The Things We Don't Say
Dominic had learned to plan violence with precision.
Weapons. Men. Exits.
But he had never learned how to plan loss.
He stood in the private armory, jacket off, sleeves rolled, movements sharp and controlled. The city below waited like a living thing.
Liam appeared in the doorway.
"You weren't going to tell me," Liam said quietly.
Dominic didn't turn. "There's nothing to tell."
"That's a lie."
Dominic finally faced him. "This isn't a place for you."
Liam stepped closer anyway.
"You don't get to push me out every time you're afraid."
The word landed clean.
Afraid.
Dominic's voice dropped. "I watched my mother die because she stood too close."
Liam's breath caught.
"And I won't watch you become collateral."
Silence swallowed them.
Liam reached out—slowly, giving Dominic time to stop him.
Dominic didn't.
Liam's fingers brushed Dominic's wrist, feeling the tension there, the barely controlled tremor.
"I don't need you fearless," Liam whispered. "I need you honest."
Dominic closed his eyes.
That was more dangerous than any enemy.
Elsewhere, the city breathed softer.
Marco and Noah sat on the hood of Marco's car, streetlight glowing above them. Too close. Too quiet.
"You ever notice," Noah said, "how silence feels different with certain people?"
Marco smiled faintly. "You mean like it's not trying to kill you?"
Noah laughed—soft, surprised.
Their shoulders brushed.
Neither moved away.
Marco turned his head just enough to see Noah's profile, the way his lashes shadowed his cheeks.
"You make me slow down," Marco said. "That's… new."
Noah met his gaze. "You make me feel brave."
The space between them tightened.
Marco lifted a hand, hesitated—then let his knuckles graze Noah's jaw. Barely there.
A question.
Noah leaned into it.
That was the answer.
They didn't kiss.
They stayed right there—in the ache of almost—because some moments were too powerful to rush.
Back at the penthouse, Dominic pulled Liam into his chest.
Not possessive.
Protective.
"I don't know how to do this without hurting you," Dominic murmured.
Liam rested his forehead against Dominic's collarbone. "Then hurt me trying to keep me. Not pushing me away."
Dominic's arms tightened.
Choice made.
Outside, shadows moved.
Sebastian prepared weapons with quiet focus.
Jax watched him, adrenaline singing in his veins.
"You don't look scared," Sebastian noted.
Jax grinned. "I look alive."
Sebastian held his gaze longer than necessary.
Something unspoken passed between them.
Danger had a way of revealing truth.
And at midnight, every temptation came with a price.