Liam's POV“911, what’s your emergency?” The dispatcher’s voice crackled from the phone speaker when Mrs McHale called.Mrs. McHale spoke with trembling hands and a shaky voice. “My son Joel McHale didn’t come home. He was supposed to be back hours ago.”I stood close listening with my stomach twisting in horror. I could feel her fear and that was reason enough to make me feel sick.“And what time was he supposed to be home, ma’am?” the dispatcher asked in a calm but serious and professional tone.“Six o’clock. He’s always home by six. He’s never, not once, been this late without calling.” Her voice shook.“Okay, and has he contacted you? Any texts, calls...?” The dispatcher asked carefully.“No, nothing. I’ve called him, but it goes straight to voicemail.”“Alright, ma’am. We’ll connect you with an officer to file a report. Please stay on the line.”There was a short wait with static and the sound of Mrs. McHale's laboured breathing. Then a new voice came on. “This is Officer Davie

Liam's POV“That's enough! Stop it!” the guard finally intervened. He looked at Ryan nervously then looked at me. “Carter, you're done for today. Go home. Now.”He then turned to Ryan. “Ryan, are you okay? Did he hurt you?”Ryan, always trying to act cool, smiled and brushed off his jacket. “I'm fine. Just a little mix-up. Liam was just… happy to see me.” He smirked sarcastically.I wanted to wipe that smile off his face. But I got what I wanted. The bug was hidden in his jacket ready to send out everything. I just had to leave before Ryan got suspicious.I nodded to the guard. .“Alright, I'm going.”“Make sure you do.” the guard said in relief. He was scared of Ryan Blackwood and even more scared of what William Blackwood might do if anyone hurt his son. I didn’t blame him. Everyone feared the Blackwoods.I turned and walked away without looking back. I could feel Ryan watching me. He probably thought he’d won, that he scared me. He was wrong. This was just the beginning.As I le

LIAM'S POVHans and I looked at each other. I suddenly felt sick with the urge to throw up. What had she done?“She… she turned on us.” Hans whispered in disbelief.I shook my head slowly. “I didn’t think… I didn’t believe she would.” I stuttered.I thought back to all my talks with Melissa trying to remember if she ever gave me a sign. But I had been blind. By what? Hope? Maybe the feelings I still had for her?Hans snapped. He kicked over a pile of magazines sending them flying in his rage. “Damn it! You said she was on our side! You said she wouldn’t do this! Now Ryan knows everything! All our plans!”He walked back and forth with his fists tight. “We’re done Liam! Really done! How are we supposed to know what happened at that meeting now? We had one shot and she ruined it for Blackwood!”He kicked a small table, sending it across the room. I didn’t say anything. I was too lost in my own thoughts. Melissa had chosen Ryan. She had chosen the Blackwoods, the money, and the fame in

Liam's POVThe group of students moved aside as I walked through with my curiosity mounting higher and huge with each passing minute. What I saw didn’t surprise me. Cole was holding a pair of glasses high up. A small girl with her hair in a tight bun was jumping and trying to grab them. The other students as usual were laughing.This was like everyone's favourite game at Crestwood, to watch Ryan or his goons bully the lesser students.“Come on four-eyes get them if you can!” Cole teased while throwing the glasses to another smiling kid. The girl reached for them with her fingers touching the frame but they were taken away again before she could take proper hold of her glasses.My stomach felt sick. It was always the same. Ryan’s sidekicks picking on someone weaker, someone who wouldn’t fight back and making their life horrible.“Hey!” I shouted with my voice loud over the laughter. “Give her glasses back to Cole.”The laughing stopped and was quickly replaced by quiet whispers. Eve

Liam's POVThe room was the definition of technology. Computer screens flashed with strange codes I had never seen with circuit boards were spread all over a table. It didn’t feel like a bedroom. It felt more like a control room or a tech fortress of some kind.“Wow.” I said as I looked around. “So this is your hideout.”Sarah smiled proudly. “I call it my command center. But ‘lair’ sounds kind of cool too.”“Cool is an understatement.” I said while still looking. “Are you like… a secret agent? Do you have hidden gadgets like a rope gun or a quiet pistol?” I joked.She laughed loudly in a weird manner. “If I were a secret agent Liam you wouldn’t even know. That’s the whole point.”“Good point.” I was impressed. “Still, this is… a lot. Where did you get all this stuff?”She shrugged and stepped deeper into the room like she wanted me to look more. “Most of it is old stuff from others or things I fixed. My dad was a computer guy. He really knew his stuff.” Her voice broke a little i