Chapter 5 Disappear

Six Months Earlier From The Present Day.

Lillian stood in front of the hotel room, her heart hammering. She took a breath, forcing a seductive smile onto her lips. The authorities were outside, waiting for her signal.

After tonight, it would all be over. Her body was tense as she raised her fist to knock, but before she could, the door swung open on its own.

The air in the room was thick with the scent of whiskey and burning tobacco filling her lungs the moment she stepped in. Her gaze landed on him, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, his broad bare back facing her.

The man who had built an empire on blood and power. The one she had stalked for years, and now, she was in his room.

The dim lighting cast shadows across his muscular, tattooed body. Deep scars marred his skin, his broad shoulders moved slightly as he exhaled a cloud of smoke from the tobacco between his fingers.

She had seen his pictures a thousand times before, but standing in front of him now was something else. He was terrifying, larger than life, and radiated power that sent a shiver down her spine. His jet-black hair was perfectly styled, adding to his dangerously handsome look.

Lillian clenched her hands, pushing down the fear that curled in her stomach.

"You're late," he muttered, not bothering to turn around. She swallowed hard.

"I had to prepare," she replied, adding a nervous giggle. She needed to sound like one of those girls.

Jake finally turned.

His piercing gray eyes locked onto her, studying her from head to toe. Lillian forced herself to maintain eye contact, though every fiber of her being screamed at her to look away. His gaze was hard to read, but there was something dark lurking beneath it.

"Strip," he ordered casually, as if he were telling her to pour him a drink.

Lillian's breath hitched.

"What?"

Jake cocked his head, his expression hardening. "I don't repeat myself, whore. Get on the bed!" He barked.

Her stomach twisted, bile rising in her throat, but she knew hesitation would only make him suspicious. She had one chance to do this right. She stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for the hem of her dress.

He watched her, his face stoic. But then, as if noticing something, he strode toward her without hesitation and grabbed her wrist in a bone-crushing grip. His scent was overpowering, cologne was mixed with smoke and something purely him.

Lillian's heart skipped a beat. He suddenly bent her over the table, and the whiskey bottle fell to the floor. The shattering sound fueling her anxiety.

His body pressed against her back, and his warm breath tickled her ear. "You're nervous," he whispered, his tone husky. "Why?"

Lillian's brain scrambled for an answer.

"I-It's my first time," she blurted out, trying to sound small, fragile.

Jake went still.

Then, with an amused chuckle, he pulled back slightly, allowing her to turn and face him again.

"I know," he affirmed, "It was my preference for tonight."

She gulped, knowing she had to act now. With shaky hands, she reached into the folds of her dress under his intent gaze, where the syringe she was planning to inject him with was hidden. But before she could pull it out, his grip tightened around her.

"You're lying." He accused, taking in how she was being slow to undress.

Lillian's breath hitched. "No, I-I'm not..." His smirk silenced her, her heart pounding.

"I know it when someone is hiding something, Dulzura,"

He spun her around that instant and slammed her against the wall. The force knocked the air from her lungs. One of his hands pinned her wrists above her head, while the other roamed her body, searching.

Then, his fingers brushed against the hidden syringe. Lillian's blood ran cold.

Jake's expression shifted from amusement to pure fury.

"You sneaky little bitch!" he growled, feeling the traces of the syringe in her dress.

Lillian knew she was out of time.

With every ounce of strength she had, she kneed him in the stomach, making him stumble slightly.

It wasn't much, but it was enough. With her free hand, she grabbed the syringe in her dress and drove it into his thigh, pressing down hard.

The effect was immediate.

Jake's body tensed, his grip loosened, his expression flickering between rage and confusion as the tranquilizer took effect.

"You..." he slurred, trying to reach for her, but his body wouldn't cooperate.

Lillian stepped back, panting. Her hand trembled as she pulled out the second syringe-truth serum.

She crouched in front of him as he sank to his knees, his muscles locking up.

"You talk too much, Mr. Hernandez," she whispered, "I'm one of the families you ruined. And tonight, I'll get justice." She then jabbed the needle into his neck.

Jake's eyes burned into her, but he was powerless. His body refused to obey him, his limbs felt like lead.

Lillian exhaled, her victory sinking in. She pulled out a recorder, setting it on the table in front of them.

"Do you acknowledge that you've unlawfully taken the lives of more people than you can count? Especially the recent murder of Callum Blackwood? One of your men who died in a fire outbreak?"

Jake clenched his jaw. He fought the serum, fought with everything he had. But it was useless.

