Unexpected connection

As the night took over they arrived hurriedly at the bottom of the mountain where security swiftly let them pass and continued formation. Climbing until reaching the mansion they pulled up out front and exited the SUV. Another member of security took the SUV to be refurbished as Bull, Seth, Grayson, and Charlotte entered the mansion.

"Where are the other guys?", she asked looking up at Bull with concerned eyes.

Bull placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned down to look into her eyes, "They are okay, Little Charlotte. Don't worry. They have taken the threat to another location for interrogation and will reach out to us shortly."

Charlotte threw her arms around Bull and hugged him. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, comfort was needed.

Bull patted her back and told her that everything would be okay.

Seth stepped forward, "Why don't you go lie down and rest for a while. We will wake you when the guys arrive back or any news comes through."

Feeling sleepy all the sudden, Charlotte nodded her head. She gave each of them a hug and headed up to her room to rest.

Turning serious all the sudden, Bull advised the guys that he would take the first shift. "The minute intel comes through, I must be notified."

"You got it.", They both said in unison.

Bull climbed the stairs and took his place outside of her room like a knight protecting a princess. The mansion on high alert and every security member keeping him informed of all movements.

Across town at a warehouse belonging to the security team, the questions began. Alan, Axel, and Nate had three men from the attacker's vehicle tied to chairs.

The bright lights above causing a blindness and heat to the assailants. The previously white shirts now lay in tatters against their bruised skin as their eyes began to swell shut from the many punches.

"It will go easier if you tell us whom you work for and why you attacked!", Alan shouted loudly showing no trace of the kind ray of sunshine he had always been before. The battlefield changed him like the turning of a page. For anyone to assume that his sunny disposition would be in their favor would be horribly wrong. Sometimes the most cheerful among us are the most deadly.

Just as Alan grabbed at the bloodied shirt a tattoo shown through that Nate picked up on. "Wait!", he said swiftly moving forward.

Axel became alert and quickly stepped forward as well.

"That tattoo. I have seen it before!", he said with certainty as he looked up locking eyes with Axel showing his clinching jaw.

Alan proceeded to rip the shirts off each of the men, exposing their tattoos. Each one had one specific tattoo that matched each others.

Axel recognized this tattoo. This is a tattoo representing the clan of Morningstar.

Axel and Nate looked at each other making a swift nod in agreement of the recognization of the tattoo and it's origin.

There was nothing more to say at this point. Alan made a motion with his hand to another group of security that were waiting in the darkness. As Nate, Axel, and Alan left the building the other team took it from there.

Axel pulled up the screen from his wrist device and advised Bull that they have a lead and will speak to him once they arrive.

Proceeding to drive for another hour in circles to verify they were not being followed, they eventually made it back to the mansion.

Once arriving outside the mansion, each exited the vehicle making their way inside with haste. Bull being informed of the arrival headed down the staircase leaving another member of security outside her door.

The guys turned and went into the study together. The doors were then pulled shut and the discussion began.

"What intel did you gain from the attackers?", Seth immediately asked without hesitation.

Axel, Alan, and Nate exchanged glances before Axel began to speak. "They each had a matching tattoo on their body. Nate picked up on it and once I had a look I recognized it myself. It is the mark of Morningstar.", he said swiftly. Silence took over the room as the information that had just been dropped sank in.

Bull placed both of his enormous hands on the desk and leaned over it. The murderous intent that flowed off of him in waves made it hard to breath inside the study.

"We will not give the Young Mr. Morningstar the location of Charlotte until we are sure he is not involved. His controling attitude and need to own our little girl have been evident.", Bull said matter of factly.

"Now this does not mean that he has anything to do with this, however our circle must be secure and the tattoo is related to him somehow.", he said while gripping the table with anger.

"Axel, keep the communication lines open and eyes in the sky. We need to know if anything else is coming our way."

"Seth and Grayson, place weapons throughout the mansion should they be needed in a hurry."

"Alan, decide which plan the security detail will be implementing first and advise them what order to switch through the plans as to keep anyone not related confused."

"Nate, you have proven yourself to not only me but the rest of the team. You are one of us now. Your assignment will be to guard our little girl. No one is allowed in or out but you. If someone brings her food, you take it into her. She is never to be alone. Do you hear me?! Never alone!", Bull finished with strength in his deep voice echoing off of the walls.

Out of reflex, all the guys stood at attention. Bull scanned his eyes through the room looking at each of them in agreement.

"No one will have a chance to bring her harm.", Nate said confidently.

The guys ended the meeting and each headed to their position and assigned duties.

Nate climbed the stairs and took the place of the guard standing outside her bedroom.

Across town inside Yibo's Office, Evan sat drinking tea as he scrolled through the reports on the laptop that had been given to him. As he scrolled through, he would make notes and corrections before handing it back to the assistant to make the final revisions.

The phone on Yibo's desk began to ring with multiple incoming calls. It seemed that something serious had happened.

Answering the call, Yibo's face began to darken. Clutching the phone until his knuckles turned white he listened intently. Evan stood up moving closer to his Dad, he could tell something of a high magnitude had happened. He could only stand there with deep concern waiting for his Father to end the call and fill him in.

Yibo ran his fingers through his hair as he spoke through his teeth, "Find everyone, I want to know who is behind this! Find out now!"

Ending the call and slamming the phone to the desk, the room sat silent as the assistants stood afraid to move.

Yibo waved his hand in the air, "Leave us!"

The assistants gathered the laptops and quickly exited the room.

Walking over to the large window and peering out into the city, Yibo sighed heavily. "There has been a movement against us. I am not certain whom ordered it, however I will find out."

Turning toward his son, his face serious. "They went for Charlotte............they must have been watching you leave the meetings and followed.", he said running his hand through his hair once more.

Shaking his head in disbelief, "She escaped and is unharmed. Her team has her protected.", Yibo followed up.

"You can't see her right now, Son. Her team may not even know whose team we are on.", Yibo whispered. "The guys that attacked were from Morningstar. They have the markings, there is no way her team is unaware.", regret laced in his voice.

Evan stood concerned and in shock as the anger rose inside his body, "Where are the traitors?!", he said in a booming voice.

Placing his hand on his son's shoulder, "They are in the morgue, Son. They are in the morgue."