The King of City

56 THE DECISION

Corrine had left early to do some shopping in town, so only Elsa and Lionel were in the villa, and at that moment they were preparing breakfast.

"Larson why do you have that face?". Elsa asked who was distressed by Lionel's attitude that morning, the man was very distracted and seemed not to want to talk to anyone.

"Elsa, I don't feel very safe here without knowing who I'm living, do you understand?"

Elsa thought that the reason for Lionel's discomfort was her.

"You mean by my presence here?".

"Of course not, you’re my closest friend, I’m talking about Mary I really don’t know what that girl wants, I feel that every day I don’t know her more and when at last I have a chance to know something valuable about her everything disappears". Lionel explained a little disappointed because he still felt vulnerable in front of his villager to whom he had opened the doors of his house.

"Larson, I’m dying to help you but my father cannot be found at this time". Elsa said a little sorry considering that she was still living in Lionel's house.

"Don't worry, Elsa, I understand what happens with your father. I don't want to be selfish, but I really need to know about that girl".

"We will have to wait for things to improve before we can go to my father".

"It’s true Elsa, I’ve already had a lot of patience, I think that waiting some more time won’t affect me too much". Said Lionel, although deep down he felt in danger since he didn’t know anything about the woman who lived with him and in one way or another she liked.

"Calm down, Larson. If that girl wants to hurt you, she will have to attack me too, and surely if something happens to me, my father won't stay still until he finds the culprits". Elsa said in an attempt to reassure Lionel.

"You may be right, Elsa".

At that moment Corrine entered the house since she had returned from town.

"What are you guys up to?".

"Breakfast". Said Elsa and Lionel who understood that the conversation had already ended.

"Sounds delicious, I brought some things that can help”. Said Corrine.

Lionel couldn’t bear to pretend anymore, he wanted to know the truth immediately, Mary was the best liar he had come across in his career and he hadn’t managed to pass that test. In the midst of his despair Lionel went to Beau again, with him he could be sincere at all times.

“Beau, I'm going to the bar, don't go out today please”.

"Don't worry Cheetah, I'll wait for you here".

Lionel promptly went to the bar because he couldn’t bear to be near Mary.

"Beau I can't stand Mary, I'm afraid that at any moment she will attack me and I won't live to tell about it".

“Lionel you know that I’ve done what is humanly possible to know the identity of that woman but it hasn’t been possible, I even lost one of my men in one of those attempts. I'm not sure if I risk the gang more without knowing what we are up against”. Beau said, explaining to Lionel that there was nothing more he could do for him.

“I know Beau, I don't want to expose the gang anymore, I don't forget that my main objective is to find Elizabeth, every day I’m surer that she’s alive somewhere in this country. However, I live with a very dangerous enemy, I don't know what he’s capable of. At any rate, I have to know her identity”.

"You should trust Elsa, apparently her father is the only one who knows her identity".

"I trust Elsa, but I’m overwhelmed that I cannot go to Mr. Einstein, the threats against the two haven’t stopped and she says that any type of approach can endanger the lives of her father and ours".

"Yes, Lionel is complicated, that Mr. Einstein is someone very important and if he’s hidden, it must be for a powerful reason".

"I know Beau, but at some point, you have to face it, you can't hide your whole life". Said Lionel in protest.

Lionel left the bar a little bored and in turn, was determined not to lose the most reliable track he had, it was time to help Elsa not by hiding her but with the confrontation and after that, they could go to Einstein to reveal Mary's true identity.

Lionel again arrived at the villa and prepared to talk to Elsa.

"Elsa I have to tell you something important".

“Go ahead, Larson”.

"Not here, we go to a bar where we can be calmer".

"I follow you". Said Elsa.

As soon as they reached the bar, Lionel threw his proposal to Elsa.

"I’ll help you put an end to the men who threaten you and your father".

"In what way do you want to help me?".

"We won’t hide anymore; we’re going to confront them the more you fear these men the faster they will finish you off".

"Larson, how are we going to do that? They attack in large groups, it’s very difficult for us to kill them”.

"But not impossible Elsa, you have to end the root problem".

"I don't know Larson; I don't want to be hurt".

"So, are you willing to hide your whole life?". Lionel said in a challenging tone.

"How can you think of Larson, I can't be like this all my life".

“What are you waiting for them to step forward? you have my support".

"I’m afraid Larson, I’ve already told you that what I fear most is seeing my father died".

"That won’t happen, Elsa, that’s why we have to face those men".

Elsa thought about Lionel's proposal for a while, she wanted to return to her life, she missed her father too much because they had never been apart for so long; the idea of living hidden forever terrified her.

"I accept Larson, you're right I can't hide my whole life, let's finish with those damn unhappy people who threatened my father".

"That's how Elsa talks, but I’d also like to ask you one thing".

"Whatever you want Larson, I can't deny you anything".

"When we know who the men who attack you are, I want you to take me to your father so that he can reveal to me the true identity of Mary".

"I don't know if he tells us who that girl is". Said Elsa.

"If you ask him, he will surely reveal the name to us".

"You're right Larson, I don't think my father ever lied to me again".

"Thanks, Elsa, you’re a great friend".

"I have no words to thank you for what you will do for us, Larson".

"The next time those attackers make another attack we will be prepared to face them". Said Lionel convinced that he would end them.

Lionel knew that he couldn’t face these men alone, so he again turned to Beau to inform the gang members that they would be his support in that fight.

"Cheetah, you’re crazy, I told you before that I wouldn’t be willing for the gang members to continue with matters related to Mary's identity".

"This isn’t an issue related to Mary, we are going to help Elsa and her father, they’re facing very dangerous people".

"I know, but that's not the way to do it".

"Beau, I'll do it with the gangsters".

"For my part, you won’t receive support Lionel, you are going crazy on behalf of those girls".

"I'm not crazy Beau, I know what I'm doing".

"You were coming for Elizabeth and it looks like you forgot".

"Beau I haven’t forgotten my sister, with or without your support I’ll have already decided if you don’t want to inform the gang members, don’t worry, I’m still the boss and I can do it without your help".

Beau was very concerned about that Lionel was doing, he feared that his friend would die before finding Elizabeth, he was looking his obsession with Mary grow more and more every day even though Lionel denied it repeatedly.