CHAPTER 291: CHAPTER 291 ONE MORNING TWO SURPRISES

Dickson coughed hard, struggling to catch his breath. Ash still hung in the air around them as the building behind them crackled under the blaze.

He looked over at Liam with dazed, reddened eyes. "That... was definitely staged."

Liam didn’t even argue. He nodded once and pressed two fingers to his ear.

"Vanessa," he said through the comm, his voice flat and serious, "they knew you were watching. They waited for us."

There was a pause on the other end, and then Vanessa’s voice came through, thick with frustration and guilt. "Damn it... I should’ve known. Of course, if they were transporting actual serums, they’d have taken out the cameras right after. I was stupid."

Liam exhaled and shook his head slightly. "It could’ve happened to anyone," he said calmly. "Don’t beat yourself up."

But even he knew things were getting worse.

He stood slowly, arching his back as he stretched. His spine popped in several places. Then he turned to the burning wreck behind him, flames now licking at what was left of the roof.

"They’re getting smarter," he muttered. "The Crimson Hand... they’re not just brutes anymore."

Dickson grunted as he rolled over and finally pushed himself off the ground. He winced and rubbed the back of his head, still dizzy from the blast.

"I can’t believe this is the crap you deal with every day," he muttered as he staggered upright.

Liam gave a dry chuckle. "Welcome to the life."

He turned away and started walking back toward the car. The heat from the fire still radiated against his skin, and his jacket was nearly falling off, half-burnt and hanging by shreds. Without a second thought, he slipped it off, balled it up, and tossed it aside.

His shirt underneath was soaked in sweat, dirt, and smoke. His hair was wild, sticking up in every direction, and his face was darkened with soot and ash.

Dickson followed after him, limping a little. "You look like a damn zombie," he said, squinting at Liam. "Like, I can’t even recognize you, bro."

Liam smirked and opened the car door. "Then stop looking."

They both got in. Dickson slumped into the passenger seat and let out a long groan. "Just drive me home, man. One morning with you and I’ve already almost lost my life."

Liam turned to him with a raised brow. "What are you on about? You almost got me killed earlier, remember? That crazy-ass driving of yours?"

Dickson held his head like it was about to explode. "Dude... I have a headache. My ears are still ringing. Let’s not argue. Just drive."

Liam rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. He turned the key and started the engine. As the car rolled forward and the burning warehouse disappeared in the rearview mirror, neither of them spoke for a moment.

Liam finally pulled up in front of Dickson’s house, the engine humming quietly as he parked by the curb. The moment the wheels stopped, Dickson’s eyes caught sight of something outside — a few flashy cars parked haphazardly near the lawn. His face lit up instantly like a kid seeing Christmas presents.

"Hell yeah," he grinned, already unbuckling his seatbelt. "The girls are still here!"

Before Liam could say anything, Dickson was already halfway out of the car. "See you later, bro!" he called, jogging toward the front door like a man on a mission.

Liam raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "No way you’re going for sex after surviving a literal explosion."

Dickson paused, turned around dramatically with a lazy grin, and shouted back, "That’s exactly why I’m going. If I die tomorrow, at least I’ll die with a smile and no regrets."

Liam shook his head, half annoyed, half amused. "You’re a walking disaster."

Dickson winked, then was about to disappear inside when Liam called out, "Hold on—where the hell is your car? Didn’t you have one last time I saw you?"

Dickson scratched his head awkwardly, then laughed. "Oh, yeah... I might’ve crashed it."

"Might’ve?" Liam asked, deadpan.

"Okay, I definitely crashed it. It’s a long story. Involved a sharp turn, a squirrel, and me not giving a damn."

"Jesus," Liam muttered, rubbing his forehead. "Why do I even ask?"

Dickson gave a two-finger salute and darted into the house. Liam just shook his head again, then turned the ignition and drove off.

The city passed by in a blur as Liam cruised through the streets. This time, he drove slow. Not just because he was still sore from the explosion, but because he needed to think. His mind replayed the events at the warehouse, the explosion, the setup. It was getting messier. The Crimson Hand was playing a smarter game now — setting traps, misleading them, covering their tracks.

He stopped by a corner shop and grabbed a paper bag filled with two egg-and-sausage breakfast wraps and a bottle of mango juice. Then another quick detour to a boutique gave him clean clothes: plain black jeans, a dark grey t-shirt, and a simple pair of sneakers. He didn’t need much — just something that wasn’t torn, burnt, or covered in ash.

By the time he reached Vanessa’s hideout, the sun had started rising fully, casting a soft orange hue over the abandoned factory compound. The place was quiet — dead quiet. Surrounded by cracked walls, broken windows, and rusted metal. From the outside, it looked forgotten. But Liam knew better.

He pulled up near the building, turned off the engine, and stepped out. The sound of gravel under his boots was the only thing echoing in the silence.

As he approached the rust-covered door, he looked up. A tiny camera—barely noticeable—swiveled toward his face. A quiet beep followed, and the lock clicked open. The door swung inward.

Liam entered the building. He was still tired, his muscles sore, his skin slightly raw in spots where the explosion had touched him. But he was calm.

The interior of the building was cold and dark. He walked across the cement floor until he found the metal staircase leading underground. His boots echoed with each step as he descended.

And then he saw her.

Vanessa.

She was pacing in the middle of the dimly lit operations room, her face tight with worry. she wore a deep wine-red shirt that hugged her torso snugly, the top two buttons undone, hinting at her cleavage. The sleeves were rolled to her elbows, exposing smooth arms. Her dark blue jeans clung to her legs like they were tailored just for her curves. And the ankle boots completed the look — confident, commanding, and yet so... alluring.

Her golden ponytail swayed slightly with every anxious turn she made. She looked like a whole different person out of uniform — younger, sexier, and far more human.

Liam paused at the bottom of the stairs, stunned for a second. "Wow," he muttered under his breath.

Vanessa heard his footsteps and turned immediately. Relief flooded her face.

"Liam!" she rushed forward, grabbing his hand with both of hers. "Are you okay?"

He gave her a small, tired smile, then held up the paper bag. "Brought food."

She glanced at it quickly, then set it on a nearby metal table without even looking inside. Her arms wrapped tightly around him as she pulled him in for a full hug. This wasn’t the usual Vanessa — no tension, no stiffness. She hugged him like someone who had nearly lost him.

"I thought something happened to you," she whispered.

"I’m alright," he replied. "A bit crispy. But I’ve had worse."

Vanessa stepped back slightly, just enough to scan his face, her hands still on his arms. "Your cheek is burned... your hair’s a mess."

"I know," he said, chuckling softly.

She smacked his shoulder lightly and smiled — her first real smile in hours.

Liam nodded toward the bag. "Egg wraps. Mango juice. Get them while they’re still warm."

She finally opened it and her face lit up slightly. "God, I haven’t eaten all morning."

He sat on the edge of a dusty table, stretching his back as Vanessa took a bite.

"I’m sorry," she said again. "I should’ve double-checked the footage. I should’ve known it was a trap."

"You did nothing wrong," Liam said calmly. "They’re just getting smarter. That’s all."

Vanessa looked down at the floor for a second, then back up at him. "That makes this even more dangerous."

"I know," Liam replied, his tone low. "But we’ll figure it out."

They sat in silence for a few seconds as Vanessa chewed. Then she swallowed and looked at him again.

"You really scared me."