ORGÁNOSI I: Broken Mask

ANTECEDENT: CHAPTER 31

ANTECEDENT: CHAPTER 31

MIDNIGHT, who had previously departed America solo, had now returned, accompanied by two new additions to his company—Love and Atticus. The three landed in Pennsylvania, and the one who picked them up was Dominick and his butler, Klaus.

A huge smile spread across Dominick's face when he saw Midnight. "My fictional son is here." He messed up Midnight's hair and then patted Love's head. "How was the training?" He asked Midnight. "Good?"

Midnight made a shrugging gesture. "It was okay." Although he found his teammates infuriating at times, he still enjoyed the experience and, especially, the friends he had made.

Dominick gave Midnight a flat expression. "One year of training and that's all you have to say."

Midnight just shrugged.

Dominick sighed dramatically and turned to Love. "How about you? Still as weak as you left?"

Love clutched his chest dramatically. "Ouch. Attacking me after I just arrived."

Dominick snorted and glanced at Atticus before he turned to Midnight. "I heard from Parisi. He's your Ultor now?" When Midnight nodded, Dominick grinned, clearly proud of Midnight. "Good job, Night."

Midnight introduced Atticus to everyone as if it wasn't Dominick who recommended him. "This is Atticus Lockridge. Atticus, this is Dominick Quinn and Klaus Zabat."

Following Atticus's successful completion of the Ultor training and tests, he spent several days familiarizing himself with the Orgánosi's organizational chart. From the nine Arkhons above the seven continental bosses down to the lowest-level ministers overseeing the Orgánosis' members and freelancers. Dominick Quinn, a legendary figure in Orgánosi lore, was a name he'd come across.

Atticus respectfully extended his arm for a handshake as he greeted Dominick and Klaus. "It's nice to meet you, Sir."

A huge smile spread across Dominick's face as he shook Atticus's hand. "Nice to meet you, too, young man." Then he glanced at Midnight. "Do you see this? This is how you properly greet someone, not just nodding at them. Learn from Atticus, you hear me, Night?"

Night pretended he heard nothing as he talks to Klaus about his cat, Loki.

"Night are you even listening to me?!"

Midnight poked his ear with his pinky finger as if he were hearing something noisy and continued talking to Klaus as if Dominick did not exist.

"Night! How dare you ignore me! Come here, talk to me. I have so many things to say!"

Dominick circled Midnight and Klaus, but they ignored him.

"Wow," Love almost wanted to clap. "Someone can actually ignore Dominick's annoying antics."

Dominick narrowed his eyes at Love. "I heard you, Love!"

Love simply smiled innocently.

Curiosity piqued by the strange, chaotic scene; Atticus leaned in to whisper to Love. Love was the best source of gossip. "Dominick called boss his fictional son. What's their relationship?"

Love shrugged. "All I know is they're very close. Boss would talk about Dominick a lot, but he never talked about his own father. And boss' father and Dominick are both Arkhontes and they don't see eye to eye. So, it's kind of complicated, really."

Atticus nodded and stopped asking. He already got the gist of it.

"Come on," suddenly, Dominick stopped getting Midnight's attention and turned to Love and Atticus. "Let's get you rested first."