Chapter 3

3.

As Taya spoke those words, the last ember of hope in my chest was finally extinguished.

I closed my eyes and leaned back against the headrest, letting out a self-deprecating chuckle.

"You win, Taya. As you wish, I won't bother you anymore."

Baron, sitting in the back with his legs crossed, finally chimed in with a sneer.

"What a tragic love story. Since you're so heartbroken, I'll make sure to give you a reception you'll never forget."

Taya clearly understood the hidden threat in his words, and she looked restless.

She opened her mouth to speak several times, but each time Baron's venomous glare silenced her.

"Babe, why are you sweating? Are you getting excited? If we didn't have company, I'd love to take care of that for you right now."

I snapped my eyes open and looked in the mirror, meeting Baron's mocking gaze.

There wasn't a hint of genuine lust in his eyes; he was saying it purely to provoke me.

I forced myself to look away, taking deep breaths to steady my racing heart.

When the car finally screeched to a halt, I slammed the door open and started walking toward the nearest bus stop.

Baron's goon, a guy with dyed red hair, blocked my path and pressed a baseball bat against my chest.

"Where do you think you're going, punk? The boss didn't give you permission to leave."

Baron stepped out of the car leisurely.

"Red, let him go. Let the little guy walk. We don't want people thinking we're criminals. He might pee himself, and that would be embarrassing."

The red-haired lackey nodded and stepped aside with a smirk.

I brushed the wrinkles out of my shirt and kept walking.

Behind me, Baron's voice rang out again. "Take one more step, and I won't hesitate to break your leg right here on the street."

I stopped in my tracks and turned around to face him.

He walked up to me like a smiling tiger and patted my shoulder.

"I told you, I run this neighborhood. If you don't show me respect, you're disrespecting the 'truth' my boys are carrying. Don't you agree?"

I actually laughed at that. I reached out and snatched the baseball bat right out of Red's hand.

"Mr. Zeller, right? I'm holding the 'truth' now. Does that mean I can go?"

Baron's smile turned sinister as he made a 'be my guest' gesture.

Before I could even turn around, a dozen more thugs armed with bats poured out of the nearby payday loan office.

Baron spread his arms wide. "Sorry, kid. It looks like my truth has more backup. You're staying."

Taya panicked and rushed over, grabbing the bat from my hand.

"Quinton, are you insane? Do you have any idea who you're messing with!"

"Apologize right now and get lost!"

"Forget it! I don't take apologies from punks like him!"

Baron looked at Taya with a cold, hard expression.

"You need to remember whose woman you are now."

"Keep acting up, and I can't guarantee your family's company survives another hour."

Taya turned pale, looking at me with total helplessness.

I narrowed my eyes, finally realizing she was doing all of this to protect me.

Satisfied that Taya was silenced, Baron wrapped his arm around her again.

He then signaled his men to drag me into his office.

"Baron Zeller, I'm giving you one friendly warning. Tell your dogs to let me go now, and I might overlook this. Otherwise, you won't like the consequences."

Taya didn't even wait for Baron to react this time.

She slapped me again, her eyes frantic.

"Quinton, stop it! Just shut up for once! Is being a tough guy worth dying for?"

Baron was delighted by her reaction and decided not to punish my defiance just yet.

I spat out some blood and followed them inside with a sharp, cold grin.

Red kept poking me in the small of my back with his bat.

"Thought you were tough, huh? Try snatching a bat now!"

"Let me tell you, when my boss wants a woman, he gets her."

"Since you got to taste her first, you better get ready to be turned into dog food!"

Another lackey stepped up and slapped Red on the shoulder.

"Don't waste your breath. Boss said we aren't doing the dirty work this time. He's got a special 'appointment' for him."

The two of them shared a sickening laugh, and I realized then that whatever was coming next was going to be ugly.