REVENGE OF THE MOURNER

Tell Me The Truth!

It was none other than Dimitri.

Leon gave a slight smile. Dimitri had shown up at the perfect time. Now he wouldn’t have to waste his energy beating up these idiot cops.

“You're talking to me?” Kevin sneered, spinning around to glare coldly at Dimitri.

Kevin was the lead officer on this operation, the one who had been throwing threats at Leon a few minutes ago.

“Yeah, I’m talking to you,” Dimitri replied firmly as he stepped forward.

The cops' formation broke down. Even the ones at the front stopped in their tracks.

“I don’t know who the hell you are,” Kevin snapped, “but I’m warning you, interfering with police work will land you in a whole lot of trouble.”

Dimitri didn’t blink. He kept walking forward. “I think your boss is about to call you.”

“What did you just say?”

Right then, Kevin’s smartwatch buzzed.

Incoming call from Joseph, the chief of Greystone Hollow Police Department (GHPD).

Kevin glanced at Dimitri, confused. Dimitri simply nodded toward the watch, urging him to take the call.

“Yes, sir?”

[Where are you now, Lieutenant?]

“I’m at The Vellington, sir, leading an arrest operation.”

[Abort the operation. Return to HQ immediately.]

“Right now, sir?”

[Yes. Move!]

“But, sir—we’re just about to capture the criminal who caused all the chaos in this hotel.”

[Are you questioning my order, Lieutenant? Do you want me to transfer your ass to some dead-end town in the middle of nowhere?]

Kevin froze. His face tightened. If he got transferred, that’d be the end of his career as he knew it.

“No, sir. That’s not what I meant.”

[Then shut it down and get back here now. Got me?]

“Understood, sir. We’re on our way.”

The line cut. Kevin stood still, stunned. He struggled to make sense of his boss’s sudden change in tone.

“I told you,” Dimitri said coolly. “I called your commander before walking in, telling him about the bullshit you’re pulling here.”

Dimitri was now just a few steps away from the front line of cops.

Kevin lowered his gun, eyes narrowed. “Who the hell are you?”

Dimitri stopped walking. He glanced briefly at Leon, who gave a slow shake of his head.

“You wanna know who I am? Ask your boss,” Dimitri said flatly.

Kevin clenched his free fist and snorted. “Don’t get cocky. We’ll meet again.”

Dimitri didn’t move. His face stayed blank, eyes as cold as ever.

“Will you leave this room now?” he shot back with a biting edge.

Kevin growled in frustration. He turned to both sides, signaling to his men.

“Mission’s over! Back to the cars!”

One by one, the cops started heading to the exit, their faces confused. Kevin threw one last glance at Leon before following them out.

“I’ll see you around,” he muttered, raising a clenched fist.

Leon responded with a crooked smirk and a raised eyebrow.

Kevin stomped off toward the doorway.

“Hey, officer! Why the hell are you leaving? Aren’t you gonna arrest this bastard?” Gregory shouted.

Kevin paused for half a second, then kept walking without even glancing back.

“I can’t believe this. They just… left,” Gregory muttered, putting a hand on his forehead.

The ballroom fell back into that strange, tense silence. The cops were all gone.

“Ahem.” Dimitri cleared his throat.

Leon caught the signal instantly. “Let’s go,” he said, stepping forward again, gently guiding Evelyn with him.

Evelyn looked confused, but said nothing. As they passed Dimitri, she caught him glancing at her.

She couldn't help but wonder—who is this man? And what is his connection to Leon?

“Hey! You can’t just walk off with my daughter! Stop right there, you bastard!” Verona shouted, running after them in a panic.

But her panic turned to dread the moment Dimitri stepped into her path.

“Right now, I’m standing in this line,” he said, drawing an imaginary line across the floor with his hand. “No one crosses it.”

Dimitri’s gaze was ice-cold, intimidating enough to shut Verona down instantly.

“You okay, dear?” Roger ran to her.

She didn’t answer. Roger turned to Dimitri, only to meet that same piercing stare.

“Just let them go,” Dimitri said. “then you’ll live longer.”

Roger glanced at the front door. It had just shut from the outside.

He huffed like an angry bull as Leon disappeared with Evelyn.

...

Leon kept walking, holding Evelyn’s hand. His pace was brisk. He didn’t look back. Didn’t stop.

They came out of hotel lobby. Outside, parked at the curb, was the same black sedan Dimitri had used to drop him off. Leon headed straight for it.

“Leon…”

“It’s okay, Eve. We’re getting in that car and getting the hell out of here.”

He kept moving. The car got closer.

But suddenly, Evelyn pulled back.

Leon turned, confused. “What is it, Eve?”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“…What?”

She shook her head. Leon tried to read her eyes but couldn’t.

“What are you talking about, Eve? Let’s go. You’ve got no reason to stay here. That stupid engagement is over.”

Evelyn stared at him, visibly emotional. Then she said, “I’m not going with you. Not until you tell me the truth. Did you escape from prison?”

Leon exhaled, forcing a smile. He stepped closer, placing both hands on her arms.

“Escape from prison? No, Eve. I was released. Early. For good behavior.”

He widened his smile, trying his best to make her feel safe, to calm her down.

But instead—

SMACK!

Evelyn slapped him.

“Don’t lie to me, Leon! I’m your wife. Tell me the truth!”

Leon stared at her in silence. He could’ve dodged. He could’ve caught her hand. But he didn’t. His left cheek stung.

“Tell me the truth, Leon. What the hell really happened? How did you suddenly show up like this?”

Leon sighed. Should he tell her the truth?

No. He couldn’t. He had promised himself he’d bury the past—his identity, his time with The Nocturn—for her safety.

“I’ll tell you everything… when the time is right,” he said softly. “But for now, I need you to trust me. I came back to repay all the lonely years you spent without me. From this moment on, I’ll make you happy. I swear.”

Evelyn looked deep into his eyes, trying to see through the walls he’d built.

Leon held his breath, afraid she might turn and walk away.

“Okay. I trust you… for now,” Evelyn said. “But you’d better tell me everything when the time comes. Got it?”

Leon sighed in relief and smiled wide. “Sure. I’ll tell you everything. A to Z.”

She kept staring into his eyes, but now there was something softer in her gaze. Leon gently reached for her hand again, guiding her into the car.

Once they were inside, Leon shut the door and reached for his seatbelt. Then his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He pulled it out. A message from Dimitri.

[Sir, your brother-in-law just asked one of his gangster friends to hit your family’s house. They’re probably on their way there now.]

Leon’s eyes widened. He gripped the steering wheel so tight, causing it to creak.

“What’s wrong?” Evelyn turned to him, worried.

Leon tossed the phone onto the dashboard, fired up the engine, and threw the gearshift into drive.

“We have to get to my mom’s house!”

...