CHAPTER 149 Talons


    Sebastian


    The mansion was a stark contrast to the rest of New Salem. It spoke of a rich history and of an


    extravagance that was definitely only reserved for the Cohen family name.


    The first floor of the mansion was packed. The hallway and the base of the stairs were crowded with


    people enthusiastically chatting away, all with a drink in their hands or a te of appetizers. No doubt,


    Liam was clearly making an effort to campaign as early as now.


    As I entered the mansion with Cristos by my side, I marveled at the huge crystal chandelier sparkling


    above our heads. It was obviously an antique and well-maintained. I estimated that in today’s market,


    the stunning chandelier was worth a pretty penny.


    “I think they’re in the main living room,” Cristos said, nudging me with his elbow. “Follow me… this


    way.” I followed him through the throng of people, nodding my head in greeting while I surveyed the


    collection of art on the walls as well as the priceless trinkets disyed in their ss enclosures,


    impressed at all the finery the Cohens had amas sed throughout the


    years.


    It was sad though. The Cohens rarely entertained guests nor did they have true friends. All they had


    was money and close associates who they were willing to betray at any given moment. All they had


    was each other. Just thinking about it made me feel blessed knowing I had two brothers outside my


    immediate family and a woman who loved me.


    Anyway, when all of this was over, this mansion will be left to rot on top of Prairie Hill, unless someone


    donates it to the people of New Salem. I figured that would be Joy unless she ns to burn this ce


    to the ground.


    Theodore Cohen’s coffin was situated against a wall inside the grand living room surrounded by


    numerous funeral wreaths from many friends offering their condolences. Facing the coffin, rows and


    rows of wooden chairs were neatly ced side by side each other, reaching the other end of the room.


    As expected, all of the seats were upied by townsfolk who were either sipping coffee from their cups


    or drinking whiskey from their crystal sses. Those without seats stood in groups, positioned near the


    walls or the windows.


    In the fa rthest corner, I saw Ki ki-flirting unabashedly with Jack. She was wearing a dark blue short


    sleeved dress with high heels to match, her pink lips curled into a seductive smile while her long blonde


    hair cascaded neatly down her back, swaying ever so slightly as she


    moved.


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    CHAPTER 149 Talons.


    I couldn’t believe it. She looked a little like Joy. I guess it was the blonde hair and the dress. Ki ki rarely


    wore dresses and she was usually seen wearing ck…that included her make-up and essories.


    Ki ki and Jack were both casually leaning against the wall, facing one another, engrossed in


    conversation. Jack had this goofy grin on his face while he gazed into her eyes… looking as if he was


    already in love.


    Go, K iki.


    “Dom, aren’t you suppose to be in bed?” A familiar female voice asked behind me. I turned around and


    found Joy holding two sses of red wine. I smiled affectionately at her.


    “I’m doing much better after having some much needed bed rest,” I said, taking a ss from her. “I


    guess it was just a case of fatigue.” Her eyes narrowed slightly at my reply. I wiggled my eyebrows at


    her, hoping to get a smile and I did. She giggled and turned to Cristos.


    You actually made it. I thought you had somewhere else to go,” she said, her voiceced with venom. I


    coughed, trying to resist the urge tough. Joy was angry.


    “I’m so sorry, Virtue,” Chip said in a girly voice. “I don’t know what came over me. I guess it was just a


    bunch of hormones. You, of all people, would understand. It won’t happen again.”


    “Promise?” She asked icily, before taking a sip of her wine.


    “Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye,” Cristos answered. Joy red at him for a


    moment, then her lips curved into a grin.


    “Alright. I forgive you,” she quickly said, her eyes sparkling with happiness. Joy could never be mad at


    us for long. It was a curse. “Is that teddy bear for me?” Joy suddenly asked, pointing at the stuffed toy


    tucked under Cristos’s arm. This time, Iughed out loud. Bringing a teddy bear to a wake. That was


    original.


    Cristos took Virtue’s arm and led her to a corner I followed, wondering why Cristos moved her away


    from the crowd.


    “Ah, no. This is for Liam. I couldn’t find any ce open for a sympathy basket,” Cristos quickly


    exined. “But I do have something for you from Chicago that I forgot to give you.” He pulled out a


    Tiffany’s blue box from his pocket and handed it to her.


    I pursed my lips. Cristos… one. Sebastian… zero


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    CHAPTER 149 Talons


    Slick.


    “Oh my gosh! This is so sweet of you,” Joy gushed, opening the blue box and finding a diamond


    studded tinum tennis bracelet. “Thank you.” She closed the box right away and ced it in her


    designer bag. “I’ll wear it some other time when no one else is-”


    “There’s my fiancé,” Liam said loudly. He was standing behind me. “What are you guys doing hiding


    over here?”


    “We just wanted to get away from the crowd,” I answered, turning around, “and this corner was free. I


    handed him the bottle of wine. “I’d like to extend my sincerest condolences, Liam.” I extended my good


    hand, and without hesitation, he took my hand and shook it warmly.


    “Thank you, Dom, he replied, smiling. Liam was wearing a gray and ck argyle sweater and dark gray


    cks. I was expecting him to be in a suit, but of course, he was home. Behind him, to my utter


    surprise, was Link. “Virtue said you were sick with the flu and that Chip wasn’t going to make it tonight.”


