woman and all."

I nodded my head in agreement. He was right. The townsfolk loved Virtue.

"Let's go, Dan. We need to talk." I grabbed Dan by the sleeve of his pastel yellow shirt and yanked him to the diner where the Sheriff's patrol car was parked.

While we walked, I silently prayed Jack would quickly find Virtue.

I couldn't afford to lose her to either Pete or to Lorenzo Ortiz. They would destroy her.

After shoving Dan at the back of the car, Jack's voice erupted from the Sheriff's CB radio.

"Sheriff, come in. I found her," he stated. *Oh*, *thank God*! Yet, I noticed Jack didn't sound too happy.

"Where?" The Sheriff asked.

"The complex parking lot. Seems like she's hurt. I've radioed the ambulance to take her to the hospital. Tell Liam he can see her at St. Elizabeth's."

"Copy that," the Sheriff replied. " Get in, Liam. I'll take you to the hospital. Have Henry pick you up there."

After I was comfortably seated in the passenger's seat, I pulled my phone out from my pocket and dialed Henry's number.

However, my phone beeped twice, an indication that I couldn't get through. I looked at my phone and found I had no cell service.

"That's odd," I murmured as the Sheriff turned on the ignition of his patrol car.

"What?" The Sheriff asked.

"I don't have a signal."

"Someone's using a signal jammer," the Sheriff grunted, grabbing his radio from his belt. "I need someone to locate Henry for me and I also need a few deputies to head behind the novelty stores and check it out. By the way, stay vigilant. I suspect we have armed assailants in the vicinity."

"You think Lorenzo Ortiz has a private army?" I asked.

"No, Liam. I *know* he has a private army," the Sheriff answered. "Could even be your friends in blue."

"Friends in blue?" Dan asked, confused. "You mean, the Blue Rogues?"

"It's a possibility. I saw a few familiar looking men hanging at the pub when Jack and I grabbed a couple of beers the other night. They kept mostly to themselves, but I could tell they were watching us from the corner of their eyes," the Sheriff said as he drove off out of the parking lot.

"Makes sense. I've had this feeling that someone has been following me all week," Dan murmured. "By the way, Liam, Lorenzo wants to know who has the deed to the pharmacy. He says he's going to kill him."

The corner of my lips curved into a smile. Maybe Lorenzo Ortiz and I could come to an understanding after all.