The Engineer (Batchelor Series #2)

48

Drakon Da Vinci
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The van rattled as we sped down a bumpy road. My mind was racing, struggling to keep up with everything that had just happened. I could feel Renz beside me, his breathing unsteady, his hands still tied behind his back like mine.

He wasn’t saying anything, just leaning into me, silently asking for reassurance. I wanted to reach out to him, to tell him that we would be okay, but my gut told me otherwise. Whoever had taken us—this wasn’t just a random kidnapping. This was deliberate. Personal.

The van screeched to a halt. The door was yanked open, and before we could react, we were dragged out and into a dimly lit warehouse. The air was thick with the smell of gasoline and dust, and the faint buzz of a flickering light filled the silence.

“Renz, you okay?” I whispered, glancing over at him. His eyes were wide, but he nodded, keeping his jaw tight. I knew that look. He was trying to stay strong, but I could feel the fear radiating off him.

"Maghintay ka lang," I said quietly, though I wasn’t sure if I was comforting him or myself.

Suddenly, a door at the far end of the room creaked open. Two figures emerged from the shadows. One of them stepped forward, and my heart nearly stopped when I recognized him.

Renz’s father.

The same man who had made it clear years ago that I was not welcome in his son’s life. The man behind the threats that tore us apart. He looked older now, more worn down, but those cold eyes were still the same.

“Papa?” Renz’s voice trembled as he stepped forward, his shoulders tensing. “What the hell is going on? Anong pakulo nanaman ito?”

His father raised a hand, signaling the men behind us to cut the restraints. I immediately rubbed my wrists, keeping my eyes on him, my body ready for whatever was coming next.

“Renz… Drakon,” his father started, his voice surprisingly calm, almost apologetic. “This wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”

I blinked, unsure of what to make of that. “What do you mean?”

His father let out a long, heavy sigh. “I’ve made mistakes. Many mistakes. Years ago, I let my pride, my fear, and my… my views come between you two. I thought keeping you apart was the right thing to do. But I was wrong.”

Renz stared at him, disbelief written all over his face. “What are you talking about? You’re the one who—”

“I know,” his father interrupted, his voice tight. “I know. I pushed you away, I manipulated things. Drakon, I was the one behind those threats. I thought… if I could scare you off, Renz would move on. Live the life I wanted for him.”

Anger bubbled up inside me, my fists clenching. "You ruined us," I spat, my voice low but furious. "You made him disappear. You made me think he didn’t want me anymore."

“I thought it was for the best.” His father’s voice cracked, and for the first time, I saw the regret in his eyes. “But I see now how wrong I was. The truth is, you two were stronger together, and I was too blind to see it.”

Renz took a step back, shaking his head. “You expect us to believe this? After everything you did?”

“I’m not asking for forgiveness,” his father said quietly. “I’m just… asking you to hear me out. I’m trying to make things right.”

There was a long pause, the tension thick in the air. I didn’t know what to say. This man—this monster—had torn us apart, and now he stood here, acting like some repentant father?

Renz looked at me, uncertainty clouding his expression. I could tell he didn’t know what to feel either. But before either of us could speak, another voice sliced through the room, cold and venomous.

"Don’t be fooled by his little speech."

We both turned as a woman stepped into the light. Renz’s mother.

Her face was sharp, lips twisted into a sneer as she surveyed the room. The moment I saw her, a chill ran down my spine. I’d heard about her, the quiet force behind Renz’s father—the one who had always disapproved of me, but had stayed in the shadows.

“Mom?” Renz’s voice cracked. “What are you doing here?”

“Doing what your father never had the guts to do,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing on us.

“This pathetic excuse of a man,” she jabbed a finger toward Renz’s father, “thinks he can fix things with a few words. But this? This abomination?” She pointed between us. “This ends now.”

“Mom, stop,” Renz said, stepping in front of me as if he could shield me from her wrath. “You’re not doing this.”

She ignored him, stepping closer, her eyes filled with disgust. “You think I don’t know? I know everything. The threats, the manipulation. You think it was your father? He was weak. I was the one who pulled the strings.”

I felt my blood run cold.

“Anong ibig sabihin ninyo?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She looked at me, her eyes gleaming with hatred. “I’m the reason you’re both standing here today. I’ve watched my son become something unnatural because of you.” Her voice grew sharper. “I was never going to let this happen.”

Renz shook his head, stepping closer to her, anger and hurt flashing across his face. “You… you did all this? The threats, the manipulation? You were behind it?”

“Yes,” she snapped, her voice steady and unapologetic. “And I’d do it again. You don’t belong together.”

I felt Renz’s hand grasp mine tightly, and for the first time in years, it felt like we were standing on the same side—facing down the one person who wanted nothing more than to tear us apart.

I looked at Renz, my heart aching for him, for everything he had to endure because of her. “We do belong together,” I said quietly, but firmly.

He nodded, squeezing my hand in silent agreement.

His mother’s lip curled, but before she could speak again, Renz’s father stepped between us. “Enough,” he said, his voice surprisingly firm. “I’ve let this go on for too long.”

She glared at him, but his voice remained steady. “I won’t let you destroy them. Not anymore.”

For a moment, I saw her falter, her grip on control slipping. And in that moment, I knew—we had a chance to finally be free.

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