103Derek swallowed hard, his eyes flicking between the men surrounding him, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. "I already paid you," he snapped, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "This wasn’t part of the deal!"Hawk took a deliberate step closer, his face a mask of irritation as his men tightened the circle around Derek, a mix of smirks and scowls on their faces. “Really?” Hawk’s voice was a low growl. “Because I don’t remember you mentioning that Allvar was some sort of MMA fighter or whatever he’s turned into.”Derek’s fists clenched, a tremor running through his hands as he struggled to keep calm. "I didn’t know," he muttered defensively, though he could hear how feeble his own words sounded. "I thought he was just a—""A smug little bastard?” the thug with a scar down his cheek interjected with a mocking sneer. “Yeah, we got that part. But you forgot to mention he could snap bones like twigs. We weren’t exactly prepared for a fight."“I didn’t know he could fig
104Derek’s palms were clammy, his pulse racing. He wasn’t sure which scared him more—Hawk’s cold, predatory expression or the unsettling realization that Allvar was a bigger threat than he’d imagined.“So what do you want?” Derek demanded, his voice edged with frustration and desperation. “You want more money? Or something else?”Hawk’s grin widened, a dark glint in his eyes. “Now you’re getting it.” He crossed his arms, his tone turning casual as he considered Derek. “You’re gonna pay us triple. And this time, we’re gonna need some insurance. That way, if Allvar decides to go Rambo on us again, we’re covered.”“Triple?” Derek’s voice nearly cracked. “Are you serious? I don’t have that kind of money just lying around!”The thug with the scar stepped forward, cracking his knuckles with a menacing grin. “Guess you’ll have to get creative, Derek. Because if cash isn’t an option…” He chuckled darkly, “We’re more than willing to work out a different arrangement.”Derek’s gaze darted aroun
105“Please, Hawk!” Derek’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Just—just a few more hours. I can get the money. I swear.”Hawk tilted his head, a cruel smile playing on his lips. “See, Derek, the thing about promises is… they don’t mean a thing to me anymore.” He looked over his shoulder at his men, who were waiting, fists already clenched. “Time for you to learn what happens when you mess with me.”“No, wait!” Derek pleaded, but Hawk snapped his fingers.A fist drove hard into Derek’s stomach before he could say another word. He doubled over, gasping, barely managing to raise his head before another blow cracked against his jaw, sending him staggering. His knees buckled, and he dropped to the ground, vision swimming.“Still think you can get it tomorrow?” Hawk taunted, crossing his arms as he watched Derek struggle to stand. “Or would you rather make it right now?”Derek held up his hands in a shaky surrender. “Alright! Alright, I’ll get it,” he wheezed, pain searing through his ribs
106"Listen up," Hawk growled into the phone, his voice dropping to a dangerous calm. "If you’re really Derek’s friend, you’ll help him out. Because if you don’t…” He let the threat hang in the air, letting Ethan fill in the blanks.A heavy silence lingered before Ethan’s voice crackled back, icy and controlled. “Are you seriously threatening me right now?”Hawk chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent a chill through Derek. “No, I’m promising. Now, are you going to help him or not?”Derek stood there, trying to keep his breathing steady, his gaze fixed on Hawk’s expression—a smirk that screamed danger. He wished he could say something to ease the tension, but Hawk’s glare pinned him in place.Ethan’s tone turned even colder. “Put Derek back on the phone.”Hawk rolled his eyes, thrusting the phone at Derek with a sneer. "You better hope he’s got good news," he muttered, his tone dripping with mockery. "Otherwise, you’ll be seeing the wrong end of a shovel."Derek took the phone, his
107Derek’s phone, tucked away in his pocket, rang once again. The sudden sound caught him off guard, and before anyone could stop him, he swiftly pulled it out and answered. His heart was already pounding, but the tension in the air multiplied as he heard Ethan’s urgent voice on the other end.“Derek, I just tracked your location through the phone. Do you realize where you are? This place is crawling with Hawk’s men. I’m sending someone—”“No, Ethan!” Derek hissed, his voice a panicked whisper. “If you send anyone, Hawk’s guys will—”But he didn’t even finish before the unmistakable sound of screeching tires filled the warehouse, freezing everyone in place. Derek’s stomach dropped. He could only watch, dread building, as two black SUVs rolled up outside, their headlights casting an intense glow through the dusty windows. His mind raced with possibilities, each one worse than the last. Hawk’s rivals? The police? Or something even more dangerous?Hawk’s expression darkened, twisting wi
108Derek looked down, a wave of shame washing over him. "I... I didn’t mean for any of this to happen," he stammered, barely able to meet Grayson’s eyes.Grayson’s expression was colder than Derek had ever seen. “Didn’t mean for it to happen?” He scoffed, crossing his arms. “Do you have any idea how many strings I had to pull to get you out of that mess? You think I enjoy cleaning up after you, Derek?”Derek flinched, his left arm hanging limply at his side from the beating he’d taken. “I know, I messed up,” he mumbled, shifting uncomfortably. The pain in his leg throbbed with each tiny movement.“Messed up?” Grayson’s voice was low, almost a growl. “This stunt…” He leaned in closer, eyes cold and piercing. “Do you have any idea what your father’s going to do when he finds out?”Derek opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. The fear gnawed at him, and the memories of Hawk’s men roughing him up flashed across his mind. His mouth opened, closed, then opened again. “I… I didn’
109As Derek and Grayson stepped into the grand foyer of the estate, the towering silhouette of Victor Hawthorne loomed at the top of the staircase, his gaze piercing. His jaw clenched in visible anger, and the sound of his shoes echoed as he descended each step."Derek," Victor's voice was a low, furious growl. "What were you thinking?" He stopped inches away, eyes cold and unforgiving. "After I specifically warned you."Derek shifted uncomfortably, unable to meet his father’s gaze. "Dad, I—"Before he could finish, Victor’s hand swung across his face, the slap echoing through the hall. The impact sent Derek stumbling back, pain flaring in his already bruised cheek as he crashed against the marble floor. His injured leg throbbed, and his arm pulsed with agony.Victor didn’t flinch, watching his son crumple to the ground with a look of disgust. "Look at you," he sneered. "Injured and pathetic. How do you think you’re going to show up at the party this weekend like this?"Derek struggl
110Derek limped up the grand staircase, each step a grueling reminder of the injuries throbbing through his leg and arm. Every muscle protested, and by the time he reached his room, he nearly collapsed against the door, shutting it with a frustrated slam.He clenched his jaw, anger bubbling up as he looked down at his bruised knuckles. “Damn you, Allvar,” he spat, punching the wall, barely registering the fresh jolt of pain.“How could he have fought off Hawk’s men?” he muttered, pacing back and forth. “Some nobody coming out of nowhere, embarrassing me like that… humiliating me!”He rubbed his sore shoulder and sat down heavily on the edge of his bed, his mind racing with images of the brawl. Hawk’s men had fallen so easily; Allvar had barely broken a sweat. It didn’t add up.“Unbelievable,” he sneered to the empty room. “Who the hell does he think he is?”A sharp knock interrupted his thoughts. Grimacing, Derek straightened, wincing as his shoulder protested the movement. “What?” h