Chapter 339: Kelly’s Big Secret

Liam and Kelly stepped out of the glass lobby of the high-rise apartment complex, the sudden wall of midday heat hitting them like a heavy blanket.

Sunlight bounced off the asphalt, illuminating the light dust motes dancing in the air above the sidewalk.

They walked two blocks down to the bus stop, where the air smelled faintly of hot exhaust and damp concrete.

A city bus pulled up with a heavy hiss of pneumatic brakes, its loud, idling engine vibrating through the metal bench where they stood.

They climbed the squeaky rubber steps and walked down the narrow aisle, settling into a pair of faded vinyl seats near the middle.

The bus rumbled forward, the plastic interior panels rattling over every bump in the street. Outside the window, storefronts and pedestrians blurred past under the harsh sunlight.

Liam leaned back, resting his arm against the cool window frame. "Why didn’t we just take my car?"

Kelly leaned into his side, her pale skin contrasting against his black shirt. "I just wanted to take a bus with you.

We haven’t actually hung out in public before."

Liam turned his head, his green eyes picking up the golden highlights in her blonde hair. "We went to dinner, didn’t we?"

"That wasn’t hanging out in public," she said, letting out a soft laugh that was almost lost beneath the engine’s deep hum. "We took your car straight to the restaurant, and there were barely five people in the dining room."

"Fair enough," Liam said, a small smirk playing on his lips. "But we could have just taken the M4 to somewhere with a bigger crowd."

"I know," she murmured, her voice soft against the noise of the bus. "I just wanted to do this."

She reached over, her small, warm fingers lacing through his long digits, and rested her head on his shoulder.

Liam smiled, feeling the faint, rhythmic movement of her breathing, and squeezed her hand firmly.

"Okay," he said.

Ten minutes later, the bus screeched to a halt at the central square. The doors folded open with a sharp clatter, releasing them into the thick of the city.

The sidewalk was a moving sea of bodies: street vendors shouting over the dull roar of traffic, heels clicking on the concrete, and the constant chime of crosswalk signals.

As they walked past a bakery smelling of burnt sugar and fresh espresso, Liam noticed an elderly woman standing at the curb.

She was clutching a faded leather purse to her chest, her thin legs trembling slightly as she stared at the stream of yellow cabs speeding past.

"Hold on a second," Liam said, loosening his grip on Kelly’s hand.

He walked up to the old woman, his tall frame blocking the glare of the sun. "Here, let me help you across."

The woman looked up, her wrinkled face softening as she took in his broad shoulders. "Oh, thank you, young man."

Liam offered his forearm, guiding her step-by-step across the dark asphalt as the traffic paused at the red light.

Just as her boots touched the curb on the opposite side, a sharp screech echoed from across the street.

"AHHH!"

Liam turned around instantly.

Across the four lanes of traffic, right where he had left Kelly, a black-and-red motor bike roared onto the sidewalk.

The engine whined in a high, aggressive pitch as the passenger on the back leaned over, snatching a shoulder bag straight from a woman’s hand.

The bike fishtailed, its rear tire spitting loose gravel against the storefront windows before it rocketed down a narrow side street.

The old woman gasped, her small hand flying to her mouth. "Oh dear Lord... that happened because of me! If you hadn’t stopped to help me, you would have been over there with her!"

Liam looked down at her, his face completely unbothered, his eyes cool and steady. "It’s not your fault at all. Don’t worry about it."

She blinked at his flat tone, surprised by how calm he remained while everyone around them was shouting. "You’re very calm, son... but thank you nonetheless."

"You’re welcome," Liam said.

He turned on his heel and moved, his long legs covering the distance across the crosswalk in seconds.

He reached the spot where the snatch happened, but the sidewalk was empty except for a few confused tourists.

Kelly was nowhere in sight.

Without missing a beat, Liam cut sharply to the right, ducking into a narrow, dark alleyway tucked between two five-story brick buildings.

The ambient noise of the main street instantly muted, replaced by the dripping of an air conditioning unit somewhere overhead and the sour stench of wet cardboard.

