ORGÁNOSI I: Broken Mask

ANTECEDENT: CHAPTER 30

ANTECEDENT: CHAPTER 30

ONE WEEK before completing his training at Orgánosi's London headquarters, Midnight received a call from Atticus Lockridge. He's in London and proposed a meetup. Midnight immediately sent his address—the Racini Hotel—causing Atticus to frown slightly. Racini's Hotel was world-renowned for its luxury; its reputation was known to nearly everyone. While slightly surprised, Atticus found it unsurprising, given this person's offer to get him out of the country legally.

Atticus entered the hotel, carefully watching his surroundings. Everything appeared normal. Naturally, he couldn't simply walk into the elevator of such a luxurious hotel, so he texted Midnight Velasquez again to let him know he was in the lobby.

However, before he could send the message, he felt someone approaching behind him. He subtly turned around and saw Love Zanotti.

"Ciao!"

Atticus nodded as greeting, and Love let out a heavy sigh before muttering to himself. "The boss always has an impassive look, now another stoned face will be added to the team. Am I the only sunshine in this group?"

Atticus, who heard Love muttering to himself, frowned. "I heard you."

Love gave Atticus a sunny smile. "Pretend you didn't."

Atticus blinked at Love. "Are you also working for him?"

It was clear to Love who Atticus meant. They both know who it was.

"Yes." Love answered. "Why are you asking?"

Atticus shrugged and spoke with the flattest expression on his face. "One impassive. One cold. A sunshine mascot is needed."

Love's mouth fell open in surprise; he blinked, pointing to himself. "Did you just call me a mascot?"

Atticus gave a curt nod and added coldly, "Don't be offended. I added 'sunshine' before the mascot."

Love shot a furious look at Atticus. "Wow. Thank you so much!" He was dripping with sarcasm.

Atticus, however, just gave a slight nod, seemingly ignoring the comment as if he hadn't heard it at all. And Love couldn't do anything about it because he knew how weak he was.

"This way." With gritted teeth, Love gestured Atticus to the elevator. Before the guard by the elevator asked to see their card, Love showed his hotel key card.

Noticing that the color of the hotel key card was different than the usual key cards given to guests, the guard immediately and instinctively stepped aside. In this particular hotel, the key cards came in two distinct colors—black and silver—and security personnel received explicit instructions that those holding black key cards had unrestricted access to all floors, and should not be impeded in any way, even if accompanied by individuals who were not registered guests.

From behind, Atticus silently observed Love. From showing his key card to entering the elevator and seeing the different key cards by other guests.

Once everyone had exited the elevator after it reached the top floor, Love punched in a series of floor numbers, which resembled a code, before selecting the highest floor again. A short time later, the elevator started to move upward.

Atticus remained calm, but his mind was alert. Public information clearly states that this hotel only had sixty-nine floors, so the presence of a seventieth floor was a mystery.

As Love exited the elevator, Atticus trailed behind, his gaze sweeping across the scene before him, absorbing every detail of his new surroundings. He was always two steps behind Love that Love kept looking back to check if Atticus was following him.