29

Chapter 29

Sunoo knew he shouldn’t go back.

But he did.

The hallway leading to Riki’s room felt longer than before, stretching endlessly under the dim glow of flickering lights. His footsteps echoed, too loud in the empty space, a constant reminder that this was a mistake.

A stupid, reckless mistake.

And yet—

He was already pressing his hand to the door.

Already stepping inside.

The restraints were gone.

Sunoo’s breath caught.

Riki was still lying there, arms stretched at his sides, chest rising and falling in slow, deliberate movements. But the thick leather straps that had held him down?

Unbuckled. Torn.

Left open as if he had undone them himself.

Sunoo’s fingers twitched at his sides. "How—"

"How do you think?"

The voice was smooth. Dark.

Riki’s voice.

And then—he moved.

Too fast.

Too sudden.

Sunoo barely had time to react before a sharp force slammed him back against the door.

The impact stole his breath, his hands coming up instinctively to shove against Riki’s chest—but Riki was already there, pressing close, trapping him in place.

Sunoo inhaled sharply. "You—"

"Missed me?" Riki murmured, voice thick with amusement.

Sunoo scowled. "Get off."

Riki only smirked, tilting his head. "You don’t sound very convincing."

Sunoo hated how easy it was for Riki to get under his skin.

Hated the way he could shift from bound and helpless to towering and untouchable in seconds.

Hated that this wasn’t surprising.

Sunoo’s gaze flickered down. The restraints weren’t broken. Just… undone.

That meant—

"You let them tie you down," Sunoo realized. "You could have escaped at any time."

Riki’s smirk widened.

"Of course I did."

Sunoo exhaled sharply, jaw clenching. "Why?"

Riki hummed, pretending to think. "Because it was entertaining."

Sunoo’s nails dug into his palms. "Entertaining?"

"You were so sure you had me." Riki leaned in, close enough that his breath ghosted against Sunoo’s skin. "So sure you had won."

Sunoo swallowed, forcing himself to hold his ground. "I did win."

Riki laughed.

Low. Amused.

Then, faster than Sunoo could react—Riki grabbed his wrist, twisting it behind his back and shoving him harder against the door.

Sunoo sucked in a sharp breath, ignoring the way his pulse spiked.

"Doesn’t feel like winning, does it?" Riki mused.

Sunoo gritted his teeth. "You’re a psycho."

Riki hummed. "Maybe." His grip tightened slightly. "But you still keep coming back, don’t you?"

Sunoo said nothing.

Because he didn’t have an answer.

Didn’t know why he was here.

Didn’t know why he kept circling back to Riki, drawn in despite every warning, every logical thought telling him to stay away.

"You’re sick," Sunoo muttered.

Riki smiled. "You like that, don’t you?"

Sunoo would not give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

But Riki already knew.

He always knew.

"You can’t stop thinking about me," Riki murmured, voice dipping lower. "Even when I’m locked away. Even when you should be celebrating your so-called victory."

Sunoo clenched his jaw. "Shut up."

Riki’s grip didn’t loosen. "You don’t want me to shut up."

Sunoo’s patience snapped.

With all the force he could muster, he twisted against Riki’s hold, breaking free just enough to shove him backward.

Riki stumbled slightly but recovered fast, laughing, like this was all just a game.

Like he had already won.

Sunoo’s breath was unsteady. "You can’t keep doing this."

Riki’s eyes gleamed in the dim light. "Oh, Sunoo."

He took a slow step forward.

Then another.

And another.

Sunoo refused to back away.

"You really think this is over?" Riki murmured.

Sunoo held his gaze, refusing to waver. "I think it’s about to be."

Riki’s smirk deepened. "You’re adorable when you lie."

Sunoo’s nails dug into his palms. "Stay. Here."

Riki tilted his head. "Make me."

And that was it.

The moment Sunoo realized—

Riki wanted him to fight.

Wanted him to struggle.

Wanted him to try—because no matter what, Riki knew he would win.

Knew that he was in control.

Sunoo’s pulse pounded in his ears.

He had made a mistake.

A huge mistake.

Because Riki wasn’t just dangerous.

He wasn’t just twisted.

He was evil.

And Sunoo had let him in.

Riki took another step closer, gaze unreadable.

"This isn’t the end," he whispered.

And Sunoo—

For the first time—

Believed him.

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I didnt thought this book would blow up at any point honestly.