NOVPUB
Chapter 95: Chapter 95 Boss Anger
Liam grabbed the M4 from the trunk. He didn’t want to waste any bullets, so it was the only weapon he took with him. Maybe, just maybe, if he returned half of Lilith’s ammo, she might give him a little refund or at least not glare at him like she wanted to skin him alive. He looked at the digital clock on the car dashboard. 1:08 AM. It was late, even by his standards.
The night was silent, except for the distant crackle of fire. As Liam approached the warehouse, the heat from the explosion still radiated in the air. Flames danced across the mangled bodies, turning them into charred figures. Some were barely alive, writhing and screaming faintly as fire consumed their flesh.
Liam raised the M4, his finger tight on the trigger. He gave them a quick death—clean shots to the head. He didn’t like the agony that came with burning alive. No one deserved that. Not even these bastards. Mercy through the barrel.
Pushing the door open, he stepped into the warehouse. It smelled of smoke, sweat, chemicals, and blood. Inside, the place was no different from the others. Large wooden tables lined up in rows, each packed with cocaine, bags, and scales. Men had died mid-work, some slumped over the tables, others crumpled on the floor.
But it wasn’t the drugs that caught his attention. It was the fifteen girls tied up together in the corner, duct tape over their mouths, fear in their eyes. They stared at him like he was death walking. Liam crouched, pulling a knife from his boot. One by one, he sliced their bindings free, moving with calm precision. When the last one was free, he pulled the tape off their mouths.
"Get out of here," Liam said, his voice altered into a thick rasp. "Go find help."
Most of the girls didn’t move at first, still in shock. But then one of them, a brunette with tear-streaked cheeks, suddenly lunged forward and hugged him.
"Thank you," she whispered, clutching him tight. "Thank you so much. You saved us."
Others murmured the same, nodding and crying, but keeping their distance. They had gone through hell, and now they were free.
Liam sighed, gently prying her arms off. "Alright, that’s enough. You’ll kill me with the hugging."
He stood up, reloading his M4 with practiced ease, then walked out of the warehouse. The smoke followed him like a shadow, rising into the night sky. He was done here. The fourth warehouse destroyed. Four out of four. But as he stood in the open night, a question hung heavy in his mind. Should he return Lilith’s car and weapons now? Or should he just head home? 𝘯𝑜𝑣𝑝𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚
He opened the car door and got in, looking at the dashboard again. He had removed all the guns and his mask, placing them neatly in the back seat. He looked like an average guy now. Just a man driving late at night.
As he started the engine, the system popped up in his vision.
[Mission: Destroy the Crimson Hand Brothels - 4/4 Completed.] [Wait 24 hours for reward.] [23:59:59]
A low chuckle escaped Liam’s lips. "You’ve got to be kidding me," he muttered.
It even had the nerve to start a countdown.
"Stupid system," he murmured, shaking his head as he drove.
The drive home was uneventful. No patrol cars, no sudden alarms, no flashing lights. It was like the chaos he caused tonight didn’t exist. Just another quiet night in the city.
When he arrived home, the house was silent. But there was light coming from the living room window. Someone was up. Or had been. Liam parked the car, grabbed nothing, and walked toward the front door.
He opened the door slowly and stepped inside. The scent of Ann’s perfume hit him immediately. Comforting. Familiar.
His eyes landed on the couch, and his steps paused. There she was. Ann.
She was sitting there, her head resting on her hand, but she had fallen asleep waiting for him. Her long dark hair cascaded down her shoulder, her breathing slow and steady.
Liam sighed, a soft look crossing his face. This girl...
He walked over and gently scooped her into his arms. Her body curled against his chest, and just as he was about to head toward the bedroom, her eyes fluttered open.
She blinked up at him, still half asleep. Her lips curled into a soft smile the moment she saw his face.
"You’re back..." she whispered before dozing off again.
Liam chuckled quietly, returning her smile.
"Weirdo," he muttered affectionately as he carried her to the bedroom.
The mission might be done, but the night wasn’t over. And for now, this—holding her, seeing her safe—was the only reward he needed.
Liam opened the door to Ann’s room slowly, careful not to make a sound. Her soft breaths were steady, and her head rested peacefully on his shoulder. He stepped in and gently placed her down on the bed. She stirred slightly, but didn’t wake. Liam adjusted her body so she lay comfortably, then reached down and pulled the blanket up over her. He tucked it around her gently, smoothing her hair back from her face with a soft touch. For a moment, he just stood there looking at her—this woman who had been through so much, who still found time to smile at him even in her sleep.
