The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 74 Loyalty Liam “Liam, | need to speak to you,” Pete said over the phone. His voice was harsh and unrelenting.

“What about?” | asked.

“I want to know where your loyalties lie,” he answered. It was such a vague response, | knew | had to be cautious. His mother just tragically died, pushing him over the edge. | couldn't afford to make a mistake.

My life was hanging in the balance... one wrong move could mean life or death.

“Sure,” | replied politely. “Where and what time? “Meethere at the funeral home. Anytwould do.” | was with Dan paying off the people on our payroll. After hanging up, | grabbed Dan's dark silk shirt and pulled him aside.

“Did you say anything?” | asked Dan, peering into his eyes. He looked atconfused, wondering what | was talking about. After a few moments, his expression changed, realizing who and what | was talking about.

“No, Liam. You held up your end of the bargain. Why would | betray you? Betraying your would mean my death too,” he answered. “Now, please let go of my silk shirt. | had this delivered from Nordstrom.” | scoffed at him and let go..

“Capo Bas tone wantsto meet with him at Chimes. He said something about loyalty. Do you know what he’s talking about?” | asked. He shook his head and took out his phone.

“No, but we know somebody who might. I'll call Cris and ask,” he said, dialing. “Hey Lisa, can | speak with Cris please? He's asleep? Well, wake him up.” He rolled his eyes and pursed his lips. Cris was definitely starting to get on our nerves.

While we waited for Lisa to wake Cris, | sent a message to two of my guards, Leo and Benny, asking them to meetat the funeral home. | couldn’t meet Pete alone. | had to c prepared. They senta reply tellingthey were on their way.

We waited patiently for Cris to get on the phone. Five minutes passed, but still no Cris.

1/5 CHAPTER 74 Loyalty nything? | mouthed to Dan. He shook his head, but suddenly raised his finger.

Cris?” Dan said expectantly, but suddenly pouted. “Fine. Good night, Lisa. He hung up, turned toand shrugged his shoulders. “He won't wake up.” “We'll wake him up then,” | said, gesturing for him to followin his car. Before | drove off, | took out my gun from the glove compartment and holstered it onto my belt. We were going to wake up that a sshole.

At the Murdocks, | forcibly pushed Lisa aside after she opened the door and walked inside their hwith Dan following closely behind me.

| looked around, but the living room and kitchen were empty. Lisa, on the other hand, looked agitated and troubled. Her eyes were puffy, her nose was red and strands of her hair were out of place.

“Liam, he’s not in a good place right now,” Lisa cried out. “Please, just give him stime.” Dan, keep her here. I'll speak with Cris,” | instructed. “Where is he?” Lisa shook her head, not wanting to answer me. “I'm not going to ask again. Lisa, where is he?” “Upstairs, Lisa answered, looking defeated. She suddenly turned to Dan and began sobbing on his silk shirt. | saw him grimace knowing his shirt was totally ruined, but after a moment, he shrugged his shoulders and wrapped his arms around Lisa.

“Give her a drink to steady her nerves. I'll take care of this.” Dan nodded his head.

| ran upstairs and found Cris seated on his bed, mumbling to himself like a madman. He looked like s hit and smelled like s hit too.

What the hell happened to him? | snapped my fingers in front of him, trying to grab his attention. “Cris, it’sLiam. | need to speak to you about something.” open, His eyes moved to focus on my face, but he suddenly began to cry. He looked really awful. His face was all red, there was sn ot everywhere, and his mouth was wide wailing like an ambulance. | grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him, hoping he'd calm down a bit, but he just kept crying.

“L-Liam, i-it was an accident. | swear, Liam, | didn’t mean to kill her,” Cris cried out. What the hell did you get yourself into this time, Cris? 2/5 CHAPTER 74 Loyalty “Kill who?” When he didn’t answer, | shook him smore. “Cris, answer me. Who did you.

kill?” “Lily. Her nwas Lily,” he said, sobbing again, while he grabbed his head with both his hands and squeezed. | stared at him aghast, horrified he had lost it... again.

| took out my gun and slapped him across his face. “Get yourself together, man. We have bigger problems!” | slapped him again, hoping the cold metal of my gun would wake him up. from his trance. “Cris, you have got to wake up! This happened before when he found out Joy Taylor was still alive. He was scared shi tless. that Sheriff Combs would cknocking on his door and arrest him.

