CHAPTER 213 Farewells
*Joy*
Kiki and I stood side by side, studying our reflections in the mirror as we touched up our makeup, listening to the chatter on our communication devices. Our blonde hair—pale and shimmering under the soft light—made us look like sisters, our features mirrored in a way that felt almost conspiratorial.
“Beaufort, there’s a group of men who’ve just entered Bo’s,” Dina’s voice crackled through the earpiece, sharp enough to cut through the quiet. “They’re giving Hudson a hard time. Apparently, they want to speak to you.”
“Call the Sheriff’s station and have them deal with them,” Xavier said, his voice low and measured, like he was defusing a bomb in the dark. “My office is barricaded for the night and the warehouse is sealed. There’s no way they’ll be able to get in. Who are they anyway?”
“Not any of the locals,” Dina replied, her tone clipped, urgent. “From what I can see, they look military."
Xavier’s voice hardened, a blade beneath his calm. “Must be the Blues.” The code for the Blue Rogues. “Make the call.”
“Copy that,” Dina said, and the line went dead, leaving a hollow hum in my ear.
Kiki heaved a sigh, her breath sharp with frustration, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. “If it isn’t one thing, it’s another. I’m guessing they’re looking for the bodies of their fallen comrades.”
I forced a smirk, adjusting the pearl studs in my ears, their cold weight grounding me. “Well, the commercial complex is a fort. They’ll need some heavy-duty equipment to break in."
Kiki’s lips twitched, a flicker of grim amusement breaking through her tension. She took my hands, her grip fierce, her knuckles pale against my skin. “Last night.”
I nodded, my wry smile masking the knot twisting in my gut. “Last night. Now, come on. Let’s grab some food. It’s going to be a long, *bloody* night.”
Her laugh was sharp, a spark of dark humor that lit up her face for a moment before fading. We stepped out of the mansion, the murmur of the garden reception swelling around us like a tide. The charade was in full swing—guests in glittering dresses and tailored suits, their smiles as brittle as the champagne flutes they raised in toasts. The air was heavy with forced joy, every clink of glass a reminder of the masks we all wore. I tossed the bouquet into a cluster of women, their laughter high and fragile, like ice about to crack under pressure.
By six, the farewells began, a slow parade of goodbyes under the fading light of the spring evening. My green dress shimmered like emerald scales, clinging to my curves. I slipped on a black wool trench coat, its heavy folds serving a dual purpose: warmth against the evening chill and concealment. My clutch, tucked tightly under my arm, held documents that were more dangerous than any weapon—signed, sealed, and ready to shift the balance of power.
I moved through the guests, my smile a practiced weapon, thanking each one with a warmth I didn’t feel. When I reached Cristos and Xavier, I lingered, my hugs a cover for whispered conspiracies. “If something happens to me, tell my parents I love them,” I whispered in Xavier’s ear, my voice steady despite the pulse hammering in my throat, each beat a reminder of the stakes we shared.
He pulled back, his dark eyes glinting with a shared secret, his reassuring smile a rare crack in his stoic facade. “It won’t come to that, Virtue. I promise."
Cristos was next, his arms enveloping me in a loving embrace, his lips brushing my forehead in a gesture that felt like a blessing. “Dom is at NSHS. Now, all Kiki needs to do is get Jack to back off. Shit. Here he comes.”
I turned, and Jack’s bear hug swallowed me whole. His grip was too tight, too familiar, like he was staking a claim. “Liam’s like my brother, so that makes you my sister,” he said, his voice thick with crocodile tears. The sentiment might’ve moved me if he hadn’t left scars on my soul years ago.
My smile didn’t waver, cold and perfect. “It's good to know I can count on you, Jack."
“I’ll keep Kiki safe while you’re off on your honeymoon,” he said, glancing at Kiki as she chatted with Cristos and Xavier across the lawn, her laughter a bright note in the dusk. “She’s in good hands.”
Behind him, Lisa’s voice cut through, sharp and eager, like a knife through silk. “Move over, Jack. Let me hug the bride.”
Jack chuckled, stepping aside with a lazy grin. “Gotta talk to Liam anyway. Police business.” He leaned in, his breath hot against my ear, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Sheriff’s tied up. Hospital director at St. Elizabeth’s was found dead in his office. He’s taking statements.”
My pulse spiked, but my face remained a mask of calm curiosity. “I see. Where’s the Sheriff now? I expected him here.”
“Still at the hospital,” Jack said, his tone heavy with implication, his eyes searching mine for a reaction. “Director wasn’t exactly loved by his staff, if you catch my drift.”
My mind flashed to Sam’s meeting with the director at that seedy motel. I knew exactly what he meant. But I couldn’t let Jack see that. My lips formed an exaggerated gasp, feigning delight at some juicy scandal. “I’ll have to hear all about it when I get back. Go on, Jack—Liam’s waiting.”
I turned to Lisa, arms open, though rage simmered beneath my skin, a fire I kept banked for now. “Lisa, thank you for being my bridesmaid. It means the world.”
She stepped into my embrace, hugging me tightly, her perfume sharp and floral. “Of course, Virtue. Us girls have to stick together, right?”
I pulled back, forcing a smile that felt like glass on my lips. “Guess you’ll be busy with your campaign while I’m gone.” Her eyes suddenly welled up, tears spilling over her cheeks, catching me off guard. “Lisa, are you okay?”
“Cris is gone. Nicole, Abigail—they’re all gone. And now you’re leaving too.” Her voice broke, a sob catching in her throat, her hands trembling as she clutched my arms.
I hugged her again, my hands rubbing her back in a hollow gesture of comfort, my mind already elsewhere. “It’s just ten days, Lisa. I’ll be back before you know it.”
She pointed at the diamond-encrusted heart pendant around my neck, a gift from Liam that felt more like a chain than a charm. “Promise me you’ll keep that necklace on. For luck.”
“I promise,” I said, my eyes locking with hers, offering false reassurance as the pendant’s weight burned against my collarbone, a reminder of her lies. “I’ll be back before you know it, Lisa. Stay strong.”
She nodded, wiping her eyes, her smile fragile but grateful. I stepped back, my heart a cold drumbeat, and turned toward Liam’s voice.
“Virtue, honey, time to go,” he called from beside his sleek black car, his tone smooth but edged with impatience, like a blade wrapped in velvet. He stood tall in his navy suit, tailored to his broad shoulders, his dark hair catching the last rays of sunlight. But his eyes held a glint of something darker—control, suspicion, or maybe just the weight of his own secrets. “New Salem High’s expecting us. I need to give a brief speech, then we’re off.”
“I’ll see you soon. Bye, Lisa,” I said, my giggle light but laced with venom, a sound that felt foreign even to me. Each click of my stilettos on the pavement was a war drum, counting down to the battle ahead. I paused before sliding into the backseat, my gaze lifting past the crowd to Cohen Mansion, its gothic spires clawing at the twilight sky. The documents in my clutch—signed, sealed, and notarized—made it mine, a fortress of stone and secrets, a foundation for the war I was about to wage.
I waved at the well-wishers, my smile a honed weapon, sharp enough to cut through their cheers and lies alike. Then I slipped into the car, the leather seats cold against my skin, a stark contrast to the fire burning in my chest. Liam slid in beside me, his hand brushing mine in a gesture meant to comfort but it felt like a cage closing around me.
The engine hummed, and we were off. To New Salem High. To the name on the top of my list.
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