2024-10-29 00:31:31James paused in the doorway, taking in the sight before him. Tom sat on the leather couch, laughing and talking with his in-laws, a glass of expensive wine in hand and a smug grin plastered on his face. James’s jaw tightened.
Helen glanced up, her eyes narrowing. “Look who finally decided to join us,” she sneered. “James, maybe take some notes from Tom here on how to be a real provider.”
George chuckled. “Maybe if you learned to be a man, we wouldn’t have to entertain better options for Pamela.”
James ignored them, his gaze fixed on Tom. “Interesting choice of company, Tom.”
Tom raised his glass, feigning surprise. “James! Always a pleasure.”
“Is it?” James replied, his tone ice-cold. His eyes flicked to the lavish gifts spread across the table: vintage wine, a designer handbag, and a diamond necklace.
Helen clapped her hands. “Oh, look at what Tom brought! Real gifts, not the cheap things you get for Pamela.”
Tom leaned toward Pamela, placing the necklace in her lap. “This would look stunning on you, Pamela. Only the best for the best.” He winked, his hand lingering just a bit too long on her shoulder.
Pamela shifted uncomfortably, glancing away. “Tom, I… I don’t think—”
“Oh, don’t be shy, darling,” Helen interrupted, patting her hand. “After all, Tom is a real catch. Wouldn’t hurt to give him a chance.”
James gritted his teeth, but his voice was steady. “You know, Tom, you’re quite generous for someone who can’t seem to own up to his mistakes.”
Tom’s smile faltered, but he recovered quickly, chuckling. “Mistakes? Sounds like someone’s desperate.”
Helen sneered. “James, stop embarrassing yourself. Tom’s obviously leagues above you.”
George nodded, sipping his wine. “If you cared about Pamela, you’d step aside and let her be with someone worthy of her.”
James ignored their taunts, keeping his gaze locked on Tom. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Tom. The hit-and-run.”
Tom’s smirk faded. “Accusing me now? Pathetic.”
James pulled out his phone. “Pathetic? Let’s take a look.” He pressed play, and the screen displayed footage of a black Mercedes S600, speeding down the street and hitting his sister, then driving off.
Helen scoffed. “That could be anyone’s car, James. Honestly, you’re reaching.”
Tom forced a laugh, but his face had paled slightly. “See, even Helen understands. There are hundreds of black Mercedes S600s. You’re just trying to slander me.”
James raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “Oh, I thought you might say that.” He swiped through the photos on his phone, enlarging a close-up still from the video, showing Tom’s face clearly through the windshield at the moment of impact.
Pamela gasped, eyes wide. “Tom… that’s you…”
Tom stammered, looking from James to the screen. “This is a setup! This is blackmail!”
George jumped to Tom’s defense, his tone furious. “Enough of your nonsense, James. This is just an attempt to cover your own failures!”
James kept his voice steady, addressing Pamela directly. “Pamela, I know things have been tense between us, but you need to know the truth. I won’t stand by and let the man who nearly killed Emily walk free.”
Pamela glanced between James and Tom, her expression conflicted. “James, I… I didn’t think you were capable of making up lies like this, but…” She stared at Tom. “Tom, what’s going on?”
Tom cleared his throat, managing a feeble smile. “Pamela, don’t tell me you believe him. He’s just grasping at straws. Besides, you know what people say about James—he’s been down on his luck for years. He’s just trying to blame someone for it.”
James took a step forward, his voice firm. “This isn’t about luck, Tom. It’s about justice for Emily. You left her there, in pain, and now you’re here, acting like a hero? You can’t talk your way out of this.”
Tom’s gaze flickered, his confidence cracking. He looked away, avoiding the eyes now fixed on him.
Pamela’s voice was quiet but laced with steel. “I never knew you were capable of something like this, Tom. Emily could have died.”
Helen sputtered, her confidence faltering. “Pamela, darling, don’t be dramatic. Tom made a mistake, but James is just blowing it out of proportion.”
Pamela straightened, her eyes filled with a newfound resolve. “No, Mother. James is standing up for Emily. And maybe… maybe I need to start standing up for him.”
A silence fell over the room, each person processing the weight of what had just unfolded.
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Chapter 111
The lights flickered as the metal doors hissed open.Emily stood frozen at the sight of him.Ethan.But not the brother she remembered—the one who teased her about her cooking, who used to hum old rock songs while fixing the engine on their dad’s truck. This Ethan moved like a shadow. Cold. Precise.His eyes scanned the room with mechanical calculation. When they landed on her, something flickered—but then vanished like mist under sunlight.“Emily Shaw,” he said. Voice monotone. “Target confirmed.”“No—Ethan, it’s me. It’s Em.”She took a shaky step forward. He didn’t move.“I remember the fire,” she said, heart pounding. “Valkyrie base. You told me to run. You covered me with your coat, remember? You burned your arm so I could get out.”His hand twitched.For a second—just a second—his lips parted, confused. But then a sharp, unseen signal surged through him. He straightened like a soldier.“You are a variable,” he said. “You must be neutralized.”She barely dodged the first strike.
