NOVPUB
Chapter 64: Chapter 64 First Mission
Liam swirled the last remnants of his wine in his glass, staring into the deep red liquid as if it held the answers to his miserable financial situation.
He hated being broke.
And since he was always broke, he hated his life.
This whole night had been one long slap to his face.
Everywhere he looked, men in perfectly tailored suits and women draped in designer gowns were networking, celebrating, making deals worth more than his entire existence.
According to Lilith, this party was supposed to be his. But standing here, in the middle of all these powerful, wealthy people, Liam felt like a speck of dust in a golden palace.
Too insignificant to stand out.
And it pissed him off.
I need to get rich. At any cost.
He muttered the words under his breath, gripping his glass tighter.
Then, as if the night hadn’t already annoyed him enough, the stupid cloth tied around his eyes was itching the hell out of him.
He had kept it on as part of his whole "mysterious new guy" look, but at this point, it was just getting on his nerves.
Fuck this.
With an irritated sigh, Liam pulled the cloth off and stuffed it into his pocket.
The moment he did, he smelled it.
That scent.
The familiar, intoxicating perfume—sweet, rich, and dangerously alluring.
Before he could react, Lilith slid into the seat beside him, effortlessly elegant as always.
She leaned slightly toward him, lips curling into a knowing smile.
"You seem to be enjoying the party pretty well."
Liam turned to her and locked eyes, his expression completely deadpan.
His stare practically screamed "Really?"
But he didn’t say a word.
Lilith, of course, understood exactly why he was frustrated.
She had done her homework on him.
She had read about his past, about his struggles, about how he was just some broke kid trying to survive in a world that didn’t give a damn about him.
And right now?
She could see that frustration burning behind his sharp blue eyes.
Still, she didn’t comment on it.
Instead, she leaned back slightly and spoke in that smooth, unbothered tone of hers.
"Your first job is happening today."
Liam immediately furrowed his brows.
The first thing he did was check the time.
It was already 10:00 PM.
The second thing he did was turn back to Lilith, incredulous.
And the third thing he did was start complaining.
"How the hell am I supposed to carry out a job this late? And on my first damn day?"
Lilith, as expected, completely ignored his protests.
She pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, then slid it toward him.
"I just received intel that there’s a cocaine exchange happening in this place in twenty minutes," she said smoothly. "I’ve sent you the location."
Liam picked up his phone, checked the notification, then looked back at her.
"And what exactly do you want me to do?"
Lilith sipped her wine before replying.
"Go there, beat them up, and burn the cocaine."
Liam blinked.
Then blinked again.
"Wait... what?"
Lilith gave him an amused glance, clearly enjoying his confusion.
"Burn the cocaine," she repeated, as if it was the most normal request in the world.
Liam frowned. "Why?"
Lilith’s expression darkened slightly, her smile turning sharp.
"Because I own this part of the city."
Her voice was calm, but there was undeniable authority in it.
"And I already made it clear that I don’t want cocaine being sold in my territory."
Liam leaned back, processing her words.
So, this was about power.
It wasn’t about the money. It wasn’t about stopping crime.
It was about control.
Lilith was making sure that everyone in her city followed her rules.
Liam nodded slowly. "Got it."
Then, after a brief pause, he pocketed his phone and said, "No. I can’t accept it."
Lilith arched a brow, clearly amused. "Oh?"
"The risk is too high," Liam explained. "It’s already 10 PM. Those guys will definitely be armed. What the hell do you expect me to do—just walk in there and start swinging?"
Lilith watched him for a moment.
Then, with a smirk, she said, "You’ll get a thousand dollars."
Liam narrowed his eyes at her.
Was she seriously trying to bribe him with money? 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓊𝒷.𝓬𝓸𝓂
Who the hell did she think she was?
Before he could even respond, Lilith casually added, "But it’s fine if you don’t want to do it. I have other people I can send."
She made a slight move as if she was about to call for someone else—
And that was when Liam’s body moved on its own.
Without thinking, he grabbed her wrist.
"Hell no," he said instantly.
Lilith looked down at where he was holding her, then back up at him, a slow smirk forming on her lips.
Liam, meanwhile, was internally screaming.
$1,000 for ten minutes of work?
His late father would spit on him from heaven if he turned that down.
---
Liam stepped outside, feeling the cool night air brush against his face as he twirled a small key between his fingers.
It was a motorcycle key.
Lilith had tossed it to him before he left, explaining that the deal was happening soon and he wouldn’t get there fast enough on foot.
So now, standing outside the luxurious underground club, Liam scanned the parking area until—
He saw it.
His breath hitched slightly.
Damn.
It was a beauty.
The motorcycle was sleek and black as midnight, its body smooth and polished under the dim streetlights. Custom rims, reinforced frame, a roaring engine—everything about it screamed power.
Liam couldn’t help but grin.
At least one good thing happened tonight.
Without wasting time, he swung his leg over the seat, gripping the handles as he took a deep breath.
Then, with a swift motion, he kickstarted it.
VRROOOOM!
The engine roared to life, sending a thrill through his body.
"Fuck yeah."
Liam twisted the throttle and sped off into the night, weaving through the near-empty streets as the city lights blurred past him.
His heart pounded, not just from the adrenaline but from the weight of what he was about to do.
This was it.
His first real job.
And if he messed up?
Well... he wasn’t planning on messing up.
Back Underground
The party never stopped.
Even with Liam gone, music still played, glasses still clinked, and business deals were still being made.
At the bar, Leo casually took Liam’s former seat.
Unlike the others, Leo was one of the few people who could talk to Lilith however he wanted—and get away with it.
He leaned back against the counter, swirling the golden liquid in his glass as he looked at Lilith, who sat beside him with her usual unbothered expression.
Then, after a moment, he said, "Why did you give him such a dangerous job on his first mission?"
Lilith didn’t react immediately.
She took a slow sip of her wine, tilting her head slightly as if amused by the question.
Then, with a small smirk, she replied, "Because I already have people there."
Leo raised a brow. "Meaning?"
Lilith set her glass down, her fingers tracing the rim as she continued, "Meaning, if things go wrong, he won’t die. I have backup watching."
Leo exhaled, shaking his head.
"You’re testing him."
Lilith’s smirk widened slightly. "Of course."
Leo chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "And what if he fails?"
Lilith’s eyes gleamed under the golden light.
"Then he isn’t worth keeping."
Leo sighed. "Cold as ever."
Lilith simply smiled, lifting her glass again.
She was curious to see how Liam would handle himself.
And if he survived?
Well...
That would only make things more interesting.
