The air in Dominic's estate was thick with tension, the echoes of gunfire still ringing in his ears. Matteo was gone—for now—but Dominic knew this was far from over. His grip on Elijah was still tight, unwilling to let him go even for a second. He had almost lost him. Again.
Elijah, still shaken from the chaos, finally pulled away slightly, looking up at Dominic with a mixture of exhaustion and frustration. "You can let go now, you know," he muttered.
Dominic didn't.
His dark gaze bore into Elijah's, his jaw clenched. "No."
Elijah sighed. "You're acting like I'll disappear."
"You almost did," Dominic shot back, his voice dangerously low. He tilted Elijah's chin up, forcing their eyes to meet. "You don't get it, do you? I was ready to burn this entire fucking city to the ground for you."
Elijah's breath hitched. The weight of those words settled deep in his chest, but he quickly shook it off, scoffing. "Dramatic much?"
Dominic exhaled sharply. This brat… Even after being kidnapped, after being held at gunpoint, he still had the audacity to joke.
"Elijah." Dominic's tone was sharp. "This isn't a game. Matteo isn't done with you."
Elijah frowned, crossing his arms. "Well, it's not like I asked him to be obsessed with me."
Dominic's eyes darkened dangerously. That was exactly the problem—Matteo wanted what belonged to him. And no one touched what was his.
He took a slow, threatening step closer, invading Elijah's space. "Then stop looking so fucking tempting," Dominic murmured, his fingers tracing along Elijah's jaw before gripping his chin. "You don't realize what you do to people."
Elijah's heart skipped. Dominic was staring at him in that way again—possessive. Hungry. Dangerous.
"Elijah," Vincent's voice interrupted from the doorway, making them both snap their heads in his direction. "We need to talk."
Dominic did not appreciate the interruption.
"Unless it's about putting a bullet in Matteo's skull, I don't give a damn," Dominic snapped.
Vincent's expression was grim. "It's about Adrian."
Elijah stiffened. His best friend?
"What about Adrian?" Elijah asked, voice suddenly sharp.
Vincent hesitated, then looked at Dominic. "He might be in trouble."
Elijah's stomach dropped. No. Not Adrian.
Without another word, he grabbed his coat, but before he could move further, Dominic yanked him back.
"Elijah, don't."
"I have to—"
"You're not stepping one foot outside this house."
Elijah glared at him. "Dominic, I swear to God—"
"Then swear on something else, because you're not leaving."
Elijah was about to argue when Vincent spoke again. "It's too late."
The room fell silent.
"What?" Elijah breathed.
Vincent's expression was hard. "Matteo got to him first."
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