The safe house was filled with an unbearable silence. The only sound was the faint, labored breathing of Dominic as he lay unconscious on the couch. His face was pale, lips slightly parted, and every few minutes, his body would twitch in discomfort.
Elijah sat beside him, his fingers still tightly wrapped around Dominic's hand. He hadn't moved since Vincent finished patching him up. He couldn't.
His mind wasn't stable
"Elijah."
Adrian's voice broke through his thoughts.
"You've been sitting there for hours."
"I know."
Adrian sighed, walking over and crouching beside him. "He's not gonna die."
Elijah exhaled sharply, looking down at Dominic. "How do you know that?"
Adrian rubbed the back of his neck. "Because he's stubborn as hell. A guy like him doesn't just die from something like this."
Elijah didn't respond.
Adrian leaned against the couch, watching Elijah for a moment before speaking again. "Look, man… you care about him."
Elijah tensed but didn't deny it.
"You don't have to say it," Adrian continued. "But it's obvious."
Elijah finally glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "What if I do?"
Adrian shrugged. "Then you better be ready for what that means."
Elijah turned back to Dominic. He had been fighting his feelings from the start, refusing to acknowledge the pull between them. But seeing Dominic like this—seeing him risk his life without hesitation—shattered any denial he had left.
"I hate him," Elijah muttered. "And I hate that I don't."
Adrian snorted. "Sounds complicated."
"It is."
A soft groan pulled their attention back to Dominic.
Elijah's breath hitched. His grip on Dominic's hand tightened slightly.
Dominic's eyelashes fluttered, and his lips parted as if he were trying to say something. His fingers twitched in Elijah's grasp.
"Dom?" Elijah whispered.
Dominic's eyes barely opened, his gaze unfocused. His throat bobbed as he tried to speak, voice hoarse and weak.
"Elijah…"
Elijah leaned in closer. "I'm here."
Dominic blinked sluggishly, as if making sure it was really him. Then, with what little strength he had, he smirked weakly.
"Told you… you'd miss me."
Elijah let out a sharp breath, torn between relief and frustration. "Shut up."
But his voice wavered.
Dominic coughed lightly, his grip on Elijah's hand tightening just a fraction. "You didn't let go…"
Elijah swallowed hard, his heart pounding.
"Not yet," he admitted softly.
Dominic's eyelids drooped again, but the small smirk remained as he drifted back into unconsciousness.
Elijah exhaled slowly, running a hand down his face.
Adrian nudged him. "Yeah, you're screwed, man."
Elijah sighed.
Yeah… he was.
—