A week later, Chen's Kitchen was packed. Marcus's mom was laughing as she served dumplings, Raymond was helping in the kitchen, and Sophia was saying goodbye—she was leaving for community college, her criminal justice classes starting next week.
Claire stood beside Marcus, her suitcase packed. "I have to go back to New York. My classes start in two days." She pulled out a small box—his old trick deck, now with a new note on the ace of spades: "New York. Next month. I'll be waiting."
Marcus smiled, pulling out the FBI pen she'd given him. "For you. To remember—no matter how far, I'm with you."
They hugged, the restaurant's noise fading around them. "I'll call you every night," Claire said, her voice soft.
"I'll answer," he promised.
Raymond walked over, clapping Marcus on the back. "I'm staying in LA. Help your mom with the restaurant. And Marcus—be careful in New York. The Phantom's no joke."
Sophia grinned, handing Marcus a deck of cards. "My trick deck. For the plane. Practice—you'll need it."
Marcus nodded, slipping the deck into his pocket.
That night, Marcus drove Claire to the train station. The moon was bright, the street quiet. They stopped at the crosswalk, the light turning red.
"New York," Claire said, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "We'll find The Phantom. We'll finish what my dad started."
Marcus nodded. "And then? We'll get coffee. At that little shop near NYU. You promised."
She laughed, her eyes shining. "I promised."
The crosswalk light turned green. They walked to the platform, their shoulders brushing. When the train arrived, Claire hugged him tight. "Don't do anything stupid until I see you."
"I won't," he said.
She stepped onto the train, waving. Marcus waved back, his chest tight but his heart light.
As he drove back to the restaurant, he pulled out his phone, typing a text to the anonymous number:
"New York. Next month. I'm coming."
No reply. But he didn't need one. He knew they'd see him there.
He thought of Claire in New York, buried in law books but ready to fight. Of his mom's dumplings, of Raymond's laughter, of Sophia's determination. He thought of the trick deck in his pocket, of the FBI pen, of the promise they'd made.
The syndicate wasn't done. The Phantom was waiting. The game was still on.
But this time, Marcus wasn't scared. He had people to fight for. People who fought for him.
He pulled into the restaurant's parking lot, the neon "OPEN" sign glowing like a promise. His mom was still inside, folding dumplings. He walked in, smiling.
"Ready for New York?" she asked.
Marcus nodded. "Ready."
The next chapter was about to begin.
And he couldn't wait.