Chapter 50Spike's slimy smile widened as he took in James' furious expression. "Aw, what's the matter, Jimmy boy? Cat got your tongue all of a sudden?"James stayed eerily still and silent, seemingly trying to control the rage boiling inside him. Lily could sense the tension radiating off him in waves. She placed a cautious hand on his arm, hoping to help ground him.Spike let out a mocking chuckle. ""Yeah, that is what I think. In reality, you know that my opinion or decision is correct.". You were always just my little attack dog, doing whatever I said. This whole big shot mogul act of yours is just tough guy posturing."With a menacing step forward, James finally broke his silence. His voice was low and dangerous. "You really don't want to keep running that mouth, Spike. Because when I'm done with you, there won't be enough left to run it.""Such big threats!" Spike replied with an exaggerated eye roll. "However, we are both aware that you lack the courage to substantiate them aga
Chapter 51James and Lily walked in tense silence, putting as much distance between them and the bloodbath in the alley as possible. The sounds of distant sirens wailed faintly, no doubt alerted to the chaos by some anonymous caller. They had to get off these streets before the police officers inevitably swarmed the vicinity.At last, James ducked into the dingy entrance of what gave the look of an deserted workplace building. He ushered Lily inside ahead of him, eyes constantly scanning their surroundings for any threats. Once they were concealed in the shadowy interior, he finally seemed to relax a fraction."You hurt?" he asked gruffly, giving Lily a once-over. His hands skimmed over her arms and sides as if checking for injuries himself.She shook her head. "No, I'm okay. Just shaken up is all." Her hand went instinctively to her child bump, alleviation washing over her that her child was unharmed after the nightmarish attack.James's jaw tightened but he gave a curt nod. "Good. T
Chapter 52As the sirens grew louder in the distance, indicating the police would soon be swarming the area, James finally broke away from their searing kiss. He cupped Lily's face, staring into her eyes with an intense determination burning behind his piercing gaze."We want to get moving," he said in a low, gravelly tone. "There's no way they are going to permit this drop after witnessing Spike's brutal homicide. We're going to have every law enforcement agency in the city coming down on us once they find his mangled corpse." Lily felt a tremor of dread at the thought of the citywide manhunt that would soon be unleashed. But she gave a resolute nod. "You're right. We can't stick around here any longer. What's the plan?"James's jaw tensed in that way it did when he was rapidly calculating their next high-stakes move. After a pregnant pause, he gave a tight nod."We can't go to any of the usual properties or underground bases. They'll be crawling all over those places within the ho
Chapter 53After pulling into the secluded compound, James wasted no time getting Lily settled into one of the underground safe rooms. It was basically just a reinforced bunker, but at least it would keep her protected while he figured out their next move."You'll be alright in here for a bit?" he asked gruffly as Lily surveyed the stark living quarters - a small bedroom, bathroom, and a kitchenette area stocked with non-perishable food and bottled water.She gave him a wry look. "You kidding? This place looks way comfier than some of the motels we've had to squat in over the past few months."James allowed the faintest smirk at her attempt at humor, though his eyes still burned with grim intensity. Leaning down, he pulled her right into a fierce embrace, cradling the lower side of her head against the strong wall of his chest."I don't know what clean hell is coming," he rumbled towards her hair, "but you could bet your candy ass I'll pass heaven and earth to preserve you and the bab
Louis's voice was grim on the other end of the line. "Alright Jimmy, buckle up - because I got a whole mess of ugly shit to unload on you." There was a pause as James heard the sound of papers rustling. "First off, those hunches of yours about the bigger fish seem to be right on the money. After digging into Spike's background, it's pretty clear that punkass wasn't the brains behind this whole operation to take you down.""I'm listening," James said tightly, his gut tightening in anticipation. "Well, from what I can trace, Spike spent years running as a low-degree enforcer for the Petrov crime syndicate - you know, those Deepstars mobsters who've been looking to muscle their manner into the city's underworld." Louis's voice took on a harder edge. "And based on the money trails I'm seeing, it looks like the Petrovs were bankrolling this whole vendetta against you from the jump."James's free hand clenched into a fist until his knuckles strained white. So his old suspicions about thos
Chapter 55James strode back into the bunker, his jaw set in a hard line. He saw Lily sitting at the cot, gently rubbing her swollen stomach. Seeing her like that, so susceptible but fiercely protective in their unborn toddler, made his heart clench."Lily," he stated gruffly, "We need to speak."She looked up at him with those big, soulful eyes. "What's going on, James?"He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. This wasn't going to be clean."After speaking to Louis, it is clear we are managing some primary players here - the Petrov crime family. They've been bankrolling everything to take me down, including that rat Spike."Lily's eyes widened. "The Petrovs? But they're incredibly dangerous...""Exactly," James cut her off. "Which is why I can't have you anywhere near this fight." He could see the protest forming on her lips, but he held up a hand. "I'm serious, Lil. These aren't just street thugs - they're ruthless mobsters who won't hesitate to use you or our baby as leverage a
