LYONIC

They came out just toward the evening; Peter, Ruth, Mark, Frank, and Dera-just all of them walking toward me with boxes and bags in their hands. The moment I saw them, my heart sank, as by now I knew something was off.

"What are you all doing here?" I tried to ask with all calmness in my voice but couldn't do anything right.

Lyon, who had been standing beside me, narrowed his eyes at them. The last thing we needed was another round of pointless drama.

Peter, that perpetual smile stuck to his face, spoke first. "Sommy, Lyon! We brought some gifts for you. Where's Zoey?"

My stomach twisted. "Zoey? She's not here. What's going on?"

"Uncle Lyon, Aunt Sommy, if you would be so kind as to let us know once Zoey returns. We shall be on our way," Ruth said, as if this was all completely normal.

I turned to Lyon, my eyebrows lifted in question. We didn't invite company, much less. them. And what was up with the gifts?

"Zoey?" Lyon repeated a little more curtly than I was expecting. "She's gone out today with Levi."

"Right," I said, my voice quiet as I tried to piece everything together. "She left early, and her phone's been off. But why are you all here, bringing gifts?"

Mark shrugged, his usual cool demeanor unflappably unruffled. "Just thought we'd drop by. We'll leave as soon as we know she's back."

They were too cool, too composed. Something did not sit well in my stomach. Something was definitely going on, and I just couldn't put my finger on it.

After they had gone, Lyon and I stood there for a moment digesting.

"What was that all about?" I muttered. "They were way too polite. And why the gifts?

"I don't know," Lyon replied, his frown deepening. "But it feels off. Zoey's not one to disappear like this. And what if they know more than they're letting on?"

I shivered slightly at his words. My mind darted back to all the things I didn't know about Levi and Zoey's recent behavior. What was Levi playing at? Why was Zoey turning off her phone?

Back in Zoey's world, things were far from simple.

Zoey and Levi had been walking the streets of Lagos all day. She didn't know where they were headed; her mind had been elsewhere all morning. She had deliberately turned off her phone, not wanting the chaos to catch up with her.

"Where are we headed, Levi?" she finally asked, her voice breaking the silence between them.

Levi smirked-smirked, mystery as ever, laced in each word. "Wherever we end up, I suppose. It's your getaway for the time being, right?"

Zoey said nothing but experienced a wave of relief and trepidation. It felt good to be away, yet she could not get her mind past those that she had left behind, mainly her Uncle Aaron and Aunt Caitlyn.

As the evening wore on, Samuel was getting desperate, Melanie and the rest having waited in front of Zoey's apartment complex for hours now. But with every passing moment, a sense of panic seemed to rise.

"This is ridiculous!" Samuel snapped as he leaned against the car. "Where the hell is she? What is she doing?"

Her phone's off," Melanie said, her voice as even as possible, though even that betrayed her anxiety. "I can't get through to her."

"Didn't we already warn her not to mess around?" Samuel grumbled. "I'll call her again."

Again, a voicemail came on to say that Zoey's phone was off.

"She really is doing this on purpose?" The volume of Samuel's voice rose heavy with anger. "What's up with her?

Melanie looked at him incredulously. "Who knows? It's like she is in hiding. But why would she turn off her phone? This doesn't make sense."

"Well, it's not like we know where Levi is either," Samuel grumbled. "Does anybody have his number?"

"I don't," Melanie said. "Let me ask Uncle Aaron and Aunt Caitlyn; maybe they do."

But then, having checked, Melanie shook her head. "No luck. They just came back from a trip, so they don't have it."

Samuel swore under his breath. "This is crazy. Nobody knows where they are."

Then Harry's voice came over the line. His tone was harsh and tight with frustration. "Where's Zoey? What's going on?"

Samuel passed the phone to Melanie, who explained the situation. "We have no idea, Grandpa. She and Levi left this morning, and her phone is off. No one knows where they are."

"Find them!" Harry barked. "This project is on the line. I want this sorted by tomorrow morning!"

Henry, Samuel's brother, stood beside him, visibly irritated. "What if they left Lagos?

Harry's face went darker, a shade. "Don't even think that. Just find them!"

The whole Lopez family was called out for the search, literally- every connection, every contact, and every acquaintance put on notice to find Zoey and Levi in Lagos.

Nobody was successful.

The night wore on, and Zoey and Levi had checked into a hotel far away from prying eyes of the Lopez family. She was exhausted and needed to disconnect. Lying on the bed, her mind was swirling with thoughts about her situation.

"Do you think they'll keep looking for us?" Zoey whispered, her voice tired.

Levi turned to her, his face unreadable. "Let them. It's their problem now. We need rest."

And with that, Zoey finally let herself sleep, the hassles of the day finally taking a backseat.

The next morning, Harry was already fuming. "This better be resolved by eight!" he yelled, slamming his hands on the table. "Or I'll pull everyone's shares!"

"Dad, calm down," Henry whispered, though his voice shook. "Maybe they're just out playing."

But Harry was beyond reason. "You think I'm an idiot? This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't screwed up!"

In the midst of all this chaos, Henry's phone rang. He hardly dared to hope.

"Zoey? Is that you?" he asked urgently.

But it wasn't Zoey.

Levi's voice answered instead. "What do you want, Henry?"

Henry's grip on the phone tightened, but he kept his voice even. "Levi, where's Zoey? We need to talk to her. It's important."

Levi's tone was dismissive. "She's still asleep. If you want something, talk to me."

Henry almost lost it but held himself together. "Listen, Levi. We messed up. We want Zoey back. You bring her to the Lopez mansion right now. Your grandpa's asking for both of you."

Levi was silent for a moment. Then his response came out sharp. "No. She's got a new job now. And you? You're not in charge anymore.

Henry's mind raced. "What are you talking about? We'll do whatever it takes. Just get her here."

Levi's words were final. "No. If you want Zoey back, Harry has to come himself. Otherwise, she's not coming."

Henry's stomach somersaulted at the ultimatum. He could almost hear his father's fury building.

"Harrison," Henry said, swallowing hard. "You need to go. They want you.

Harry's rage was palpable. "Me? I'll never beg them! If they think I'll—"

But before Harry could finish, Levi hung up.

And just like that, things were more complicated than ever.