Elijah hadn't moved from his spot beside Dominic. His fingers hovered over the bandage on Dominic's chest, barely touching, but the warmth of his skin still reached him.
The reality of it all was suffocating. Dominic could've died. If Vincent had arrived a second later, if the bullet had struck a different spot-Elijah's throat felt tight just thinking about it.
Vincent stood by the door, arms crossed. "He'll wake up soon. His body just needs time."
Elijah exhaled sharply. "And then what? He's just going to get up and go after Matteo again?"
Vincent didn't answer.
Adrian, sitting in the corner, sighed. "You knew what you were getting into, Eli."
Elijah shot him a glare. "No, I didn't. I didn't know it would be like this."
Vincent scoffed. "What did you think? That the mafia just throws around threats and never follows through?"
Elijah clenched his jaw. "I thought Dominic was untouchable."
A small chuckle left Vincent's lips. "That's what makes him dangerous. He bleeds, but he never falls."
Elijah wanted to argue, but a weak groan from the bed silenced him.
Dominic's fingers twitched, his breath deepening as he slowly forced his eyes open.
"Elijah..." His voice was rough, strained.
Elijah swallowed hard. "Yeah. I'm here."
Dominic's hand found his, gripping weakly. His lips parted, as if he wanted to say something, but his body betrayed him, exhaustion pulling him back under.
Vincent sighed. "Let him rest. He'll be back to himself soon enough."
Elijah tightened his grip on Dominic's hand, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest.
But when Dominic woke up-Elijah knew he wouldn't just rest.
He'd be planning his next move.
And Elijah wasn't sure if he was ready for it.
-
The days following Dominic's recovery were a blur. Elijah barely had time to catch his breath before everything felt like it was spinning again.
Dominic was, as Vincent predicted, back to his usual self within days. But there was something different about him now-something darker, colder, that Elijah wasn't sure he liked. The bullet wound had barely healed, and yet Dominic was already planning his next move.
It was late, and Elijah sat by the window in their temporary safe house. The faint glow of the city lights below provided the only source of comfort, but even that seemed distant. The weight of everything that had happened-the blood, the danger, the violence-seemed to weigh heavily on him.
Adrian, ever the lighthearted friend, noticed his mood. He crossed the room and dropped down beside him. "You're thinking about it too much. You can't keep worrying over Dominic like this, Eli."
Elijah shook his head. "It's not just Dominic. It's everything. This whole world I'm caught in... I didn't ask for it. I didn't ask for any of it."
Adrian's eyes softened. "I get it. But you're here now. And you're with Dominic whether you want to be or not. You can't change that. So stop torturing yourself."
Before Elijah could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. The door opened, and Dominic entered the room, his presence as commanding as ever.
"Elijah," Dominic said, his voice low and controlled. "We need to talk."
Elijah's chest tightened. "About what?"
"We're moving soon," Dominic continued, his eyes locking with Elijah's. "We've got a new plan in motion. Things are about to get messy, and I need you to understand that this is not going to be easy."
Adrian stood up, sensing the tension in the air. "I'll give you two some space."
As Adrian left, Dominic moved closer, his gaze never leaving Elijah.
"Elijah," Dominic said, his voice softer this time, "I know I've put you in a dangerous situation. But I can't promise I won't keep doing it. This world, it's ruthless. And you're the only thing that keeps me grounded."
Elijah's heart skipped a beat. There was something raw in Dominic's eyes, something that made him forget, for just a moment, all the violence surrounding them.
"I'm not your possession," Elijah said quietly, though his voice was thick with emotion. "I don't belong to you."
Dominic's expression didn't falter. "Maybe not. But you're here because you want to be. Don't forget that."
There was a beat of silence. Elijah couldn't deny the pull he felt toward Dominic. It was magnetic, undeniable. But he wasn't sure if it was love or something darker.
Dominic stepped forward, his presence overwhelming, and Elijah had to fight the urge to back away. "You want out? Fine. But if you leave now, you'll never get a chance to turn back."
Elijah's chest tightened. "You think I can just walk away from this?"
Dominic nodded. "Yes. But only if you're strong enough to make that decision."
Elijah stood there, torn between the life he knew he wanted and the life Dominic was offering. But somewhere deep down, Elijah knew that leaving wasn't an option anymore. Not for him.
"I'm not going anywhere," Elijah finally said, his voice steady.
Dominic's lips curled into a slight smile, his eyes intense. "Good. Because you're mine now, Elijah. And there's no turning back."
The words hung in the air, heavy and final.
But Elijah wasn't sure if he was ready for what was coming next.
