Chapter 10 Only Way

Kade POV My heartbeat is so loud I can barely hear anything else. “You think this is about Rook?" Nikolai continues, his tone almost amused. “You think this is some petty father trying to make sure his son gets an easy win?” He shakes his head, taking another slow sip of his drink before setting the glass down. “You’re not listening, Mercer. This isn’t about Rook.” I inhale through my nose, trying to keep my voice steady. “Then what the fuck is it about?” Nikolai tilts his head slightly, like he’s considering something. Then he snaps his fingers and the gun vanishes from my head. I don’t move, my entire body wired so tight I feel like I might snap. I keep my breathing even, my pulse hammering so fast I think I might pass out. Nikolai leans forward, elbows on his knees. “It’s about certainty," he says smoothly. “It’s about placing bets on the right team. It’s about making sure my money is going exactly where I want it to go. Because when I fund a team, when I put my resources into a player, I expect returns.” My stomach churns. “You’re fixing games.” “Fixing implies something unnatural,” he replies, smirking. “I prefer ensuring. Ensuring my investments bring me exactly what I want. Ensuring that the teams I back continue to perform. Ensuring that the people I own know their place." I swallow, my throat tight, but he’s not just forcing me to lose, he’s controlling the entire system. He’s making sure the teams he supports financially perform better, so he gets higher returns on every investment, on every bet placed, on every deal made behind the scenes. And now, I’m part of that machine. I exhale shakily. “And if I refuse?” Nikolai smiles, slow and knowing. “That depends, Kade.” He lifts his drink again, tapping his glass lightly against the table. “How much do you value your life?” The ice-cold certainty in his voice tells me everything I need to know. I never had a choice, did I? I force myself to breathe, to keep my hands steady even though my entire body feels like it’s teetering on the edge of something I can’t escape. The room is silent except for the quiet clink of ice in Nikolai’s glass as he swirls it, waiting. He already knows my answer. He’s just letting me sit in it, letting me realize that there was never any other option. I swallow hard, staring at the table, at the untouched whiskey he poured for me, at the phone still sitting between us with proof of my mistake. Why the fuck did I do it, why did I go back to that fucking hotel room? “I’ll do it,” I say finally, my voice barely above a whisper. Nikolai doesn’t react right away. He just watches me, waiting. I lift my gaze to meet his. “I’ll throw the game.” A slow smirk tugs at the corner of his lips, like I’ve just said something inevitable. He leans back in his chair, stretching out his legs, completely at ease. “Good,” he says simply. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?” I clench my jaw, fighting the urge to snap back. Instead, I exhale through my nose, digging my nails into my palms. “You’ll delete the video after?” I ask, knowing I probably already know the answer. Nikolai chuckles, shaking his head. “You’re still not listening, Kade.” He picks up his drink, taking a slow sip before continuing. “This isn’t a one-time thing. You don’t just do this, and I let you walk away.” My stomach twists. “You belong to me now,” he says, calm and absolute. “You play when I tell you to play. You win when I tell you to win. And you lose when I tell you to lose. This? It’s just the beginning.” The reality of it crashes into me, heavier than before, settling deep in my gut like a weight I can’t shake. There is no walking away and there is no getting out. I belong to him now. Nikolai finishes his drink and sets the glass down, watching me like he’s waiting to see if I’ll try to fight back. But I don’t because I can’t. Instead, I nod once, slow and stiff. “Understood.” His smirk deepens, and he stands, adjusting his jacket. “I knew you’d be reasonable.” He taps his fingers against the table once before moving toward the door. “I’ll be in touch before the game. Make sure you’re ready.” I sit there, frozen, even as he walks out, the door clicking shut behind him. Even when I finally stand, my legs unsteady beneath me, my pulse still hammering in my ears. Even as I walk out of the hotel and step onto the street, the sun still shining, people going about their day like my entire life hasn’t just been ripped out from under me. I don’t know how long I stand there. But eventually, I start walking. Because the only thing worse than being owned by Nikolai Volkov? Letting anyone else know.