Chapter 110
Emergency lights bathed the courtyard in a crimson hue as sirens pierced the night. Faculty scrambled through corridors, ushering students out of their dormitories. Within five minutes of Nash’s call, the school was nearly empty—except for one figure.Emily.She stood in the library’s upper gallery, staring out the window at the chaos unfolding below. Her breath was steady, her hands clenched. She knew Liam was making his move. And she wasn’t going to run.Maple HQ – Tactical Bay – 1:07 AM“We have motion sensors tripped on the Academy’s west perimeter,” Damien reported. “Evacuation’s in progress. No casualties—yet.”Victor’s eyes locked with James’s. “You think he’s bluffing?”James shook his head. “Liam doesn’t bluff. He performs.”Pamela rushed in, phone to her ear. “Emily’s not answering. She’s not on the evac list.”James’s expression hardened. “She stayed behind.”“Why would she—”“Because she wants to end it.”James grabbed his jacket and turned to Victor. “Prep the team. We go
Chapter 109
Liam’s MistakeLocation: Ravencliff – Abandoned Rail YardTime: 9:12 PMThe rain came down hard, slicing through the dark like glass. James stood at the edge of the old Ravencliff rail yard, hidden beneath the overhang of a rusted structure. His breath misted in the cold air, but his mind burned—sharp, focused.This was Liam’s last known meeting point. According to intel extracted from the captured intruder—now rotting in a hidden cell beneath Maple HQ—Liam was scheduled to meet one of his European allies here.Victor’s voice crackled through James’s earpiece.“North tunnel’s clear. No sign of movement.”“Copy,” James replied. “Damien?”“Got eyes on the east. There’s someone approaching.” A beat. “Female. Tall. Blonde. Marissa Vane.”James’s jaw clenched.Time to move.Platform 3 – 9:17 PMMarissa Vane stood beneath a cracked canopy, her designer heels out of place against the gravel and rust. She lit a cigarette, hands trembling slightly. Her eyes scanned the dark. No Liam.Then Jame
Chapter 108
Underground Bunker – 03:17 AMEmily jolted awake, drenched in sweat. The lights above flickered briefly before stabilizing. Silence settled again—too deep, too complete. She swung her legs over the edge of the cot, listening.Then she heard it.A faint, rhythmic hum—metal on concrete. Wheels. Slow. Deliberate.Emily moved swiftly to the control panel, triggering the silent alarm James had taught her to use only in emergencies. Green lights blinked—no breaches registered. But something wasn’t right.The hum grew louder.She reached under the bed, pulling out the emergency pistol stashed beneath the floorboard.Maple Group Command Center – Same TimeJames’s phone buzzed once.He checked the encrypted alert on his private screen. His blood turned cold.BUNKER: PERIMETER SENSOR FAILURE – EAST CORRIDORHe was already moving before Victor could speak. “Lock down the estate. Scramble the bunker guards. I want eyes on every access point.”Pamela stepped into the room, her expression drawn. “E
Chapter 107
Note inside the box:“You missed. Again. But don’t worry—next time, I won’t.”—LVictor scanned the area with growing unease. “He’s mocking us.”James stared at the bullet in his palm. It was polished, engraved with a number: 82.Pamela’s age? A countdown? A code?Damien circled the perimeter. “No surveillance. No footprints. They scrubbed everything clean. He wanted us to find this.”James slipped the bullet back into the box and handed it to Victor. “Send it to forensics. I want every trace of print, chemical, or toolmark pulled from that casing.”Victor nodded, already on his comms.Damien tilted his head. “You think this is a threat to Pamela?”James didn’t answer immediately. Then, grimly, “No. I think it’s a threat to me. A reminder that he can reach anyone I care about.”James’s Estate – Later That MorningPamela sat curled on the edge of the sofa, watching the fire crackle in the hearth. Her hair was still damp, her robe exchanged for one of James’s oversized shirts.He steppe
Chapter 106
The Trap TightensThe next morning, Emily stood by the window of her safehouse, coffee untouched in her hands. She hadn’t slept. The silence of the apartment was suffocating, each creak and shadow pulling her nerves tighter.She flinched when her phone buzzed.Unknown Number: You should’ve stayed on campus.Her hands trembled. A second message appeared—this time, an image. It showed her from behind, standing at that same window, moments ago.Emily dropped the phone.Downstairs, one of the guards caught the alert from the security system. James’s team had swept the apartment, locked down the perimeter, but clearly, someone had gotten close—too close.Maple Group HeadquartersJames’s eyes were bloodshot as he read Emily’s forwarded messages.“She’s supposed to be in a secure location,” he growled.Victor was already coordinating. “I’m pulling the surveillance now. Whoever got that photo had to be within fifty feet. If we’re lucky, they tripped a motion sensor.”Pamela hovered nearby, te
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