100“Derek, finally,” Ethan sighed in relief. “I’ve been trying to reach you. How are you holding up?”“How do you think I’m doing, Ethan?” Derek snapped, his tone harsh. “Do I sound like I’m okay?”Ethan hesitated on the other end, his voice careful. “Look, I know things have been rough lately. I just wanted to check in, see if you were doing alright.”Derek’s laugh was bitter, laced with sarcasm. “Doing alright? Does it look like I’m doing alright? I’ve got a mess of a situation on my hands, thanks to Allvar.”Ethan tried to steer the conversation into calmer waters. “I get it, man, I really do. But you’ve been on edge for days. Maybe... maybe it’s time to consider going back to the university. Finish what you started.”Derek sat up, his eyes narrowing at the mention of the university. “What the hell are you talking about?” he snapped. “Why would I go back there?”Infact, Derek didn't finish the university like allvar. He was still there with Serena. He just had the opportunity that
101Ethan’s voice trembled as he pressed Derek again. "What have you done?"Derek’s lips curled into a cold smile as he leaned back in his chair, his voice unnervingly calm. "Nothing you need to worry about.""Come on, Derek. I know you. That laugh wasn’t normal." Ethan’s voice grew tense. "You’re in deep, aren’t you? You didn’t get involved with someone dangerous, did you?"Derek’s eyes flashed, his tone dropping low. "Let’s just say Allvar won’t be walking around so smug for a while."Ethan’s heart sank. "What does that mean? What did you do?""Allvar got what was coming to him. Every punch was well-deserved," Derek growled, his jaw tightening as he imagined the thug’s fists smashing into Allvar’s face. The memory made him smile again, dark and twisted."Derek, this could backfire! You don’t know who you’re dealing with. These people—" Ethan’s voice was frantic now, barely able to hide his fear."I’ve got it under control," Derek interrupted, brushing him off. "Allvar’s finally payi
102Derek blinked, confused. "What the hell happened to you guys?"Hawk chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "Let’s just say Allvar wasn’t as defenseless as we thought."Derek’s heart skipped a beat. "You’re telling me he did that to you?"Hawk’s eyes darkened.The three thugs circled Derek slowly, their bruised faces twisted in anger. Hawk stood back, arms crossed, watching with a smirk as Derek tried to mask his growing fear."Look, I paid you guys. What else do you want?" Derek demanded, his voice shaky despite his attempt to sound confident. He took a small step back, trying to create distance, but the thugs closed in.One of them, the one with the gash across his cheek, pointed a trembling finger at Derek. "You sent us on a damn suicide mission!" he snarled, his voice filled with frustration and pain. "Allvar beat us like we were kids. Like we didn’t even stand a chance!"Derek blinked, stunned. "Allvar?" he echoed, confused. "No, no, that’s impossible. He’s not—he’s not even th
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