Chapter 270 - Home In Molave 16

Late into the night later, when everyone had resigned to their beds, someone knocked at the wall outside of Leo and Issa's bedroom. Issa, who was a light sleeper due to issues of insomnia, heard it, and she woke Leo up. Shaking his shoulders, she whispered. "Leo, shall I open the window?"

Leo was in a dream that Issa's tugging seemed like a part of the dream. With her persistence, he opened his eyes, and being near-sighted, he could still figure out the fear of registering in Issa's face through the dark.

"What is it?" Before Issa could answer, another series of knocking pounded gently on the wall.

Leo peeped out through the hole by the window, and he saw a man in black pants and a black windbreaker. He also wore a bonnet that covered his whole face except his eyes. Leo paused to think. If he wouldn't open up, this man would inevitably break into the house. If he would, he could also be submitting himself directly to the danger. However, whatever way he chose, he would still subject himself to an unknown hazard.

He stood up and opened the window. At the sound of an opening hinges, the man looked up.

"Tay..."

"Good evening, son. How can I help you? Please go over the entrance, and I'll open the door." Leo's heart pounded as he offered hospitality. He imagined himself shot at the head the moment he would turn the knob open. However, how could he avoid him now? He was sure that he was one of the men he was feeding for several years. Yet, in times like this, the best thing he could do was to offer kindness. It was still some wicked people's greatest need. And the lack of it was among the reason why some of them resorted to cruel means.

"No need, Tay. I would just like to say something. Since you are always so generous to us despite not knowing who we are, I would like you to be safe. Make an earlier harvest and leave the city with your whole family right away. You may come back when everything is over."

Leo nodded silently. He wanted to ask many things about him, but he couldn't dare. However, the man continued, "We are from the good side, the Velvets. When you hear anything about Ebony and the Velvet, you need to remember what I say. And I know that I don't necessarily have to tell you to keep this thing a secret."

"You can trust me-"

"Mr. Blacksmith," the man answered for him. 

"I'll remember it, sir."

The man stared at Leo for a while before he spoke again. He pulled out a black box from his pocket and handed it to him.

"Tay, thank you for your thoughtfulness. I want to give you this gift as a symbol of my gratitude."

Leo gathered his brows and hesitated, "Should I accept that? I really don't expect payment."

"Yes, please. Or, I'll be humiliated."

Afraid to offend, he reached out for it and smiled. "Thank you so much for whatever is this. Mr. Blacksmith."

Mr. Blacksmith smiled back and nodded before he turned away. As Leo was about to close the window, he turned back."Tay, please help take care of my son."

Leo gasped in surprise. So, it meant he was the father of Kyle. Whatever was the reason for sending them away, Leo guessed it would be something dangerous. When Mr. blacksmith's footsteps vanished, he and Issa opened up the box. Using the penlight he always prepared at their bedside table, their eyes lit up in awe followed by their gasps. A dazzling, velvet glow shone out from the two pendants of the two diamond necklaces.

Allyza Mountain Resort was sitting on a dark slope. Though a fence enclosed the whole perimeter, it was not impenetrable yet as the entire area was too vast. The construction of buildings and enhancement facilities was still ongoing, and somewhere at the back, there were still open areas.

While Jane and Kyle were fast asleep, Dr. Charles came in again using his door-opening apparatus. Once again, as in all those nights they were here, he sprayed a liquid inhalant to Jane, causing her a deep sleep. He also wiped her face again with a piece of wet wipes.

Kyle woke up to his slight shaking since the boy was already anticipating his coming. He crawled out of bed as silently as possible, careful not to wake Jane up. When he was already on his daddy's lap, Dr. Charles did not delay his intention.

"Son, later today, you will go back to the city. I may not be able to see you often, but I promise to see you in a few days. Stay away from a man named Markus Madani. He is a relative, but he is harmful. He is looking for you, and he wants to see you dead."

"Dad, he is here."

"I know."

"How?"

"Because he went horse riding near our hideout."

Charles hugged his son again before letting him go back to sleep. Before he went out of the room, he placed a black box in her vanity table, overlaid with a single stalk of a red rose. He then closed the door as quietly as when he came in.

____

As his daily routine, Hayri knocked again at Jane's room after his morning care. He already knocked several times, but still, Jane did not open up. Worried, he went to the receptionist and asked as discreetly as possible for the duplicate key. The resort personnel already knew them, and so she gave the key to Hayri without a second thought.

As soon as the door swung open, Hayri's eyes searched Jane right away. To his surprise, she was still sleeping soundly with Kyle beside her. He shook her up, but she only m.o.a.ned. Looking at her closely this time, he smelled the paint-like smell again and realized it was stronger than yesterday. He bent down closer to search where the smell came from, and to his shock, it came from Jane's face. He frowned. Jane would never use a kind of facial care cream with this kind of fatal scent.

As he thought more about it, his eyes fell on the bedside table and saw crumpled wipes. His chest thumped louder as he realized that this inhalant could be the reason why Jane overslept.