The sleek, imposing villa loomed ahead as Chris Hilton approached, the iron gates slowly creaking open. His footsteps were steady, but the air of unease around him grew with every step. The clouds above were thick, hinting at a coming storm, but Chris paid them no mind. His thoughts were elsewhere.
"I'm here." Chris muttered under his breath, his sharp eyes scanning the grand estate as he reached for the doorbell.
Within seconds, the heavy wooden doors swung open, revealing an older butler dressed in impeccable formal attire. His posture was rigid, yet his eyes flickered with surprise as they fell upon the young man and the familiar woman by his side.
"Ma'am Lenore." the butler greeted Lenore Van Ryn with a respectful nod, though his gaze quickly shifted to the 18-year-old Chris Hilton, who stood with an air of quiet authority. His sharp suit and confident stance were unmistakable signs of his wealthy upbringing.
Lenore cleared her throat, sensing the butler's hesitation. "Don't just stand there gawking. Greet him properly. He is the future heir of the Hilton family." she said, her tone firm but polite.
The butler quickly composed himself, bowing slightly in acknowledgment. "My apologies, young lord. Welcome to the villa."
Chris gave a dismissive wave, his eyes already surveying the interior of the grand foyer. He wasn't one for formalities, and his mind was preoccupied with more pressing matters. "Where are they?" he asked, his voice sharp and direct.
The butler hesitated for a moment, clearly uncomfortable. "I regret to inform you, young lord, that they have not returned since the previous day." he replied cautiously.
Chris's expression hardened, his brow furrowing slightly. "They didn't come back?" he thought, frustration and suspicion mixing in his mind. (Where are you, Mark? Loe?)
Lenore, sensing Chris's mood shift, stepped in. "It's possible they're still out on business." she offered, though there was a slight edge to her voice. She didn't believe that for a second, and neither did Chris.
"Business?" Chris muttered. "Or trouble." His thoughts raced, knowing full well that Mark and Loe never missed a chance to stir things up. Something wasn't adding up, and the silence from them was making him uneasy.
The butler, still standing respectfully, added, "Would you like me to send someone to search for them, young lord?"
Chris shook his head and replied, "No, they'll be here soon." Outwardly calm, his expression gave away nothing. But inside, his thoughts were racing. (They're probably still out there doing their vigilante stuff.) He frowned slightly, glancing off into the distance. (Seriously, what's going on here? Mark, Loe… you're making me worried.)
He didn't let his anxiety show, but the uneasy feeling gnawed at him. Mark and Loe weren't the type to vanish without a trace. And even if they were tied up with their so-called vigilante work, it wasn't like them to keep Chris in the dark for this long.
Lenore, standing silently beside him, could sense the shift in his mood. She knew Chris well enough to understand that when he got like this, something was really bothering him. But she didn't press—Chris wasn't one to open up easily, especially when it came to his friends.
"Well then, young lord," the butler said after a moment, bowing once more. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask."
Chris muttered to himself, "I should call them." Without wasting any more time, he pulled out his mCall device, his fingers moving quickly as he dialed Mark's number. The tension in his chest tightened as the dial tone echoed in his ear.
"Please pick up, Mark.." Chris whispered, feeling the urgency in the pit of his stomach.
...
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit apartment across town, Mark Fletcher sat with Gustav, Vivian, and Mindy Williams. The room was quiet, the tension palpable as they discussed their next move. Mark had just finished laying out a plan to the group, his sharp mind working through every possible angle.
"We should do this.." Mark said confidently, glancing at Gustav to ensure he was following the plan.
Suddenly, Mark's mCall device began buzzing, breaking the silence. He glanced at the screen, recognizing the number immediately—it was Chris. His eyes flicked toward the others.
"Excuse me, everyone, I have a call to make." Mark said, rising from his seat. The group nodded in acknowledgment, while Mindy's eyes remained distant, her thoughts lingering on Loe.