Chapter 56A few days later, James gathered Lily in the central lounge area of the compound. His expression was pensive as he took her hands in his. "Lil, I've been thinking..." he began slowly. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with you staying cooped up in this bunker much longer, especially in your condition."She frowned at him. "What do you mean? I thought you wanted me somewhere secure while you deal with the Petrov situation."James sighed and ran a hand through his cropped hair. "I did, however the more I consider it, the more I fear it's no longer a terrific environment for you right now, splendid.He fixed her with an intense stare. "A situation like this...it's not good for you or the baby to be under that kind of constant strain."Lily felt a spark of irritation flare within her. "So what, you think I can't handle a little tension now?" she challenged. "In case you've forgotten, I've been by your side through plenty of hairier moments than this, buster."The faintest of smile
Chapter 57Back at the compound, James was a coiled spring of restless energy. With Lily safely ensconced abroad, he could finally focus all his faculties on the looming Petrov problem without distraction."Talk to me, Lou," he said without preamble as his friend strode into the central hub. "Where are we at with smoking out these Slavic cockroaches from our crevices?"Louis' expression was uncharacteristically grim as he spread out a sheaf of documents on the table between them. "We might have a problem, Jimmy. A big one."James felt his spine stiffen at the other man's tone. "What kind of problem?" he asked tightly.Jabbing a finger at the papers, Louis met his gaze squarely. "The kind of problem that looks a hell of a lot like an inside job, boss."A muscle ticked in James' clenched jaw. "Explain."Louis tapped the documents again. "These are transcripts of intercepted communications between key Petrov players. And based on the level of detailed information they seem to have about
Chapter 142: The Watson mansion was fully alive. Streamers hung cascading off of everything they could, balloons bounced merrily around various corners, and the air swam thick with the tantalizing smell of BBQ on the back porch. Today was, after all, Ave's party – but it was more than that; today was the day Lily and James had chosen to once again pledge themselves to one another.Lily stood before the full-length mirror, straightening out her simple white sundress. At seven months, she was radiant—a perfect arc the curve of her belly was, below the flowing fabric.From the doorway, the sound of a voice declared, "You look beautiful." Lily turned to see her cousin Maggie smile at her."Thanks." Lily smoothed the dress. "I feel like a beached whale, but James insists I'm glowing."Maggie burst out laughing. "He's right, you know. You look like you're about to light up his world or something." She walked over and hugged Lily. "I can't believe how far we've come since that one crazy nig
Chapter 141: Lily woke up off. She couldn't explain it, but something just seemed… off. And when she rolled over to check the time, a wave of nausea hit her. She groaned and buried her face in her pillow."Alright?" James mumbled, still half asleep."Yeah, I just feel a little queasy," Lily replied. "Probably just something I ate."James sat up concerned. "You want me to get you something?"Lily shook her head. "No, I'll be fine. We should get up anyway; Ave has that school play today, remember?"They climbed out of bed and busied themselves getting ready for the day. James went into the bedroom to awaken Ave while Lily projectile-vomited into the toilet.James had, by this time, somehow managed to dress Ave in her costume: a huge, puffy frog outfit in bright green made for the school dress rehearsal of "The Frog Prince.""Mommy!" Ave squealed as she clumped down the stairs. "Do I look like a real frog?"Lily laughed, pushing aside her queasiness. "Why, yes, my child, the fairest fr
Chapter 140: Giggles consumed the room, and James stirred awake. He opened an eye to find a little face at the end of the bed staring in at him."Daddy! Wake up!" little Ave chirped in at him.Stepping over the landmines that were on the bed, James ran his hand through the small amount of her running down her back and picked her up, digging fingers into her tummy."Morning, princess," he said by way of splaying a kiss on her forehead.Ave giggled and squirmed. "Mommy said breakfast was ready!""Oh, yeah?" said James, sitting up but not letting go of the squirming Ave. "Am I to take it that's why Mommy sent you in here to wake me up?"Ave nodded, her bouncing brown curls saying more than she could. "Yep! She said tell you there's coffee."James laughed, and if Lily knew him at all well, it was all for her benefit. "Well then, I guess we'd better not have Mommy waiting, huh?"He climbed out of bed, Ave still in his arms, and rolled out of the room. The smell of bacon and coffee wafted
