Chapter 30

“Damn, this path is a nightmare! Forget it, she’s dead!”

“Let’s head back, man. We don’t want to die before we even find her, do we?”

“Let’s go—waah!” As the three men in black turned to leave, a tree branch swung down from above. With a thunderous crack, the trio screamed, lost their footing, and plunged into the abyss, shattering on the rocks below.

Emma, clinging to the cliff edge, finally lost her grip and tumbled toward the bottom. ‘Am I dying?’ she thought, just as a hand grasped her wrist.

“Hold on tight!” someone shouted.

Emma’s eyes widened. It was Liam, descending as if from the heavens, appearing in her moment of utter despair.

“Why… why are you here?” she struggled to ask.

“Don’t be afraid, Emma. I won’t let anything happen to you!” Liam replied.

A voice from her past life echoed in her mind: “Emma, don’t be afraid. I won’t let you walk alone. I’ll be with you.” Dream or illusion, she knew she wouldn't repeat her mistakes.

With her last strength, she grasped Liam's hand. As consciousness faded, she murmured, “Liam… I won’t miss you again…”

Emma awoke in the car, jolted along a rugged mountain road. A black suit jacket lay draped over her. The familiar texture and scent brought back the terrifying ordeal. Liam had saved her.

“Liam…” she hesitated.

“Emma?” Liam’s annoyance vanished, replaced by deep concern. “It’s okay. The police have those guys. We’re almost home,” he said, patting her gently.

“Mm…” A sigh of relief escaped her lips. Then, from the front, “Mr. Hall, we’ve got a tail!”

“Who?” Liam’s voice was stern. “The same as before?”

“No, sir. Looks like Mr. Brad’s men!”

‘Brad.’ Liam’s breath hitched. Brad was always watching, as expected. Levi's warning had been right; rescuing Emma had exposed him to danger, but he had no regrets. “Call everyone nearby,” he ordered.

“Can’t do that, Mr. Hall. Exposing Team Thunder would ruin years of work! Take the car with Mrs. Hall. I’ll hold them off!” His fiercely loyal right-hand man was ready to die for Liam.

Liam refused to let his brothers risk their lives. A hand touched his waist, gently tugging his sleeve. “Emma?”

“Liam…” Weak but clear, Emma gritted her teeth. “In my car, the passenger-side drawer… a small gear set… assemble it, it’ll help…” A coughing fit interrupted her.

Emma’s security measures had saved them. Otherwise, their situation would have been dire.

The driver, half-believing, opened the drawer. “Holy crap, flashbangs and tear gas!” he exclaimed.

“Mrs. Hall’s amazing! To have these in her car!” He quickly assembled the devices, opened the window, and laughed as he sped up. “They’re done for!”

He tossed a flashbang. A blinding flash erupted in the rearview mirror. The pursuing cars lost control, crashing into each other.

Liam smiled contemptuously. “After all these years, Brad’s men are still so useless.” His men would never be so easily thrown off. Brad’s constant vigilance was understandable; the past Liam had been terrifying.

Safe at last, Emma succumbed to exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.

At his lavish Starsand Beach mansion, Brad watched his defeated, wounded men. His handsome face darkened with anger. “Speak. How did you lose them? How did you wreck my cars?”

His silence was more terrifying than any outburst.

The leader replied, “Mr. Hall, it wasn’t incompetence. That person… couldn’t have been Liam!”

“Yeah, Liam’s a cripple! That woman, Emma Wilson, must have dirty secrets. Foreign assassins are after her!” another chimed in.

Brad’s fury turned to laughter. He stared coldly at the leader. “Couldn't be Liam? What evidence?”

The leader stammered, unnerved by Brad’s laughter.

Brad stood, hands in his pockets, his smile chilling. He approached slowly, “What if it was Liam? Flashbangs, he can walk, he’s got the best team… If that’s the case… how should I deal with you? Should I feed you to my pets in the thunder pool?”

The mention of the thunder pool—a living hell—sent shivers down their spines. The leader fell to his knees, pleading for mercy.