For a second, no one moved.
Rain hammered the roof of the mansion. The guards kept their guns up, eyes trained on Matthew and Vinny. Tom stood with one hand resting casually on Aiden's chained shoulder, as if this entire night was entertainment.
Matthew shifted forward, every muscle coiled, ready to strike.
Tom saw it.
And smiled.
"You really thought you could steal from me?" Tom murmured. "You thought you could take what belongs to me?"
Matthew's voice dropped to a growl. "Aiden doesn't belong to you."
Tom moved faster than expected. A gun appeared in his hand, pulled from the inside of his suit, already cocked and aimed—
At Matthew.
Vinny's heart stopped.
"NO—!"
Time fractured.
The gunshot exploded like thunder.
But the bullet never reached Matthew.
Because Vinny moved first.
He lunged—shoving Matthew hard—throwing himself between the bullet and the man he loved.
The impact slammed into his side.
Burning. Tearing. Blinding.
