The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 442

Chapter 195: A Pawn Who Thinks He’s King-1

The basement felt smaller.

He swallowed hard but kept smiling.

+25 Points

“Eliminate me, and you don’t just remove a problem,” Marco said hoarsely. “You remove the weight

that keeps the scale from tipping.”

Volkov’s jaw flexed.

Marco’s voice steadied.

“Rule number one. We fight. We discipline. We teach lessons when necessary.” His eye gleamed. ”

But we don’t turn knives inward.”

A beat.

“You break that rule,” he whispered, “and you’re not king anymore.”

Volkov’s breathing deepened – once, twice – before he shoved Marco back. The chair slammed

against concrete.

Not because he couldn’t kill him.

Because killing him would cost more than blood alone.

Marco dragged in air, smiling through red-streaked teeth.

“Whether you like it or not,” he muttered, “you need me alive.”

He leaned back as far as the restraints allowed, forcing confidence into his posture.

“I may be the reason for your downfall,” Marco said quietly, certainty replacing rage. “But I won’t be

the reason for your death.”

He met Volkov’s stare head-on.

“When I become king, I’ll need a loyal dog.”

His smile widened, blood staining his teeth.

“You’ve always been good at barking orders.”

A beat.

“You’ll fit perfectly.”

Volkov straightened slowly, smoothing his cuffs.

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Chapter 195. A Pawn Who Thinks He’s King-1

Then he looked at him.

Truly looked at him.

And smiled.

“Oh, brother…”

Volkov’s voice was almost weary.

“Strays may bare their teeth.”

A pause. The weight of the room pressed in.

“But only blood is born to wear the crown.”

Volkov’s words hung in the damp air.

Marco opened his mouth to respond-

But Volkov had already turned away.

“Igor.”

The single word carried across the basement.

+25 Points

From the shadows near the far wall, Igor stepped forward. He had been standing there the entire

time, silent as a statue, watching the exchange unfold without so much as shifting his weight.

“Yes, sir.”

Volkov didn’t look at him.

“Hand me the drill.”

For the first time since his capture, Marco’s confidence flickered.

Igor walked to the metal workbench against the wall. The heavy drill rested there beside coils of

wire and rusted tools. He picked it up without hesitation and placed it into Viktor’s waiting hand.

Marco swallowed.

“What are you doing?” he demanded, the bravado in his voice suddenly strained. “What the hell are you doing?”

Volkov turned back slowly.

A thin, sinister smile curved his mouth.

“You’re right,” he said calmly. “I cannot take your life with my own hands.”

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Chapter 195 A Pawn Who Thinks He’s King 1

Marco tugged hard against the restraints now, the chair rattling against the concrete.

+25 Points

“Exactly,” he said quickly, trying to reclaim control. “You kill me and the whole structure collapses.

You know that.”

Volkov said nothing.

Instead, he squeezed the trigger.

The drill roared to life.

The mechanical whine ripped through the basement, echoing off the stone walls like a swarm of

angry metal.

Marco’s remaining eye widened.

“Viktor-wait-”

Volkov stepped forward.

Slow. Deliberate.

“But,” he said softly over the shrieking motor, “that doesn’t mean I cannot make your life miserable.

Before Marco could react, Volkov drove the spinning drill into his left knee.

The scream that tore from Marco’s throat was raw and animal.

Metal bit through flesh and bone.

The chair jerked violently against the restraints as Marco thrashed, his body convulsing while the drill chewed deeper.

The sound of the motor mixed with his screams until the entire basement seemed to vibrate with

Then, just as suddenly-

Volkov pulled the drill free.

Marco collapsed forward in the chair, choking on broken breaths as blood spilled down his leg and

pooled beneath his boot.

Volkov switched the drill off.

The silence afterward felt deafening.

He handed the tool back to Igor without looking.

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Chapter 195 A Pawn Who Thinks He’s King-1

“Have the doctor patch him up,” Volkov said calmly. “Just enough to keep him alive.”

Igor inclined his head.

“But no surgery,” Volkov added.

+25 Points

Igor paused.

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