All Chapters of RISE OF THE SCORNFUL CRYPTO LORD: Chapter 131
- Chapter 140
150 chapters
131: ROYALTY
Liam's POVThree faces stared back at me from the end of the hallway and recognition hit me like cold water.They were Michael's friends from college…The same guys who'd made my life miserable during those years when I was nobody and they were everything. I'd seen them at parties and in classes always hovering around Michael like satellites orbiting a sun.I just stood there with my gun raised and no words coming out of my mouth.My brain was trying to process why they were here and what they wanted and how they'd gotten past building security to kill my guards. The silence stretched out while we stared at each other across the bodies on the floor.Finally I found my voice. "Is that why you killed them?" I gestured at the guards with my gun. "You killed these men just to get to me?"None of them responded…They just stood there watching me with cold eyes that showed no remorse or fear. I felt anger building within me."Did Michael's father send you?" I asked because that was the only
132: DEMANDING ANSWERS
Liam's POVI turned and walked back into the apartment. Claire followed me inside and closed the door behind us. She grabbed my arm and spun me around to face her."What just happened out there?" Claire asked and her voice was shaking. "Why were they kneeling? Why did Michael's father call you Lord?"I looked at her and realized I didn't have answers to give. "I don't know.""You don't know?" Claire repeated. "Liam you just killed three people and then Michael's father showed up and bowed to you and now you're saying you don't know what's happening?""I know what I did," I replied. "But I don't know why Michael's father reacted that way or what being an Ackerman really means.""Then find out," Claire said while her grip on my arm tightened. "Because whatever is happening it's changing you and I need to understand what I'm dealing with."I pulled my arm free gently. "I'm going to the Rossi mansion. Mr. Rossi knows more than he's told me and I'm done waiting for answers.""Now?" Claire
133: UNACCEPTABLE TRUTH
Liam's POVThe drive to my adoptive father's house felt longer than it should have. Claire sat beside me in the back of the SUV and I could feel her watching me but I kept my eyes on the window. My mind was going through possibilities about what my father would finally tell me after all these years of secrets and lies.When we arrived I got out before the car had fully stopped.Claire followed me up the path to the front door which opened before I could knock. My father stood there still in his pajamas."Come in," he said while stepping aside.We went to his study and I sat down across from his desk. Claire took the chair beside me. My father closed the door and then stood there for a moment like he was gathering courage to say what needed to be said."Tell me," I demanded. "Who is my biological father?"My father walked to his desk but didn't sit. He gripped the edge of it with both hands and looked at the floor. "This isn't easy to explain.""I don't care if it's easy," I said. "Jus
134: WISHFUL THINKING
Liam's POVI woke up the next morning feeling like I hadn't slept at all even though I must have passed out at some point during the night. Claire was already awake and dressed sitting at the kitchen table with coffee. She looked up when I came out of the bedroom."Are you going to the office?" she asked."Yes," I replied while pouring myself coffee. "I can't hide here forever."The drive to Harrington Tech felt surreal. Everything looked the same as it always did but I felt completely different. Yesterday I'd learned that Charles was my biological father and that knowledge sat in my chest like a stone I couldn't swallow or spit out.When I walked into the building people greeted me. Employees I barely knew nodded and said good morning. Some of them even stopped what they were doing to acknowledge me as I passed.But I could see it in their eyes. The respect they were showing wasn't genuine. It was the kind of politeness people used when they were scared or trying to stay on your good
135: FAMY
Liam's POVAfter Elijah left I turned my attention to the stack of documents on my desk.Files that had been piling up for weeks while I'd been dealing with assassins and family secrets and near death experiences. I pulled the first folder toward me and opened it.Quarterly reports…Budget proposals…Contract renewals…All the mundane business of running a company that I'd been neglecting.I realized I hadn't been available when it came to actual work because I was too busy fighting for my life and trying to uncover the truth about my past to focus on the thing that had brought me success in the first place.I swore to myself right then that I'd be more available. That I'd make time for the work that mattered even when everything else was falling apart around me.Harrington Tech deserved better than an absent owner who only showed up when there was a crisis.I spent the next few hours reading through reports and signing off on projects. My eyes started to blur after a while but I pus
136: DID YOU KNOW?
