Elijah couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered after Matteo's visit. There was something about the way he'd spoken—like everything was a game, a bet he was determined to win. Elijah couldn't help but feel like a pawn in something much larger than he could understand.
But the most unsettling part wasn't Matteo. It was Dominic.
Dominic had stayed distant after Matteo's intrusion, keeping a careful eye on Elijah but never quite engaging in the same way. The atmosphere in the house felt suffocating, like the walls were closing in on him. Dominic's presence was both comforting and terrifying. And the way he had looked at Elijah earlier? There was something dangerous behind his eyes, something possessive that sent a thrill down Elijah's spine.
For the first time since meeting him, Elijah wasn't sure how to read Dominic. It wasn't just the usual cold, calculating mafia lord he had gotten used to—it was more.
"Eli."
Elijah looked up from where he was sitting by the window, lost in his thoughts. Dominic's voice snapped him back to reality. The mafia boss stood at the doorway, his expression unreadable, his eyes scanning Elijah like he was trying to decipher something hidden.
"Where are you going?" Dominic asked, his tone casual but with a hint of something deeper beneath the surface.
Elijah stood up, brushing the imaginary dust off his clothes. "Nowhere. Just thinking." He didn't mention the nagging feeling that had been gnawing at him since Matteo's visit. He didn't want Dominic to know how unsettled he was, how much the entire situation was getting under his skin.
Dominic stepped forward, his gaze locked on Elijah. There was a moment of silence before Dominic spoke again, his voice low, almost thoughtful. "You should be careful."
Elijah frowned, unsure of what Dominic meant. "Careful of what?"
Dominic's lips curled into a slight smirk, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Matteo. He's not someone you should trust, Eli."
The warning in Dominic's voice made Elijah's stomach churn. He had seen the way Matteo acted, how he manipulated situations and played games, but it wasn't just about trust. There was something more, something Dominic wasn't saying.
"What's your problem with him, really?" Elijah asked, leaning against the wall, his voice light but with a hint of curiosity. "It's not like he's done anything... wrong."
Dominic's eyes flared with something sharp, almost dangerous. "You don't understand," he muttered, but his gaze softened when it returned to Elijah. "He's just like me. And that makes him dangerous."
Elijah tilted his head, trying to process the weight of Dominic's words. There was more to this rivalry, something deeper. But before he could respond, Dominic stepped closer, his voice quieter now, almost a whisper.
"Eli," he said, his tone more intense, "I don't like anyone getting too close to you. Especially not him."
Elijah didn't know how to respond. The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Dominic wasn't just warning him about Matteo—there was something else there. Something more personal.
"Dominic…" Elijah started, unsure of how to continue.
But before he could finish, Dominic closed the gap between them. His hand brushed Elijah's arm as if to assert his presence, to make sure Elijah knew he wasn't backing down.
"I don't want anyone else thinking they have any claim on you," Dominic muttered, his gaze almost too intense to hold.
The possessiveness in his voice left Elijah speechless, a strange warmth spreading through him, despite the tension. It was dangerous, this feeling, but it was also thrilling in a way he couldn't explain.
He had no response—no words to fight back with. And for once, he didn't feel the need to. He was caught in Dominic's pull, a tug-of-war between caution and something much more intense.
"Stay safe, Eli," Dominic said, his voice still low, a hint of something that almost sounded like concern slipping through the cracks of his usual cold demeanor.
Elijah met his gaze, trying to steady his breath, but all he could think of was the unspoken promise in Dominic's eyes.
"I'll be fine," Elijah replied quietly, though even he wasn't sure if he believed it.
Dominic's eyes softened, but the intensity never fully left. He turned, walking away slowly, leaving Elijah with the echo of his words ringing in his ears.
The air was thick with tension. Dominic's grip on his glass tightened as he sat in his dimly lit office, eyes fixed on the security footage playing on the screen. The sight of Matteo smirking at Elijah earlier still burned in his mind, and his patience was wearing dangerously thin.
Vincent stood near the door, arms crossed. "You're overthinking it," he said.
Dominic scoffed. "Overthinking? Matteo doesn't make moves without a reason. He's planning something, and Elijah's in the middle of it."
As if on cue, the phone on Dominic's desk buzzed. One of his men's voices came through, hurried and sharp. "Boss, we have a problem. The shipment at the docks—ambush."
Dominic shot up from his seat. "Who?"
"Romano's men."
Vincent cursed under his breath. Dominic didn't waste a second. "Get the men ready. Now."
Elijah, who had been lounging in the next room, stepped in just as Dominic was grabbing his gun. "What's going on?"
"You stay here," Dominic ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Elijah frowned. "Like hell I will."
Vincent placed a hand on Elijah's shoulder, a rare moment of concern in his usually cold demeanor. "It's not safe. Stay put."
Elijah watched as Dominic stormed out, his men following close behind. His gut told him something bigger was happening. And he was right.
---
At the docks, the night was alive with chaos. Gunfire echoed through the air as Dominic and his men arrived, bullets slicing through the darkness. Matteo was nowhere in sight, but his men were here, and they were ready for war.
Dominic ducked behind a crate, reloading his gun. "Find Romano," he ordered. "End this now."
The battle was fierce—Dominic's men pushed forward, but Matteo's forces weren't backing down. A sudden explosion rocked the docks, sending flames into the night sky.
Dominic's eyes narrowed. This wasn't just about business anymore. This was personal.
---
Meanwhile, back at the estate, Elijah couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. His fingers itched to do something, anything, rather than sit and wait.
Then, a shadow moved outside the window.
Elijah's heart pounded. He wasn't alone.