The Engineer (Batchelor Series #2)

40

Drakon Da Vinci
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I’ve never felt fear like this before.

The ropes dig into my wrists, burning my skin as I struggle against the rough binding. It’s dark—too dark to make out anything clearly—but the scent of gasoline and the faint hum of an engine tell me we’re in some kind of warehouse. My head throbs from the blow earlier, and I try to shake off the dizziness. Tangina, paano ako napunta rito?

The door creaks open, flooding the room with light. I squint against the sudden brightness, blinking as a tall, broad-shouldered man steps inside. He doesn’t look much like Renz—more stiff, more formal. But I know exactly who he is. Mr. Salarza

Renz’s father, the powerful businessman and lawyer everyone fears. And judging by the cold look in his eyes, he’s not here for a friendly chat.

He steps forward, his polished shoes echoing in the empty room, until he’s standing just a few feet away. I can feel his gaze burning into me, but I refuse to look away. Tangina mo. Walang hiya ka.

“You must be wondering why you’re here,” he says, his voice calm, too calm for what’s about to happen. “And what it is I want.”

I grit my teeth, remaining silent. What’s there to say? He’s probably got his goons waiting outside, ready to do whatever he commands.

“Let me make this simple for you, Drakon,” he continues, circling me like a predator. “You are a stain on my family’s reputation, and I will not allow my son to associate with someone like you. A nobody.”

A nobody. The words sting, but I’m used to people like him—people who think power and money give them the right to treat others like trash. I hold his gaze, forcing myself to stay calm, kahit gusto ko na siyang sapakin.

He stops in front of me, leaning down so that his face is inches from mine. “You will stop seeing my son, Drakon. Or I will destroy you.”

I scoff, despite the fear tightening my chest. “You really think you can scare me into leaving him?”

A cold smile spreads across his lips. “It’s not you I’ll be hurting, boy.”

Suddenly, a folder lands on the table next to me. It’s thick, filled with pictures—pictures of my family. My mom, smiling as she sells her kakanin on the street corner. Manuel, laughing with some friends outside our house. Putangina.

“I’ve had my people watching them for a while now,” Mr. Salarza says, his tone casual, like we’re discussing the weather. “Your little brother is quite the promising student, isn’t he? It would be a shame if something were to… happen to him.”

I freeze, my blood running cold. Manuel. My mom. Kingina. Hindi ko sila pwedeng madamay rito.

“If you don’t cut ties with my son,” he says, his voice dropping to a whisper, “I’ll make sure your family pays for your disobedience. I’ll ruin your mother’s business, have your brother expelled from school, and, if necessary, I’ll make sure they disappear.”

My heart pounds in my chest, the weight of his words sinking in like lead. This isn’t just about me anymore. This is about them. Manuel, my mom—sila ang tutumbasan ng kasalanan ko.