Liam's POVClaire and I walked inside together. The penthouse looked completely different with the Christmas decorations.The tree dominated the living room with ornaments catching the light and casting small reflections on the walls.Garland wrapped around the railings and small lights were strung across the ceiling.I headed toward the wine cellar while Claire went to the kitchen. When I opened the door to the cellar I found rows of bottles I'd never seen before.Premium labels that must have cost a fortune…I was quite sure Elijah was behind this because he was always doing things like that without asking — Buying expensive items and having them delivered when I wasn't aware.I smiled and selected a bottle that looked older than the others. The label was in French and I couldn't read most of it but the date showed it was from decades ago.I grabbed it and headed back upstairs toward the kitchen to get glasses.But when I walked in Claire was already there holding two wine glasses.
137: A GUN BARREL
Liam's POVI thought I'd figured it out…The shooter wasn't trying to kill me…They were sending a message…But then another shot cracked through the air and slammed into the wall inches from where I'd been standing.I ducked back down hard and fast.My heart was beating really fast and I could feel sweat running down my back despite the cold air coming through the open window."You're stupid," Claire hissed at me. "Why would you try to show them where you are?"She was right.I'd been careless thinking I understood what was happening when I clearly didn't. The shots kept coming now.One after another hitting different spots around the room. The couch…The wall…The floor near where we were hiding.Whoever was out there wasn't playing anymore.And to my disadvantaged surprise, I feel they are more than just one person…We are fucked pretty bad.My phone rang again and I grabbed it — Ashley's name on the screen for the second time."I can't reach Elijah," Ashley said and I could feel h
138: RUN CLAIRE, RUN
Liam's POVHow did this person get here? Since when have they been here?I didn't take a step forward or backward…My body stayed frozen with the cold metal pressed against my skull. I didn't even turn to look at whoever was holding the gun."Look at me," the voice said. Then I heard movement and fabric rustling. "I said look at me!"The gun pulled away slightly and I slowly turned my head. The man standing there had removed his mask and I recognized him immediately.It is one of Mr. Edwards' old enemies.A businessman who'd lost everything when Harrington Tech rose to prominence and pushed his company out of the market.I scoffed despite the gun still pointed at me. "You can't live with your own failure so you're here to kill me because of that?"The man pressed the gun harder against my head and I felt the barrel dig into my skin. "Shut up."But I didn't shut up. "The person you want dead is actually dead. So what do you want with me? I'm just their errand boy and that's the same a
139: STACKS FROM ALL SIDES
Liam's POVThe door finally succumbed to the intense force applied to it, yielding with a thunderous crack that echoed the sound of a gunshot.Splinters of wood flew in all directions as the lock ripped violently from its frame.In an instant, two men charged through the now gaping opening, their swift movements betraying a level of training and professionalism that immediately put me on high alert.Before I could even gather my wits or contemplate a escape, the first assailant swung a powerful punch at me.His fist collided hard with my jaw, sending a surge of pain radiating across my face as my head snapped to the side, a muted ringing filling my ears.I staggered backward, my back slamming against the wall to momentarily steady myself, but he was relentless, launching another strike as if he expected me to crumble.Instinct kicked in just in time as I ducked under his second punch, the air rushing past me in a blur. Seizing the opportunity, I drove my shoulder hard into his midsec
140: SILENCE
Liam's POVSilence…The man holding Claire didn't answer my question. Just stood there with the knife pressed against her throat while his eyes stayed locked on mine.I knew from their stances that they wouldn't release Claire. They were here for one thing and they wouldn't leave without it. And even if I handed over the files they'd kill both of us anyway because we'd seen their faces and could identify them later.I scoffed and tried a different approach. "I'm at a disadvantage here. Why don't we do it this way? You release her and leave this vicinity. Make sure you never attack us again and the files will be kept safe by me."The person holding Claire shook his head slowly. "That's not possible."I doubled down. "If you don't leave the files will be automatically published for the public to see. But if you leave now you'll be safe as long as you don't threaten me again."The three men who were still standing looked at each other. Some kind of silent communication passed between the