Chapter 16 THE MADNESS OF THE FAMILY
RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
A black car rolled to a smooth stop at the school’s car park.
The door opened.
Leonid Volkov stepped out.
Hands tucked casually into his pockets, shoulders relaxed, chin lifted with effortless confidence. His uniform fit him perfectly, crisp and expensive, like everything else about him.
Whispers followed him instantly.
Girls slowed their steps. Some nudged their friends, others stared openly. A few smiled, hopeful. Leonid didn’t notice any of it, or maybe he just didn’t care.
He walked across the courtyard with an unbothered air, heading toward his class.
Then he heard it.
A careless voice from behind him, low but loud enough.
"I heard that one Volkov brother is mad. They’re just hiding it from everyone"
Leonid stopped.
Completely.
The chatter around him continued for a second before slowly dying down as people noticed his sudden stillness.
He turned his head.
Slowly.
His eyes locked onto the boy who had spoken, a tall student leaning against a railing with his friends, wearing a smug grin like he enjoyed provoking things he didn’t understand.
Leonid took a few calm steps toward him.
The boy straightened, still smirking, clearly not intimidated.
Leonid stopped right in front of him.
Then, without warning, his fist connected with the boy’s face.
Hard.
The sound was sickening.
The boy staggered back with a sharp cry, blood instantly bursting from his lip as gasps erupted around them.
Students rushed closer, forming a circle. Phones came out. Whispers exploded.
In most cases, a fight would bring a teacher, but this was Ridgewood, and this was a Volkov. They didn't intervene; they watched in a mix of terror and twisted admiration.
Leonid grabbed the boy by his collar and leaned in, his voice low and dangerous, meant only for him.
"You know exactly what you did"
The boy spat blood to the side and laughed, actually laughed, the smirk still clinging stubbornly to his face.
"But I’m not even lying," he said mockingly. "Your brother is mad"
Leonid’s eyes darkened.
His grip tightened.
"Then let me show you," he said coldly, "that madness runs in the Volkov family too"
The crowd held its breath.
With a speed that defied his relaxed posture, Leonid grabbed the boy’s hair and slammed his forehead into the metal railing. The clang echoed through the courtyard. The boy slumped, but Leonid held him up by his collar, refusing to let him fall just yet.
He shoved the boy toward the ground like he was discarding a piece of trash. Leonid straightened his blazer, not a single hair out of place. He looked around at the circle of students, his eyes devoid of any remorse.
"If I hear that word again," he addressed the crowd, "I won't just burst a lip. I’ll make sure you forget how to speak entirely"
Students cautiously stepped aside, still keeping their distance. Blood dripped from the boy’s split lip on the concrete, but no one dared intervene.
Leonid started to walk away, hands still in his pockets, chin lifted, every step radiating indifference.
Then, a familiar voice called out sharply, breaking his calm air.
"Leo!"
He didn’t look back immediately. He already knew who it was—his best friend and only friend—running to catch up to him.
"Jerk! Can't you be a gentleman for once? You made me run after you!" she panted, finally reaching his side.
Leonid shrugged casually, as if her words didn’t matter in the slightest.
"Guess what? Maxim asked me out," she said, catching her breath, excitement bubbling in her tone.
"Cool" he replied, his voice flat, unconcerned, eyes scanning the courtyard as he picked up pace.
"What do you think? Should I accept it?" she asked eagerly, hoping for a reaction.
"Your choice" he said without even slowing down, leaving her a few steps behind.
She huffed, rolling her eyes, clearly exasperated by his indifference.
"Wait up!" she called again, breaking into a jog, determined not to be ignored.
Leonid glanced back briefly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The game of cat-and-mouse between them was one she knew well but he always led it on his terms.
As she caught up, he finally slowed just enough to let her match his pace, hands still in pockets.
Leonid finally cleared his throat, breaking the rhythm of their walk.
"Don't accept it. I don't trust him" he said, eyes straight ahead.
She paused for a moment, processing, then smiled inwardly, a quiet satisfaction flickering across her face.
"Noted, boss" she replied softly, hiding the relief behind a casual tone.
He glanced at her briefly, then back to the path ahead. "I will look for a boyfriend for you when it's time. Just trust me" he added.
She frowned slightly. "What if I don't like them?"
"I will keep searching till I see the one you will like… and someone I’m comfortable with"
She felt a pang of sadness at his words, but she quickly masked it with a smile.
"Alright," she said softly, tilting her head, trying to sound lighthearted. "I trust you"
Leonid nodded once.