Levi's voice trembled, raw and desperate, as he cupped Eren's shoulders, holding him as if letting go would shatter both their worlds. "Are you okay, Eren? Do you even realize how terrified I was? If something had happened to you today… I would probably die."
Eren froze, his wide green eyes reflecting a storm of confusion and disbelief. His lips parted, words tangled in his throat. "Why are you so worried about me, Levi? We've only known each other for a few days. Why are you acting like… like I'm everything to you?"
Levi stepped back slightly, his chest heaving as if the air itself weighed him down. He struggled to keep the hurricane inside from spilling outward, his hands twitching like they wanted to reach for Eren again. Then, almost without thought, almost without control, he pulled Eren close again—so close that their breaths mingled in the tiny space between them. His voice dropped into a whisper, heavy with truth that had no space for hesitation.
"Do you really think we've only met for a few days, Eren?"
Eren's lips parted to reply, but before he could, the deafening crack of a gunshot shattered the fragile intimacy of the moment.
Mafia Two lunged forward, gun blazing, and a bullet tore into Levi's arm. Blood sprayed across the sterile floor, and pain exploded through him like fire. The guards reacted instantly, drawing their weapons and firing back. Mafia Two collapsed, but the chaos had already begun. Officers swarmed the room, dragging Levi and Eren out, their arms tight around the boys as they scrambled into the protective chaos of the hospital's emergency corridors.
Outside the Hospital
The moment the ambulance doors opened, Mona's furious voice cut through the storm of sirens like lightning. "What use are you guards if you can't protect my sons! Levi! Eren! I hired you to shield them—not to let them bleed like this!"
The guards lowered their heads in shame, faces pale under the weight of her anger, her fear, and the storm of grief she carried silently beneath her sharp tone.
Zack, standing beside her, placed a steadying hand on her shoulder. His own exhaustion was evident, yet his voice was calm, though heavy with tension. "Calm down, Mona. They're both safe. That's what matters now."
But Mona's trembling hands betrayed her, fingers twisting the edges of her shawl. Her eyes darted anxiously toward the ambulance as if expecting another attack at any moment.
In Levi's Room
Levi lay pale against the crisp hospital sheets, the white lights above casting a sterile glow over his bandaged arm. Machines beeped rhythmically, but the sound was drowned beneath his own pounding heart. When his eyes fluttered open, the first words that left his lips were not about his own pain but—
"Eren… are you okay?"
Eren's voice broke, cracking under the weight of adrenaline, fear, and relief. "After everything that just happened, you're still worried about me? Levi, you've been shot! If that bullet had hit anywhere else, you could've died! Why would you risk your life for me?"
Levi's lips curved faintly, a small smile breaking through the grimace of pain. "Because it makes me happy… to see you worry about me, Eren."
Eren's breath caught. He stared at Levi, unable to comprehend the intensity, the raw devotion that emanated from this boy he barely understood. "Levi… why? Why do you care about me so much? How I am, what I do, where I go… you're not even my real brother. Then why… why do I matter to you?"
Levi's jaw clenched, eyes burning with suppressed emotion. His teeth ground together as he finally opened his mouth, a confession poised on the tip of his tongue—
"Because—"
But the door swung open before he could finish.
Mona rushed in, her face etched with guilt, eyes brimming with unshed tears. "My son… Levi, this is all my fault. If I hadn't let you go to the university… if I hadn't sent you off on that bike, none of this would have happened!"
Eren shook his head, tears welling. His voice trembled as he spoke, heavy with self-blame. "No, Mom… this is because of me. Levi is hurt because of me. If I had just taken my medicine on time, none of this would have happened. He wouldn't have been shot…"
Mona cupped his face, her hands trembling as they brushed against his cheeks. "No, Eren. Don't blame yourself. This… this was fate. It was written long before today."
Yet, deep inside, a bitter thought curled like a shadow in her chest. Or maybe… someone else wrote this fate for us… someone lurking beyond their vision, pulling strings in silence.
Zack's Rage
Zack slammed his fist against the wall, the sound echoing down the sterile corridors. His voice thundered, shaking the small space around him. "Enough! I will not forgive them. Every single one of those mafia dogs… I will crush them until they beg for mercy. No one dares to harm my children and live to tell the tale!"
The phone rang, cutting through the tension like a blade. The name on the screen sent a chill of ice down his spine—Master.