Once he cleared the sightline of the main road, Liam activated [Silent Stride].

The sound of his heavy boots hitting the ground vanished entirely.

He launched himself upward, catching the bottom rung of an iron fire escape ladder with a dull clink.

He moved like a shadow, bounding up the rusted metal steps three at a time until he burst onto the gravel roof.

From the high ledge, the city opened up below him. Wind whipped through his dark hair as his eyes tracked the motor bike.

The high-pitched whine of its 250cc engine cut through the alleys three blocks down, the two thieves laughing loudly as they wove around green dumpster bins.

Liam sprinted across the gravel, leaping over the gap between two rooftops without making a sound.

He tracked their trajectory, predicting the turn they were about to make into a dead-end service lane.

Reaching the edge of the third building, Liam spotted a loose, heavy red brick sitting on a pile of roof debris.

He grabbed it, stepped to the ledge, and calculated the speed of the approaching bike.

He dropped the brick.

It sliced through the air and struck the asphalt half a second before the bike reached the spot.

The front tire slammed into the solid clay at forty miles per hour. The handlebars snapped violently to the left with a loud metallic crunch.

The bike flipped sideways, sparking against the concrete as both riders were thrown off, tumbling hard into a row of metal trash cans.

Liam dropped from the second-story ledge, landing in a soft, soundless crouch behind them.

The two thieves lay groaning on the dirty pavement, one clutching his shoulder while the other gasped for air under his scuffed helmet.

Liam walked past them without a word, picked up the black shoulder bag lying near a puddle of motor oil, and turned around.

Two minutes later, Liam stepped back out into the bright sunlight of the main street, holding the bag by its strap.

He scanned the front of the shops, but Kelly still wasn’t standing where he had left her.

He stood near a lamppost, his brows pulling together as he looked over the heads of the crowd.

"I’m here!" a breathless voice called out.

Liam turned to see Kelly hurrying toward him from the side of a nearby cafe. Her blonde ponytail was messy, her chest heaving violently under his oversized black shirt as she pressed a hand to her ribs.

A sheen of sweat covered her forehead, and her cheeks were bright pink.

Liam tilted his head, watching her heavy breathing. "Where did you go?"

’I can’t tell him yet until I’m sure.’

Kelly stopped, taking a sharp breath before smoothing her shirt down. "I... I went to use the restroom inside that coffee shop."

"Ohh, okay," Liam said, holding out the bag.

Kelly reached for it, but the moment her fingers touched the strap, her blue eyes widened. A strange, hesitant look flickered across her face—not relief, but genuine shock. "Wait... you already got the bag back?"

Liam caught the tiny shift in her expression, the strange tightness in her voice. It was odd, but he kept his face completely blank, choosing not to press her on it.

"Yeah," Liam said simply. "Found it dropped down the alley."

"Okay... let me have it," she said quickly, taking the strap and slinging it over her shoulder. ℯ

She immediately stepped in close, sliding her arm tightly under his and resting her weight against his side.

The warm scent of her perfume mixed with the faint smell of sweat as she forced a bright smile, looking up at him. "Come on, let’s go to the place I wanted to show you."

As they walked down the crowded sidewalk, the clatter of the city continuing around them, Kelly kept her eyes fixed straight ahead.

Her heart was still pounding hard against her ribs, her mind running in tight, silent circles.

"Hey, Liam... is wherever we’re going going to have food to eat? Real food?"

​

Liam slowed his stride slightly, looking down at her sweet, over-the-top expression with a faint smile. "Definitely. What do you have in mind, though?"

​

Kelly grinned, her face brightening instantly. "Ice cream."

​

Liam stopped walking right in the middle of the busy sidewalk, turning his body toward her with a raised eyebrow and a completely unamused smirk. "Ice cream? Is that really what it sounds like when you say you want to eat something?"

​

Kelly let out a small, playful giggle, unbothered by his look, and tugged on his arm to get him moving again. "Hey, that’s what I want!"