chapter 7

Chapter Seven: A Heavy Price

Alex sat on the edge of his bed, his phone clutched tightly in his trembling hands. The sun had barely risen, casting pale light through the curtains, but Alex had been awake for hours, unable to sleep after the call he’d received late last night. The voice on the other end had been cold, clinical, delivering news that had shattered the fragile peace he had been trying so hard to maintain.

His father was in trouble. Serious trouble.

The words echoed in his mind, refusing to fade. “Your father owes us a lot of money, Alex. And if he doesn’t pay up soon, things are going to get very unpleasant.”

Alex had barely spoken to his father in years. After his parents’ separation, his mother had done her best to shield him from the man’s bad decisions, but Alex knew enough to understand that his father was reckless, always involved in some shady deal or another. But this… this was different. This was dangerous.

Alex’s hands shook as he tried to make sense of it all. His father had apparently gotten involved with a dangerous group, borrowing money he couldn’t repay. And now, those debts had caught up with him. The man on the phone had made it clear—either the debt was paid, or there would be consequences. Dire ones.

But how could Alex possibly help? He didn’t have that kind of money. He barely made enough to cover his own expenses, let alone pay off his father’s debts. The thought of his father, alone and desperate, terrified Alex. But what could he do?

As the weight of the situation bore down on him, a single thought crept into his mind, unbidden but undeniable: Viktor.

Viktor had always been there for him, always ready to help when Alex needed it. He had money, power, connections. If anyone could solve this problem, it was Viktor. But Alex hesitated, fear gnawing at the edges of his mind. What would Viktor think of him, coming to him with this kind of problem? Would he see Alex as weak, as a burden?

But Alex knew he didn’t have a choice. He needed help, and Viktor was the only one he could turn to.

Taking a deep breath, Alex dialed Viktor’s number, his heart pounding as he waited for him to pick up. When Viktor’s smooth, controlled voice answered, Alex felt a wave of relief, but it was quickly overshadowed by the fear of what he was about to ask.

“Viktor,” Alex began, his voice barely above a whisper, “I… I need your help.”

Viktor’s response was immediate, his tone softening just slightly. “What’s wrong, Alex? Tell me.”

Alex swallowed hard, trying to keep his voice steady as he explained the situation. He told Viktor about the phone call, about his father’s debts, about the threats. As he spoke, Viktor listened in silence, not interrupting, just letting Alex get it all out.

When Alex finally finished, there was a long pause on the other end of the line. Alex’s anxiety grew with every second of silence, his mind racing with what Viktor might be thinking.

Finally, Viktor spoke, his voice calm and measured. “Alex, I want you to listen to me very carefully. I can help you with this. I can make this problem go away. But there’s something you need to understand.”

Alex’s heart skipped a beat. “What is it?”

“There’s a price to be paid for everything,” Viktor continued, his tone almost soothing. “If I help you, you’ll owe me. And when the time comes, I’ll expect you to repay that debt.”

Alex’s breath caught in his throat. Viktor’s words were careful, deliberate, and Alex understood the gravity of what he was being told. This wasn’t a simple favor. Viktor was offering to take care of his father’s debt, but in return, Alex would be indebted to Viktor in a way that went beyond money. He would be bound to him, obligated in a way that Alex couldn’t fully grasp yet.

But what choice did he have? If Viktor didn’t help, his father would be in serious danger. And Alex couldn’t live with himself if he just stood by and did nothing.

“I… I understand,” Alex said finally, his voice barely audible.

Viktor’s response was immediate. “Good. I’ll take care of it, Alex. Don’t worry about a thing. But remember, this is between us. No one else needs to know.”

Alex nodded, even though Viktor couldn’t see him. “Thank you, Viktor. I… I don’t know how to repay you.”

“We’ll talk about that later,” Viktor said smoothly. “For now, just focus on taking care of yourself. I’ll handle the rest.”

The call ended, leaving Alex sitting in the silence of his room, the weight of Viktor’s words pressing down on him like a heavy blanket. He had made a deal, a deal that felt as binding as any contract. And though Viktor’s voice had been kind, almost reassuring, there was an edge to it that Alex couldn’t ignore.

But the relief of knowing that his father was safe, that Viktor was handling everything, was enough to push those fears aside. Viktor had promised to help, and Alex believed him. He had to.

Yet as Alex lay back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, a sense of unease settled in his chest. Viktor had always been there for him, always protected him. But now, for the first time, Alex felt like he had crossed a line, a line that blurred the boundaries between them in a way that Alex wasn’t sure he understood.

And as the reality of the situation began to sink in, Alex couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed—something subtle, but significant. Viktor had helped him, but at what cost? And what would Viktor ask of him when the time came to repay this debt?

For now, Alex tried to push those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the fact that his father was safe. Viktor had promised to take care of it, and Alex believed in that promise.

But deep down, Alex knew that nothing in life came without a price. And as he drifted off into a restless sleep, the question lingered in his mind: What would Viktor want in return?