CHAPTER 106 The Mystery


    Sebastian


    After congratting the newly engaged couple, Xavier positioned himself at the long table and began


    his duty as a gracious host. He handed out tes and assisted the people with appetizers and drinks,


    making sure they had their fill before entering Virtue’s.


    Since I was the one who installed the POS machine, I went behind the store counter and started


    ringing up sales.


    Everyone was happy eating, drinking and shopping, seemingly clueless of what was yet toe…


    Especially Liam.


    He had a possessive arm around Joy’s waist like he didn’t have a care in the world. He was beginning


    to look like his usual self… conceited and arrogant. After the fire, he lost his confidence, but now, he


    was back in the game.


    Unfortunately, in an hour, maybe less, the rug will be pulled from under his feet once again. I, for one,


    will enjoy watching him squirm.


    Earlier, startled gasps echoed all around as the unsuspecting public watched their mayor confess his


    feelings for Virtue. Although Liam appeared to look brave, I noticed the beads of sweat that formed on


    his forehead and how his hands shook uncontrobly as he presented Joy with the ring. He was


    obviously terrified she would reject him, but I believed that was all


    an act.


    By proposing to her in front of everyone, Liam had the support of the people. He was counting on the


    bacsh that would happen if ever Joy said no. A rejection of him was a rejection of New Salem. Joy


    would be ruined in this town without Liam having to do anything.


    If Joy answers yes though, no one would say she was coerced into epting his proposal when in fact,


    Joy didn’t have much a choice. Liam was very clever indeed.


    Wanting to look as terrified as his friend, Dan gripped Cristos’ hand tightly in his, closed his eyes and


    began mumbling a prayer. Cristos repeatedly tried to pull his hand away, but Dan held on firmly. Since


    there was nothing he could do, Cristos endured the difort, his eyes looking up towards the sky,


    praying Joy would voice out her answer as soon as possible so Dan would let go.


    CHAPTER 106 The Mystery


    The four middle-aged women who were seated off to the side, looked on expectantly, however only one


    of them watched with disdain… Norma Martin. Unlike the others who seemed to ept Joy, Norma


    didn’t hide her contempt.


    Norma was a lioness who was utterly territorial. She couldn’t ept that soon her position as the


    leader of the matriarchs of New Salem will be taken by another… by someone who was much younger,


    definitely more beautiful than her and who would soon bear the name Cohen. That family name was


    the ultimate weapon in this town and Norma Martin could lose all the things she worked hard to build


    just because Liam wanted to get married.


    I knew what was going through her head. She didn’t want to share power again… not with


    Joy.


    Her eyes narrowed sinisterly while her lips curled into a disdainful sneer as she recorded the proposal


    on her phone. I had a hunch she was going to send the video to Pete McDowell. She and Cynthia,


    despite their power struggle in the organization, were good friends after all and Pete was probably like


    a son to her.


    I believed she would inform Pete of all this. It was the main reason why I had Xavier invite her and her


    friends. I needed to trigger Pete intoing out from wherever he was hiding.


    young women in Bismarck all the way to South Dakota, his trail went dead. My men in the Bahamas


    were having trouble finding his location while Dina had problems spotting him through facial


    recognition..


    Although he left a series of raped and savagely beaten


    Currently, Dina was tucked away in Xavier’s office, hacking into the four women’s phones through the


    public wi-fi system that Cristos set up himself. Actually, he was getting everyone’s information. Cristos


    was sick and tired of going though the townsfolk one by one. This way he will have all he needed onPublished by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    file.


    My eyes darted back to Norma who had an ugly scowl on her face. Poor Norma… she and her ex-


    husband will be shunned by the public after the people hear of the death of New Salem’s beloved


    patriarch. If everything goes ording to our ns, Norma and her ex-husband will be on Liam’s s hit


    list.


    While Xavier poured champagne in the sses, hit him on the back knowing his feelings for Joy would


    be more obvious to the trained eye. With four older women eyeing him so closely, he didn’t have the


    luxury of showing any emotion except a reaction to actual physical pain.


    “Ow!” Xavier mumbled, wincing in pain. “That hurt, Dom.”


    CHAPTER 106 The Mystery


    some support. Soon, she will get what she wants and we will be in charge of this town.”


    Xavier stretched out his sore back like a big baby. “I wish it were that simple, Xavier muttered under his


    breath.


    “It is that simple, Bo, I argued, grabbing the empty bottle and handing him a ss of champagne. “You


    should be proud of what she’s aplished. Everything she has done to get to where she is now is all


    because of you.” Xavier grinned at me and raised his ss.


    *I really appreciate you saying that, Dom. Thanks,” Xavier said and drank the champagne.


    “You’re wee. Now you know what you have to do. Norma is going to be knee deep in s hit if


    everything goes ording to n,” I told him,


    “Gotcha, Xavier said, fixing his hair and pushing his chest up like a stud. “So many women, so little


    time. Keep an eye on Noah, will yah? I don’t want anything funnying from him.” My phone


    suddenly vibrated as I nodded my head to Xavier’s request. I quickly took it out of my pocket, thinking it


    was Emma.