    “I just needed some sleep and Chip decidedst minute,” I replied, keeping a straight face. “Anyway,


    before you interrupted us, we were talking about visiting Nicole at the hospital tomorrow. We heard she


    was involved in a terrible ident.”


    All of a sudden, Link coughed loudly, grabbing our attention.


    “Nicole Davis is being transfered to another hospital tomorrow morning,” he said, “one that has the


    proper facilities for her care.”


    “I’m sorry. Do all of you know Attorney Lincoln Murphy or do I have to make the necessary


    introductions?” Liam asked. All three of us nodded our heads. “Of course, you know him. He’s Bo’s


    attorney. Ipletely forgot.”


    “Attorney Murphy, what about Nicole’s mom?” Joy asked. “Will she be leaving with Nicole?”


    “You may


    call me Link,” Lincoln said before answering. “Yes, Ms. Davis will be leaving with Nicole. Don’t worry,


    Ms. Davis will be well taken care of. There are doctors there who will monitor her as well. Currently,


    Nicole is in stable condition and the doctor has given a favorable prognosis.”


    “She’s actually gonnae out of it okay?” Asked a male voiceced with… panic? No…


    dread.


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    CHAPTER 149 Talons


    All of us moved our heads to find the source of the voice.


    It was Noah.


    I raised my eyes above his head and saw Xavier quickly making his way out of the living


    room.


    “Guys, keep Liam upied,” I heard Xavier whisper through the earpiece. “I’m going to search this


    ce.”


    I surreptitiously nced at both Joy and Cristos and noticed by the slight nods of their heads that they


    had gotten the message too.


    “What’s up with you? Don’t you want Nicole to get better?” Cristos asked, not amused. “Aren’t you guys


    supposed to be together?”


    Liam continued to stare at Noah, his eyebrows raised, wanting to hear Noah’s… excuse.


    “Chip, we’re just friends now. And of course, I want her to get better. I’m just surprised because I heard


    from Bo that Nicole flew out the windshield. Usually, a person doesn’te back a hundred percent


    from something as tragic as that,” he replied casually, but his attention wasn’t on Cristos. I noticed his


    eyes move from the rock on Joy’s finger to her face… with a tenderness in their depths. Then, his eyes


    moved to look at Liam and I caught


    something…


    He was jealous. Noah hadn’t moved on yet, unlike Jack over there.


    Norma said Noah wasn’t the timid, quiet man all of us thought he was. Maybe I could ask Link to get


    the information out of her. Her husband was an Angels of Darkness member after


    all.


    “I forgot. You broke up with her in Chicago,” Chip scoffed. “Anyway, I’m starving.”


    “There’s a buffet set up in the dining hall. Please, help yourselves, Liam said. “Virtue, sweetheart, the


    reason why I came looking for you is because Link and I have to discuss business and I didn’t want to


    leave you alone since,” Liam paused and nced at Jack and Ki ki, “Jack and your bestfriend seem to


    be hitting it off. Anyway, your other bestfriend is


    here, so I’m sure you’ll be left in goodpany.


    “Sure, Liam. I’ll be with Chip and Dom until you’re done with business,” Joy said, kissing him


    on the cheek.


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    CHAPTER 149 Talons


    “Liam, by the way, here,” Chip said, handing the teddy bear and flowers to Liam. “I’m sorry. It was all I


    could find at such short notice.”


    Liam chuckled. “This is one of those rare moments I get a teddy bear. It’s original just like you, Chip.


    Thank you. Just take care of my girl for me.”


    “No problem, Liam. I’ll watch over her like a hawk,” Cristos said mboyantly, with his hand. twirling in


    the air.


    “Hey, can I tag along?” Noah asked, much to our surprise. While Cristos shook his head, Joy and I


    nodded ours. Cristos rolled his eyes, annoyed he was outnumbered.


    Personally, I never spent much time talking to Noah.


    Xavier, right off the bat, hated him. Cristos, after spending some time with him in Chicago, was


    convinced he was bad news. As for me, I wanted to know what was in that blonde head. of his that


    made the other two despise him so much.


    “Noah, keep tabs on my girl, okay? I don’t want anything to happen her,” Liam instructed.


    “You got it, Li-”


    Noah wasn’t able to finish his sentence. A husky female voice interrupted him.


    “There you are, Noah. I had trouble finding you, Sarah Hughes greeted him, wrapping her arm around


    his, her long dark hair swaying as she moved. From the few times I’ve seen her, she was always


    dressed in jeans and a shirt. Tonight, she was wearing a ck evening dress.


    Noah tried to wriggle his way out from her grasp, but Sarah held on to his arm, clinging like


    a leech.


    The evening dress looked expensive, however she didn’t do it justice. She was so thin and her nose


    was so big, she actually looked like a hawk…


    A hawk who had her talons around Noah. Good thing I wasn’t him.


    “Hughes,” Liam uttered, his voice dripping with disdain. “You’re thest person I expected toe.


    What are you doing here anyway?”


    I sighed. Here we go.


    5/6


    Well on the bright side, this little confrontation bought Xavier more time.


    The Joy of RevengeCopyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.