Mark stepped away from the table, walking toward the apartment's window as he answered the call. "Hey, Chris." he greeted casually, though his mind was racing. He knew Chris wouldn't be calling without a reason.
Chris's voice came through the other end, strained. "Where have you two been? I'm here at the villa you've been staying at."
Mark rubbed the back of his neck, glancing over at the others. "Oh, sorry about that. Be right back. Loe's just outside smoking. I'll go to him and let him know you're here."
There was a pause on Chris's end before he asked, more seriously, "Wait... Are you sure there's nothing going on?"
Mark hesitated, knowing he couldn't tell Chris the full truth, not with so many eyes and ears around. He sighed, lowering his voice. "Okay, there is something going on, but I can't tell you right now. There are too many eyes and voices around. Maybe one day, when things settle down, I'll explain everything, okay?"
Chris's frustration was evident through the mcall device, but he relented. "Fine. But whatever this is, don't leave me in the dark for long. I hate this waiting game."
"I promise, you'll know soon enough," Mark assured him. "And we'll be there soon."
Mark looked at the cigarette in Loe's hand and frowned. "You're smoking too much, man. Can you stop for once?"
Loe let out a short, dry laugh, the sound devoid of humor. "Trust me, I want to. But every time I try, my mind just… gets louder. It's like I can't shut it off." He paused, staring out at the city's skyline. "If I face Alphonse, I don't know what I'll do."
Mark's face softened as he looked at his friend. "I get it. Facing someone like that messes with your head. But smoking yourself to death isn't going to help. We've got bigger problems to deal with."
Loe took another long drag before crushing the cigarette under his boot. "Yeah, I know."
Mark hesitated before continuing, his tone more serious. "By the way, Mindy told me something. She said she sensed through her telepathy that you were talking to some dangerous guy. What's going on with that?"
Loe's expression darkened, and he leaned back against the railing, exhaling deeply. "Yeah… I ran into someone. Strong, dangerous. My instincts kicked in the moment I saw him."
Mark raised an eyebrow. "Who is he? What's the deal?"
Loe's gaze grew distant as he remembered the encounter. "I don't know his name. Just a man I met on the streets. I gave him a cigarette, and the second I did, I knew he wasn't like anyone else. My gut tells me he's dangerous, but not in the way we think. He's not out to hurt innocent people. I can tell."
Mark crossed his arms, intrigued but cautious. "So, a dangerous guy who won't hurt innocents? That sounds like a contradiction, Loe."
Loe shook his head. "It sounds like that, but trust me. I've learned to rely on my instincts. Growing up in the slums, my instincts are the reason I'm still alive. This guy… he's dangerous, but he's got a code. He won't harm innocent people. I know it."
Mark sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I still don't get it. How can someone be that dangerous but still not be a threat?"
Loe glanced at Mark, his expression grim. "Soon, you'll understand. I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of him."
Mark let the conversation linger in the air for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. But we need to deal with something else right now. Chris is here, and we can't let him know what's really going on. He's already suspicious."
Loe nodded slowly, his mind still half-focused on the man he had met. "Yeah, you're right. For now, we halt the plan. We need to pretend everything's normal. As far as Chris is concerned, nothing's wrong."
Mark looked back inside, where the rest of the group was waiting for them. "We'll tell the others. We act like everything's under control."
Loe pushed off the railing, his demeanor hardening as he prepared to play his part. "Let's make sure Chris doesn't get dragged into this mess. He's already worried. We keep him in the dark for now."
Mark nodded. "Agreed. We'll handle it."
With that, they both turned back toward the apartment, the weight of their secret mission still looming over them. But for now, they had to put on a front—if only to protect Chris from the dangers they were entangled in.
..........
As Lenore Van Ryn stood beside Chris Hilton in the grand foyer of the manor, her mind was racing. She was still managing the delicate balance of hosting an influential figure like Chris while being part of the shadowy dealings of the Chicago Outfit. Just as she tried to maintain her composure, her mcall device buzzed in her pocket.