---
The days that followed were a mixture of uneasy tension and strange, fleeting moments of calm. Dominic's presence was constant, and Elijah couldn't deny that the weight of his gaze, the depth of his actions, left him in a haze of conflicting emotions.
At times, he would catch Dominic watching him from across the room, his expression unreadable. It wasn't the affection that Elijah had come to expect, but something else—something darker.
Elijah wasn't sure what to make of it. Was it fear? Or perhaps something worse? But whenever he questioned it, Dominic would always step closer, his voice low and firm, commanding Elijah's attention without a single word needing to be spoken.
And then there was Adrian. He, too, had noticed the shift in the atmosphere, and Elijah could feel the tension between them all mounting with each passing day. Adrian kept his distance, trying to remain a support without getting too involved. But even he could tell that something was about to snap.
It wasn't until late one night, as Elijah sat in the living room alone, staring blankly at the fire, that the tension finally came to a head.
The sound of the door opening broke the silence, and Dominic stepped in, his silhouette framed by the dim light from the hallway. His gaze immediately found Elijah, and for a moment, the air between them felt thick enough to cut.
"Elijah," Dominic said, his voice steady but carrying an edge of something more. "I need you to come with me."
Without waiting for a response, he moved toward Elijah, his eyes never leaving his face. The command was clear, unspoken but powerful.
Elijah stood up, his heart hammering in his chest. "Where are we going?"
Dominic didn't answer immediately, but his expression softened, the harshness fading. "There's something I need to show you."
Elijah hesitated. It was rare for Dominic to show any vulnerability, to admit that there was something he couldn't control. But there was something in his eyes now—something that made Elijah follow without another word.
They left the safe house in silence, the night air cool against their skin as they climbed into Dominic's car. The drive was quiet, the road ahead stretching out endlessly, but the tension in the air was palpable.
Finally, they arrived at an old, abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. The area was quiet, the sounds of the city muffled by the distance. Dominic didn't wait for Elijah to ask questions before stepping out of the car and leading him inside.
The warehouse was cold, and the smell of dust and decay hung in the air. It was a place long forgotten by most, a place where secrets could be hidden, and where the violence of the past could be buried.
"What is this place?" Elijah asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Dominic turned to face him, his eyes intense, but there was a flicker of something softer there. "This is where it all began," he said, his voice quiet, as if the weight of the words was too much for him to carry alone. "This is where I lost everything."
Elijah's chest tightened at the vulnerability in Dominic's voice. He had never seen Dominic like this—not even when he was wounded, not even when he was struggling.
Dominic continued, "I lost my family here. My friends. My loyalty. And in the end, it was all for nothing."
Elijah took a step forward, unsure of how to respond. "You didn't lose everything. You still have… people who care about you."
Dominic's gaze flickered to him, a trace of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Maybe. But that doesn't change what happened. It doesn't change the blood that was spilled."
A tense silence stretched between them, and Elijah could feel the weight of the past pressing down on Dominic. He wanted to say something—anything—that could ease the pain in his eyes. But he wasn't sure if he was strong enough to carry that burden.
"I want to show you something," Dominic said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Without waiting for Elijah to respond, he turned and led him further into the warehouse. Elijah followed, his heart pounding in his chest.
They came to a small, hidden room at the back of the building, one that Elijah hadn't noticed before. Dominic stopped in front of a steel door and placed his hand on the cold metal.
"This is where it all ends," Dominic said, his voice low. "For me. For you. For everything."
He opened the door slowly, and the room inside was empty, save for a large, ominous table in the center. Elijah's gaze lingered on it for a moment before he turned to Dominic, his expression confused.
"What is this place?" Elijah asked again, the urgency creeping into his voice. "What do you want me to see?"
Dominic's eyes locked onto Elijah's, his expression hardening. "This is the place where I make my choices. Where I control everything."
Elijah felt a chill run down his spine. He had known that Dominic was ruthless, but seeing this cold, emotionless side of him made his heart ache.
"This isn't you," Elijah whispered.
Dominic's gaze softened for a moment before he stepped closer. "This is who I am now, Elijah. I don't get to choose who I become. But I can choose what happens next. And I need you to be a part of that."
Elijah swallowed hard, his throat tight. "What do you mean?"
Dominic's lips curled into a grim smile. "You'll understand soon enough."
The words lingered in the air as the silence stretched between them. Elijah didn't know what to say, how to respond. There was something about Dominic's presence that made him feel both safe and terrified at the same time.
But one thing was clear—everything was about to change. And Elijah wasn't sure if he was ready for it.