Page 23 of Puck’N Enemy (Thunder Knights #2)

Dylan

The memories of last night come back to me in broken flashes.

After walking out of Coach Becker’s apartment, I went directly to Pete’s old warehouse located in Knightswood. The stink of dust and oil had hit my nostrils like it used to all those years ago. Every corner was still filled with stacks of wooden boxes, containing all kinds of contrabands.

Several men appeared from the shadows the moment I stepped inside the warehouse. They were waiting for me to fight back but I stayed calm.

Mostly because there were too many of them. And if resisting meant they’d hurt Logan’s family, I couldn’t take the risk of challenging them.

They grabbed me and shoved me into the back of a car and drove me through the town until we reached an upscale downtown neighborhood. There were high-rises all around me, telling me we were far from that abandoned warehouse.

I’d expected them to take me to some rundown den. Instead, I was taken inside a posh apartment building and brought into a luxurious penthouse.

No one came in after that. I paced the room like a wild animal for hours last night. Finally, when I was fully exhausted, I curled up on the couch and fell asleep.

Now, morning sunlight streams through the clear glass windows. It’s warm on my skin but brings me no comfort.

Taking a deep breath, I take in my present surroundings.

The penthouse is disgustingly beautiful. Polished marble floors gleam under soft golden lights. Sleek, velvet furniture dots the wide-open living room area. Floor-to-ceiling windows give a sweeping view of the glittering city below while expensive art covers the walls.

The extravagant luxury makes my situation worse. I’m trapped in a gilded cage.

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?

Reaching for it, I slowly open the golden zipper.

I expect the bag to contain clean clothes but the first thing I notice is a rope. Its thick length is wrapped into a neat coil and is silky-smooth to the touch.

Rummaging through the bag, I find bottles of lubricant, a set of silk blindfolds, and a pair of leather cuffs polished to a shine. There’s even a small riding crop, wrapped carefully in plastic like a prized toy.

A cold shiver runs through me as I stare at the contents of the bag. Horror, like I’ve never felt before, settles deep into my bones as I realize Pete’s intentions for me.

He doesn’t just want to scare me or hold me prisoner.

Pete wants to tie me up, strip away my dignity, and snatch away every shred of freedom from me. He’s going to steal every ounce of pleasure from my body until I’m left broken and useless.

My stomach churns with cold dread. Snapping the bag shut, I squeeze my eyes shut.

I can already feel the phantom sensation of the rope cutting into my wrists, the weight of Pete’s hands holding me down. I wish Pete would just kill me. It’d be so much better than letting him ruin my body and my soul.

Leaning back against the couch, I stare blankly at the ceiling, fighting another wave of nausea.

As the seconds tick by in this beautiful, hollow cage of a penthouse, I realize one thing with crushing certainty.

There’s no escape for me.

The hours creep by in silence.

The afternoon light dims into a dusky orange glow, stretching long shadows across the pristine marble floor. I sit stiffly on the couch, my muscles wound tight and every nerve on edge.

The door finally opens, the soft click of it sounding louder than a gunshot.

Pete steps in casually, acting like he owns the world. He carries a faint trace of cologne, sharp and clean, masking the filth beneath. His quiet confidence makes my stomach twist.

Pete’s lips curl into a slow smile as he gazes at me. “You’re such a good boy, Dylan,” he murmurs. “You didn’t try anything stupid.”

I stay quiet, hating the way he’s talking to me.

Pete drops his jacket on the back of the couch and walks toward me at a slow, unhurried pace.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this?

” he says softly, his voice smooth but with an undercurrent of steel.

“Years, Dylan. Years . Even when I was in prison, I spent the nights thinking about what I’d do to you when I finally had you again. And here you are.”

My hands ball into tight fists.

Moving closer, Pete tilts my chin up with two fingers. “Don’t look so scared,” he whispers. “I’m not going to kill you. Not yet, anyway. I just want to remind you who owns you.”

I jerk my chin away, glaring. But it only makes Pete smirk wider.

“You think Logan’s going to save you?” he asks, chuckling coldly. “He won’t. He can’t. If you behave, maybe I’ll let his sweet little family live. If you don’t…” He leans in, lips brushing my ear. “I’ll make sure you hear their screams before I’m done with you.”

Bile rises to my throat, making me want to hurl. Pete knows exactly what to threaten me with.

Straightening up, he strips his suit jacket and tosses it aside. “Take off your clothes, Dylan. I want to see every inch of you that I own.”

When I don’t move, he roughly grabs me by the front of my shirt. He yanks hard, tearing the buttons off.

“Stop—don’t—”

“Shh,” Pete whispers almost soothingly. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”

Piece by piece, he takes my clothes off, leaving me bare and exposed in the soft evening light. Humiliation burns my skin, making me want to run and hide somewhere.

Pete’s fingers run down my arm before grasping my wrist in a hard grip. Pulling me roughly, he guides me to the bedroom.

It’s darker here. The heavy curtains are drawn, making me feel claustrophobic. The scent of leather lingers in the air, telling me this isn’t the first time Pete’s brought someone in here.

Pete gestures toward the luxurious king-sized bed. “Lie down.”

Unable to follow his command, I freeze.

Pete’s smile fades. “Now!” he shouts.

Reluctantly, with all my strength draining away, I climb onto the bed. I slowly lie down, feeling the sharp, icy stab of fear in my chest.

Pete takes his time, looping the leather handcuffs around my wrists, making sure they’re tightly fitted. Next, he grabs the rope and ties my ankles. He’s careful and firm, making sure I can’t escape.

He finally stands back, admiring his work. “You look absolutely perfect,” he murmurs. Leaning down close, his breath hot on my face, he whispers, “I’ve waited years to have you like this… tied up and surrendered. You have no idea how many nights I imagined this.”

I shut my eyes, forcing my mind to stop thinking about Logan.

My quiet resistance doesn’t deter Pete one bit. He grabs the riding crop and lightly trails it along my chest. “Your skin is too white and flawless,” he says, sighing. “It should have some color and design, don’t you think?”

He suddenly strikes at me without warning.

The sharp crack of the leather on my skin is as loud as a thunder strike.

A searing line of pain blooms across my chest. I gasp while my back arches against the bed instinctively.

Before I’ve recovered, another strike follows. And then, another.

Dark red slashes appear on my pale skin, each one burning hotter than the last.

Pete stares at my naked body with a satisfied look on his face. “You’re so beautiful like this,” he murmurs.

My heart explodes from shame, unspent rage, and utter devastation. I don’t want to shed a tear and show my vulnerability to this monster I served when I was a kid.

I force myself to retreat to a cold, dark corner of my mind. I can’t let myself feel or I’ll be driven to the edge of insanity. It’s the only thing left for me to save while Pete snatches the last shred of my humanity.

But I fail to block out the feeling of Pete’s weight leaning over me, the press of his unwanted lips on my skin. My stomach lurches. I feel like I’ll throw up any second.

Suddenly, a loud chime echoes through the penthouse. Pete freezes, muttering a curse.

“Stay exactly where you are,” Pete orders sharply and moves away from me. He casts a lingering look at me that promises punishment. “Don’t even think about getting loose. You won’t like what happens if you do.”

With that, he strides out of the bedroom.

I lie on the bed, barely able to breathe while my body shivers uncontrollably.

Despite his warnings, I pull at the handcuffs desperately. The leather bites into my skin, unforgiving, keeping me chained to the headrest.

Hot tears fill my eyes and slide down my cheeks. “Logan… I’m sorry,” I sob, breaking down completely.