All Chapters of Queen of the West: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

MONIQUEI was a loving daughter, always eager for my parents' attention. But as I entered adolescence, their business consumed them. I remembered the hollow ache I felt when their focus shifted away from me, how I would sulk and brood, convinced they had stopped caring. There were days I wanted to throw a tantrum, scream at them for always being too busy, for not noticing how much I missed them.But one day, when I came home from school, Mother called me into the kitchen, her graceful figure perched on a stool by the counter. She looked perfect, as always, in a crisp white suit, sipping hot chocolate. Without a word, she passed me her mug, a gesture that I was used to. I took a sip, unsure of what was coming next.She smiled softly, her eyes warm, and said, "There is nothing in this world that will ever stop your father and me from loving you. And there is nothing we wouldn't do for you." Her voice was filled with the reassurance I hadn't realized I needed.She explained that their wo

LIAMShe was right. I hadn't realized how much I needed this getaway until I was on the plane, staring out at the clouds below. Monique had been unusually adamant about the entire thing, practically threatening to toss my phone into the toilet if I kept trying to check in with Felix and my other men. The moment we arrived on the island, I called Felix, and she let me—for now."I'm out for the weekend," I told him, leaning against the railing of the ferry that was taking us to the Outer Banks. "Won't be very active online."Felix chuckled on the other end, but I could sense his concern. "You? Out of action for a whole weekend? Sounds like you've either been kidnapped and you're saying this under duress or it's a weird girlfriend order, Liam. You good?"I glanced at Monique, who was standing at the other end of the ferry, talking to one of the crew members about our arrival. The word 'girlfriend' played in my mind over and over. She wasn't even my girlfriend, yet here I was, playing alo

LIAMI felt oddly relaxed. The day had been... something. The hike, the laughter, the lighthouse view—it all felt like a dream I didn't know I needed. But what made the day better was watching Monique. Her smile was different today. It wasn't her usual guarded smirk or the polite curve of her lips she gave when she had to. No, this was real. Genuine. She was excited, full of energy, and for the first time, it was like she let herself forget whatever demons she carried with her. That energy, that spark in her, was contagious. I found myself smiling more than I had in weeks, just because she was.As we settled in for the night, I drifted off easily, a sense of calm wrapping around me like a warm blanket. But the peace didn't last long.I woke up to a noise. It was faint at first—just some shuffling, then mumbling. I thought maybe Monique had gotten up, but the sounds grew louder, more frantic. A scream tore through the silence, jolting me out of bed. My heart pounded in my chest, adrena

MONIQUEIt was a bit tricky staying in close contact with Richardson while I was here with Liam. After everything that happened between us, he fell asleep in my bed, his breathing deep and steady. I managed to get a little sleep too, but it didn't last long. I woke up with a nagging sense of unfinished business.With Liam still sound asleep, I took the opportunity to quietly step away and call Richardson. I had set a crucial plan in motion just before we left New York, and I needed to check in—to see how far things had progressed and ensure the execution was on track.I slipped quietly out of the bed and made sure I didn't wake him. I stepped out of the house, the night air cool against my skin as I dialed Richardson. I paced slowly around the compound, my feet sinking into the cool, soft sand as I dialed Richardson. The phone rang twice before he picked up, his voice groggy with sleep."Monique?" he mumbled, clearly half-awake."Yeah, it's me," I whispered, glancing back at the house

LIAMIt had been nearly twenty-four hours since we got back to Manhattan, and I still had no answers. Each moment that passed only stoked the fire in my gut. I was done waiting for explanations that weren't coming. I needed to see the damage for myself.I headed to the warehouse, my anger simmering. The closer I got, the more it bubbled over. I had built an empire, and now, someone had the audacity to steal from right under my nose?When I arrived, I didn't waste time. I walked straight in, the men scattered when they saw me. Two of the guys who Felix told me had been on watch the night of the attack stood stiffly by the side. They looked nervous—good."You two," I called out, my voice hard, cutting through the silence. "You were on watch the night it happened, right?"They nodded, shifting uneasily under my gaze. I could see the fear in their eyes, and that only fed my frustration."What happened?" I demanded, taking a step toward them. "You're supposed to be my eyes, and somehow, yo