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Novel Catalog
Chapter 47
Veronica’s eyes snapped open, her mind clouded with disorientation. She was only half-conscious, but her survival instincts kicked in. As her blurred vision cleared, she realized she was being dragged toward a Toyota Corolla parked in the underground parking garage.
“Hahaha, boss. After this deal is done, we’ll be living the good life,” one of the men chuckled, his voice dripping with greed.
“The Larsons have already informed us that if we silently get rid of her, there’ll be one million waiting for us as our payment,” the other man added.
Veronica’s heart sank as she recognized their voices. It was Jameson and Rio—the brothers from the Dusk Family. She couldn’t believe her ears. Why are they doing this?
She tried to move, but the men kept her arms draped over their shoulders, making it seem like she was just a drunk person being carried. She knew she had to act fast. Though the situation seemed grim, she feigned unconsciousness, her eyes closed once again as they loaded her into the car.
As the car roared to life and pulled out of the parking lot, Veronica’s ears stayed alert to their conversation, even with her eyes shut tight.
“Hey, bro, how should we kill her?” Rio asked.
Jameson’s voice was steady and cold. “Floch’s orders were clear. We need to make sure no one can trace this back to us—or to them.”
“I’m afraid this won’t be easy. They’re offering us a lot of money to get rid of her. They expect results.”
“You fool. We’ll just set her apartment on fire after leaving her in it. That way, we’re in the clear.”
Veronica’s mind raced. A fire? The thought was almost laughable—if it weren’t so terrifying. She could think of a thousand simpler ways to kill someone. If they were going to burn her apartment down, it was clearly to make it look like an accident—a smoking accident. But she had no intention of making it easy for them.
After thirty minutes of driving, the car finally came to a stop. Veronica was pulled out of the vehicle and dragged into her own apartment. The door opened with a key that she didn’t recognize, and she was placed on the couch.
Rio spoke first, his tone impatient. “What should we do now, bro?”
Jameson didn’t waste a second. He took out a pair of gloves from his pocket and handed them to Rio. “Wear these. Don’t leave any evidence behind. We’re going to make this look like a simple smoking accident.”
Jameson then took out two bottles of concentrated liquor and a few used cigarette butts. “Throw these into the trash cans in her bedroom and bathroom. We need to make it look convincing.”
“Why?” Rio asked, a touch of confusion in his voice.
“To create the impression that she was smoking in her apartment when the fire started,” Jameson explained, his voice flat and calculating.
Rio, impressed, nodded. “You’re so smart, bro. But what if she wakes up in the middle of it all?”
Jameson pulled out a small vial from his pocket, a sinister smirk curling his lips. “I’ve got a sleeping agent. Just a few breaths of this, and she won’t wake up until it’s too late.”
Veronica’s heart pounded in her chest, but she stayed still, pretending to be unconscious. She watched through the slits of her eyes as the two men went about their grisly work. One of them threw cigarette butts into her bedroom trash can, while the other used Veronica’s hand to crush a pack of cigarettes and place it carefully at the predetermined spot.
Jameson took a towel soaked in the sleeping agent and pressed it over Veronica’s nose and mouth. Her breath hitched for a moment, but she held her breath, doing everything she could to avoid inhaling the toxic substance. Thirty seconds passed before they removed the towel and left her lying on the couch.
They spilled the remaining alcohol onto the carpet and made sure to position the lit cigarette in her hand. The plan was to let it burn down to the end so that the sparks would ignite the alcohol-soaked carpet. Once the fire started, it would look like a tragic accident.
“Bro, do you think the fire will really start like that?” Rio asked, unsure.
Jameson nodded confidently. “The cigarette will burn all the way down. Once the sparks hit the alcohol-soaked carpet, it’ll catch fire instantly.”
“You’re a genius, bro,” Rio replied, impressed.
With their work done, they hurried out of the apartment, leaving the scene behind in the span of just three minutes.
As the door clicked shut, Veronica finally opened her eyes. A cold glint of fury flashed in her gaze. They thought they had her cornered. They thought they had planned it all out. But they didn’t know who they were dealing with.
She hadn’t been unconscious after all. The towel had barely made contact with her skin before she held her breath and fought to stay alert. And more importantly, Veronica had grown up near a reservoir. She was no stranger to holding her breath underwater for long periods. The sleeping agent hadn’t had the effect they’d hoped for.
So, you think I’m just going to let you burn me alive? Veronica thought bitterly.
Her escape plan was already in motion. They had miscalculated, and now she had time to act.
Meanwhile, at the Twilight Club, Xavier was growing increasingly anxious. It had been half an hour since Veronica excused herself to take a breather, and she hadn’t returned. His mind raced. Something was wrong.
He immediately went to search for her, but her purse and phone were still inside the private room, untouched. That only deepened his sense of unease.
Knowing the Larsons would likely take revenge on Veronica for her defiance, Xavier’s stomach churned. He couldn’t wait any longer. He went to the surveillance room, demanding to see the footage, but his request was denied. His authority in the club wasn’t enough.
Frustrated, Xavier dialed Matthew’s number. “Matthew, what kind of staff are you running at this place? Do I not even have the right to view the surveillance footage?”
Matthew, who had been at the hospital with Elizabeth, was caught off guard by the sudden outburst. “What’s going on, Xavier?”
“Veronica is missing. She left the room, but now she’s nowhere to be found. Her bag and phone are still here, but she’s gone. I need to see the footage—now.”
Matthew’s expression turned serious. He could hear the panic in Xavier’s voice. “Give the phone to the head of surveillance.”
Xavier did as told, and the head of surveillance granted him access to the footage after Matthew’s orders. On the screen, they saw Veronica disappear from view before two men appeared and carried her out.
“D*mn it, this is bad,” Xavier muttered, his voice tight with anger.
Using his connections, Xavier quickly traced the car that had left the club’s underground parking garage. It was a vehicle registered to the Dusk Family.
Without wasting a second, Xavier rushed out of the club and to his car, determined to find her before it was too late.
Back at the hospital, Matthew paced in the small living room outside the ward. He called the club manager, demanding more details.
“What do you mean she was carried out by two men?” Matthew asked urgently.
“Young master, Veronica wasn’t drunk, but the footage shows two suspicious men carrying her out after she disappeared from the camera’s blindspot. It doesn’t look good, sir.”
Matthew’s face darkened. He knew something was terribly wrong.
“Find out what’s going on. I’m not waiting around,” he ordered, his voice steely with determination.
