THE BETRAYER'S GAME

CHAPTER 4

After the tension of the night began to fade, I imagined her smile, the way her eyes sparkled when she was excited. But that image was tainted by the uncertainty of our situation. What if Carlito's men had found Tory? I could never be sure because by using one of my friends phones to call her, it will be dangerous for both of us and not saying Carlito had my locked scream phone that he had certainly dropped while agonizing on his scar. I tossed and turned, my mind racing with scenarios, each one darker than the last.

Hours later, I awoke to the pale light of dawn spilling through the villa's windows. The sun's early rays cast golden patterns across the room, but instead of warmth, I felt a cold grip of anxiety in my chest. I rubbed my face, shaking off the remnants of sleep, and glanced around. Vinny and the others were still sprawled on their couches, the peacefulness of their slumber a stark contrast to my inner turmoil.

I stood up quietly, careful not to disturb them, and made my way to the kitchen. As I poured myself a cup of coffee, I leaned against the counter, staring out at the vast garden surrounding the villa. The world outside was waking up, but inside me, a storm brewed.

The plan was simple: meet Scarlett, get her on our side, and figure out our next move. But I couldn't shake the gnawing worry for Tory. She was out there, alone, possibly facing threats I couldn't even imagine. I closed my eyes, trying to conjure her face, but all I could see were flashes of her laughter, the carefree moments we shared.

"Coolio?"

I turned to see Leo standing in the doorway, his hair tousled and a sleepy look in his eyes. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I replied, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about today."

Leo stepped into the kitchen, grabbing a mug for himself. "You mean about Scarlett?"

"Yeah, but mostly about Tory. I can't shake the feeling that she's in danger," I admitted, my voice dropping to a whisper.

Leo nodded, his expression serious. "We'll get to her, Coolio. But first, we need to focus on getting Scarlett to help us. Once we do that, we can figure out our next steps."

I took a deep breath, trying to channel my worry into determination. "You're right. Let's just hope Scarlett shows up and that she's willing to help."

After a few minutes of silence, I felt a flicker of resolve igniting within me. I couldn't control what happened to Tory right now, but I could control my actions. We had a plan, and I had to trust it.

As the sun rose higher, painting the sky with shades of orange and pink, I felt a renewed sense of purpose. Today was crucial. We would meet Scarlett, and from there, we'd find a way to protect Tory. No matter the cost.

"Let's get ready," I said, my voice steady. "We have a meeting to prepare for."

We then gathered all together and decided Leo and I were the ones going to meet Lilith Scarlett.

I was wearing a red sweater and some black joggings and Leo wore a great sweater with an oversized pair of jeans. 

Before going, Blade gave us his lucky hats to not get recognized and told his little brother,

"Hey, stay out of trouble, okay?"

"Hey, I'm not a kid anymore, have some faith in your little brother." He replied sure of him.

We then took a nice look at the villa firing us and our friends waving at us from the balcony for the last time and went to encounter Lilith Scarlett.

As I pulled the hood of my cape over my head, I glanced at Leo, who was adjusting his own. "You ready for this?" I asked, my voice low.