Chapter 139James lay on his back on the pristine white sand beach and took a pounding from the burning Maldivian sun. His hand reached up behind him for the coconut cocktail, tasting sweetness in his mouth as the gentle lapping of waves broke almost ten meters away from shore. It was the first time he had really been allowed to relax, barring a three-month period, since they had released the secrets of the Shadow Council onto the world."Penny for your thoughts?" The sound of Lily's voice broke through his reverie. She settled herself down on the lounger beside him. Her skin was golden against the sun.He smiled, squeezing her hand, saying, "Just thinking how surreal this all is. A year ago, I was knee-deep in conspiracies and shadow organizations. Now I'm sipping cocktails on a private island."Lily chortled; that sound always hit James in exactly the right place in his heart."Life's funny that way, isn't it?" she said, turning her head to look at him with her chin resting on her a
Chapter 138: James was pacing his living room relentlessly. Elena was with Rachel. It was all over. Well yah, anyway that was supposed to mean.Lilly squinted at him from the couch. "James, honey, you're going to wear a hole in the carpet. Come sit down."He sucked in a deep breath and sat down beside her. "I'm sorry; I just… I just can't help but feel this is too easy. After everything we've been through, this is just too easy."Lily squeezed his hand reassuringly. "James, I hardly think that anything about this has been easy. But maybe, this is the way it ends. Not really with a bang, but with a whimper."There was a pounding on the door. The teenager was on his feet before James could even open his mouth. His heart pounded in his chest. This was it.The door was thrown open. To find Rachel standing there—grimy, dirty, and obviously completely exhausted but still with the fires of determination burning behind her eyes. And past her."Hello, James," came the soft-spoken voice of Ele
Chapter 137: Rachel's hands trembled on the wheel. She drove the car towards the lighthouse. It was a full moon drooping low into a mess, ever drooping across the sky to the west, throwing a queer, sickly light over the whole demesne. She could not believe the fact that she was actually doing this, meeting secretly with her mother, Elena.She couldn't bat the feeling away that this time—this time—things were different. There was no hand in the place that could have been straightened just then, and scarcely a hand for him to take.Beside the lighthouse was her mother's car. Ray closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, and felt her hand shake again, then brought it quickly up to her chest and gripped hard. "You can do this," she whispered to herself.She scrambled out of the car and up the serpentine path to the lighthouse, where waves dashed to the rocks and her feet crunched over gravel.One figure stood at the top by the railing, looking out at the water: Elena. His mother.Rachel's hea
Chapter 136The world had barely had enough time to absorb the shock that came with the downfall of Shadow Council. News channels were all agog with relentless updates, while governments scurried to try and react to the development; people all around tried to understand what all this really meant and what the implications of the bombshell were that shook the very fundamentals of society.But there was so much more to it than that which James Watson could see coming.He found himself standing outside the hospital room after just a moment's hesitation on the other side of the door handle. He could see from the small window that Louis was lying in a bed, hooked up to a lot of machines, Rachel sat at his side.He steeled himself, took a deep breath, and walked in.Rachel lifted her head. Her eyes were red, red, but glittering. "James," she said very quietly. "I didn't expect you to be here.""How is he?" asked James, who had moved now and stood at the foot of Louis's bed.Rachel sighed. "
# Chapter 135: James took a deep breath and brought his head counterclockwise to his team, tired yet charged. It was time to engage their plan."Okay, let's go over this again. Hawk, are you set up with that kill switch or what?"Hawk just nodded. Her fingers danced across the laptop keyboard. "Okay, I am ready as I will ever be, but remember, this is one shot deal.""Right," James confirmed, turning towards Kelvin. "You got your contacts on standby?"Kelvin lifted his phone reassuringly. "They're all set, just waiting for our signal now."Glancing toward Angie and Agent Johnson, he asked, "You two sure about this? This is going to be dangerous."Angie made a show of rolling up her eyes. "Please. After all else we've done? It's just another Tuesday."It was Johnson's turn to chuckle. "What she said. We've got your back, James."James bobbed his head, his fear mixing in with his excitement. This was it: the last big push to finally bring down the Shadow Council."Alright then," he sai
Chapter 134: Days passed after the warehouse before a blur of debriefings, media frenzy, and shock waves that echoed across the globe. Standing smack in the middle of this hurricane, shaking the very roots of governments and institutions around the globe, was James and his team.They now sat in a safe house, courtesy of Agent Johnson—now an unlikely ally in all of this, ever since the exposure of the Shadow Council. There, in that very suburban home, the living room had now become something of a command center: there were laptops and papers all over, the place cluttered with empty coffee cups.James rubbed his tired eyes at the news playing on mute on the television. Of course, the headline scrolled by in the news: "Global Markets in Turmoil as Shadow Council Revelations Continue.""You should get some rest," Angie said before putting a hand on his shoulder. At least she looked a little better now, with the bruises from her captivity fading, but there was a new hardness in her eyes.