---
Chapter 184 – Liam's POV
The air in the room was still, the only sound being the low hum of the city filtering through the glass walls of Liam Blackwood's penthouse. He stood near the expansive window, arms folded, eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the city below. From this height, the world looked small—movements distant and predictable.
Just like he preferred it.
His jaw tightened slightly, but not out of frustration. No, it was satisfaction this time.
"She actually did it," he murmured to himself, a slow smirk curling his lips.
Alina had just left not more than twenty minutes ago, but Liam could still hear the sharp certainty in her voice as she delivered the details. Every single one matched what he'd predicted Marcus would do.
Marcus Vex thought he was careful. Thought he was in control.
He had no idea how deep Liam had planted the seeds.
Alina had done more than just observe—she had earned the man's trust. And even though Liam didn't like the idea of her being near Marcus, he knew it was the only way to bring Vex to his knees. She had proven herself—again.
He poured himself a drink, the whiskey gliding smoothly into the crystal glass. He didn't drink much these days—his focus was sharper when he was sober—but tonight was different.
Tonight, the first phase of his plan had officially come to a close.
And it had worked.
He raised the glass in the direction of the window, as if making a silent toast to the city.
"To the beginning of the end," he muttered, taking a slow sip.
Liam walked over to the long marble counter and pulled out his phone. A single text had come through from Zariah.
Zariah: "Hope you know you owe me a new tracker. The last one fried."
He chuckled under his breath, typing back:
Liam: "You'll get five. It worked, didn't it?"
Setting the phone aside, he allowed himself a brief moment of peace, sinking into the deep leather armchair that faced the window. This plan had taken nearly two years of meticulous layering. He had to make Marcus think he'd disappeared off the radar, when in truth, he was the closest he'd ever been to ending him.
And now, Marcus had taken the bait: Alina.
He didn't even suspect she was working for someone else—let alone Liam. That was the most delicious part of it all.
Alina had played her part flawlessly. She had hesitated at the beginning, rightfully so. Liam remembered their first meeting, how cautious she'd been. But he also remembered the quiet fire in her eyes when he told her what Marcus had done—how Valkyrie had played him. How one betrayal had left one of his own men bleeding out while Marcus watched and walked away.
That fire in her green eyes had been enough.
Now, she was inside Marcus's house, inside his circle—and slowly, inside his head.
Liam didn't need her to fall for Marcus. In fact, he was banking on the opposite.
He needed her to make Marcus fall just enough to lose focus. To trust the wrong person.
Once that happened, Liam could strike. Clean. Quiet. Permanent.
He picked up his tablet and swiped to the encrypted files. Alina's most recent audio recordings were already being sorted by Hope and Aiden. Every piece of intel helped.
He opened the latest one, pressing play.
Marcus's voice crackled softly over the speaker. "You're not like most women, Alina. That's… dangerous."
Liam scoffed.
Dangerous?
If only Marcus knew just how right he was.
He closed the file and leaned back, gazing up at the ceiling for a long moment. The tension that had been gripping him for weeks was slowly unraveling. He wasn't the type to celebrate early, but it felt good to breathe—to know the plan was moving forward with purpose.
The silence was interrupted by a knock on the door.
He didn't answer.
Seconds later, the door opened and Zariah stepped in, waving a tablet in the air. "Phase one is solid. She got more than we expected."
Liam sat up. "You listened already?"
"Part of it," Zariah replied, tossing the device onto the couch and flopping down next to it. "Vex has no clue. He's opening up to her faster than I thought he would. She's either brilliant or terrifyingly good at manipulation."
"Both," Liam said flatly. "She knows what's at stake."
Zariah tilted her head. "You trust her?"
"I don't need to trust her," Liam said, eyes sharp. "I need her to trust me."
Zariah raised an eyebrow. "You sure she does?"
Liam stood, walking over to his desk. He opened a drawer and pulled out a small silver chain with a charm on it.
"She wore this tonight," he said, handing it over.
Zariah frowned, inspecting the charm. "Tracker?"
He nodded once. "I gave it to her weeks ago. She never took it off."
Zariah's lips parted in surprise. "She never asked what it was?"
"She knew. She just didn't say anything."
Zariah leaned back, a slow smile forming on her face. "Maybe she believes in your plan more than you think."
Liam didn't answer immediately. He was watching the lights outside again, watching the way the traffic wove through the streets like veins pumping life into the city.
Maybe she did.
But that didn't change the outcome.
Whether Alina believed in him or not, whether she cared about the mission or just wanted revenge of her own—none of it mattered.
What mattered was that Marcus Vex would fall.
And this time, Liam wouldn't stop until he was nothing more than a name people were too afraid to mention.
Zariah stood to leave, but paused at the door. "You're not celebrating yet?"
Liam shook his head slowly. "This is only the beginning."
She gave a small nod. "Let me know when it's time to move. The rest of the team's ready."
He waited until she left before picking up the glass again. The ice had melted slightly, but he didn't care.
He stared at the amber liquid for a long time before raising it again.
"To control," he whispered. "To victory."
And he drank.
This time, not as a toast to the beginning—but to the end that was finally in sight.
---