Echoes Of Danger

Chapter 5

As Mike exited the room at Atlas's command, leaving Pihu alone with the imposing figure of the mafia don, a heavy silence settled over the office like a suffocating blanket. Pihu's heart hammered in her chest as she watched Atlas approach, his footsteps echoing in the quiet room like the tolling of a funeral bell.

He stood before her, his presence towering and intimidating, as he reached out to graze his fingers over her cheek. Pihu trembled at his touch, her skin prickling with a mixture of fear and anticipation. But when he withdrew his hand, she let out a shaky breath, hoping against hope that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't hurt her.

But her hopes were dashed as Atlas produced a gun from his pocket, the metal glinting ominously in the dim light of the office. He traced the barrel of the gun over Pihu's hair, the cold touch sending a shiver down her spine as she fought to keep her composure.

She tried to stand up, to put some distance between herself and the dangerous man before her, but Atlas pressed the gun against the nape of her neck with a firm hand, forcing her back into her seat. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the cold steel against her skin, her heart pounding in her chest as she struggled to find her voice.

"What were you doing at the police station?" Atlas's voice was low and menacing, his eyes boring into hers with an intensity that made her blood run cold.

Pihu's mind raced with fear and confusion, her thoughts swirling in a tumultuous whirlwind of panic. She knew she had to answer, to placate the dangerous man before her, but her body refused to obey her commands, frozen in place by the weight of Atlas's gaze.

Her face turned as white as a sheet, her hands trembling as she struggled to form the words that would save her life. But before she could speak, Atlas gestured for her to stand, his grip on her waist firm and unyielding as he pulled her closer.

Pihu's breath caught in her throat as Atlas repeated his question, his voice a low, menacing growl that sent shivers down her spine. She realized the gravity of their situation—the dangerous game she was unwittingly playing, with her life hanging in the balance.

In a desperate bid for escape, Pihu tried to push Atlas away, her hands trembling with fear as she attempted to break free from his iron grip. But Atlas was unfazed, his strength overpowering as he seized her hand and twisted it back with a violent jerk.

A sharp cry of pain escaped Pihu's lips as she felt her body collide with Atlas's chest, her front pressed against his solid form as she struggled to catch her breath. Tears welled in her eyes as she felt the weight of Atlas's scrutiny, his cold gaze piercing through her with a chilling intensity.

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still as Pihu's mind raced with a thousand thoughts and fears. But then, with a trembling voice, she managed to stammer out a response to Atlas's question—a feeble attempt to placate the dangerous man before her.

"I... I was at the police station for work," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the pounding of her heart. "To file a case about a man who had beaten a woman."

Atlas's expression softened slightly at her words, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his features as he realized that she had told him the truth. He already knew why she had gone to the police earlier, through his vast network of informants and spies, but hearing it from her own lips confirmed his suspicions.

With a curt nod, Atlas released his grip on Pihu's hand, allowing her to stand more comfortably as he turned away to gaze out the window. The threat of violence still hung heavy in the air, but for now, Pihu was safe from his wrath.

But just as Pihu began to relax, Atlas's voice cut through the silence like a knife, his words sending a chill down her spine. "If you go to the police," he said, his tone ice-cold and menacing, "your sister will suffer."

Pihu's blood ran cold at the mention of her sister, her worst fears realized in an instant. She knew that Atlas was capable of unspeakable cruelty, and the thought of her sister falling victim to his wrath filled her with a bone-deep terror.

But Atlas wasn't finished yet. He leaned in close, his breath hot against her ear as he delivered his final warning. "Your sister will not die," he said, his voice dripping with malice, "but she will suffer a fate worse than death."

Pihu's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to comprehend the enormity of Atlas's threat. She knew that she had no choice but to obey him—to stay silent and keep her sister safe, no matter the cost.

With a trembling nod, Pihu forced herself to meet Atlas's gaze, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and defiance. "I understand," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Atlas's lips curled into a cruel smile as he released her from his gaze, turning away to resume his vigil by the window. Pihu took a shaky step back, her body trembling with the weight of the choice she had made.

Pihu wasted no time in fleeing the office, her heart pounding in her chest as she raced down the stairs and out into the street below.

She didn't stop running until she was far from the looming presence of Atlas Salvatore, her lungs burning with exertion and her mind reeling from the horrors she had just witnessed. But even as she caught her breath, she knew that the danger was far from over—that as long as Atlas remained at large, she would never truly be safe.