Hospital Room 317 smelled like antiseptic and cold metal.
Elijah sat stiffly in the chair beside the bed, arms crossed, his leg bouncing nonstop. His eyes were fixed on Luca—hooked up to an IV, his left arm wrapped in fresh gauze.
The wound wasn't deep, but the sight of it burned in Elijah's chest like something much worse.
"You should rest," Elijah muttered. His tone was sharper than he intended.
Luca smirked faintly. "You always were bossy."
"Don't joke," Elijah snapped.
Luca's smirk faded. "I'm not. I'm just glad you're still here."
"I almost wasn't," Elijah said quietly. "If you hadn't—"
He stopped himself, the memory of the gunshot still echoing in his ears.
Luca tilted his head. "If I hadn't what?"
Elijah met his eyes. "If you hadn't saved me."
A beat of silence.
"You don't have to thank me," Luca said. "It's my fault you were in danger."
Elijah's jaw tightened. "Stop saying that."
"But it's true."
"Then make it untrue," Elijah said. "End this."
---
Luca's POV – Internal Monologue
I wish I could.
I wish I could tell him that it's almost over.
That the people after us will disappear once I hand over what they want.
But if I do that… I'll be giving them something worse than money.
I'll be giving them names.
Power.
And that means Elijah will never be safe.
---
"You're not telling me something," Elijah said suddenly, voice low.
Luca looked away.
"That night," Elijah continued, "when you left six years ago—you weren't just protecting me, were you? You were protecting yourself too."
"That's not—"
"Don't lie."
Luca's lips pressed into a thin line. His silence was the only answer Elijah needed.
---
The Door Opens
Mia stepped in, her heels clicking softly against the tile.
"Elijah, the police want a statement," she said.
"I'm not leaving him."
"They can come here," Luca offered.
Mia glanced between them. "You two need to decide something. If they think this was a random attack, you'll be safe. If they know it's connected to…" She trailed off, eyes flicking to Luca. "…then they'll dig deeper."
Elijah's voice was sharp. "Let them dig."
"No," Luca said immediately. "The more they dig, the more danger you're in."
Elijah glared at him. "You don't get to make that choice for me anymore."
---
Later – After Mia Leaves
The room was quiet again.
But the tension was louder than any noise.
Elijah stood by the window, arms crossed, staring at the city lights. "You're going to disappear again, aren't you?"
Luca's throat tightened. "It's safer if—"
"If you leave," Elijah cut in, voice shaking, "I'll never forgive you."
Luca's chest ached. "I'd rather you hate me than bury you."
Elijah turned sharply, eyes glassy. "And I'd rather die with you here than live knowing you walked away again."
They stared at each other.
And for the first time in years, Luca felt something dangerous.
Not anger.
Not regret.
Hope.
---
Suddenly – Luca's Phone Vibrates
Unknown Number again.
> Time's up. Midnight. Come alone, or he pays the price.
Luca locked the screen quickly, but Elijah had already seen the tension in his jaw.
"What was that?" Elijah demanded.
"Nothing."
"Luca—"
"I said nothing."
But Elijah knew.
He always knew.
And deep down, Luca knew this too:
Tonight, he wouldn't be able to keep both promises—protect Elijah… and keep him out of it.
---