Liam felt Lilithâs breasts press against his chest through the silky thin fabric of her nightgown as she wrapped her arms around him. Even though the gown was from the previous night, her perfume hadnât fadedâit clung to her like a second skin, a hypnotic scent that made Liam wonder if he was dreaming. For a brief moment, time slowed. Her body was soft and warm, and for someone as deadly as she was, this rare moment of affection was enough to completely disarm him.
But just as quickly, Lilith pulled away from the hug. Her expression shifted from softness to satisfaction, a glint of amusement in her golden feline eyes.
"You did a really good job," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "The chaos wonât trace back to me. To the world, itâll look like the Crimson Hand pissed off the wrong people."
Liam blinked in disbelief. He was still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened. The way she messaged himâGET YOUR ASS HEREâhe thought she was furious, ready to tear him apart. Instead, she called him over just to hug him?
"This is so not you," Liam muttered under his breath.
Lilith smiled, hearing him. "What, a woman canât be happy her problems are being handled for her?" She returned to her chair and crossed her legs, the gown shifting dangerously with the motion. Liam forced himself to look away.
Then her tone grew more serious. "The higher-ups have been alerted. After last night, theyâve sent people to investigate both our gangs. Theyâre not happy about the disruption. Weâre going to be summoned tomorrow for questioning."
Liamâs brows furrowed. "Higher-ups?"
Lilith raised an eyebrow. "I thought I explained that to you on your first day. You really donât remember, do you?"
He scratched the back of his head. "Vaguely."
She sighed. "Small gangs like ours donât run free. Weâre all under the watchful eye of the big syndicatesâthe ones that actually control the streets. They keep the balance. Make sure no one gets too greedy or too noisy. Thatâs why I couldnât openly start a war with the Crimson Hand, no matter how much I wanted to. But with you..."
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, eyes locked on him. "With you, I have a ghost. Someone who can do the dirty work without attracting heat. Thatâs why I told you to keep your identity hidden. But now?"
Liam looked up. "Now what?"
"Now I want you to come with me tomorrow," she said. "To the meeting."
He blinked, surprised. "Wouldnât that reveal Iâm with the Black Lotus?"
She stood again and walked closer, her presence overwhelming, her voice steady and firm. "The moment Boss finds out youâre with me, he wonât dare touch you. Not even a hair on your head. Heâll understand youâre off-limits. Beside they donât even know you burnt their warehouse. To them youâre just a kid who joined a gang for protection."
Liam wasnât sure if that was reassuring or terrifying. Still, he nodded slowly. "Alright. Tomorrow then."
"Good," Lilith said, her expression softening just slightly again. "Now go. Keep a low profile until then."
Liam turned to leave, returning the duffle bag he had brought with him. He entered the elevator, and as the doors began to close, he glanced back at her one last time. She sat there, graceful and regal, her black gown shimmering under the dim lights of her penthouse. It was a sight burned into his memory.
As the elevator descended, he exhaled deeply. Outside, the city was quiet. Cool wind brushed against his skin as he exited the building. He stopped a taxi, hopped in, and gave his address.
Upstairs, from the massive windows of her penthouse, Lilith watched him silently. Her golden eyes followed the taxi as it disappeared into the night, a soft smirk forming on her lips.
Things were falling into place.
And Liam? He was her sharpest weapon now.
----
Vanessa stirred awake, a soft yawn escaping her lips as she stretched beneath her covers. She didnât know why, but she had slept like a baby, peaceful and uninterrupted. For the first time in weeks, her sleep had been deep. As she reached for her phone on the nightstand, her eyes widened.
Twenty missed calls.
"Shit," she cursed under her breath, sitting up immediately.
Every one of those calls was from the station.
Throwing her covers aside, Vanessa rushed into the bathroom, quickly freshening up. She didnât even bother with breakfast. Within minutes, she was dressed in her police uniform, adjusting the belt on her waist and the holster over her hip before grabbing her keys and hurrying out the door.
