The Gang Leader's Impostor

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I pushed the door open to the condo, and a full-blown party greeted me. The place was packed wall to wall with people, the air thick with the mingled scents of cologne, flavored vape, and alcohol. The thumping bass of some popular track reverberated through the floor, and the sound of laughter and animated conversations filled the air.

I squeezed through the crowd, weaving my way toward the living room. Familiar faces blurred together with new ones, but most of the people seemed to know who I was. I'd only met them a week ago, but they greeted me like an old friend, their names escaping me as quickly as they were introduced.

Radley was in the corner, a cigarette in between his fingertips, the tendrils of smoke curling upward, framing him. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and he waved me over. As I approached, he began introducing me around. Each handshake, nod, and smile felt like a performance. It was overwhelming, but I managed to keep up the energy.

Eventually, the crowd around us thinned, and Radley and I were left alone. I leaned in closer, lowering my voice. "I ran into this scary guy in the elevator on my way up," I said, the memory of the encounter still fresh and unsettling. "He looked like he’s gonna slit my throat at any moment."

He laughed, his voice swallowed by the sound of the music. “I thought gang leaders aren’t afraid of anything?”

I elbowed him in the rib and he winced. “I’m serious, asshole.”

Radley’s brow furrowed slightly, curiosity piqued. "Who? Point him out."

I scanned the room, searching for the guy's face. It didn't take long. Even in a room full of people, with his messy dark hair, gray eyes, and black leather jacket, he easily sticks out. He was leaning against a wall, his eyes scanning the room with a cool, detached demeanor.

I pointed discreetly in his direction. "Over there. By the bookshelf."

Radley's smug smile started to fade as he followed my gaze. "That guy … that's the first guy to ever beat me at the underground arena."

I blinked, taken aback. "What underground arena?"

"It's like a fight club thing. Only it’s illegal." Radley took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly. "Real rough stuff."

I just nodded, processing this information. But deep in my mind, I was already weighing my odds at surviving this party by the end of the night. "So, does he go to our school?"

"Yeah. I heard he's a transferee. From New York, too, just like you." Radley looked at me intently. "Tell me, is he the guy from all the rumors?"

I grabbed a glass of vodka from the table and downed it in one go, the burn momentarily distracting me from the knot forming in my stomach. "God, I hope not."

Radley sighed, his eyes flicking back to the guy across the room. "If he is, we've got bigger problems than just schoolyard rumors and your best friend Zack."

I nodded, the reality of the situation sinking in. The party continued around us, oblivious to the tension that had settled between Radley and me. The guy by the bookshelf seemed to sense our attention and glanced our way, his eyes locking onto mine for a brief, chilling moment. There was a cold, calculating intelligence in his gaze that made my skin crawl.

Radley stubbed out his cigarette and grabbed my arm, pulling me toward a quieter corner of the room. "Listen," he said, his voice low and urgent. "If he's here, it means he's looking for something. Or someone. We need to be careful."

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Underground arena fights aren't just about brawling for fun. There's money, power, and a lot of dangerous people involved. If he's the guy from the rumors, it means he's one of the dangerous people that your ass needs to avoid, got that? I mean, you can barely finish a pull-up. So, I doubt you’d be any good in a fight."

I took a deep breath, my mind racing. "So what do we do?"

"For now, we keep a low profile. Don’t engage with him unless absolutely necessary. And if you see him around, let me know immediately."

I nodded, feeling a chill run down my spine. "Got it."

Radley patted my shoulder reassuringly. "We'll figure this out. Just stick close to me and watch your back."

The rest of the night passed in a blur. The party raged on, but my mind was elsewhere. Every time I glanced toward the guy, I felt a surge of unease. He was a stark contrast to the rest of the people around us, like an ominous presence that seemed out of place in the cheerful atmosphere.

As the night wore on, Radley and I kept a close eye on him, exchanging glances whenever he moved or interacted with someone. My thoughts were a jumble of fear and curiosity. Who was he really? What did he want? And most importantly, how was I going to survive school now that the real guy from the rumors is here?

Halfway through the party, Zack and his friends arrived and made their way through the crowd of teenagers dancing drunkenly and making out. I didn’t notice them at first, lost in my thoughts about the weird guy from the elevator, when all of a sudden, Zack's voice, louder than the music, called out to me.

All eyes turned to me. Including his.

I felt my face flush when my eyes met his and I quickly looked away, trying to hide behind Radley who was already staring in his direction. Radley raised a glass in the air, offering a silent toast to the guy, before drinking it all in one go.

I could’ve sworn I saw the guy’s jaw clench at the gesture.