He stepped out quietly, closing the door with a soft click. As he walked down the hallway toward his room, a faint scent caught his nose. He sniffed again and frowned. Gunpowder. Smoke. Sweat. He smelled like a walking war zone. No wonder. After everything that happened, he was surprised he hadn’t noticed it earlier.
"Damn," he muttered to himself, wrinkling his nose.
He headed to the bathroom and peeled off his clothes, tossing them aside like layers of exhaustion. The shower water came on hot, and he stood beneath it for a long time, letting the heat wash away the grime and tension from the night. He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, running a hand through his soaked hair. Lilith’s guns. He had to return them tomorrow. The thought nagged him like a sharp thorn in his brain. She didn’t like excuses—never had. And if she thought he was taking liberties, even for a moment, she’d make him regret it.
He finished bathing, toweled off quickly, and pulled on a clean shirt and boxers before walking back to his room. He slid into the bed, sighing as his tired body hit the mattress. But even as his head sank into the pillow, his mind refused to rest.
Lilith.
Her voice, her glare, her aura. He could practically hear her in his head. If he delayed returning the weapons, she wouldn’t care what excuses he had. She might smile at him—but that was worse. Her smile was never a good sign.
Just as his eyes started to drift shut, the soft creak of his bedroom door made him lift his head.
It was Ann.
She stood there, hugging her pillow tightly to her chest. The hallway light behind her cast a soft glow around her figure.
"Can I... sleep here tonight?" she asked, her voice small and almost shy.
Liam blinked, surprised—but only for a second. He shifted slightly and nodded with a small grin.
"Of course."
Ann stepped into the room and quietly closed the door behind her. She padded barefoot across the floor and climbed into the bed beside him, sliding under the covers with practiced ease. She curled against him almost immediately, her head resting on his chest and her arm wrapping around his waist. She held him as if he might vanish again. Her fingers gripped his shirt tightly.
Liam hesitated for only a second before his arm wrapped around her as well, holding her close. He let his hand gently brush through her soft hair. She looked up at him then, her eyes half-lidded with sleep, but clear with emotion.
"Thank you," she whispered.
She didn’t need to say more. He understood. She was thanking him for saving her. For showing up.
Liam smiled. He couldn’t help himself. She looked so peaceful, so innocent, so safe. And he had protected that.
Without overthinking, he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, then brushed his lips to hers. Just a second. Ann let out a soft, content sound as she nuzzled closer, fully relaxed now. Liam watched as she closed her eyes and slipped back into sleep, her body warm against his.
He stared at the ceiling for a moment longer before letting his eyes finally drift shut.
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Meanwhile...
The air in Boss’s house was thick—choking with tension and rage. The men standing in the room didn’t dare raise their heads. One of them was trembling. Another shifted his weight from one foot to the other, trying not to breathe too loudly.
Boss was on one of his rampages again.
"FUCK!" he roared, his voice shaking the walls.
He swept his arm across the table, sending bottles, papers, and a lamp crashing to the floor. Glass shattered everywhere. Another loud crash followed as he kicked a chair clear across the room. The veins on his forehead bulged like ropes beneath his skin. His chest rose and fell with ragged, furious breaths.
"I lost four fucking warehouses! Four!"
He spun around, eyes blazing with madness, spit flying from his lips as he raged.
"Who the FUCK is doing this to me?!"
He grabbed a vase from a nearby shelf and hurled it to the ground. It exploded into glittering shards.
Khan stood in the corner, arms crossed over his massive chest, his breathing heavy beneath the mask he wore. He didn’t flinch, didn’t speak until Boss finally stopped pacing and just stood in the middle of the room, panting like a wild dog.
Khan stepped forward.
"Calm down. If this was the Black Lotus, we’ll know by morning," Khan said, voice low and mechanical through his mask. "They’ve overstepped. And if it’s them, they’ll answer for it. The higher-ups won’t let this slide."
Boss glared at him, eyes wide with fury.
"This has Lilith written all over it! That whore! I should have killed her when I had the chance!"
Khan didn’t reply. There was nothing to say. Boss would rant until his anger burned out, as he always did.
And in the morning... the war would begin.
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