The moment she got close to the station, the road was packed. People were everywhere. Reporters with cameras, vans, and microphones were blocking the path, all shouting questions and waving for attention.
"What the hell..." Vanessa muttered, parking her car down the block.
Pushing through the crowd with a frown on her face, she forced her way to the front entrance. Her badge helped get her through, but just barely. As she passed the glass doors, the chaotic buzz from the crowd faded behind her, only to be replaced by quiet murmurs and hushed gossip from her fellow officers.
She caught bits and pieces.
"Four labs... all bursted."
"Looks like vigilante work."
"One man, maybe?"
Vanessaâs brows pulled together.
Vigilante?
She remembered yesterday. Liam. He had looked at her and said, "Check the news when you wake up." She hadnât thought much of it then. But now...
She turned toward the nearest television, mounted in the corner of the room. Footage from the night playedâburning warehouses, chaos, censored bodies being loaded into body bags.
Her eyes narrowed. "Did... did Liam do all this? Alone?"
Before she could think further, the heavy sound of boots echoed from the hallway. Chief Josh Michelle burst from his office, his gut leading the way, his thick moustache twitching with every word.
"Vanessa! There you are! Get a car readyâweâre doing patrols around those damn warehouses. See if we can find anything the news vultures missed."
Vanessa blinked, jaw tightening slightly.
She wanted to ask, "Why me?" But the last thing she needed was to trigger Joshâs usual lecturesâor worse, more excuses to linger around her.
Instead, she muttered under her breath, "What the hell does this have to do with me..." and turned around to ready the car.
---
Meanwhile, Liam had just reached home. The moment he stepped through the front door, his senses were hit by an aroma so inviting it made his stomach growl.
Garlic butter shrimp pasta.
His nose twitched. He could already smell the perfectly sautéed garlic, the butter-soaked shrimp, and the light herbs in the air. It smelled heavenly.
He walked toward the kitchen, his footsteps silent. As he rounded the corner, the sight before him made him pause.
Ann.
She was at the stove, gently plating the food. She wore a tight pair of jeans that hugged her full, curvy hips perfectly. Her shirt was tied above her waist in a cute knot, leaving the lower half of her bare back exposed. Her skin glowed under the kitchen light, soft and smooth. With every movement she made, the jeans shifted, emphasizing her round, shapely ass. The shirt tugged slightly against her full chest as she leaned forward. It was unintentionalâbut devastating.
Liam didnât say a word.
He simply walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her slim waist, pressing himself gently against her.
Ann let out a soft gasp. She instinctively gripped the large wooden spoon in her hand like a weaponâuntil she caught a familiar scent and warmth.
"Liam," she muttered.
She turned her head slightly, smirking at him from the corner of her eye.
"I couldâve hit you with the spoon, you know."
Liam chuckled, his chin resting on her shoulder.
"And I wouldâve taken the hit gladly, if it meant holding you like this."
Ann rolled her eyes but didnât push him away. In fact, she leaned into him slightly. His hands stayed firmly on her waist, thumbs caressing the bare strip of her back. He inhaled her scentâthe faint vanilla of her lotion mixed with the smell of shrimp and herbs. It was addicting.
"Foodâs ready," she said, her voice soft, almost playful.
"You sure I canât have dessert first?" he teased, leaning forward to nip her earlobe.
She gave him a playful shove with her hip. "Behave. Youâve been out all night. You need to eat."
"I could eat you first."
"Liam!"
He laughed, finally letting go of her waist and taking a seat at the kitchen table. Ann followed, serving the dish like it was second nature. Despite everything, there was a warmth between themâa comfort. The kind that could only come from mutual trust.
Liam stared at her as she sat across from him. That same graceful elegance in every movement. That beauty that felt too unreal for this world.
As she took a bite of her food, her eyes flicked up and caught him staring again.
"What?" she asked, raising a brow.
"Nothing," he said, smirking. "Just admiring what I came home to."
Ann blushed, but only for a second. Then she smiled.