All Chapters of In The Smoke-Filled Room: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The afternoon sun filtered through the curtains of Violet's modest apartment, casting warm,golden rays across the room. She sat on the couch, a steaming mug of tea in her hands, lost inthought. For months, she had carefully hidden herself, changing her last name and leavingbehind the chaotic life that once had tethered her to Clyde. She thought she'd left it all behind.A sudden, sharp knock on the door broke her reverie. The suddenness of it made Violet's heartjump. She seldom had visitors in this quiet town, and no one from her past knew where shewas. Setting her mug down, she walked hesitantly toward the door, her pulse quickening witheach step.She froze as peering through the peephole showed her Clyde standing on the other side,commanding in presence. His chiseled jaw was determined, while his piercing eyesseemed to scan through the door as if they could see right through it.She slowly opened the door, and her breath caught in her throat."Clyde," she whispered, her voic

The evening air felt thick with the promise of security and closeness. Clyde and Violet sat closetogether on the couch, talking softly about the earlier scare. A dimmed lamp cast soft light ontheir faces; however, nothing could dim the spark that seemed to build up from the momentthese two had been reunited.Violet leaned into Clyde, her head against his shoulder, his arm around her protectively. Thetouch of his warm skin, the soft sound of his breathing, and the lingering memory of him dashingto save her combined with an upsurge of emotion she couldn't pretend didn't exist.Her fingers made soft circles on his chest. "You're always there for me," she said, her murmurlow. "How did I ever deserve someone like you?"Clyde leaned her chin up, and his dark eyes locked to hers. "You don't have to deserve it," hewhispered. "You just have to let me love you.The tension in the room shifted and became electric. Violet's lips parted as Clyde's thumb strokedher cheek. She felt her heart

Clyde stepped into the dimly lit warehouse, his footsteps echoing against the cold concrete floor.The space was immense and eerily quiet, with scattered crates and metal beams casting longshadows under the faint glow of flickering overhead lights. His sharp eyes darted around,searching for any sign of Olivia."Olivia!" Clyde's voice rang out firm but cautious.No response.He moved more inward, his hand instinctively brushed against the concealed weapon tucked athis side. There was something unreal about the silence. Clyde's instincts were screaming at himto turn back, but the thought of Olivia being held here kept him moving forward.He saw a chair near the middle of the warehouse with leather straps dangling from thearmrests. It was empty, but his heart shivered at the sight.He went low to his knees to peer at the ground. Scuff marks and a smudge of what appeared todried blood sealed his suspicion that someone had been here recently."Darn it," he whispered to himself.Sudde

Leo grinned, shoving the phone back into his pocket as he hung up. He turned to Clyde, anexpression of mock pity on his face. "Don't go anywhere, Clyde. Though, I suppose you don'thave much of a choice."Clyde glared at him, his jaw clenched tightly. "You won't win, Leo. Whatever game you'replaying, it'll come crashing down."Leo chuckled, straightening his suit jacket. "Oh, Clyde. You still don't get it, do you? I'm notplaying a game. I've already won. You and your father just haven't realized it yet."With that, Leo strode toward the warehouse door, pausing only to address one of the burly menguarding the room. "Make sure our guest doesn't leave prematurely. I'll be back shortly."The guard nodded, cold and emotionless.Leo disappeared into the night, his footsteps still echoing.The wheels in Clyde's head spun wildly. He had to be out of here before Leo did whatever it wasthat he and this other man were planning. His hands wriggled and yanked against the ropes,chafing raw re

Leo Levine straightened his cufflinks as his shiny black car pulled up in front of an upscale hotel.The glow of the house's golden front reflected on its polished surface; the doorman steppedforward, opening the door. Out stepped Leo, confident and powerful enough to make all headsturn around.He looked at his watch, satisfied with the time. Sharon had insisted on coming here to avoidbeing seen and overheard. The hotel was discreet, a known haven for clandestine dealings.Leo strode confidently into the lobby, his sharp gaze scanning the area. The receptionist greetedhim politely, but he waved her off as his eyes focused on the purpose of his visit."Room 1408," Leo had muttered under his breath, remembering the number Sharon had textedto him earlier. He ignored the elevator attendant and punched the button for the 14th floorhimself.The ride up was quiet, with only the low hum of the elevator. Leo's mind methodically wentthrough their next moves. Sharon was proving a useful a