The first merc lunged out of the dark, blade catching the faint glow of the warehouse lights. Elijah fired, the muzzle flash illuminating Luca's grim profile for a split second before they both moved again.
A second attacker came from behind, and Luca reacted instantly—grabbing Elijah's arm and yanking him into a spin so the blade missed by inches. Elijah stumbled against his chest, feeling the solid heat of him before they separated, both firing in opposite directions.
---
"Watch your blind spot!" Luca barked.
"I had it handled," Elijah shot back, shoving another crate for cover.
"Sure you did," Luca muttered, his tone half annoyed, half something else Elijah couldn't place.
The next wave came fast—three mercs rushing from the catwalk above. Luca shoved Elijah down just as bullets sprayed the air where his head had been. Dust rained over them, mixing with the scent of gunpowder.
---
Pinned together behind the crate, their shoulders touched, breaths uneven.
"This isn't the time to get distracted," Luca said, eyes fixed ahead.
"Who said I was distracted?" Elijah challenged.
Luca's lips curved—not a smile, but close. "Your pulse is racing."
"It's called adrenaline, genius," Elijah snapped, even though he knew Luca could feel the quick beat through the brief contact of their arms.
---
They broke cover at the same moment.
Luca vaulted the crate, pulling Elijah with him, and they moved as one—Elijah covering high, Luca taking low.
A merc came at Elijah with a knife, catching his forearm. The sting made him grit his teeth, but before he could react, Luca's hand closed over his wrist, guiding his aim. Together, they fired—one bullet, two kills.
---
"Not bad," Luca said, and for a moment his hand lingered on Elijah's arm, thumb brushing just enough to make Elijah's breath hitch.
The sound of boots pounding the metal stairs broke whatever that moment was.
Cipher's voice came again, closer this time. "You want answers? You'll bleed for them."
The final wave of mercs charged, forcing Elijah and Luca back-to-back again. Elijah could feel the steady strength in Luca's stance, the way he adjusted to cover Elijah's gaps without a word.
They moved like they'd been fighting together for years, not enemies tangled in revenge.
When the last merc fell, the warehouse was silent except for their breathing.
---
Luca lowered his gun but didn't step away.
"You okay?" he asked, softer than Elijah expected.
"I'll live," Elijah said, brushing dust from his jacket. "Not thanks to you, of course."
Luca's smirk returned. "You keep telling yourself that."
And as the distant wail of sirens approached, Elijah realized something dangerous—he wasn't sure anymore if Luca was the man he hated… or the only one keeping him alive.