Chapter 30: The Ghost of the Past

The storm raged outside, lightning streaking across the sky, illuminating the tension inside the jet's cabin. Liam sat motionless, his mind a battlefield of memories and unanswered questions.

She knew his mother's name. That wasn't a coincidence. That was a message.

Nathan watched him closely. "You recognized her, didn't you?"

Liam exhaled sharply. "Not her face. But her voice… it felt like a shadow I should remember."

Seraphina leaned back, arms crossed. "That kind of maneuvering? That wasn't just any assassin or mercenary. That was someone trained at an elite level. And if she knows your past, Liam, then this just got a lot more personal."

Alec's voice crackled through the cockpit speakers. "We'll be landing at the island in ten minutes. I suggest you all prepare yourselves."

The island—The Black Oasis.

A place known only to those in the shadows. A sanctuary for the rich, the powerful, and the dangerous.

Liam forced himself to refocus. Whoever she was, she wasn't done with him yet.

And he needed to be ready.

---

The jet descended through the thick fog, revealing a sprawling island estate. A fortress disguised as paradise.

As they landed, Liam stepped out onto the tarmac, the salty sea breeze colliding with the tension in his chest. This place had always been a safe house. A place to regroup. But tonight, it felt like a trap waiting to be sprung.

A black limousine pulled up. The driver, an older man in a crisp white suit, stepped out. "Mr. Callahan. Mr. Kane is expecting you."

Nathan muttered, "Great. Just what we need."

Seraphina smirked. "Let's see if our dear old friend has been keeping busy."

Liam slid into the limousine, mind racing. He needed answers. And fast.

---

Inside the grand estate, dim golden chandeliers bathed the room in a soft glow. At the center, a man in his late forties sat behind an oak desk, a cigar between his fingers.

Lucius Kane. Master of secrets. Broker of power.

He looked up with a slow grin. "Liam Callahan. You look like hell."

Liam sat across from him, voice steady. "I don't have time for pleasantries, Lucius. Who is she?"

Lucius took a deep drag from his cigar. "Now, that's the million-dollar question, isn't it?"

He leaned forward, amusement flickering in his sharp eyes. "She calls herself 'Eve.' But her real name? That's where things get… interesting."

Liam's pulse quickened. "What do you know?"

Lucius chuckled. "More than you'll like. Less than you need."

He slid a black card across the desk.

Liam picked it up. No name. No logo. Just a single, ominous symbol.

A silver locket.

His stomach twisted.

Nathan muttered, "This is a setup."

Lucius smirked. "Isn't everything?"

Liam's grip tightened. If this was a game, he had no choice but to play.

And he had a feeling Eve was already several moves ahead.

---

Seraphina studied Lucius carefully. "You're enjoying this too much."

Lucius shrugged. "Information is a currency, my dear. And business has been good."

Liam ignored their exchange and focused on the locket symbol on the card. It wasn't just a symbol—it was a message.

A warning.

Or an invitation.

He looked up. "Where did you get this?"

Lucius took another drag of his cigar before answering. "It arrived this morning. No name, no sender. Just an instruction."

Liam's voice was sharp. "What instruction?"

Lucius leaned back, tapping the card with his finger. "Go to Red Phoenix Casino. Midnight. Alone."

Silence fell over the room.

Nathan cursed under his breath. "You're not seriously considering this."

Liam didn't hesitate. "I don't have a choice."

Seraphina exhaled. "Then we need to be smart about it."

Lucius chuckled. "Smart? You're walking into a trap, Callahan. The only question is whose trap it is."

Liam clenched his jaw. He wasn't afraid of traps.

He just hated walking into them blind.

--

Midnight approached faster than expected. Dressed in an all-black suit, Liam strode toward the Red Phoenix Casino, the city lights casting ominous reflections on the glass doors.

The moment he entered, the atmosphere shifted. The air felt electric.

Wealth dripped from every corner—billionaires sipping expensive whiskey, high-stakes poker games, laughter laced with deception.

But Liam wasn't here for the games.

A woman in a crimson dress stood at the center of the room. All eyes were on her.

She turned slowly. Their gazes locked.

Eve.

She smirked. "You came."

Liam's muscles tensed. "You expected me not to?"

She tilted her head. "I expected you to hesitate."

He stepped forward. "I don't hesitate. Not when it comes to the past."

Her smile widened. "Then let's talk about yours."

Liam felt the weight of his past crushing down on him.

And he knew—this was only the beginning.

---

Eve gestured toward a private poker table. "Sit."

Liam's jaw tightened, but he complied. A dealer in a sharp suit shuffled the cards with practiced precision. The table was empty except for them.

Eve leaned in, her voice smooth as silk. "Let's make a wager."

Liam's eyes narrowed. "What kind of wager?"

She slid a set of cards across the table—base, silver, gold, platinum, black deluxe, and diamond. Each one represented a different level of access.

Her fingers hovered over the black deluxe. "If you win, I'll answer one question truthfully. But if I win… you owe me something of equal value."

Liam smirked. "And what exactly would that be?"

Eve's eyes gleamed. "A secret. One you've never told anyone."

Liam's pulse ticked faster. This wasn't just a game.

This was a hunt.

And he wasn't sure if he was the predator or the prey.

The dealer dealt the first hand.

Liam picked up his cards. A king and an ace.

Blackjack.

Eve's smirk deepened as she turned her own cards over.

Two aces.

A tie.

She leaned closer. "Looks like we both have more to lose than we thought."

Liam's fingers curled against the table. She wasn't here to play. She was here to test him.

A slow tension built between them.

Eve's voice lowered. "You're not ready for the truth, Liam. But that doesn't mean I won't give you a taste."

She slid something across the table—a small silver key.

Liam picked it up.

Cold.

Heavy.

Marked with his mother's initials.

His stomach clenched.

Eve whispered, "You'll find the lock soon enough."

Liam knew—this wasn't just about his past anymore.

This was about everything.

And Eve was just getting started.

---