CHAPTER 214 Documents
*Joy*
As Henry gunned the engine of Liam’s sleek BMW, I glanced through the rear window at the crowd dispersing into the chilly night. People drifted toward their cars, their laughter softening into murmurs as they set off to continue the party at the pub.
I opened my clutch and pulled out the folded papers Liam had asked me to sign. “Here’s what you wanted,” I said, handing them over, my voice steady despite the knot twisting in my stomach.
Liam took the papers, his fingers lingering against mine with a deliberate, calculated touch before he raised my hand to his lips. His kiss was cool, almost clinical, against my skin. “Thank you, sweetheart,” he murmured, his voice smooth as silk, each word dripping with practiced charm. “You’re a Cohen now, Virtue. These documents—they bind you to my name, my empire. Everything the generations of Cohens have built is *ours* now. You, my darling wife, are a part of that legacy.”
I tilted my head, my eyes narrowing slightly as I studied his face in the dim light of the BMW’s interior. “That’s quite the promise, Liam,” I said, keeping my tone light but letting a hint of skepticism slip through. “Binding me to the Cohen name sounds romantic, but why the sudden rush to transfer your assets under my name? Has it got anything to do with Pete? Or that Joy Taylor woman Lorenzo was going on about this morning? Speaking of Lorenzo, how is he, by the way?"
His jaw tightened for a fraction of a second, a crack in his polished mask, but he recovered quickly, his smile as slick as ever. “Always so curious, love,” he said, tucking the papers into his coat pocket with a flourish. “No need to dig for conspiracies. It’s just smart planning—securing our future, protecting what’s ours.
You don’t build an empire like this without thinking ten steps ahead. As for Lorenzo, still no word from the hospital. The sheriff’s there, investigating the director’s death. If anything changes, we’ll know soon enough."
His smirk felt like a lie, but I didn’t push. Why bother when his empire was now mine to control?
I leaned my head against Liam’s shoulder, playing the devoted wife, my breath slow and deliberate, each exhale a carefully crafted performance. “You’re always ten steps ahead, aren’t you, darling?” I murmured, letting my voice drip with honeyed admiration, just enough to stroke his ego. “Always so clever, planning every move."
His tension melted, his shoulders softening as he bought the act, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “That’s why we’re here, love,” he said, his tone warm but smug, thick with self-assurance. “You and me, building something no one can touch. Together, we will be unstoppable.”
I tilted my head slightly, letting my eyes linger on his with a practiced softness. “Unstoppable,” I echoed, my voice low and intimate, sealing the illusion. I needed him to believe he was invincible with me as his partner, his guard lowered, blind to the trouble I was orchestrating.
As I settled next to him, the communication device in my ear buzzed. I expected Dina’s clipped update, but Sebastian’s low, gravelly voice came through instead. “Delivery team’s prepped and waiting. Everything in place on your end? Is Kiki en route?"
“Yes,” Cristos replied, his tone sharp and clipped, like a blade cutting through static. “We’re four cars behind Liam’s, keeping a low profile. Jack was tailing them, but he got diverted to the station—some brawl at Bo’s. Sounds like the Blue Rogues underestimated Bo's employees."
I hid a grin. The Blue Rogues’ mess was our chance, a window we could exploit.
Sebastian chuckled, the sound low and sly. “A fight at Bo’s, huh? Wonder how much damage those idiots caused.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Xavier cut in, his voice tight with irritation. “It’s a distraction, and we can use it. Link’s heading to the sheriff’s station to cover for me. Sam, where the hell are you right now?”
“On foot, closing in on the old pizza factory,” Sam replied, his voice rough and breathless, like he’d been running. “Just spotted the Colonel about a click and a half out. He’s got teams of Blues circling the factory, plus a couple of drones buzzing overhead for surveillance. From my vantage point, it looks like a damn military op.”
Xavier’s voice came through the comms, sharp with surprise. “Wait—so the Colonel’s outside the factory, gearing up for a breach? That means he's not working for Pete or Lorenzo anymore..." He paused, then gave a short, dry laugh. “I bet that sneaky guy’s back with Liam. Trying to play both sides. That’s a dumb move."
I glanced at Liam, my eyes narrowing as I studied his profile in the dim light. We were both chasing the same target, but for very different reasons.
Sam’s voice came through the comms again, rough but steady, like he was catching his breath. “Listen, Beaufort, this works in our favor as long as the Blues don’t rush the factory before JT shows up. If they move too soon, we’ve got two scenarios: one, they take Pete out, and our job’s done. Two, Pete escapes, and we’re left chasing a ghost. Neither’s ideal, so I’m not waiting to find out.” He paused, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “I’m grabbing a blue uniform off one of their grunts. Gonna blend in, get close, and figure out what they’re planning—and who’s really pulling the Colonel’s strings this time.”
“Smart move,” Xavier said, a grin audible in his voice. “Get that uniform and act like you belong. Stay on the ground, keep your eyes open. I’m gonna go high for a better angle. Dina, switch to thermal imaging. I need a full count of Blues around the factory, plus a vantage point with clear sightlines.”
“Got it, Beaufort,” Dina replied, her voice crisp as her keyboard clacked like distant gunfire. “I’m pulling thermal data now. I’ll have a headcount and coordinates for you in thirty seconds.”
“Dom, you’re on the delivery team,” Xavier added, his tone commanding. “Stick to them like glue. If they veer off course—”
“Dina’s already tracking them,” Sebastian interrupted, his voice smug with confidence. “I made damn sure of that."
The rapid chatter sent a jolt through my nerves, like electricity sparking in my veins. I closed my eyes, forcing slow, steady breaths to keep my focus razor-sharp.
The car jolted to a stop, shattering my few moments of peace. I opened my eyes to see New Salem High looming ahead, its brick walls heavy with the weight of old memories and secrets.
Liam turned to me, his hand gently lifting my head from his shoulder. “Just a quick ten-minute speech, love, then it’s champagne and caviar for us,” he said, his voice warm but calculated. “You look stunning, even with those tired eyes. Don’t worry, love. We'll rest on the jet.” He adjusted my coat, his fingers lingering a touch too long on the collar. “There we are. Warm, perfect, and radiant. Ready, Mrs. Cohen?”
I forced a smile, my pulse steady despite my unease. “Always, darling,” I said, my voice sweet enough to mask the edge beneath.
We stepped out into the biting night air, the cold sharpening my senses like a blade. Liam offered his arm, and I took it, my heels clicking on the pavement as we approached the school’s entrance. My communication device hummed faintly in my ear, a lifeline to the team moving the pieces into place. I needed to keep Liam distracted, stay alert, and watch for any sign of trouble—because in this game, trouble was always one step ahead.
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