Chapter 3

While waiting for the new gift to be ready, "Leo" took me to a local arcade.

He knew exactly what games I liked to play when I needed to decompress. He even remembered my favorite characters and combos.

When I reflexively used my teeth to pop open a soda bottle, he frowned, grabbed the bottle, and scolded me just like the old days, nagging about germs and dental bills.

Apart from the "blood brothers" phrase, he was perfectly, flawlessly Leo.

"Mason, the last time we celebrated our birthdays together was five years ago, right?"

During dinner, before I could even probe, "Leo" brought up the past. "I went behind your back and applied for the undercover op. When you found out, you lost your mind. We got into a massive fistfight."

"But you lost," he chuckled, lighting a cigarette, his eyes filled with nostalgia. "You were so mad you cried and stayed up all night."

I remembered that night.

We had agreed that I would be the one to go undercover.

Leo had smiled and agreed to my face, but then stole the assignment behind my back.

He wanted to sacrifice himself to protect me.

He was the same age as me, but he always acted like a protective big brother.

But was that Leo still alive?

I clenched my fists under the table, forcing a chuckle. "Of course I remember."

"You went back on your word. I was so desperate I wanted to call Director Miller to beg him to swap us. What did you do then?"

He laughed harder. "I confiscated your phone and locked you in your room. By the time you broke the door down, I was already on a flight out of the country."

I tried to laugh with him, but my facial muscles felt frozen.

Our fistfight was public knowledge among a few close colleagues back at the precinct.

But the part about him locking me in my room? Leo would have never told a soul. It was embarrassing and highly unprofessional.

Yet, this man knew. He knew every single detail.

How? How could he know so much?

In the silence, "Leo" suddenly stood up and reached over with a napkin.

"You still eat like a toddler. Wipe your mouth. How am I supposed to set you up on dates back home if you eat like a pig?"

His nagging was so familiar, so warm, and so frustratingly comforting.

My vision blurred. Memories of the years we spent relying only on each other rushed back. I wanted so badly for him to be real.

Then, the final dessert was served—a classic Peach Cobbler.

I had ordered it on purpose.

I stared intensely at his face. I saw him freeze for a second, and then his eyes turned red.

"Our parents loved peaches," he whispered softly. "It's a pity our 'blood brother' oak tree is gone. I wonder if they missed the sweet smell of peaches these past few years."

Every ounce of warmth in my chest vanished instantly. My mind went ice-cold.

He said it again. *Blood brothers.*

Once. Twice. Three times.

He was not Leo.

My instinct was to tackle him, call the local backup agents still cleaning up the city, and beat the truth out of him.

But I didn't dare.

If the real Leo was still alive somewhere, any reckless move on my part could get him killed.

I had to play along. I had to find out where Leo was.

***