His lips parted, and the word slipped out against his will.

"Yes."

Lillian felt her knees go weak with relief. But the moment was short-lived. Jake had forced his body to move with inhuman willpower, his hand shot out, gripping her throat in a crushing hold.

Lillian gasped, her nails digging into his arm as he slammed her onto the floor.

"You think... you could take me down with this pathetic trick?" he snarled, his voice thick with venom.

His grip very tight, cutting off her air.

Panic clawed at her chest. Black dots danced at the edges of her vision. And she struggled in his hold, using her last strength to reach for the broken glass from the whiskey bottle and dragged it across his face.

Jake barely flinched. Blood dripped from the deep cut, staining her face. That instant, there was a loud banging from outside before the door busted open.

"Hands in the air! Now!" Six officers stormed the room, guns aimed at Jake. Two officers rushed forward, tackling him off her before forcing him onto his knees.

"Jake Hernandez, you are under arrest for multiple charges, including assault, illegal arms trafficking, organized crime, counts of murder, extortion," one of the officers listed, "And your confession has been recorded and will be used as evidence in court." The sound of handcuffs clicking shut followed.

Jake chuckled darkly, unfazed. He could feel his blood tracing his face, almost entering his eyes but he kept his keen gaze on Lillian.

A mere woman had the balls to get him.

He had his smirk intact on his bloodied face as he was forced to his feet, and Lillian met his gaze.

"Te arrepentirás de esto, lo juro por mi vida." He vowed in a low dark tone.

Lillian blinked at him, her chest rising and falling heavily, watching as they dragged him away.

Every nerve in her body screaming that this wasn't over. But she tried to comfort herself, he was arrested and can't get away from the law.

She was helped up by one of the officer, she swallowed before she asking. "What... what did he say?"

One of the officers answered, "He said you're going to regret this. That he swears it on his life."

A chill ran down her spine, gripping her bruised neck.

The officer smiled. "But don't worry, Ms. Hayes. The law will protect you."

Lillian forced a smile, ignoring the way her hands still shook. The officer returned the smile, and without much, they both walked out of the hotel.

On her way to her apartment, she doesn't understands why she felt this way. She had been planning for this night for years, yet only felt void are not triumph.

His bloodied face kept surfacing in her mind. When she got to her apartment, she collapsed on the bed. Staring at the ceiling.

Her mind kept replaying what happened moments ago before sleepiness took her.

.

.

The Next Morning.

RING! RING! RING!

Lillian jerked awake, her hand fumbling for the phone. Her heart pounded as she squinted at the screen.

Chief Judge Kingston.

She sat up so fast that made her head spun. Why was he calling her this early?

She swiped the screen. "Hello, sir..."

"Leave whatever you're doing and get to my office. NOW!" His voice was sharp, urgent. "You have five minutes, Ms. Hayes!"

The line went dead.

Lillian stared at the phone, her stomach twisting. There was no congratulations, no praise. Something was wrong.

She barely had time to wash her face before rushing out of her apartment.

As soon as she stepped into the Chief Judge's office, she barely had time to greet him before he slammed his hands on the desk.

"Why didn't you inform me?!" He thundered.

Lillian flinched. "Tell you what, sir?"

The man let out a frustrated breath, pacing the office. "Do you even realize the kind of trouble you've brought upon yourself?"

Lillian's brows furrowed. "Sir, I don't understand..."

He stopped pacing and turned to her, his face grim. "Jake Hernandez was released last night."

"What?!" Lillian exclaimed with widened eyes, her heart stop beating that instant. She stepped closer, finding it hard to find her voice.

"But... but how? He confessed. He..."

"Do you know who you just messed with?" The Chief Judge cut her off, "That man runs this country from the shadows! You think a simple arrest from another country would stop him?"

Lillian's throat went dry.

"Listen to me, Lilly." His tone softened slightly, but the urgency remained. "These people kill for fun. If you value your life, resign immediately and leave this country. Disappear." He emphasized.

Lillian opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off again. "This isn't a joke. He won't just kill you, but ruin you. And anyone who knows you."

She gasped, a tear slipping down her cheek. The Chief judge opened a drawer and pulled out a set of plane tickets. Lillian stared at them, stunned.

"You already knew," she whispered, her voice trembling.

He sighed. "I had a feeling. You're a brilliant lawyer, Ms. Hayes. But you don't know the kind of world you just walked into. Take these. Pick any destination and don't look back until all these dies now."

Her hands shook as she reached for the tickets. Her body was trembling, and just like that, she disappeared totally from her old life.