The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 64 Chilling Liam Before heading to the pub, | made a quick detour to Hillcrest and found Sheriff Combs at the dock of the clubhouse. | asked the Sheriff to supervise. With him there, no one dared double-cross me, not even Dan.

The black sling bags used by certain New Salem residents along with the honey and flax seeds New Salem produced were Dan’s main ways of smuggling our product to designated. points near the big cities of the eight West North Central States. The money which the students or the parents made by personally dealing to users is laundered through Sunday's offertory at church while the money earned from meth smuggled via the honey and seed produce is placed in crates of red wine. The crates are then delivered by boat after arriving in Bismarck and Mandan. It was a tedious process, but it was a process which never faltered. For years, we followed the sroutes and drop points without any trouble.

However, after the numerous revelations among my close friends, people who | considered to be my brothers and confidants, it becclear tothat my complacency would be my downfall. | decided it would be best if | step up and not allow Dan or Cris to have the opportunity to literally stabin the back.

Sheriff Combs was on his CB raspeaking to one of my men who was part of the welcoming committee for my delivery truck loaded with the crates.

“Contactonce you see the headlights of the delivery truck. Over.” Sheriff Combs was standing near the edge of the dock surveying the lake with night vision binoculars.

“Copy that. Over and out.” Rasilence. The Sheriff put his raback in his holster while he continued to peer through his night vision binoculars. | noticed the creases on his forehead. Obviously, he was bothered by something.

“Sheriff, anything wrong?” | asked.

“I think | saw smovement at the parkside of the lake, Sheriff Combs said. He suddenly pulled out his radio.

“Tanner, everything quiet at your end?” Tanner was one of the deputies. under my payroll and had the task of patrolling the lakeside area of the park.

“That's an affirmative, Sheriff. Just waiting for the cargo to arrive,” Tanner said over the radio.

1/6 CHAPTER 64 Chilling “I thought | saw smovement, the Sheriff said. He handedhis binoculars so | could have a look. | didn’t see anything.

“It must have been a prairie dog or an otter. Don’t worry, Sheriff. I've got this,” | heard Tanner say.

“Son, you know the drill. Check in every thirty minutes. Over and out.” The Sheriff put his raback in his holster and gestured forto hand over his binoculars. “I suggest you head back to town for the pageant. | got Jack stationed at the pub to make sure them surly. sons of bit ches at the pub are behaved. If a brawl happens, he knows what to do. Just be back before midnight.” “Just to be clear, Sheriff, if you see anything out of the ordinary, shoot to kill,” | ordered while handing his binoculars back. “I promise I'll be here before midnight to oversee operations.” “There are only two places the people are at tonight. It'll be easy to spot the good eggs from the rotten ones. I'll call you once the boys see the truck heading out of Bismarck, Liam, he said. “By the way, where's your father.

“He’s at home,” | answered. | saw Sheriff Combs grimace, annoyed my father was acting like he was retired.

“Don’t worry, Sheriff. My father may be home, but he’s keeping an eye on the CCTV cameras. Drink scoffee.

It's going to be a long night.” “| already have my thermos ready,” he replied. “Enjoy your night, son.” Although | wasn’t going to drink tonight, | had Henry drive me. | needed to think and | didn’t want to space out while | was in front of the wheel.

It was almost ten when | arrived at the pub. When | opened the entrance doors, | was shocked to see it packed with people. | noticed Jack, Noah and Lisa together at the bar, but what took my breath away was the gorgeous blonde in the yellow fitted dress. | felt the urge to run to her.

| pushed through the crowd, not amused the people of New Salem weren't making a path forto walk through. Of all the disrespect that could be thrown my way. My fists balled up as my anger began to bubble.

These people cowered in terror when they saw my father, but sawas insignificant.

| reached down to get my gun from its holster, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me.

“Allow me, Mayor Cohen,” | heard a low masculine voice say from behind. | turned around.

2/6 | CHAPTER 64 Chilling and found Dom had made a path through the crowd.

He tapped the shoulders of the two burly men in front of us. | knew them to be known bikers who caused trouble from tto tand sometimes did ssmuggling for Dan.

“The Mayor would like to pass through,” Dom said icily. The two men coughed loudly and made space, extending their arms to make the people move back.

“Boys and girls, move aside for the Mayor, the biggest of the two said. The others moved except for one.

He suddenly smacked the guy on the back of his head for ignoring his request.

“What the f uck!” The man exclaimed, ready to start a fight. He was tall and muscular with dark brown hair, black eyes and wore piercings on his nipples.

“| said...the Mayor would like to pass through,” Dom growled at him.

F uck you! Who the f uck do you think-" Before he could say anything else, the two burly bikers punched him in his stomach to silence him.

