Puck Me Harder: A Stepbrother Romance [BL]

Micah’s POV

A sharp gasp hitched in my chest. "Erm... It’s Micah," I stuttered out, my voice cracking slightly under the intense pressure suffocating me.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, followed by a sudden, dramatic gasp of pure delight.

"Oh my days! Micah darling! I’ve been waiting for your call all morning. Have you made your decision yet?"

I clenched my phone with both hands, pressing the receiver so tightly against my ear that it hurt. My stomach was churning in violent knots. I was terrified. I was jumping blindly into a dark, dangerous world of underground night clubs and powerful men, a world I knew absolutely nothing about. But what other choice did I have? I had no money, no home, no protection, and a terrifying brother hunting me down like prey.

"I... I don’t know," I stammered, biting my sore lower lip until the metallic taste of blood hit my tongue again. "But can I get a trial? For just... one week?"

"A trial, huh?" Phoenix asked, his energetic tone instantly dropping into a low, thoughtful murmur.

Silence stretched over the line for several agonizing seconds.

My blood ran completely cold. The silence felt like a heavy weight crushing down on my chest. Panic flared wildly in my stomach. Please don’t say no. Please don’t reject me. I have nowhere else to go. I can’t go home.

"Sure," Phoenix finally spoke up, a light, amused chuckle echoing through the phone. "Let’s try it."

A sudden, overwhelming wave of relief washed over me so fast it made my head spin. My heart clenched tightly from pure, unadulterated happiness. A breathy, shaky laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.

"Thank you, Phoenix," I breathed out, my eyes stinging with hot, emotional tears. "I’ll be at the club in a few minutes."

"Oh, nice!" Phoenix replied smoothly, the sound of loud music and clinking glasses faint in the background of his call. "I’ll send my assistant downstairs to pick you up from the first floor entrance."

"Okay," I whispered.

I disconnected the call and pulled the phone away from my ear, tightening my grip around the small device until my knuckles turned stark white. I leaned my forehead against the cool glass of the taxi window, closing my eyes tightly as my mind raced in chaotic circles.

Please... I prayed silently to whatever universe was listening. I just wish Noah isn’t following me. Please don’t let him find me here.

After a long, agonizing ride through the crowded city streets, the taxi finally pulled up in front of the massive, imposing structure of the Phoenix Club.

My heart instantly climbed straight back into my throat. The building looked even more terrifying and grand than it had the last time I was here. Towering neon lights flashed against the dark evening sky, casting vibrant crimson and gold shadows over the polished glass exterior.

This time, I wasn’t with Raven. I didn’t have a high-VIP escort to guide me, which meant I couldn’t slip through the quiet, hidden back elevator like I had done before. I had to face the main entrance like everyone else.

I handed the taxi driver his cash, stepped out onto the pavement, and slowly walked toward the grand front entrance.

Before I could even reach the bottom stair, two massive men dressed in sharp black suits stepped directly into my path, completely blocking my way. They were built like brick walls, their expressions harsh, cold, and menacing. Holstered tightly against their tactical vests were heavy, matte-black handguns.

My breath caught in my throat. I swallowed hard, taking an immediate, instinctual step backward as a cold sweat broke out across the back of my neck.

"Good evening," I greeted nervously, my voice barely audible over the deep, thumping bass vibrating through the club’s walls.

The guard on the left glared down at me, his eyes narrowing into cold slits. "Who are you?" he barked out, his voice rough and commanding.

"I’m Micah," I replied quickly, my hands shaking as I reached into my pocket and pulled out the golden business card, holding it out for them to see. "I came to meet Phoenix."

The two guards looked down at the shiny card in my hand, then slowly exchanged a suspicious glance with each other.

"Phoenix?" the second guard muttered, tilting his head as he stared at me. "He just called the boss directly by his name. Is he the new employee that’s supposed to be arriving today?"

I blinked, completely caught off guard by his words. New employee? What new employee? Was Phoenix expecting someone else?

The first guard sneered, his cold eyes sweeping over me from head to toe, taking in my messy hair, my oversized sweater, and my pale, trembling frame. "Maybe he’s not the one," he scoffed, his tone dripping with blatant disrespect. "I heard the new hire is arriving straight from France today. This kid clearly isn’t from France..."

"Wait, but..." I tried to speak up, taking a small step forward to explain that Phoenix himself had just told me to wait here for his assistant.

Before I could even finish my sentence, both guards reached down toward their belts, harshly cocking their heavy weapons with a loud, terrifying CLICK.

The sharp metallic sound echoed violently in the cool air.

"Step back, kid!" the guard snarled, pointing a thick finger straight at my face. "Back off before we drag you off the property!"

My heart instantly stopped beating. Cold terror shot straight through my veins. I swallowed hard, raising my hands in immediate surrender as I took several steps backward, my sneakers stumbling over the curb until I was standing completely off the main walkway.

I stood there on the edge of the busy sidewalk, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird as I pulled out my old phone with trembling hands.

My thumb hovered over Phoenix’s phone number on the screen, my mind spinning in deep, frantic hesitation.

Do I call him back right now? What if he’s in the middle of an important meeting? What if he gets angry and changes his mind about giving me a trial week because I’m being a useless, needy annoyance?

I bit my sore lower lip hard, my eyes darting nervously between the armed guards guarding the heavy glass doors and the glowing screen of my phone. I felt so small, so helpless, completely stranded on the cold street with nowhere to run.

Suddenly, the loud, aggressive screech of high-end tires shattered the ambient noise of the street.

A sleek, pitch-black luxury sports sedan swerved smoothly around the corner, pulling up to the curb right in front of where I was standing. The car looked ridiculously expensive, its dark tinted windows completely hiding whoever was sitting inside.

The front door flew open, and a driver dressed in a crisp uniform stepped out, quickly rushing around to open the rear passenger door with deep respect.

My eyes widened as a young man casually stepped out of the backseat.

He was strikingly, breathtakingly beautiful. He looked to be around my age, with sharp, flawless facial features, pale skin, and long, silky hair tied neatly into a stylish low ponytail that rested over his shoulder. He wore high-fashion, tailored clothes that screamed immense wealth and effortless arrogance.

He looked... undeniably French.

This had to be the new employee the guards were just talking about.

The guy lifted a thin cigarette stick to his plump lips, flicking a silver lighter open to ignite the tip. He took a long, slow drag, letting the flame burn bright before exhaling a thick, dramatic cloud of white smoke out into the cool evening air.

He lowered the cigarette between two slender fingers, his sharp, dark eyes scanning the massive, glowing neon sign of the Phoenix Club above us.

A slow, dangerously confident smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"I’m finally here," he muttered softly, his voice smooth, velvety, and carrying a distinct, elegant French accent as he tossed the lit cigarette onto the pavement. "I might as well rule the Phoenix club."