Page 68 of Puck'N Enemy
Suddenly, I become aware of a presence near me.
Jolting up, I sit up straight and look toward the person watching me from the corner of the room.
It’s him. Pete Volkov.
He’s older now, probably in his late forties. To my disappointment, prison failed to ruin him.
His once wiry frame has bulked up and his tan skin is unnaturally smooth. He’s dressed in a black suit that clings to him like he’s just walked out of a magazine shoot. But his eyes are the same—cold, calculating, amused.
His time in prison ended up making him more dangerous.
“Morning, sunshine,” Pete drawls, his lips curling into a smirk.
I scramble up from the couch. My heart pounds as Pete closes the distance between us with slow, deliberate steps.
Before I can react, he grabs my arm and yanks me forward. Sitting down on the couch, he drags me straight onto his lap.
“No,” I hiss, twisting, trying to shove him away.
He chuckles. “You’re still so feisty.” Tilting his head, he leans in, his lips brushing dangerously close to my cheek. “You’ve gotten prettier since the last time I saw you.”
“Get off me,” I shout, shoving him harder.
Pete’s grip tightens but I don’t stop struggling against him. I finally manage to slip free, stumbling away from him.
Pete stands up slowly, his smirk fading. “You really think you’re in a position to play games?” he says, his voice calm but with an edge that makes my gut squeeze. “Do you think you can say ‘no’ to me?”
Stepping closer, he points a finger at me like a blade. “You had your chance to be free but you came back, Dylan. You knew I’d be right here, waiting for you. So, you’ll go along with what I want now. You will stay quiet and stop putting up a fight. Otherwise…” He pulls his phone out of his pocket and taps the screen before holding it up.
The image of Maddie and her mom walking toward the neighborhood elementary school lights up on the screen. My blood turns into ice as I realize Pete’s men are still following them.
Pete’s smile returns, cruel and slow. “Maybe I should pay them a visit.”
“No,” I blurt. “Don’t hurt them.”
“Then be a good boy for me, Dylan,” he says. “Or I’ll destroy the little dream life you’ve built for yourself. And Logan? I’ll bury him so deep no one will even remember his name.”
Swallowing a choke, I force myself to stay quiet in the face of his threat.
He gestures toward a nearby table, making me notice a sleek designer bag and a large pizza takeout box beside it. “Eat. Shower. And be ready by the time I come back in a few hours.”
With that, he walks out, the heavy click of the door echoing behind him.
I sink into the couch, shaking. My eyes prick with unshed tears as I realize Pete has me utterly defeated.
I have no choice but to surrender to Pete. As long as he holds Logan and his family hostage, I’ll be his prisoner and his slave.
My mind wanders to the last few weeks I spent with Logan. The days were full of warm mornings, stolen kisses, and quiet laughter. Logan even took me to his home and together with Maddie, he made me feel like I was a part of his family.
It all feels like a dream now. A dream that Pete just ripped out of my hands.
Burying my face into a cushion, I swallow the sob threatening to break loose.
I can’t let Pete touch them. I have to protect Logan and his family even if it means losing them forever.
Taking a deep breath, I brush the tears that stream down my face. My eyes flick reluctantly to the sleek designer bag Pete dropped on the coffee table.
What else did he leave me along with the pizza box?
