Chapter 673
Chapter 673:
“Seatbelt,” Skye commanded. “Safety first p>
Lucian clicked the belt. He stared at the back of Skye’s head.
“You will pay for this,” he whispered.
“I think you just did,” Skye replied.
She slammed on the gas.
The car lurched forward, the acceleration pinning Lucian to the seat. As they peeled out of the lot, Liam turned around in his seat, resting his chin on the headrest.
“So, Lucian,” Liam said, keeping his voice in that painful, gravelly register, “do you think the bricks come with a warranty? Or is that an aftermarket modification p>
Lucian closed his eyes. He didn’t answer. He just listened to the rhythmic thwack-thwack-thwack of the windshield wipers, counting the seconds until he could get out.
They drove in silence for ten minutes. The tension in the car was thick, a physical weight. Skye drove aggressively, taking corners too fast, forcing Lucian to brace himself against the door.
When they finally pulled up to the curb of the Graves Tower, Lucian didn’t wait for the car to stop completely. He unbuckled and scrambled out into the rain, his leg buckling slightly as he hit the pavement.
“Thanks for the tip!” Skye yelled after him.
Lucian didn’t look back. He limped toward the revolving doors, a broken king entering a castle he no longer fully owned.
Inside the car, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
Liam reached up and peeled off the thick glasses, then adjusted the uncomfortable prosthetic on the bridge of his nose. He ran a hand through the messy wig, his posture straightening, his shoulders expanding as he dropped the slouch. The vacuous look in his eyes vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp intelligence.
“Parker’s drone operator confirmed the drop,” Liam said, his natural, deep voice returning as he cleared his throat, shedding the rasp. “The placement of those bricks was architectural p>
𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘣𝘦.𝘤𝘰𝘮
Skye laughed, a genuine, bright sound that filled the small space. She reached over and squeezed Liam’s hand.
“You were terrifyingly good at that,” she said. “Preston from the Valley? I almost believed you p>
“I studied the species,” Liam said, turning his palm to interlace his fingers with hers. “Whatever keeps me close to you without tripping his radar. If I had used a voice modulator, he might have linked it to Nero. The human touch is always more deceptive p>
He looked back at the entrance of the building where Lucian had disappeared.
“He’s desperate,” Liam murmured. “And desperate men are dangerous p>
“I know,” Skye said, her smile fading slightly. “But tonight? Tonight, he’s just wet and broke. And that counts as a win p>
She put the car in gear.
“Where to?” Liam asked.
“The night is young,” Skye said, “and we have five thousand dollars of Lucian’s money to burn. I’m thinking drinks p>