Lloyd was still, so still, that he could hear the wind rustling between him and... he still couldn't believe itCompletely forgetting the things that their things were lying across the floor, both men would rise simultaneously, their gazes locked.Both men had the exact same look on their faces, the look of men who had just seen a ghost."Lloyd... is that... you?" asked Mason, his voice conveying his shock.“Uncle Mason?” Lloyd’s voice was cool, but Mason could still hear the alarm in them."We can't talk here" said Mason, looking around himself in suspicion.He had absolutely not accounted for something as significant as Lloyd showing up, so he wanted to make sure they were alone."Lets go to the inner cafeteria, it's more private" offered Mason, as he quickly gathered his things, before heading back into the mall.Lloyd was incredibly suspicious of this entire situation, but he was more curious than he was suspicious, so he decided to follow him.Once they were both seated at the in
The night air was thick with tension, as Lloyd accompanied Lisa up the narrow stone path leading to her family’s compound. A slight chill ran through him, though not from the cold, as he wasn't sure exactly how this reunion would turn out. He could sense the unease in Lisa’s steps as they reached the doors. She paused, resting a hand on the doorknob, her expression a mixture of anxiety and apology. “They’re… they can be difficult,” she murmured, glancing at him with a look that warned him, yet pleaded for patience. Lloyd gave a reassuring smile. “I can handle difficult, don’t worry.” Lisa managed a faint smile, and knocked on the door. Soon, the door would creak open, and a short, tan woman wearing a maid outfit would peer through. "Who...?" she was confused, as she recognized neither of the people she saw. "It's me aunt Jenna" replied Lisa tears in her eyes. Suddenly, the maid's eyes lit open in shock. "Lisa?" she muttered in disbelief. "You're... You're heal
The morning sunlight slanted through the thick curtains, casting a warm, golden glow across the room as Lisa stirred awake. For a brief, blissful moment, she forgot the past night’s turmoil and tension.But as she blinked her eyes open,she found herself gazing at a sight that instantly brightened her morning...Lloyd, carefully balancing a silver breakfast tray.“You’re awake” he said with a smile, setting the tray down beside her. A spread of toast, eggs, and fragrant tea filled the room with warmth, and Lisa felt her heart soften.She sat up, brushing a few stray hairs back. “You didn’t have to go through all this trouble, you know,” she murmured, smiling “But I think I could get used to it”Lloyd returned her smile, pulling a chair closer. “You deserve it, Lisa” he replied, lifting the cup of tea to her.They ate in a comfortable silence for a while, but Lisa couldn’t shake the heaviness in her heart. “Lloyd,” she began slowly, looking down. “About last night. I’m sorry for… them
The neon glow of the Dragun Ash sign cast an ominous red hue across the narrow alleyway, illuminating the graffiti-streaked walls. Lloyd glanced at Jacob as they approached, noting the tension in his old friend’s clenched fists and tightened jaw.“This place still feels like a prison,” Jacob muttered, his voice low. “Camren trapped me in debt, dragged me into his dirty work… If this is where I’ll lead them, they’ll need to see that Camren’s hold over me is over.”“They will,” Lloyd replied, his voice calm yet commanding. “But it won’t be simple, they still view you as Camren’s pawn, that’s why I’m here, to make sure they know what's up”Jacob nodded, glancing warily at the entrance. He’d worked under his uncle for years, moving through the Draguns’ ranks under the constant weight of obligation and intimidation. But now, with Camren dead by Lloyd’s hand, the power vacuum needed to be filled.As they entered the bat, the conversations that filled the bar slowly evaporated, and eyes
The sharp crack of the gunshot echoed through the dark alley.Jacob froze, wide-eyed, his mind barely processing what had just happened, but Lloyd was already moving.With a lightning-fast reaction, Lloyd grabbed Jacob by the collar, yanking him back just in time.The bullet whizzed past, breaking into the brick wall behind them.Jacob stumbled, clutching at Lloyd for balance, his breath coming in panicked gasps.“Stay down!” Lloyd barked, his tone sharp and commandingLogan, standing at the far end of the alley, cursed under his breath as his first shot missed.He really thought that he would have gotten Jacob with that shot, so he didn’t wait to try again. Spinning on his heel, he bolted into the shadows, his footsteps pounding against the cracked pavement. But as he ran, he fired two more shots blindly behind him.Lloyd was already one step ahead, dragging Jacob down to the ground, allowing him to evade the stray bullets, his sharp gaze scanning the ground. His eyes landed on a
The streets of Hilburg were eerily quiet under the pale glow of streetlights, save for the hum of a distant car engine and the faint buzz of fluorescent signs. Lloyd leaned against the brick wall of a building across the street from the Hilburg Police Department, his arms crossed as he watched the building intently. Ivan stood beside him, chewing absently on a toothpick, his sharp eyes scanning the perimeter. “This makes seven” Ivan muttered. “Seven nights of the same patterns, same rotations, same blind spots, either Mason gave us the real deal, or we’re walking straight into a trap” “It’s real,” Lloyd replied quietly, his voice carrying the cold certainty of a man who trusted his instincts. “Every detail Mason gave us checks out, if this were a setup, we'd have probably sniffed it out” Ivan flicked the toothpick to the ground and stepped forward, narrowing his gaze at a patrolman casually walking past one of the station’s side entrances. “Still, feels too clean... Can’t
Chapter 14Ivan has known his boss for a long time, but ever since returning to Hilburg, he had seen that his boss wasn't the wealthy, cool, stoic killing machine he knew.He had layers, and a scene like this was one of the few times these layers were peeled back.Officers lined the exits, their weapons drawn and faces grim.Standing at the forefront was a man Lloyd hadn’t seen in years, Morty Flanagan, his childhood friend, now a high-ranking officer.Lloyd’s heart sank as he studied Morty, who hadn’t yet recognized him thanks to the mask. But this wasn’t the boy he’d once played baseball with in Hilburg park. Morty was colder now, his eyes cruel and calculating... still, Lloyd couldn’t let the situation turn into a bloodbath.“Listen,” Lloyd said, his voice steady but firm “We don’t want trouble, et us walk out of here, and nobody has to get hurt”Morty chuckled, shaking his head, not believing what he just heard “Really?” He gestured to the officers flanking him, all with their
Chapter 15The smell of fresh pancakes and brewed coffee spread through the room, nudging Lloyd awake.His eyes open to see Lisa standing at the edge of his bed, a tray balanced delicately in her hands.The sight caught him slightly off guard... it was usually him in this position, as Lisa had always felt nervous coming into his room.“Good morning” Lisa said softly, placing the tray on the small table by his bed.She looked radiant despite the early hour, her smile warm but faintly nervous “I thought I’d surprise you”Lloyd sat up, adjusting the pillow behind his back “You didn’t have to do this” he replied, his tone carrying a mix of gratitude and confusion.Lisa shrugged, taking a seat on the chair beside him. “I wanted to... After last night, I thought we both deserved a calm start to thee day”He picked up the cup of coffee, taking a small sip “Thank you” he said sincerely. “And... about last night, Your parents...”“Don’t” Lisa interrupted, shaking her head “You don’t have to ex