The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 115 Box
Xavier
Night had fallen on New Salem.
I was seated in my car which was parked at the far end of the parking lot underneath some trees away from the glaring street lights… silently waiting. Cristos may know what was happening at the hospital, but I had eyes on everything else.
Max, a capo of mine, told me a certain platinum blonde was heading this way. I had him wait at the airport for Nicole’s arrival and told him to follow her while Sam kept a close distance
to Noah.
Honestly, I believed Nicole and Noah were truly meant for each other. They were both trouble. But despite all of Nicole’s efforts, for Noah, the feeling wasn’t mutual…
He wanted Virtue for himself.
When Joy accepted Liam’s proposal, I caught a glimpse of the jealousy, disbelief and pain in Noah’s eyes. But when Liam exited Virtue’s to go to the hospital, I saw the smug satisfaction.
on his face.
I even noticed how his eyes narrowed darkly as Liam walked away.
I suspected Noah was planning to cause trouble for the town’s ‘newly engaged’ couple…. leading me to question how and when. Thus, I ordered Sam to tail him while I instructed Dina to prioritize the listening device Joy had planted in his house.
If anything came up, I wanted to be the first to know.
While Cristos was in Chicago, I asked Dina to check if Noah had any offshore accounts. Despite whatever Sebastian or Cristos believed, I suspected he was sitting on a large nest egg, pretending to be poor. Unfortunately, Dina couldn’t find anything on Noah Jensen except for his bank account at the local bank. Sure, he had a hundred thousand dollars in his
account, which is a lot given the state of the majority of the townsfolk, but I believed Noah
had more… millions more.
I don’t know what it is, but Noah just rubs me the wrong way. He’s someone who I believe can’t be trusted.
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“X, she’s driving a vintage silver BMW,” Max said through our communication devices. “She’s in a blue and white dress carrying a blue tote bag. ETA about ten minutes.”
“Copy, Max. Sam, what’s the location of your target?” I asked.
“He’s heading northbound towards St. Elizabeth’s,” Sam said. “Followed by the real estate. agent, Lisa Murdock.”
“Don’t lose sight of him,” I said. “Sebastian’s men can’t find Pete anywhere in the Bahamas. I have a strong feeling that as shole is here somewhere and Noah’s going to be the one who leads us to him. Anyways, I’ll be headed to the hospital in a bit. I just need to find out why Nicole is on her way to see Virtue when she should be driving to the hospital. This doesn’t feel right.”
“Copy that, X, Sam replied. “Holler if you need assistance. Link is headed towards you as we speak.
While I waited, I silently watched my staff as they went about their way to close up the grocery store. Although some of my employees were Blood Disciples, most of them were townsfolk and they all wanted to go to the hospital to give Liam their support.
Liam…
It took every ounce of self-restraint I had not to kill him. I don’t know if he ever noticed, but Joy cringed every single time he touched her. Fine, it was hardly noticeable, but I could te

“X, she’s entering the parking lot,” Max suddenly said, interrupting my thoughts. I turned around and saw the unmistakable round headlights of a vintage BMW… Nicole’s mother’s
car.
*Standby,” I told Max. “I’ll handle this.”
Nicole parked in front of Virtue’s, exited the car, and placed a pair of sunglasses over her eyes and a blue tote bag on her shoulders. There seemed to be an outline of a box protruding from her bag. I assumed the box was for Joy.
From where I was parked, I could clearly see the inside of the brightly lit shop through the storefront windows. Nicole entered, bowing her head while she rummaged through her bag. She took out a brown rectangular-shaped box and a white envelope from her tote and proceeded to the counter to speak with Dina while she covered her face with the blue scarf wrapped around her head.
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I quickly exited my car and headed over.
Max said when Nicole walked out into the airport earlier, he saw the anger in her eyes while she hurriedly walked outside to grab a cab.
But her
rage didn’t bother him. What bothered him was the wicked smile that played on her collagen filled lips as she climbed into the cab.
Nicole was up to something and I bet her target was the one who made Noah leave her in Chicago in the first place. Whatever was in that box was bad news.
Apparently, Dina was thinking the same. Instead of receiving the box, she spoke to Nicole with her hands to her sides. I uttered a prayer hoping Dina would just tell Nicole that Joy wasn’t there. But unfortunately, Dina pointed her thumb towards Joy’s office before leaving
the counter.
Nicole left the box and the envelope on the counter and turned around to look at the -clothing displayed on the racks. She nodded her head appreciatively as she flicked through
each of the dresses.
I quickened my pace, keeping my eyes on her face.
After going through one rack of clothing, she pulled down her sunglasses and glanced at the box on the counter. Then, the unthinkable happened… her lips curled into a sinister smile.
That b itch!
Nicole slowly made her way to the huge mirror on the east side of the store, covering h eyes again with her sunglasses and replacing her evil smile with her poker face. That’s h o
Joy
by and Cristos found her as they sauntered out to greet her.
This was my fault. Joy’s shipment of CCTV cameras and monitors was delayed. I was in charge
of that.
I knocked loudly on the glass door to grab Dina’s attention. Dina spun around and found me with my face against the glass.
She rolled her eyes at me before slightly opening the door.
“Sorry, we’re closed, Sir,” Dina said, pretending not to know me. Smart.
“I’m good friends with Virtue. And that guy, Chip, cousin,” 1 3/6
g over there… he’s my
I
CHAPTER 115 Box
quickly explained. “I’m Bo. I own the grocery store next door. Can I come in? I have something to ask them.” Dina smiled before she swung the door wide open.
“Miss V, Mr. Bo is here for you,” Dina announced. She quickly closed the door behind me and scurried back to the counter, casting a wary eye on the box.
“What are you doing here, Nicole?” I asked, prétending to act surprised.
“I just got here from Chicago and I wanted to congratulate Virtue for finally opening her store. Well, that, among other things,” she answered slyly.
“I’m sorry. What I meant to ask you is why aren’t you at the hospital? Everyone is either headed to St. Elizabeth’s or is already there for the vigil. The press conference has probably already started and Liam must be in the middle of answering questions concerning his father’s death.” Nicole’s eyes widened and her face paled. She looked like she was going to
faint.
She didn’t know?
“Wait! Theodore is dead?!”
“Didn’t anyone tell you?” I asked, puzzled. I’m actually about to head on over. I just stopped, by to ask if Chip and Virtue wanted to come with me.”
“Uhm, I can’t. Liam told me to stay away from the hospital,” Joy said. “I’m duty-bound s I’m his fiancé. Joy raised her hand to show off that diamond of hers..
Cheap. I would have gotten her something more expensive. Joy deserved better.
We all stared at Nicole who stood rooted to the spot. She was clearly in shock.
“C-Congratulations, V-Virtue,” the bit ch finally spat out. “W-We’ll have to talk some other time. 1-1 have to go to the hospital… Liam needs his friends. She gasped at her own faux pas. “Uhm, no offense, Virtue.” Joy’s lips curved into a small smile.
“None taken, Nicole,” she replied. “Tell Liam if he needs me, all he has to do is give me a
call.”