n

n

nAs if in response to Cassidy's scream, the fire alarm begins to ring, accompanied by the panicked shrieks of the other occupants of the building.

n

"We have to get out!

" Adrian shouted to which Cassidy and Ray nodded.

nThe latter hastily guides them over to the door. All four of them tremble as another blast erupts down the building, the vibrations carrying up all the way to their bones.

n

"What the hell's happening?

" Ray muttered underneath his breath, rattled.

nAira holds onto Cassidy and Adrian a little tighter. They pull her close for comfort.

n

"Is there an emergency exit nearby?

" Cassidy asked, squeezing Aira's hand reassuringly.

n

"Yes…

" Ray squeaked, clearing the way to the door.

n

"Just outside. Down the hall.

"

nHe hurries to open the door but is shortly greeted by the sight of a gun pointed right at his head. Aira freezes along with the others, distinctly aware of how Cassidy pushes her behind her. She and Adrian cover her defensively.

n

"Going somewhere~?

" a feminine voice mocked.

nCassidy recognized that voice, and so did Adrian. It's the woman who abducted Damien back in the amusement park – the one who appeared after the man in a cloak.

n

"Evelyn?

" Ray breathed out, shell-shocked.

nSmirking at him is one of their main suspects for the crime case, dressed in some stealth uniform and threatening to shoot him. Next to her is a similarly dressed man. When Adrian's stare falls on him, his fists clench tightly.

n

"Keith.

"

nAnother explosion wracks the building. Keith laughs hysterically.

n

"Surprise, surprise! We're here to host a conference meeting. Care to join us?

"

nRight then, a third figure makes itself known. Aira barely notices that Cassidy's grip on her is tighter than she could ever think possible. With her face twisted into a scowl, she spat out his name.

n

"Dylan Eleanor.

"

nThe person in question, to their horror, begins to cackle.

nOf course, the last thing Cassidy wants just so happens on the first day of her plans. Apparently, with the help of Adrian's in-depth investigation, they came to learn that the man in a cloak turned out to be one of her relatives who'd gone missing a long time ago.

nIt's her uncle on her father's side – and once a part of her grandfather's fallen mafia.

nDylan does justice to his mysterious disappearance.

nThe tip of his top hat is unseen, his height causing him to tower over all of them imposingly. His broad shoulders span the width of the doorframe, and his long, willowy black cape trails regally behind him. He appears as daunting as his affiliation suggests him to be.

nDuring their first encounter, Adrian had actually recognized the insignia on the ring Dylan had been wearing, though he hadn't known that he's related to Cassidy back then.

n'It had taken me a while to place exactly where I'd seen it before, and when I'd gotten confirmation, I told Cassidy who our adversary is.'

nHe remembers how she had looked when he'd told her the news – her expression was thunderstruck, her body language tense. He decided not to divulge too much information for her comfort, but her attempts at getting him to spill all the beans have proven fruitful. He hadn't dallied in terms of sharing with her what he'd known.

nOr rather, what he'd come to know.

n'Years ago, powerful families had been the figureheads for a certain crime syndicate. It had originally been established as a connection for the rich to peek into the underground affairs of the country and sniff out all the dealers in the black market, though the ploy had been compromised and had eventually been turned on them…' were the first thing that Adrian learned at some point in his investigation.

n'Slowly, but surely, this crime syndicate had grown to become the de facto handler of all trades in the underworld, ranging from drug dealing to human trafficking. While several sources mentioned the significant decrease in crime rate and boasted the monumental advantage of a new government, this organization had yet to be vanquished. Its figureheads continued to work in secret, weaving their illegal, lucrative business behind ghost projects and political accomplishments.'

nDylan, according to the records that Adrian had dug up, was competing against Cassius for the next head of the mafia group that the Eleanor's had founded. However, as it turned out, it got taken down by the Donovan's and the Millicent's in the past. As a result, he had joined this crime syndicate of fallen individuals and the likes, though he preferred to keep to his own shadowy business rather than get intimately involved with their affairs.

n'Perhaps, he's motivated to join this one since his niece is involved.'

nWhen Grisham had been taken down, Keith may have attempted to contact Dylan as a last minute effort to salvage what remained of Millicent Inc. - perhaps, as his own personal revenge for what happened to Sophie, his ex-fiance whom he probably still loved.

nHowever, Adrian had done well in squashing all the criminals' footholds in his conglomerate, though it seems that outsiders are now ready to barge in and take their place. Dylan had disappeared like smoke, only to reappear again with new connections and a goal in mind.

nAt that moment, Dylan stands before them all, looking quite pleased with himself.

nThe apartment building shudders with the force of another explosion. Cassidy can feel the fire of the blasts curling beneath her feet, attempting to burn through the floorboards. Heat engulfs the room, threatening to suffocate them all. Yet Dylan looks as though he's breathing fresh air for the first time in his life.

nCassidy clenches her fists at the thought.

n

"So, you figured out who I was, my dear niece…?

" Dylan drawled, eerily amused.

n

"What gave me away? My charming looks or the ring on my finger?

"

n

"Does it matter?

" Cassidy hissed, her tone harsh.

nHer comment makes him smile, the whites of his teeth glinting predatorily. He then continues,

"I apologize for springing up this conference without prior notice. Our reunion back then didn't really go too well.

"

nHe may have said that, but he doesn't look remorseful in the least. She can't quite remember how he used to be before. But if anything, whatever he's doing now must be some sort of delayed vengeance for the downfall of their family's mafia group.

n

"I hardly think this is the appropriate place to host a conference…

" Adrian muttered venomously, his eyes darting to the walls around them, which are rapidly blackening by the force of the fire.

n

"And we're pressed for time, anyway.

"

n