    “It’s Nicole,” I said surprised.


    “Noah dumped her, so she’s running back to you. Isn’t that convenient?” Xavier said. “Ignore her. She’s


    bad news.”


    “You’re right.” I quickly pocketed my phone. I was getting antsy. Emma told me to make sure whatever


    we had nned should happen without dy since it was possible Theodore’s health could take a dive


    in a span of minutes. However, nothing yet.


    I wanted to message her, but Emma warned me not to send her any messages nor to call her. I had to


    be be patient.


    Well, at least luck was on our side. Theodore’s time was up and Emma needed a fall guy for


    Theodore’s unexpected death. Previously, I had thought she wanted to go home because she was


    homesick. Apparently, the main reason why she wanted to resign from work was because of a male


    nurse named Ford Martin who harassed the female nurses while on duty. She said if Ford gets


    arrested, she would stay in New Salem. The rest of the nurses were her friends and she was in good


    terms with most of the hospital administrators. It was just that putz who she needed to get rid off.


    Xavier nudged me with his elbow as the crowd began cheering and apuding Virtue and Liam’s


    engagement. I poured a ss of champagne for Joy and rushed forward to


    CHAPTER 106 The Mystery


    While I manned the cash register, I was pleased the townsfolk were clearly enjoying themselves. When


    Xavier and I opened our stores, we didn’t serve appetizers or refreshments. This was our way of giving


    back while helping Joy with her store.


    “You seem to be deep in thought, Dom,” Noah said, appearing in front of me with an empty ss in one


    hand and a couple of silk scarves in another. He ced the scarves and some money on the counter.


    I felt embarrassed. I was so deep in thought I didn’t notice him inside the store.


    “I’m just surprised Virtue and Liam are engaged. None of this was expected,” I said, lying to him, while


    scanning the tags. “I mean, they’ve only known each other for a couple of weeks. I guess, maybe


    they’ve been seeing each other in secret. Have you ever noticed Liam at Virtue’s? You guys are


    neighbors right?” I ced each of the scarves in customized ‘Simply Virtue’ paper bags and ced his


    change on the counter.


    “Yeah, we’re neighbors,” Noah answered. “But I’ve been working nights for the past couple of


    weeks, so I can’t really say if Liam has been visiting Virtue. But Virtue is usually with Chip,


    so I doubt


    ve been seeing each other,” Noah said while he pocketed his change. “So ne, you didn’t know?” I


    shook my head..


    You


    sked back.


    y. I bumped into Chip and Dan in Chicago,” Noah answered, puzzled. “You didn’t Chip left


    oah, of course they knew I left,” Cristos answered, making his way through the crowd of customers. “I


    just didn’t tell them why Dan and went to Chicago.”


    “Well, I said my peacest night and I’m sticking to it. Virtue is making a big mistake. Liam isn’t the right


    man for her,” Noah insisted.


    “Noah Jensen!” Linda Jacobs called out, her hands on her hips. “I’ve been looking all over for you. We


    need to go over the schedule of your demolition team.” She grabbed his arm and pulled him away. “If


    you would excuse us, boys. Noah and I have some things we need to straighten out.” Before Noah


    could say anything else, Linda pushed him towards the exit.


    “Don’t listen to Noah,” Norma Martin suddenly said, carrying a dress in her arms. “That boy has always


    been jealous of Liam. Whatever Noah’s told you about Liam, none of it is true. If there is anyone with


    skeletons in his closet, it’s Noah.”


    CHAPTER 106 The Mystery


    There are rumors his parents’ ident wasn’t an ident,” Norma exined. “There are some people


    who think Noah had a hand in that. Something about faulty breaks. Noah was top of his ss in their


    automotive course during their senior year in high school. If there is someone who knows how to


    sabotage a vehicle, it’s him. Nothing was proven back then, but


    some suspect him.”


    “Norma, you’re forgetting one pertinent question, though,” I said as I scanned the tag of her


    dress. “Why would Noah want to kill his own parents?” Norma Martinughed. It was shrill


    and incredibly wicked. We stared at her, waiting for her exnation.


    “Why would Noah want to kill his parents? Now that’s the mystery,” Norma said, winking at


    me. “But I’ll tell you this


    … Noah… he isn’t what you think he is. Not even Liam knows what he’s capable of.”


    “That sounds intriguing, Cristos said. “I would love to hear more.”


    You would, wouldn’t you?” Norma paid for her dress then took the paper bag f


    from the


    counter. “Maybe if Bo proposes to me, then maybe you two will be part of my inner circle. Until


    then, my lips are sealed.”


    We watched a very smug Norma Martin exit the boutique to say her goodbyes to Joy, Liam


    and Xavier.


    “We’ll see about that.”


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