Chapter 15
William
“That was a wicked cool lecture,” I say, full of beans.
“I’ll say,” Davey giggles. “Jeez. Some people would call us total dorks for acting like this, but I don’t care!”
The afternoon sun is warm on my back as Davey and I slip out of the Uppington Building with a rare free hour between lunch and our next seminar.
We’ve been buzzing with nervous energy all morning, and when Davey suggests a quick visit to Stuffiezone, the cozy Little club just a few blocks away, I don’t even hesitate.
“Yes, pleeeease,” I trill, linking my arm with his. “I need some serious stuffie time.”
Stuffiezone is exactly what it sounds like: a safe, colorful haven tucked into a converted warehouse with bright murals on the walls and soft lighting that makes everything feel like a giant playroom.
The moment we step inside, the familiar scent of lavender, vanilla, and fresh laundry hits me.
We sign in at the front desk, slip off our shoes, and head straight for the biggest playroom, the pastel paradise filled with mountains of stuffies, foam mats, and low tables perfect for coloring or building.
Davey and I immediately drop to our knees in the middle of a sea of plush toys. I grab a soft gray elephant and a bright orange fox, while Davey claims a fluffy white bunny and a dinosaur.
For the first few minutes we just roll around, giggling like natural born Littles.
“This one says he wants to be an astronaut,” I declare in a high-pitched voice, waving the fox dramatically.
Davey makes his bunny hop across the mat. “Well, my bunny is the captain of the spaceship! Your fox can be the official snack provider. He has to bring cookies on every mission.”
I gasp in mock outrage. “But what if the cookies float away in zero gravity? We need a cookie guardian!”
We dissolve into giggles, burying ourselves deeper in the pile. That’s when the boy approaches us, dropping down gracefully beside our fort.
“Hi!” he says brightly. He’s wearing the cutest purple dinosaur romper with little spikes down the back and a hood with tiny teeth.
His vibe is pure fun, and he radiates that effortless Little energy.
“Can I play too? I’m Eddie. I promise I’m really good at building forts and making stuffies talk in cool voices. ”
“Of course!” Davey and I say at the same time.
Eddie grabs a fluffy pink unicorn and immediately joins in. “Okay, my unicorn is the spaceship engineer. He says the fox’s cookies are too crumbly for space travel. We need chocolate chip ones!”
I laugh and hold up my fox. “Hey! My fox worked very hard on those cookies. He’s a professional baker. Right, Mr. Fox?”
Mr. Fox, in my best silly voice, replies, “Yes! And I add extra love sprinkles!”
Davey’s bunny hops over. “Love sprinkles? That sounds suspicious. My bunny says we need a taste test first!”
The three of us spend the next twenty minutes in absolute chaos—building a lopsided pillow fort, having an intense stuffie tea party with imaginary cups, and chasing each other around the room with tickle attacks.
Eddie is hilarious, giving his unicorn a very proper British accent and making him complain about “improper tail alignment” during the spaceship launch.
Eventually we collapse onto a giant pile of blankets, flushed and laughing. Eddie smooths his romper and gives me a warm, curious smile.
“So… you know my name is Eddie. But did you also know that my Daddy knows your Daddy… Kane, right?”
My stomach does a little flip. I sit up straighter. “He does?”
“Yeah,” Eddie says, still smiling but watching me carefully.
“My Daddy’s name is Viktor. He’s been working really hard to bring Kane into the business with two other really great Daddies, Ivan and Kirill.
He says it’ll be good for everyone. Safer territories, better coordination, less fighting in the streets.
He really believes they can make things better together. ”
Davey’s eyes narrow slightly, but he stays quiet, letting me lead.
I swallow. “Did… did Viktor send you here to spy on me?”
Eddie shakes his head quickly, looking genuinely surprised.
“No, I promise! He just mentioned that Kane had a new boy and I might run into you at places like this. I wanted to introduce myself properly and show you that his offer to Kane is legit. He’s not trying to trick anyone.
He really wants this alliance to work. For all of them. ”
I study Eddie’s face. He looks sincere—open, friendly, every inch a regular Little like us. Still, my heart is racing.
“I’ll need to talk to my Daddy about it,” I say carefully. “But… I’m happy to keep playing for now.”
Eddie’s smile returns, bright and genuine. “Cool! That’s all I wanted. No pressure. We can just be Littles for the rest of the hour.”
Davey relaxes a fraction. “Okay… but if you start asking too many questions, I’m throwing a stuffie at you.”
Eddie laughs. “Fair! Now come on, let’s build the greatest stuffie ski slope ever. I bet my unicorn can beat your fox in a race!”
We dive back in, the earlier tension melting away as we stack pillows, drag chairs and a low table into position, and drape blankets for the snow. Eddie narrates the whole thing like a sports commentator.
“And they’re off! Mr. Fox takes an early lead, but wait—Captain Bunny is making a daring overtake! Oh no, the unicorn engineer has hit a pillow avalanche!”
We’re all laughing so hard we can barely breathe by the time we send the final wave of stuffies sliding down the slope. Eddie high-fives both of us.
“This was so much fun,” Eddie says, still catching his breath. “We should do this again soon. All three of us. Maybe with more Littles next time?”
“I’d like that,” I reply honestly.
We exchange numbers before Davey and I have to head back to campus. Before we leave, Eddie gives us both big hugs.
“Tell Kane that Viktor really does want to work with him,” Eddie says softly as we part. “For real. And you’ve got my number now, so message me later, okay?”
I smile and nod, but inside my head is already whirring with thoughts…
* * *
Later that evening I’m back in my apartment, pacing the small living room with Twist clutched to my chest. The day has been long: seminars, notes, that strange but fun playdate.
But Kane hasn’t replied to any of my messages.
Not one. I sent three. All marked delivered but unopened.
I check my phone again. Nothing.
Worry gnaws at my stomach. I try calling. Straight to voicemail. I send another text…
WILLIAM: Daddy? Are you okay? Please just let me know you’re safe.
Still nothing.
I pace faster, barefoot on the cool floor. The apartment feels too quiet, too empty without him. Memories from last night keep flashing… his intense eyes, the way he held me after, the passion in his voice when he talked about his traditions.
What if something happened?
What if that meeting with Viktor and the others went wrong?
My hands start to shake. I open my messages to Eddie…
WILLIAM: Hey Eddie, it’s William. Have you heard from your Daddy today? I can’t reach Kane and I’m getting worried.
His reply comes faster than I expect.
EDDIE: No, I haven’t been able to get hold of Viktor either. He said he had an important meeting but he usually texts me. This is weird. I’m worried too.
The tears come suddenly and hard. I sink onto the couch, hugging Twist tight as sobs shake my shoulders. The thought that Kane might be in serious danger—hurt, or worse—hits me like a truck. I realize in this moment just how much I care about him and how deeply I’ve already fallen.
Kane is scary. He’s dangerous. He’s everything I thought I should run from.
But he’s also the man who sings me Russian lullabies, who rubs cooling cream on my sore bottom, who looks at me like I’m the only soft thing in his brutal world.
I don’t want to lose him.
I just can’t.
I cry harder, face buried in Twist’s fur, the apartment blurring around me.
“Please-please-please be okay,” I whisper into the silence. “Please come back to me, Daddy.”
The waiting feels endless. And for the first time, I understand how much power this man already has over my heart.
My literary studies have taught me that life can be crueler than anyone could ever imagine. Plot twists and fate combine to the most wicked effect.
I just hope my story has something like a happy ending…