The city had plunged into an unusual frenzy on that fateful night. The air had grown thick with tension, and another part of the city found itself shrouded in darkness. But then, as if ignited by the chaos, a kaleidoscope of red and blue lights illuminated the night sky in front of the MoonStruck Resorts—a towering symbol of luxury, extravagance, and grandeur. Yet, on this night, that opulent icon had succumbed to a voracious blaze.
At the heart of this turmoil stood the Blackstone family, a name synonymous with wealth, power, and prestige. They were at the epicenter of the unfolding catastrophe, as their son, the heir to their vast empire, Enzo Blackstone, had mysteriously vanished in the midst of this inferno. His sudden disappearance, coupled with the evident arson, sent shockwaves through the community.
Amidst the chaos, a female reporter struggled to maintain her composure as she delivered a live broadcast from the scene. Her voice quivered with a mixture of shock and urgency. "Ladies and gentlemen," she declared, her words loaded with gravity, "this is an appalling situation. The fire seems to be no accident, and Enzo Blackstone, the torchbearer of this distinguished legacy, is nowhere to be found. This is undoubtedly a well-planned tragedy."
In the midst of the chaos and the blazing backdrop, a luxurious SUV screeched to a halt near the resort. Out of this extravagant vehicle emerged a man, his demeanor cold and unyielding. He appeared to be in his early fifties, his sharp suit matching the darkness etched across his face. Following closely was a woman, elegantly attired, who exuded a sense of urgency and determination. Their very arrival conveyed that they were not here for peace but for answers. These two individuals were none other than Enzo's parents, consumed by anxiety and fear as they grappled with the disappearance of their son amidst the relentless inferno.
Just moments after their arrival, a group of men dressed in black, stalwart protectors loyal to the Blackstone family, converged around Stello Blackstone, the family patriarch. Their lowered heads signified both respect and readiness to execute their duties.
"What is the situation?" Stello inquired, his voice remarkably calm given the pandemonium surrounding him. But his face bore the weight of unease.
"Boss," one of the men began, struggling to find his words, "we were right there beside Sir Enzo, but..." He trailed off, unable to speak the words. Stello nodded, understanding the unspoken implication.
"And what now? Is there any information about his whereabouts?" Stello pressed further.
"No, Boss, but we've dispatched search parties. We'll find him before sunrise," another man reassured, determination in his eyes.
As Stello gazed at the engulfed building, his thoughts remained obscured. Just as he was about to respond, Scarlene Blackstone, positioned right behind him, gently placed her hand on his shoulder. Her voice trembled as she spoke, her words laced with the anguish of a mother's fear. "What now? What if we can't find him in time?"
Stello turned to face her, his hand resting on top of hers, offering reassurance. "We will find him," he said firmly. "You don't have to worry. I won't allow anything to happen to him." Scarlene, her eyelashes fluttering in the fiery glow of the building, clung to him, finding solace in his embrace.
But then, amid this moment of solace, Stello's phone rang abruptly, causing Scarlene to step back. Stello, upon seeing the caller's name, was filled with a mixture of bewilderment and concern. Scarlene's eyes honed in on this name, and her face contorted with a sudden onset of suspicion.
"Why is she calling you?" Scarlene demanded, her eyes conveying her deep disdain.
Stello glanced at her, providing no immediate explanation. He answered the call while keeping a firm grip on Scarlene's hand. "Hello?" he answered, a tinge of suspicion in his voice.
The voice on the other end spoke in a highly seductive manner. "Oh, thank God, dear, you picked up. I thought you wouldn't, as always."
Stello's response was cold and unforgiving. "What business do you have?"
"Love, why are you talking to me in that tone? Is your wife around or something?" she responded with sarcasm. Scarlene, who was listening intently, shot a sharp look into her husband's eyes, her sense of betrayal slowly taking root.
Stello attempted to end the call abruptly, but Hansel interrupted him. "No, no, no! Don't hang up! Or you will regret it."
"Stop spouting nonsense!" Stello growled, his expressions hardening as if the very chill of the night had found its way into his muscles and frozen his entire being.
Hansel, realizing the imminent hang-up, sought to prevent it. "Don't hang up, Stello! Or you will regret it."
"What good reason do you have?" Stello hissed, his patience running thin.
Hansel didn't mince words. "Your son."
Stello and Scarlene's hearts leaped. Stello's phone was quickly snatched from his hand as Scarlene took matters into her own. "Hello! This is me! Where is my son?" she demanded, her voice filled with an overprotective mother's concern.
Hansel, reveling in the tension, responded with dark amusement. "Haha! Scarlene, it's so pleasant to hear from you."
Scarlene's patience wore thin. "Where is my son? Tell me before I rip out your heart!"
Hansel continued with a twisted sense of glee, "About that... He is in my bedroom."
An eruption of emotion coursed through Scarlene. She seethed with anger and stared up at the blazing building, her gaze puzzled and perturbed. "Stop spouting nonsense!"
Hansel persisted, "Oh, I'm not spouting nonsense. I can show you a picture if you don't believe me. He's sleeping now, must be tired after the long night."
"What good reason do you have?" Stello hissed.
"Your son."
Stello's phone was quickly snatched from his hand as Scarlene took over. "Hello! This is me! Where is my son?" she demanded, her voice filled with the anxiety of a mother seeking her child.
Hansel, indulging in the torment of the moment, responded with an eerie amusement, "Haha! Scarlene, it's so pleasant to hear from you."
Scarlene's patience was wearing thin. "Where is my son? Tell me before I rip out your heart!"
Hansel continued to toy with them, his dark humor apparent. "About that... He is in my bedroom." purposefully making it sound very intimate.
Scarlene's anger flared, and her face twisted with a surge of emotions. She glanced up at the blazing building with a perplexed look. "Stop spouting nonsense!"
Hansel's sinister amusement persisted as he continued, "Oh, I'm not spouting nonsense. I can show you a picture if you don't believe me. He's sleeping now, must be tired after the long night."
Scarlene was nearly
paralyzed with fear and anger, and she turned to Stello for answers. "Enzo... is with her."
Stello pressed her for more information. "What did she say?"
"Enzo... is with her," Scarlene repeated, her voice quivering with fear and disbelief.