Elijah wasn't kidding.
He's getting out of here.
Screw the mafia. Screw the stupid rumors. Screw Dominic Moretti and his goddamn possessiveness.
Elijah moves quietly through the halls of the mansion, his heart hammering in his chest. He doesn't know how many guards are posted, but he's banking on luck.
Step. Step. Step.
He sees the door.
His escape.
His freedom.
He lunges.
Click.
A hand grabs his collar.
Elijah barely has time to yelp before he's yanked backward—slamming into a hard chest.
"Going somewhere?"
Fuck.
---
Dominic's Patience Runs Out
Dominic's grip is tight.
Not painful.
But firm enough to make a point.
Elijah twists, struggling. "Dude, let me go—"
Dominic doesn't even flinch. "No."
Elijah's blood boils. "I'm not your prisoner!"
Dominic tilts his head slightly. "Aren't you?"
Elijah glares. "You're insane."
Dominic leans in slightly, voice dangerously low.
"You're reckless."
Elijah freezes.
"You don't think," Dominic continues. "You act on impulse. And that's going to get you killed."
Elijah grits his teeth. "So what? You think keeping me here is the solution?"
Dominic's eyes burn. "Yes."
Elijah laughs bitterly. "Wow. Great plan. Keep me locked up forever. That'll solve everything."
Dominic is silent for a moment.
Then he sighs, like he's finally losing patience.
Before Elijah can react—
Dominic throws him over his shoulder.
"WHAT THE HELL—"
---
The Lockdown
Dominic carries Elijah like he weighs nothing, completely ignoring his struggles.
Vincent watches from the hallway, clearly amused.
"Boss, you know kidnapping doesn't usually end well in romance movies, right?"
Dominic ignores him.
Elijah flails. "PUT ME DOWN!"
"No."
"DOMINIC."
"I said no."
Elijah screams in frustration.
This asshole.
This controlling, arrogant, high-and-mighty—
The moment Dominic drops him onto the bed, Elijah springs up—but Dominic is faster.
He leans down, caging him in.
And for the first time, Elijah really sees him.
Dominic's eyes aren't just angry.
They're furious.
But beneath that—
There's something else.
Something dangerous.
"Elijah," Dominic murmurs, voice lethal.
Elijah shudders.
"What…?" he whispers, suddenly breathless.
Dominic tilts his head slightly.
"Run away one more time…" His fingers brush against Elijah's chin, tilting it up.
And then, softly:
"I'll break your legs."
Elijah stops breathing.
His heart pounds.
But what terrifies him the most—
Is the way his stomach twists in something that is definitely not fear.
---