The air between them was thick—so heavy Elijah felt like he could choke on it.
Dominic's glare was sharp enough to cut steel, his fingers twitching slightly as if resisting the urge to grab his gun. Matteo, on the other hand, was the picture of relaxed arrogance, his smirk never faltering, his confidence unwavering.
And Elijah?
Elijah was caught in the middle of something dangerous—something he wasn't sure he could escape from.
---
He swallowed hard, gripping the edge of the table. "Look, whatever game you both are playing, leave me out of it," he said, his voice steadier than he expected.
Matteo chuckled, his gaze flickering over Elijah with amusement. "Oh, bambino, this isn't a game. At least, not for me." His tone was teasing, but there was something else beneath it, something calculated.
Dominic's jaw clenched, his control slipping. "Don't call him that."
Matteo's smirk widened. "What? You don't like it when I give your boy pet names?" His voice was all mockery, all provocation.
Elijah groaned, running a hand through his hair. "I am not his—"
The words barely left his mouth before Dominic's fist slammed onto the table, rattling the glasses. "Don't finish that sentence." His voice was low, almost a growl, but Elijah wasn't in the mood for his possessiveness.
He shot Dominic a glare. "Don't tell me what to say."
Matteo laughed, looking between them like he was enjoying the tension. "You really have your hands full with this one, Moretti." Then, he leaned back, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "But the real question is, can you handle him?"
Dominic's body went rigid, his hands flexing as if he was seconds away from launching himself at Matteo.
Elijah sighed, feeling exhausted by their constant battle. He wasn't some prize for them to fight over.
He stood up abruptly. "You know what? I'm done with this." He grabbed his jacket. "You two can kill each other if you want, but leave me the hell out of it."
Matteo's smirk didn't waver. "Running away, Elijah?"
"I'm walking away," Elijah corrected. "Because I have better things to do than sit here and listen to two grown men act like teenagers fighting over a toy."
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Then, Dominic spoke, his voice quieter but full of warning. "If you walk away now, don't expect me to chase you."
Elijah hesitated. He knew Dominic wasn't bluffing. But maybe… maybe that was exactly what he needed to do.
So, he turned around and left without another word.
---
The night air was cool against his skin as he stepped outside. His heart pounded, his mind a mess.
He should feel relieved to be away from that tension, from the suffocating weight of Dominic and Matteo in the same room.
But instead, he felt lost.
A part of him wanted to believe Matteo's attention was harmless, that he was just stirring things up to mess with Dominic. But another part the part that had seen Matteo's calculating eyes knew it wasn't that simple.
And Dominic…
Elijah didn't know what to do about him.
He shook his head and kept walking, hoping some distance would help clear his thoughts.
But he had a feeling this was only the beginning.
The night was unsettlingly quiet as Elijah walked down the empty streets, the distant hum of traffic the only sound accompanying him. His hands were stuffed into his pockets, his mind racing with everything that had just happened.
Matteo was playing a dangerous game—one Elijah wanted no part of. But what bothered him more was Dominic. The way he'd looked at him. The way he'd warned him.
"If you walk away now, don't expect me to chase you."
The words echoed in his head, making his chest feel tight.
Did Dominic really mean that?
Elijah scoffed under his breath. It wasn't like he wanted to be chased. Right?
A cold breeze rushed past him, making him shiver. He should go home, clear his head, and avoid both of those mafia lunatics for a while. But instead, he pulled out his phone and stared at the screen, debating whether or not to text Dominic.
He didn't get the chance.
The sudden screech of tires made him freeze.
A black car skidded to a stop beside him, its tinted windows rolling down just enough for him to see the figure inside.
"Elijah," Matteo's smooth voice called out.
Elijah cursed under his breath. "Not in the mood, man."
Matteo ignored his response. "Get in."
Elijah frowned. "Excuse me?"
Matteo tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "I don't like seeing you walk alone at night. It's not safe."
Elijah let out a dry laugh. "Oh, and you're my personal security detail now?"
Matteo smirked. "You're Dominic's weakness. That makes you a target."
Something in Elijah's stomach twisted. The way Matteo said it so casually, as if it were a fact, sent chills through him.
"So what, you're offering protection?" he asked, skeptical.
Matteo's smirk deepened. "I'm offering a ride."
Elijah hesitated. Every warning bell in his head screamed don't trust him, but at the same time, walking alone at this hour with who knows what lurking in the shadows didn't seem like the smartest move either.
He exhaled sharply. "Fine."
As soon as he slid into the car, he realized he might have made a mistake.
The doors locked automatically.
Matteo's driver pulled away from the curb.
Elijah turned to Matteo, narrowing his eyes. "Where exactly are we going?"
Matteo leaned back in his seat, his fingers lazily tracing the rim of a whiskey glass he must've had waiting for him. "Somewhere private."
Elijah's pulse spiked. "That's a creepy answer."
Matteo chuckled. "Relax, bambino. I just want to talk."
Elijah wasn't convinced.
---
Meanwhile, back at Dominic's estate, Vincent paced in front of his boss, clearly agitated.
"Elijah just left," Vincent informed him. "And guess who he left with?"
Dominic's head snapped up, his entire body going rigid. "Who?"
"Matteo."
A deadly silence filled the room.
Then -CRASH.
Dominic's whiskey glass shattered against the wall.
Vincent flinched but said nothing.
Dominic stood, his jaw clenched so tight it looked painful. "Find them. Now."