“Dom, man, my apologies, the biggest of the two said while their friend continued wincing in pain. “I'll take care of him.” He, then, turned toand gavean apologetic smile. “Mayor Cohen, | hope you enjoy your night.” This tthe crowd moved back givinga clear path to the bar. | nodded. my head in gratitude and walked towards Jack who had stood up from his stool after witnessing the confrontation. | raised my hands and gestured for him to relax.

| glanced behindand found Dom had stayed back to talk to his biker friend.

How in the world do they know each other? “Liam, you finally made it,” Chip said while placing a glass of scotch in front of me. He knew well.

“Thanks,” | replied, taking a sip of scotch and relaxing a bit. My eyes quickly searched for Virtue, but she, unfortunately, was gone. “Where's Virtue?” “She's in the dressing room freshening up,” Chip answered. “Now that you're here, we can start. How about you finish your double shot and I'll escort you to the judges table?” “Sure,” | answered, agreeing with him. As | sipped my scotch, | noticed Cris was missing.

3/6 CHAPTER 64 Chilling | tapped Lisa’s shoulder, hoping she knew where her husband was. “Where's Cris?” “I don’t know,” Lisa answered gruffly. “He said he needed to meet up with a private sponsor...

whatever that meant.” “Have you tried calling him?” | asked. | took out my phone and called him, but his phone was out of service.

Did Dan carry out his plan already? “Well? Were you able to reach him?” Lisa asked, downing her martini and gesturing to Chip for another one. She didn’t sound too concerned her husband was missing. “Because | haven't been able to reach him all day.” “Nope. His phone is off,” | answered. | was about to message Dan when Chip placed a glass of bourbon beside me.

“Guys, Cris is a grown man. | bet he'll walk through those doors any minute now,” Chip said, -sliding the glass towards Dom. | shrugged my shoulders and hid my phone. Chip was right.

Cris was a grown man and sometimes went off the radar.

“Dom, thanks for earlier,” | told Dom as he took a sip of bourbon.

“No thanks necessary, Mayor. Big Mike is a patron of mine,” he replied, cradling his glass in his hands. “If it's any consolation, I should be thanking you,” Dom said. My brow instantly furrowed, wondering what he meant.

“Thankfor what?” | asked.

“For accepting us in this town. I've grown quite fond of New Salem,” he answered, smiling, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. | was about to answer him, but he turned to Chip. “Chip, where's Bo?” “Over there. He has a date, Chip answered while pointing at an isolated table at the side of the pub, practically hidden by the crowd.

| raised my head and squinted my eyes to see who Bo was with. The woman's face was obscured by the darkness, but | recognized the short auburn hair of Cynthia McDowell.

What?! “Liam,” Jack’s voice interrupted my thoughts, “Virtue is already seated up front. I'll escort 4/6 CHAPTER 64 Chilling Cris to the front once he passes through the pub’s front doors.” | drank the rest of my scotch and took one last look at Cynthia who was smiling brightly at Bo whose face was within kissing distance.

All of a sudden, as if on cue, Bo looked in my direction and grinned at me. | gave him a small smile before walking toward the exquisite blonde who was waving enthusiastically from the judge's table.

The smile Bo gavewas chilling.

Just like the smile Dom gavewhen | thanked him earlier. Both their eyes looked like the eyes of an apex predator ready to pounce on its prey.

It was truly disturbing.

| felt a hand on my arm and saw Virtue’s smiling face in front of me. My body relaxed and I quickly forgot whatever it was that was bothering me.

She looked absolutely breathtaking.

The mounds of her breasts peeked over the top of her yellow dress, slightly covered by the curls of her long blonde hair. Her dress fit snugly on her, graciously showing off her curves while also showing off her long legs.

She e wore the dress to perfection and did it effortlessly.

“Liam, | thought you weren't going to make it,” she murmured in my ear. She took my hand and ledto a vacant chair beside hers. “You and | will have to do. It's already a quarter past ten and Cris still isn’t here.” | groaned. | needed to be in Hillcrest before midnight and Cris wasn’t even here yet.

“Ill take Cris’ place,” Dom said, sitting beside me. “We don’t want the crowd to becrowdy for starting late.” Suddenly, Chip’s booming voice cbellowing out of the speakers which surrounded the four corners of the pub.

| sat up straight in my chair and scanned the score sheet on the table. | just wanted to get this over with so | could go back to counting cash.

Before the contestants cout, Virtue took my hand in hers and squeezed it. | sighed as a 5/6 CHAPTER 64 Chilling tingle radiated throughout my body.

Actually, it wasn’t about the cash... | needed to get to Hillcrest so | could keep her safe.

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