Elijah sat on the edge of Dominic's bed, staring blankly at the floor. His heartbeat was still uneven, his body tense from what had just happened.
Vincent's interruption had been enough to give him space, but not enough to erase the intensity of Dominic's presence. That man… that dangerous, possessive man… was playing with fire, and Elijah wasn't sure if he wanted to escape or let himself burn.
The silence between them was deafening. Dominic stood near the window, his back to Elijah, his shoulders stiff. Something was off.
"You're awfully quiet," Elijah muttered, trying to sound indifferent.
Dominic exhaled a slow breath, still not looking at him. "Vincent shouldn't have walked in."
Elijah scoffed. "Yeah? Well, maybe he saved me from making a big mistake."
That got Dominic's attention. In a flash, he turned, dark eyes locking onto Elijah with something dangerous brewing beneath.
"A mistake?" Dominic echoed, stepping closer. "That's what you call this?"
Elijah tensed, but he refused to back down. "I don't belong to you, Dominic."
Dominic smirked, but it wasn't amusement—it was something darker. Something unhinged.
"Say that again." His voice was low, warning.
Elijah swallowed hard. This was a dangerous game. He knew Dominic's temper, and he knew pushing him like this could only end in one way.
Yet, he couldn't stop himself.
"I. Don't. Belong. To—"
Dominic grabbed Elijah's jaw, tilting his head up sharply. "Lie to yourself all you want, but don't lie to me."
Elijah's breath hitched. Dominic was too close, his presence suffocating. He could feel the heat radiating off his body, could smell the faint mix of whiskey and smoke on his breath.
And the worst part? It wasn't fear that made Elijah's pulse race—it was something else entirely.
Dominic must have seen it too, because his grip loosened, fingers brushing against Elijah's skin almost tenderly. The change was so sudden, so unexpected, that Elijah felt himself falter.
"Tell me," Dominic murmured, voice softer now, but no less dangerous. "When you think of me… do you really feel nothing?"
Elijah clenched his fists. "That's not the point."
Dominic chuckled, low and knowing. "Oh, but it is."
Their gazes locked, and for a moment, Elijah felt like he was standing on the edge of something irreversible.
Then, before Dominic could press further, the sound of his phone vibrating on the table cut through the tension.
Dominic hesitated, then sighed and stepped away. The moment shattered.
Elijah exhaled sharply, trying to steady himself. He had barely regained his composure when Dominic answered the call.
"What?" Dominic's voice was sharp. Whoever was on the other end had already pissed him off.
Elijah watched as Dominic's expression darkened, his grip tightening around the phone.
"When?" A pause. Then Dominic's jaw clenched. "I'll be there."
He ended the call and turned to Elijah, his entire demeanor shifting. Serious. Cold. Deadly.
"You're staying here," Dominic said.
Elijah frowned. "What?"
Dominic grabbed his coat, striding toward the door. "Matteo just made his first move."
---
Meanwhile…
Matteo Romano leaned back in his chair, swirling a glass of wine in his hand. Across from him, one of his men stood, shifting nervously under his gaze.
"So," Matteo drawled, "Dominic took the bait?"
The man nodded. "Yes, boss. He's on his way."
Matteo smirked. Perfect.
His eyes flickered toward the small envelope on the table. Inside was a picture one that would undoubtedly push Dominic over the edge.
A picture of Elijah.
Alone.
At a bar.
And standing dangerously close to Matteo himself.
Matteo chuckled, taking a slow sip of his wine. "Let the games begin."
The door slammed shut.
Dominic was gone.
Elijah sat on the bed, his pulse still unsteady. What the hell just happened? One moment, Dominic was overwhelming him with his presence—his touch, his words, his unrelenting control—and the next, he was gone, dragged away by some urgent business call.
Elijah exhaled sharply and flopped onto the mattress, staring at the ceiling. Why did he feel so restless? He should be relieved Dominic had left. But he wasn't.
His phone buzzed beside him.
Matteo: You up for a drink?
Elijah frowned. Matteo? Since when did he have his number?
Another text popped up.
Matteo: Or are you under house arrest?
Elijah rolled his eyes. What a cocky bastard.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard. He shouldn't reply.
But then again… why not?
Elijah: I can go wherever I want.
Matteo: Prove it.
That's how he ended up here—sitting across from Matteo in a dimly lit bar, swirling a glass of whiskey he had barely touched.
"You look tense," Matteo noted, watching him closely. "Rough night?"
Elijah scoffed. "You could say that."
Matteo leaned in slightly, smirking. "Let me guess. Dominic?"
Elijah's fingers tightened around his glass. "Why do you care?"
Matteo chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "Because it's entertaining watching him lose his mind over you."
Elijah frowned. "That's not—"
"Don't play dumb." Matteo's gaze darkened, though his smirk remained. "You must know by now. The way he looks at you? The way he reacts whenever I'm around? Dominic Moretti is obsessed with you."
Elijah's breath caught.
He wanted to deny it. To say Matteo was wrong.
But wasn't there truth in his words?
Matteo tilted his head. "And the real question is… what are you going to do about it?"
Before Elijah could answer, the atmosphere in the bar shifted.
The air turned heavy.
Dangerous.
A slow chill crawled up Elijah's spine. He didn't need to turn around to know who had just walked in.
Matteo smirked. "Ah. Speak of the devil."
Elijah finally turned—and met Dominic's eyes.
Dark. Dangerous. Possessive.
He didn't even look at Matteo. His entire focus was locked on Elijah.
Elijah swallowed hard. "Dominic, I—"
Then Dominic moved.
Before Elijah could blink, Dominic's hand shot out, grabbing him by the wrist.
Elijah gasped. "What the hell—"
Dominic ignored him. His voice was low, edged with fury. "We're leaving."
Matteo leaned back, watching with amusement. "Not even a hello, Moretti?"
Dominic finally turned his gaze on him. And the look in his eyes? Lethal.
"Say another word, and I'll put a bullet in your mouth."
Matteo simply smirked. "Touchy."
Elijah tried to yank his hand away. "Let go, Dominic!"
But Dominic only tightened his grip. "You really think you can walk out of my house and meet him? After everything?"
Elijah glared. "I don't belong to you!"
Dominic's jaw clenched, something dangerous flickering in his expression. "Oh, but you do."
Elijah's heart pounded. The way he said it… it wasn't just words.
Matteo chuckled. "If you keep acting like that, Moretti, he's going to start thinking he actually has a choice."
Dominic turned sharply and landed a brutal punch against Matteo's jaw.
Elijah gasped. Matteo barely flinched. Instead, he wiped the blood from his lip, smiling.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Matteo mused.
Dominic turned back to Elijah. "We're leaving. Now."
Elijah knew there was no point in arguing. Not here. Not like this.
Without another word, Dominic dragged him out of the bar.