Page 99 of A Pawn in the Game
“You know what,Dad?I used to be in awe of your mind. I used to listen to every fucking word you said, just to get a piece of your wisdom. But you must think I’m an idiot if that’s the story you’re selling me.” I poke a finger into his forehead, his eyes crossing as he looks up. “You can calculate probabilities in your head in seconds. You knew exactly what the risks were. You just thought the money was worth it.”
Tears form in the corners of my eyes, and I turn to the side, unwilling to let him see. Luka steps into his view.
Dad’s eyes widen again. “It’s you. Matej’s son. I-I-I didn’t want to do that. They made me.”
Luka’s voice is as calm as a still lake as he speaks to him. “I used to think that you betraying my father was the worst thing a person could do. But he was my family, not yours. Betraying your own family…” He whistles. “That’s downright sadistic.”
“W-what are you going to do to me?” The smell of urine fills the air. My dad has pissed himself.
“What do you think?” Luka points a gun at him and he squirms in the chair.
“No, please. Please, no. Don’t do this!”
Luka presses the gun to his forehead. “You know, that’s exactly what your daughter cries in her sleep. Those words that cut so deep when spoken from her mouth sound hollow coming from you.”
“Please… I don’t want to die.”
There’s no vindication in this. No closure. Just pity for the man who used to be my role model. I guess Luka notices my deflated mood because he lowers his gun, eliciting a sigh of relief from my dad.
“If it were up to me, you’d be dead. But your daughter is smarter than that.” Luka shoots me a proud smile. “So she made another plan.” He checks his watch. “We need to get going.”
“Sure.” I dip my head and tie the cloth back around Dad’s mouth.
Luka lifts the rolling door and starts loading our things back into the car. I press a letter on the laptop’s keyboard and turn to our captive. “Don’t worry, you won’t be alone for long. Good luck.”
I head to the exit before shooting him a last look. “There’s one thing I’m grateful for. Thank you for teaching me to play chess.” My gaze finds Luka’s. “It ended up being quite useful.” My face pulls into a small grin. I lower the door, the rattle of it shaking me from the inside.
“Sorry, baby, but we really need to leave. It took me longer than planned to get him out.”
“Coming.” I jog to the car.
As soon as I shut my door, Luka hits the gas pedal, peeling out of this place. We hit the main road just a few minutes before we hear police sirens echoing in the distance. My heart beats a fast but steady rhythm, adrenaline coursing through my blood.
I lift my hand, only to notice it’s shaking. Luka has one hand around the wheel, the other relaxing on his thigh. Of course, this is nothing new for him.
Or maybe it is.
CHAPTER 47
Luka
“Have you ever done this?” she asks, her voice laced with curiosity.
“Done what?” I peek at her before looking back to the road.
“Framed someone to throw them in prison.”
“No, I can’t say I have.”
“Huh,” is her only response.
I was heavy on the ‘let’s kill him’ camp, but she quickly convinced me of her plan. We worked tirelessly on getting the proof cops would find, then, anonymously, tipped them about the whereabouts of the perpetrator. I saywebut it was all Sophie. My job was to be a sounding board for her ideas, but the execution was all her.
My plan would include breaking a bone or two, but this was her path. Her closure.
And he’ll spend the rest of his pathetic life in prison.
I drive for five more miles before pulling to the side of the road. Another car is parked there, waiting for us. I grab our stuff from the trunk and place it into the other car. The road is deserted, which we counted on. The sun is setting, casting a warm hue on the clearance below it. All things considered, it’s quitebeautiful. Sophie grabs a leftover bag, but I grab her hand and pull her close to me.