Zack and his friends approached, their energy instantly changing the dynamic of the room. Zack’s easy smile and confident stride were impossible to ignore, and also impossible to not get annoyed at.

“Hey, man!” Zack said, clapping Radley on the back before turning to me. “Are you doing okay?”

“Yeah, just ... a lot on my mind,” I replied, glancing nervously toward the guy by the bookshelf. Zack followed my gaze, his smile faltering for a second as he took in the guy’s presence.

“Who’s that?” Zack asked, leaning closer so only Radley and I could hear.

Radley sighed, taking another sip of his drink. “Someone we need to be cautious about.”

Zack raised an eyebrow, clearly not understanding the full extent of Radley's words but sensing the tension. He nodded slowly, his demeanor shifting from carefree to concerned. “Got it. Just let me know if you need anything.”

I nodded, a little bit suspicious why he’d suddenly turn up acting differently. “Thanks, man.”

The party continued, but the atmosphere had shifted. I could feel the guy’s eyes on us. Radley stayed close, his usual playful banter replaced by a serious, almost protective demeanor.

When he noticed us standing around like a bunch of statues, Zack pulled me aside, away from the crowd. “Seriously, what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I might as well have.” I glanced over my shoulder, making sure that the guy was still standing over at the other side of the room. “You see that guy over there?”

He nodded. “Sergeant s*******r?”

I nodded back. “He’s new at our school. Had a bad rep, too. I heard he hates bullies.” I stared at him for his reaction.

It didn’t come.

“Why are you staring at me? I’m not a bully.”

“Oh, please.”

“I really am not.”

I just shook my head at him and turned around. I almost yelped and jumped back when I saw him just a few meters away from me, his eyes trained directly on me.

“What the f**k? You scared me.”

When he noticed us standing around like a bunch of statues, Zack pulled me aside, away from the crowd. “Seriously, what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I might as well have.” I glanced over my shoulder, making sure that the guy was still standing at the other side of the room. “You see that guy over there?”

He nodded. “Sergeant s*******r?”

I nodded back. “He’s new at our school. Had a bad rep, too. I heard he hates bullies.” I stared at Zack, waiting for his reaction.

It didn’t come.

“Why are you staring at me? I’m not a bully.”

“Oh, please.”

“I really am not.”

I just shook my head at him and turned around. I almost yelped and jumped back when I saw him just a few meters away from me, his eyes trained directly on me.

“What the f**k? You scared me.”

He was about to take a step closer when Radley inserted himself between us.

“Easy there,” Radley said, his tone calm but firm. “Let’s keep this friendly.”

The guy’s eyes flicked to Radley, then back to me. “I’m not here to start trouble. Just wanted to talk.”

“Yeah? Well, maybe you should work on your approach,” I said, trying to steady my voice.

Zack stepped closer, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by a more serious expression. “What do you want?”

The guy, Sergeant s*******r—or whatever his real name was—kept his eyes on me. “I wanted to clear the air. I know that you and your friends have been talking about me, so why don’t I address it directly?”

Radley didn’t budge. “Address what, exactly?”

“I’m Dimitri. Dimitri Yankov,” he said, his tone measured. “And I’m new here. I came from New York.”

Zack crossed his arms, his skepticism evident. “You’ve got everyone on edge. What’s your deal?”

Dimitri sighed, glancing around at the curious onlookers before focusing back on us. “Look, I don’t want to cause problems. I transferred here to get away from... certain things. I’m trying to keep a low profile.”

Radley snorted. “Not doing a great job of that.”

Dimitri’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Yeah, I’m aware. That’s why I’m here, talking to you. To set things straight.”

I took a deep breath, deciding to take a chance. “Alright, Dim. You’ve got our attention.”

“Just call me Dimitri.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I dismissed him with a wave. “What do you need from us? Didn’t you tell me never to cross paths with you again or something like that?”

Dimitri’s eyebrows furrowed, and he looked me up and down. “I didn’t say never to cross paths with me again. All I said was to never call me an asshole. And I need to find someone.”

“Who?”

“Alexander Callaghan.”

The mention of my name sent a shiver down my spine. Zack’s eyes widened, and Radley’s expression darkened. “Alexander Callaghan?” Radley repeated. “You think he’s here?”

“I know he is,” Dimitri said, his voice grim. “And I need you to tell me who among these people I’m looking for.”

Zack exchanged a look with Radley, then turned to me. “Aren’t you Alex—”

I clamped a hand on Zack’s mouth and dragged him off. I swear to God, Zack is gonna be the death of me.