George froze as Leo's words sank in.
"What do you mean they left with Mark and Dean?" His tone was sharp.
Leo's hands were trembling now, and he ran them through his hair. "Scarlet told me. She said they'll drop Lydia and Kendra home. I thought it was weird, they're not friends. Then I saw Scarlet's mischievous face and I knew they must be plotting something. I know she doesn't like Lydia very much. But I didn't think she would do something like this."
George's eyes darkened, his jaw clenching. "I might have an idea why she doesn't like Lydia.."
"I think we both know why." Leo replied.
"Where would they take them?" George whispered.
Leo blinked, trying to think. "I..I don't know. We could be overthinking. Maybe they took them home."
George was already moving towards his car. "Then we'll check. Now." He said firmly.
They rushed into George's car, slamming the doors as he started the engine. Tension was high, and George's phone was in his hand even before the car moved.
He called Lydia immediately. The line rang once. Twice. Then went straight to voicemail.
"Lydia, it's me. Call me back the second you hear this," he said tightly, hanging up and dialing again.
Leo tried Kendra's number at the same time. "Come on, pick up…" he muttered. The phone rang endlessly before cutting off. "She's not answering either."
George's grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white. "Keep calling."
They drove past the set, then through the familiar streets leading to Lydia's place. Her lights were off. No sign of the car Dean had been driving. They tried Kendra's apartment next..nothing.
"George," Leo said quietly after a few minutes, "what if they took them to one of their homes?"
"Don't overthink," George cut him off, eyes fixed on the road. "They're fine. They have to be." But his voice was tight, the kind that meant he didn't believe his own words.
They drove aimlessly, turning down every road they thought Dean might take, calling again and again. Each unanswered call made the silence in the car heavier.
George slammed the steering wheel. "Damn it! Where would they go?"
Leo rubbed his forehead, trying to think through the haze of panic. Then suddenly, his eyes widened. "Wait, Dean once told me about a place he likes to hang out. Said it's quiet, discreet, good for 'fun nights.' The Silver Crest Hotel, near an old film lot."
George didn't hesitate. He shifted gears and the car roared forward. "Hold on."
The streets grew darker and emptier as they drove back to the outskirts of the city, and as they rolled into the hotel, Leo's heart dropped when he spotted a familiar car parked in the corner of the lot. "That's Dean's car!"
George slammed the brakes, barely waiting for the engine to die before jumping out. The two sprinted toward the entrance, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the still night.
Inside, the lobby lights flickered dimly. George strode to the front desk, voice low but dangerous. "Two men have just checked in with two drunk ladies. One lady is blonde, the other one brunette. Tell me their rooms. Now!"
The receptionist hesitated, her eyes moving nervously between the two men. "I..sir, I can't..It's against our policy. We have to protect our clients' privacy."
George leaned forward, eyes cold and steady. "If you don't tell me right now, I'll have this entire hotel surrounded by police before you can blink."
The woman swallowed hard, then whispered, "Rooms 107 and 109."
George and Leo bolted for the stairs, taking them two at a time. Outside room 107, they heard muffled movement. George's stomach twisted, and without a second thought, he kicked the door in.