CHAPTER 283: CHAPTER 283 KEEPING LANA SAFE

Liam dropped in front of a large wooden house that looked like it hadn’t seen visitors in years. The place was tucked deep into the forest, far from roads, electricity, or anything remotely civilized. Trees surrounded the property on all sides, thick and tall, swallowing the world in shadows. No vehicles. No neighbors. No signs of life—except for the house itself.

Lana was still in his arms, her body resting gently against his chest. He had carried her all the way, never letting her go once. Now, finally, he lowered her to the ground.

"You sure you’ll be safe here?" he asked quietly.

Lana nodded, brushing her hair back behind her ear. "Yes. Don’t worry about me now. My aunt lives here. She doesn’t like people. Doesn’t receive any visitors. This is the safest place I could be."

Liam looked at the old house, then back at her. His jaw clenched slightly. He didn’t like this. Not one bit. Not because he didn’t trust Lana’s aunt, but because it felt wrong to leave her alone. After everything they’d been through, after how close things had gotten, he didn’t want to let her go. Not now. Not like this.

But Vanessa had insisted on it.

She had given the order. Not as a cop, not even as a woman—but as someone who knew the situation better than any of them.

Liam sighed. He took a small step back, nodding reluctantly. His eyes didn’t leave Lana’s face.

She gave him a small smile, soft and full of warmth. "Goodbye... for a while."

He didn’t say anything.

He just stood there, watching.

Lana turned around and walked slowly toward the wooden house. Her steps were light, careful. The front yard was overgrown, grass tall and untamed. When she reached the door, she lifted her hand and knocked—once, then twice, gently.

A moment passed.

Then a voice came from within. Energetic, feminine. "Who is it?"

"It’s me, Aunt Carla," Lana answered softly.

Liam stayed hidden in the trees, just off the clearing. His body pressed against the rough bark of a thick pine. His breathing was quiet, slow.

The door opened fast. A middle-aged woman stepped into view. Her hair was tied in a messy bun, and she wore a simple robe. Her eyes scanned the porch—and then widened with joy.

"Lana?"

Without hesitation, she stepped forward and hugged the girl tightly, arms wrapping around her like she’d been waiting years for this exact moment.

Liam watched it all.

That was enough.

He didn’t stay to hear them talk. He didn’t want the woman to ask questions or see him. His job was done. Vanessa’s instructions were clear.

He stepped back into the trees and vanished into the dark.

Wind slammed against his face as he flew high above the forest canopy. His wings flapped with powerful rhythm, carrying him forward across the endless green stretch below. Birds scattered in the air as he passed, trees swayed under his shadow.

He pressed a finger to his comm.

"Vanessa," he called.

Her voice came instantly, calm but busy. The background noise suggested she was typing. Fast. Focused.

"Yes?"

"Why did you insist on sending Lana away?" Liam asked, his tone tight.

A pause, then she answered while still working. "For her safety."

"She was safe with me," Liam shot back. His brows furrowed as he weaved between two tall trees and angled upward again. "You could’ve just let her stay."

"If what Ryan told me is right," Vanessa said quickly, her voice low and urgent, "then this city’s in more trouble than we thought."

Liam avoided a flock of birds, angling upward to fly over them. His wings cut through the air cleanly, the world below moving like a blur.

"What kind of trouble?" he demanded. "Tell me the truth, Vanessa. What’s gonna happen to this city?"

Her typing stopped.

For a few seconds, there was only silence on the line. Liam glided forward, wind rushing around him as he waited for her answer.

Then Vanessa finally spoke, her voice hard.

"If we fail to stop whoever’s giving the Crimson Hand those drugs... then everybody in this city will die."

Liam’s wings faltered slightly mid-air as the weight of Vanessa’s words sank in.

"What do you mean everybody will die?" he asked, voice sharp, almost disbelieving. The air around him rushed louder in his ears, but not louder than the words she’d just spoken.

Vanessa didn’t soften her tone. "I meant exactly what I said. Everybody. Will. Die."

Her voice was firm. No hesitation. No backtracking.

Liam gritted his teeth as he banked slightly to the left, regaining altitude. The forest below stretched endlessly, but he wasn’t looking at the trees anymore. His mind was somewhere else entirely.

If she was right, then this wasn’t just about taking out gangsters or shutting down the Crimson hand. This was about survival—mass survival.

Liam’s jaw tightened as his mind started racing. Lana was safe. That brought a little relief. But what about the rest?

Lilith.

Ann.

Dickson.

Seo Yeon.

Amanda.

Kelly.

And even the rest of the Black Lotus members still stationed across the city. People who trusted him. People who looked up to him. People who could die if this spiraled out of control.

His hands clenched slightly, the wind whistling between his fingers as he flew faster now, eyes narrowed.

"You’re thinking about them, aren’t you?" Vanessa’s voice returned in his ear.

Liam didn’t answer.

"I know you are," she continued. "Lilith. Ann. All of them. But don’t worry. If anything happens, they’ll be the first people we evacuate."

Liam slowed down slightly, his wings adjusting as he hovered for a moment above a thick patch of forest. His heart beat harder now. Not out of fear—but pressure. He felt the weight of it pressing on his chest like concrete.

"Good," he finally said. "Keep tabs on them"

"We will," Vanessa replied.

Liam looked out toward the horizon, the sky painted dark now, streaked with a few dim stars trying to break through the city glow in the distance.

"I’ll be out for the night," Liam said finally. "Need to think. I’ll get in touch tomorrow."

Vanessa responded with a simple, "Alright. Stay sharp."

Then Liam tapped his comm and cut the line.