Lenore glanced at Chris, who was momentarily distracted by the decor of the mansion. "Excuse me for a moment, sir Chris." she said, her tone calm, masking the turmoil building inside her.
Chris nodded, indifferent as his thoughts remained on his missing friends. Lenore quickly stepped away, placing the mcall device to her ear as she walked toward a more private corner of the room.
"Yes?" she answered, trying to keep her voice steady.
Alphonse Capone's voice came through the line, low and urgent. "We've got a problem. Someone stole something from us."
Lenore's heart skipped a beat. "What? I—I don't understand. What are you talking about?" Her mind was already racing, trying to piece together what could have gone wrong.
Alphonse's voice was sharp, his frustration barely contained. "Listen closely, Lenore. I need you to come here right now. We've got to act fast. I'll explain the plan to catch these vigilantes, but I need you now."
Lenore hesitated, her eyes flickering toward Chris, who was still examining the manor. The Hilton family was one of the most influential and wealthiest families in the country, and their support could catapult the Chicago Outfit to new heights. This meeting was a golden opportunity, one she had worked tirelessly to arrange. Leaving now would mean jeopardizing everything.
"But... Chris Hilton is here. From the Hilton family," Lenore whispered urgently. "This is a crucial moment for our company, for the Outfit. If I leave now, we could lose the chance for success—this could secure our future!"
Alphonse grunted in frustration. "A Hilton family member? Damn it! This complicates things even more." There was a brief pause, and Lenore could hear him thinking through the line, calculating the risks. "We can't afford to lose him, but we also can't let those damn vigilantes get away with what they stole. It could expose everything."
Lenore stood there, gripping her mcall device tightly, tension tightening her chest as she listened to Alphonse's voice on the other end. His frustration was palpable, and it was clear that things were spiraling out of control.
Lenore glanced at Chris, who was casually examining the interior of the manor, oblivious to the conversation happening behind his back. She had to make a decision, and fast.
"I know how important this is to you, Sir," Lenore said quietly, her voice low, trying not to betray any emotion that Chris might pick up on. "But I can't just abandon him here. He's expecting to meet his friend. If I leave now, it'll raise suspicions."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. Alphonse sighed, clearly torn. "Alright, fine. But you need to manage both. I'll give you one chance to handle it from there. We'll need to trap this vigilante before they make more moves against us. I'll send you the details of the plan, but you must keep that kid—Chris Hilton—out of it. We can't afford any unwanted attention from the Hilton family."
Lenore nodded even though Alphonse couldn't see her. "Understood. I'll manage it."
"And Lenore," Alphonse added, his voice softening but still firm, "don't fail me. If this gets out of hand, there will be consequences—bigger than the Chicago Outfit. And you know what that means."
Lenore swallowed hard. "I won't fail."
As the call ended, she took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She knew how important her position was, not just within the Chicago Outfit, but also how crucial it was for their long-term success. But now, with Chris Hilton's unexpected arrival and this vigilante threat, everything was hanging by a thread.
She slipped the mcall device back into her coat pocket, her mind racing. How was she going to keep Chris entertained and maintain his trust, all while dealing with this potential crisis?
As she turned back towards Chris, she plastered on a calm smile, hiding the turmoil inside. "Sorry about that, sir. Business can be unpredictable, as I'm sure you know."
Chris, still distracted, gave a casual wave. "No worries. I get it. Is everything alright?"
Lenore forced a nod. "Yes, just a small issue to handle. Shouldn't take too long."
But even as she said the words, she knew that the day was far from simple. Behind the scenes, the Chicago Outfit was under threat, and somewhere out there, Mark and Loe—her supposed allies—were deeply entangled in a dangerous game. And if Alphonse's instincts were right, there was more to this vigilante than any of them could foresee.
Lenore glanced at the door. The clock was ticking, and she had to act fast.
To be continue