For a heartbeat, Elijah couldn't move.
The sound of guns clicking filled the room, sharp and final. His pulse thundered in his ears.
Adrian Vargas stepped closer, the smug curve of his lips making Elijah's stomach twist. "You thought you could walk in here, steal from me, and leave without paying the price?"
Elijah's jaw tightened. "I'm not here to steal. I'm here to take back what you stole from my family."
Adrian tilted his head, mock sympathy in his eyes. "And you brought Veltran with you. How poetic. The traitor helping the victim. Or was it the other way around, Elijah?"
---
Elijah's breath caught. "What are you talking about?"
But Adrian wasn't looking at him—he was looking at Luca.
And Luca… wouldn't meet his gaze.
"Tell him, Luca," Adrian said, his tone almost sing-song. "Tell him why six years ago you walked away. Why you helped me destroy Reyes Enterprises."
---
Elijah's hands curled into fists. "He's lying. Right?"
Luca finally looked at him. His eyes weren't cold—they were filled with something worse. Regret.
"Elijah…" Luca's voice was rough, almost breaking. "It's not that simple."
"You—" Elijah's voice cracked. "You told me you left because you had no choice. Because it was to protect me—"
"It was," Luca said sharply. "But Adrian had leverage I couldn't fight. He—"
"Don't," Adrian interrupted, his smirk widening. "You make it sound so noble. The truth is, Elijah, your precious Luca signed over insider information. He handed me the keys to your father's company."
---
The words hit like a blade.
Elijah stared at Luca, searching for denial, for some desperate protest—but all he found was silence.
The ache in his chest felt too big, too heavy. "You—You gave him everything?"
"I gave him what he demanded so you wouldn't end up dead!" Luca's voice snapped like a whip. "Your father… he crossed the wrong people. I was told if I didn't give Adrian what he wanted, you'd be buried before the week was over."
---
Adrian clapped slowly, as if applauding a performance. "Touching. But now that the truth's out… I'm afraid we've reached the end."
The guards moved closer, their guns leveled. Elijah's breath came faster.
Then, in a blur of motion, Luca lunged. His elbow smashed into the nearest guard's wrist, sending the gun clattering. Elijah ducked as Luca grabbed his arm and yanked him toward the side exit.
"Run!" Luca barked.
---
They burst into the hallway, the sound of shouts and pounding footsteps behind them. Adrenaline burned through Elijah's veins. Every turn felt too short, every shadow too deep.
They didn't stop until they hit the outer service door, slamming through into the misty morning air.
Only when they were in the narrow alley, their breaths ragged, did Elijah pull away.
"You should have told me," Elijah said, his voice trembling—not from fear, but from something far worse.
"I know," Luca said quietly. "But I'd rather you hate me alive than love me dead."
---
Elijah's heart ached. He wanted to scream. He wanted to walk away. But most of all, he wanted answers—real ones.
"Then start talking," Elijah said, his eyes locked on Luca. "Because if we're going to finish this, I need to know everything. Every secret. Every lie."
Luca nodded once, the weight in his gaze telling Elijah the next truth might break him completely.
---