Elena, Liam, and Victoria huddled in the dimly lit room, their breaths shallow and hearts pounding. The weight of their situation pressed upon them as they began to formulate a plan to outsmart Liam's enemy.

Victoria, her eyes gleaming with a mix of determination and calculation, laid out the details. 'We need to create a diversion,' she said. 'Something that will draw their attention away from us and give us the opportunity to gain the upper hand.'

Elena listened intently, her mind racing as she tried to come up with ideas. 'What if we set up a fake meeting?' she suggested. 'Make it look like Liam is going to be somewhere, and then when they show up, we'll be ready for them.'

Liam nodded in agreement. 'That could work,' she said. 'But we need to make sure it's believable. We can't just have me show up at some random location.'

Victoria thought for a moment. 'I have an idea,' she said. 'What if we use one of my father's properties? He has a number of buildings around the city that are rarely used. We could stage the meeting there and make it look like Liam is meeting with someone important.'

Elena and Liam both agreed that this was a good plan. Victoria then went on to explain how they would set everything up. They would need to create a believable story, find the right location, and make sure that they had all the necessary equipment and resources.

As they discussed the details, Elena couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She had never been involved in anything like this before, and the thought of going up against a powerful enemy was terrifying. But she also knew that she couldn't let Liam face this alone. She had promised to be there for her, and she was determined to keep that promise.

The next few days were a blur of activity as they prepared for their plan. Victoria used her connections to gather the necessary equipment and resources, while Elena and Liam worked on creating a believable story. They decided that Liam would be meeting with a potential business partner who was interested in investing in her company.

Finally, the day of the meeting arrived. Elena, Liam, and Victoria made their way to the designated location, a large, abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. They had spent the past few days transforming the space into a believable meeting location, complete with a conference table, chairs, and fake documents.

As they waited for the enemy to arrive, Elena's nerves began to get the better of her. She paced back and forth, her hands shaking as she tried to calm herself down. Liam, on the other hand, seemed surprisingly calm. She sat at the conference table, her eyes focused on the door, as if she were waiting for something to happen.

Suddenly, the door burst open and a group of men entered the room. They were dressed in black and carried weapons, their expressions cold and menacing. Elena's heart leapt into her throat as she realized that they were outnumbered and outgunned.

But before she could react, Liam stood up and walked towards the men. 'Hello,' she said, her voice calm and steady. 'I'm Liam Brooks. I believe you're here to meet with me.'

The leader of the group, a tall, muscular man with a scar on his face, stepped forward. 'You're right,' he said. 'We're here to talk to you about your past.'

Liam nodded. 'I know,' she said. 'And I'm ready to tell you everything.'

Elena watched in amazement as Liam began to tell the men her story. She spoke with a confidence and honesty that Elena had never seen before, and as she listened, she realized that Liam had been carrying a heavy burden for a long time.

When Liam finished speaking, the leader of the group looked at her for a moment, then nodded. 'You have a lot of courage,' he said. 'But you should have known that you couldn't escape your past forever.'

Liam shrugged. 'I didn't try to escape,' she said. 'I just wanted to move on with my life.'

The leader of the group laughed, a cold, cruel sound. 'You think it's that easy?' he said. 'You made a lot of enemies, Liam Brooks. And they're not going to let you go so easily.'

Liam looked at him, her eyes flashing with defiance. 'I'm not afraid of you,' she said.

The leader of the group stepped forward, his face inches from Liam's. 'You should be,' he said. 'Because if you don't do exactly what I say, you're going to regret it.'

Elena's heart pounded as she watched the confrontation. She wanted to step in and help Liam, but she knew that it would only make things worse.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the door. The men turned around, their weapons raised, as a group of police officers entered the room. Elena let out a sigh of relief as she realized that their plan had worked.

The leader of the group looked at Liam, his expression one of disbelief. 'You set us up,' he said.

Liam smiled. 'You're not the only one who can play games,' she said.

The police officers quickly surrounded the men and handcuffed them. As they were led away, Liam turned to Elena and Victoria. 'Thank you,' she said. 'I couldn't have done this without you.'

Elena and Victoria both smiled. 'You're welcome,' they said.

As they left the warehouse, Elena felt a sense of relief wash over her. They had faced a dangerous enemy and emerged victorious. But she also knew that this was just the beginning. Liam's past was still out there, waiting to catch up with her. And they would need to be ready for whatever came next.

The chapter ends with Elena, Liam, and Victoria walking out of the warehouse, their heads held high, ready to face whatever the future may hold.