We hid him at Jack’s house, hoping he would snap out of it on his own. After several days, it looked as if there was no hope of him ever getting better, so | punched him in the face as a last resort. | figured Cris was like a piece of machinery who needed a quick jump-start to turn on. Luckily, | was right or else we would have had to ship him to the nearest psychiatric ward.

He instantly stopped crying and stared at me, surprised | was standing in his bedroom.. “Liam, what the f uck are you doing here?” | heaved a sigh of relief. Cris was all better.

Yet, he still had the audacity to act like an entitled little schmuck.

“You killed a girl and went into shock, you cun t!” | yelled at him. “While you were having antal breakdown, Cynthia McDowell was shot and killed. Now Pete just calledtalking about loyalties. | want to know what you know. And don't lie to me.” “Wait. What? Pete’s mom is dead?” Cris asked, bewildered. “Oh, sh it!” His finally digesting the information | had just given him. “Oh, shi t, sh it, s hit, sh it!” eyes widened, “You know something. Talk!” | screamed. “I need to know everything... now!” “Alright, alright! Remember that, uhm, convention in Illinois | attended last month?” He asked. | nodded my head and gestured for him to continue. “Pete and | saw this really hot girl at this club in Chicago, so Pete bought her a drink, hoping she'd talk to us. She took one look at Pete and sent the drink back, saying she didn’t accept drinks from losers.” Here we go again! 3/5 1224 Wed, Mar 27 CHAPTER 74 Loyalty kidnapped her and raped her, didn’t you?” It was more of a rhetorical question. I ly knew the answer. “Did you have her disposed of after?” “Uhm, no. We, uh, let her go,” Cris answered. | closed my eyes, knowing the girl was important to someone very important.

“Who was she?” “Her nis Ariana De Vega, niece of Alejandro De Vega, who is the current underboss of the East North Central States,” he answered, his voice shaking. G od, | wanted to shoot him in the face! “So everything that happened last night was your fault!” | yelled at Cris. “Now that as shole wants to pin it all on me. Loyalty? He probably thinks | made a deal with Alejandro De Vega.” | pointed my gun at him.

Cris and Pete... they both deserved to die! I'll talk to him, Liam. I'll tell him it wasn’t you,” Cris pleaded with me. “He'll listen to me. | promise you.” “Cris, I've had it with the both of you,” | said, aiming my gun at his chest. “You f uck with my reelection, then you f uck with my operations. Honestly, I'm better off with you dead. | should just kill you and ask Sarah Hughes to run with me. She’d probably do a better job as councilman and do my work fortoo.” “Liam, I'm begging you, man. I'll do whatever to make it up to you,” he pleaded.

“Fine.” | lowered my gun and sat down on an armchair near the bedroom window. | looked outside to check if anyone was watching the house.

“Call Lisa and have her pack sclothes for the both of you. Then, | want the both of you to get dressed for Cynthia Mcdowell’s viewing. You will accompanywhen | meet with. Capo Bas tone later and you will vouch for me. If you betray me, | will kill you.” “l can’t go go out looking like this, Liam. | look h or | raised my gun, aiming for his chest. “No? Then, I'll just kill you right now, Cris.” and Cris quickly stood up from his bed, finally grasping | no longer wanted to play games, called his wife to cupstairs. | was sick and tired of all the sh it they did, including blamingwhen things didn’t go according to plan. They were entitled little pri cks who 4/5 CHAPTER 74 Loyalty thought playing mobster was a passport to do whatever they wanted.

Sure, they were my friends, but | didn’t deserve to be treated this way. | didn’t deserve to take the fall.

“Hey, Liam, I'm going to get ready,” Cris said, interrupting my thoughts. “Can | have a little privacy?” “No. You will get dressed in front of me,” | said. | want to make sure you don’t try anything funny.” “Con, Liam. | won't betray you. | promise.” “I know you won't, Cris. Because from now on, your balls are mine.” Chapter Comments Luna-Mom so the tw at thinks going after virtue is an answer VIEW 1 COMMENT > POST COMMENT