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Chapter 86: Chapter 86 Liam’s Plan
Vanessa crouched low and moved swiftly towards Liam. Her heart pounded in her chest as she reached him, her eyes darting between his wound and the men holding Ann hostage. She pressed her hands firmly against his shoulder, feeling the warm, sticky blood seeping through his shirt. The injury was bad, but Liam’s face remained composed, his deep blue eyes locked onto their enemies with an unsettling calm.
Before she could say anything, Liam placed his hand over hers, stilling her movements. His touch was firm but gentle. "Wait," he whispered, his voice barely audible. Vanessa swallowed hard, understanding what he meant. Now was not the time for weakness. Now was not the time for hesitation.
Liam gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand. The pain flared through his shoulder like fire licking at his skin, each movement sending shockwaves through his nerves. It felt like someone had taken a searing-hot blade and stabbed it deep into his flesh, the burning agony radiating down his arm. Every breath he took only added to the torment, but he had endured worse. He had no choice but to push through it.
As he stepped out from behind the cover of the car, Dean’s eyes widened in anger and surprise. "You’re really something, huh?" he sneered. His grip on Ann’s hair tightened, making her gasp. "Did that bullet knock some screws loose? What the fuck are you doing standing there, move towards the center?"
Liam didn’t respond. His expression was unreadable, his icy gaze fixed on Dean. Ann, who had been struggling against her captor, stilled when she saw Liam’s wound. Her heart clenched at the sight of blood soaking through his sleeve. Yet, despite the clear injury, Liam stood tall, his posture unwavering. He made it look as if the bullet was nothing more than an inconvenience.
Vanessa followed behind him, her hands raised in surrender. Her fingers trembled slightly, but she forced herself to take slow, steady breaths. This was the plan. The plan was crazy, reckless even, but if they hesitated now, they were both dead.
Dean glanced at Rick, whose hand was visibly shaking. "We should just kill them now and get the hell out of here," Rick muttered, but Dean shook his head. "No. We can’t leave empty-handed. We’ve lost too many men today. If we give the boss these two women, maybe we’ll still have a shot at getting out of this alive." His gaze lingered on Vanessa, and his lips curled into a smirk. "Boss doesn’t have a woman like you in his collection."
Vanessa’s stomach churned with disgust, but she forced herself to keep walking. As she passed Liam, her eyes met his for a split second. That was the signal.
In a single, fluid motion, Liam grabbed Vanessa, pulling her back into his arms as if restraining her. His arm wrapped around her neck in a firm but careful grip, just enough to make it look convincing. Before anyone could react, he reached behind her and pulled out the gun she had tucked away. His movements were too fast, too precise.
BAM! The first shot rang out, the sound deafening in the open air. Rick let out a pained scream as the bullet tore through his hand, forcing him to drop his gun.
BAM! The second shot followed immediately, striking Dean in the leg. He stumbled, his grip on Ann loosening just enough for her to react. Without hesitation, Ann twisted out of his grasp, her hand darting towards the gun that had just fallen from his grip. 𝑛𝘰𝘷𝑝𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝘮
Liam’s grip on Vanessa loosened as she instinctively ducked, rolling out of his way. The tables had turned in an instant.
Dean’s eyes widened in shock as he realized what had just happened. His leg buckled beneath him, pain shooting through his body. Rick clutched his wounded hand, his expression a mix of rage and fear.
Ann, now armed, took a step back, breathing heavily. The moment that once seemed hopeless had flipped in their favor. But it wasn’t over yet. For Liam this was just the beginning.
Liam stepped forward, his steps slow and deliberate, his breathing heavy but controlled. The pain from the gunshot wound in his shoulder burned like fire, but he ignored it. His mind was focused on only one thing: ending this pathetic display in front of him. Blood dripped from his arm, soaking into his shirt, but it didn’t matter. His grip on the gun remained firm, his expression cold and unreadable.
Rick, who was still on the ground clutching his wounded hand, saw Liam approaching and immediately began to shake. His hands trembled as he raised them in surrender, his face contorted with desperation.
"P-please," Rick stammered, his voice breaking. "This isn’t my plan! I was just following orders, I swear! I never wanted to hurt anybody! It was Dean, it was all him! I was just doing what the boss told me to!"
Liam scoffed, his cold laughter sending a shiver down Rick’s spine. His deep blue eyes, sharp and merciless, bore into Rick like he was nothing more than an insect.
"Not your plan?" Liam repeated mockingly. "And yet, when Vanessa was thrown to you like some kind of prize, you were more than ready to accept her."
Rick swallowed hard, unable to argue. He had no defense, and he knew it.
Behind Liam, Vanessa and Ann stood watching the scene. Ann’s hands were clenched into fists, her body still trembling from everything that had just happened. Vanessa, on the other hand, was watching Liam with an unreadable expression. She had never seen someone act with such ruthless efficiency before, never seen a man so completely in control even while bleeding out.
Liam turned to her, his eyes softer for just a moment. "Take Ann away," he said, his voice steady but firm. "Please."
Vanessa met his gaze for only a second before nodding. Without hesitation, she placed a reassuring hand on Ann’s arm and led her away. She didn’t question Liam, didn’t argue. She respected him too much for that. He had a plan, and she knew better than to interfere.
Now, only Liam, Rick, and the injured Dean remained.
Liam turned his attention back to them, his expression once again darkening.
BAM! BAM!
Two gunshots rang out in the silent lot. The first bullet tore through Rick’s leg, causing him to scream out as he collapsed onto the ground completely. The second bullet struck Dean in the neck, just off-center. Blood immediately poured from the wound, coating his hands as he instinctively tried to stop the flow.
Rick watched in horror as his friend began to convulse on the ground, his mouth opening and closing as if trying to scream, but no sound came out. The bullet hadn’t killed him instantly, and now he was drowning in his own blood, suffering a slow, agonizing death.
Liam crouched down in front of Rick, his lips curling into a grin. "How does it feel?" he asked, his tone almost casual. "Watching someone die right in front of you. Knowing there’s nothing you can do about it."
Rick could only shake his head violently, his entire body quaking in fear. "P-please," he sobbed. "Please don’t do this! Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you! Just don’t kill me!"
Liam’s grin widened. "That’s what I like to hear."
He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I want the location of every illegal brothel your crew runs in this city."
Rick’s breath hitched, his eyes darting around as if looking for a way out, but there was none. He had no choice. If he refused, Liam would kill him just like he did Dean. And even if he told him, there was no guarantee Liam would let him live.
He was trapped.
And he knew it.
With a defeated sob, Rick finally spoke. "I-I’ll tell you everything."
Liam smirked, standing up straight as he towered over the broken man. "Good."
