The alley was silent except for the faint hum of distant city traffic. The fight had ended, but the tension in the air was thick, suffocating. Dominic's breathing was shallow, the blood staining his clothes more with every passing second. His mind swirled in and out of consciousness, the edges of his thoughts blurred by the pain radiating from his side.
Vincent crouched beside him, his hands trembling as he tried to staunch the blood flow with his own jacket. The gunfire had stopped, but the battle wasn't over yet. Their enemies had scattered, but Vincent knew better than to think they were out of danger. This wasn't the end. Not by a long shot.
"Dominic…" Vincent's voice was strained, but he forced himself to stay calm. "You're going to be okay. Just stay with me, alright?"
Dominic barely registered the words. His vision was fuzzy, and he couldn't stop himself from leaning heavily against the cold concrete, his chest rising and falling in jagged breaths. His hand moved instinctively to the wound on his side, trying to apply pressure, but the pain was too much.
"Fuck…" Dominic muttered under his breath, trying to force himself to focus. His lips were dry, his body heavy. "I can't… Can't go down like this…"
"You won't," Vincent snapped, his voice sharp. He could hear the crack in his own voice, but he pushed it down. "I'll get you out of here. We're getting you back to the safe house. Elijah's waiting for us."
The mention of Elijah sent a spike of panic through Dominic's chest. He wasn't supposed to be in danger. He couldn't let Elijah worry. Not now. Not after everything.
"Get… him… out of there," Dominic forced out, his voice strained. "Don't let them…"
"Don't talk like that!" Vincent hissed, his voice loud enough to snap Dominic out of his haze for a moment. "We're not losing anyone tonight. Not you, not him."
Dominic's vision flickered again, and he felt himself slipping. The weight of the wound was dragging him under. His head lolled back against the wall, and the ground felt cold, unforgiving beneath him.
"Vincent," Dominic whispered, his voice barely audible. "Get Elijah. He's the most important."
Vincent's hands were shaking as he checked Dominic's pulse. It was weak but steady for now. He didn't have time to waste. They couldn't risk losing Dominic in this alley. Not after everything they had fought for.
"I'll get you out of here, you hear me?" Vincent's eyes were hard, determination flashing in his gaze. "But we need to move. Now."
He hoisted Dominic up, his strength only holding up for so long. With his injured friend leaning heavily on him, they stumbled toward the exit, trying to make it to the car before anyone else could come after them. Dominic was barely conscious, his face pale, but Vincent couldn't afford to slow down.
Each step felt like a victory, but also a reminder of how fragile their situation was. The safe house was their only hope. It wasn't just about surviving the night—it was about keeping Elijah safe.
---
Back at the Safe House
Adrian paced back and forth inside the safe house, his anxiety building with every passing minute. He hadn't heard from Dominic or Vincent in what felt like hours, and every part of him was on edge. The safe house was supposed to be their sanctuary, but right now, it felt like a prison. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
"Where the hell are they?" Adrian muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. He glanced over at Elijah, who had been sitting in silence, his eyes distant. Elijah had been strangely quiet ever since they'd arrived. The weight of the situation had settled heavily on his shoulders, and Adrian could see it. The worry in Elijah's eyes mirrored his own.
"Don't worry, man," Adrian said, trying to sound reassuring, but it didn't come out convincingly. "They'll be fine."
But deep down, Adrian wasn't so sure.
---
The Arrival
The screech of tires outside sent Adrian and Elijah both to the window. Their hearts skipped a beat as they saw Vincent's car pull up, swerving to a stop in front of the safe house. The door slammed open, and Vincent emerged first, his face grim, his hands covered in blood. He was moving quickly, but there was something about his posture that made Elijah's heart drop.
Before Elijah could speak, Vincent rushed toward the door, Dominic barely conscious, leaning heavily on him. Elijah's breath caught in his throat as he saw Dominic's condition—blood was soaking through his clothes, and he looked pale, his movements slow and labored.
"Dominic!" Elijah shouted, rushing toward him, but Vincent stepped in his way.
"Stay back, Elijah!" Vincent barked, his voice strained with urgency. "He's badly hurt. Let me get him inside."
Adrian's eyes widened as he saw the state of his friend. "What happened? Is he—?"
"He's alive," Vincent interrupted, his voice tight. "But we need to get him inside and stabilize him. Now."
Elijah stood frozen for a moment, watching Dominic's face, barely able to breathe. He couldn't lose him. Not like this. Not after everything they had been through.
"Dominic…" Elijah's voice cracked as he reached out to him, his hands trembling. "What happened?"
Dominic's eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, he looked at Elijah like he wasn't sure where he was. Then, with a pained breath, he whispered, "You're safe… stay safe. That's all that matters now."
Elijah's heart clenched at the words. He wanted to argue, to tell him that they would get through this together, but he couldn't speak. The fear, the worry, the exhaustion—it all hit him at once.
"Don't you dare give up," Elijah said, his voice low but fierce. "You're not leaving me, Dominic. Not now."
With Vincent's help, they got Dominic inside and laid him on the nearest couch. The room was filled with the sound of hurried movement as Vincent gathered medical supplies, but Elijah couldn't take his eyes off Dominic. The man he cared for, the one who had always been there for him, was now broken and vulnerable. And it was his fault.
He should have done more. He should have been there sooner.
But there was no time for guilt now. Elijah wiped his eyes, pushing aside the fear. There was still hope.
"Stay with me, Dominic," Elijah whispered, holding his hand tightly. "We're not done yet."