With trembling hands, Zack answered. "H-hello… Master?"
The voice that spoke was cold, furious, and laced with power. "Zack… I gave you one job. One! To protect Eren. And you failed. Because of your incompetence, you will now suffer. You will pay the price. Prepare yourself."
The line went dead, leaving Zack drenched in a cold sweat, the weight of those words crushing him, threatening to shatter him under their invisible grip.
White House
Back at the family mansion, Mona paced the grand hall with restless energy. Her orders rang out sharp, decisive. "Redesign Levi and Eren's room. Replace all the furniture. Make it safer. Upgrade the security. Nothing is too much. I want them protected."
Levi, bandaged but awake, chuckled weakly from the sofa. "Mom, what's the point? You just bought new furniture, and honestly… I liked it the way it was."
Mona ignored him, lost in the storm of her own thoughts, haunted by what could have happened and the invisible chains of the Master's plan tightening around her family.
The Next Day
Outside, the storm had begun again, rain thrashing against the mansion windows, wind howling like wild beasts. Inside, Zack's company was hemorrhaging money, losses mounting with horrifying speed.
"It's him," Zack whispered bitterly to Mona. "The Master… he called last night. He's behind this destruction, behind every failure, every collapse."
Mona's lips curved into a bitter smile, a mask that didn't reach her eyes. "Yes… he called me too. He promised a heavy price. But Zack… what does he even want from Eren?"
Zack's fists trembled, veins visible on his arms as he clenched them. "I don't know. But if anything happens to Eren… he will destroy everything we've built, everything we are. No mercy."
Her voice cracked, edged with panic. "Find out, Zack. Who is this Master? What is his connection with Eren? How does he know every secret we hold?"
Zack sent a coded message to an unknown number, his fingers trembling. Moments later, a reply arrived, cold and cryptic.
Unknown Number: Which plan?
Zack typed quickly, determination and fear warring in his chest. Plan… Reveal Master's Face.
Morning
Eren sat by Levi's bedside, the soft glow of the morning light falling on his pale face. A small smile played on his lips. "Look at you… the early riser who's still asleep today."
Levi's eyes fluttered open slowly. "I wasn't sleeping. I didn't close my eyes all night. I was waiting… waiting for you to come so we could go to university together."
Eren laughed softly. "You're impossible. Fine… let's go then. But wait—your hand… are you really okay?"
Levi smiled sadly, the curve of his lips teasing despite the lingering ache of yesterday's wound. "Why… do you wish I wasn't okay?"
Eren flinched, confusion painted across his face. "No! That's not what I meant. It's just… yesterday you were shot. Critical condition. Today… you seem completely fine."
Levi smirked, leaning close so that his lips brushed the edge of Eren's ear. "Then… let's celebrate with ramen after class."
Eren's face turned crimson, his heartbeat thrumming against his chest like a warning drum. "Levi… what are you doing? Why are you so close?"
Levi's smile deepened, playful yet edged with something dangerous. "Why? Are you scared… or just shy? You've never been this close to anyone before, have you?"
Eren stumbled back, flustered, words failing him. "No… I just…"
Levi cut him off with a mischievous grin. "You're just staring at me, aren't you?"
"Ramen," Eren muttered in exasperation.
Levi laughed softly. "Exactly. We'll eat ramen."
Dining Table
Meanwhile, Mona and Zack sat at breakfast, watching the scene unfold with quiet smiles.
"We've made a decision," Mona announced, her tone calm but heavy with hidden tension.
Eren tilted his head, curiosity sparkling through the lingering dread. "What decision, Mama?"
"You and Levi won't stay with us anymore," Mona said, watching their shocked faces closely.
"What?" Both Levi and Eren exclaimed in unison, disbelief lacing their voices.
Eren's voice trembled, worry and fear gnawing at him. "Did I… did I do something wrong?"
Mona smiled softly, gentle but firm. "No, Eren. You've done nothing wrong. But our company is drowning. Zack and I have decided… if you don't mind, Eren… we'd like you to join us. Work as an assistant in our company."
Eren's hands shook, heart pounding. "Mama… Dad… I… I can't. I don't want to add to the company's burden. I don't want to be a problem."
Levi leaned in with a mischievous glint, eyes sharp. "Eren… you really think you can escape that easily?"
And in that moment, the storm outside seemed almost tame compared to the storm that had taken root inside their lives.