For a second, no one moved.
Rain hammered the roof of the mansion. The guards kept their guns up, eyes trained on Matthew and Vinny. Tom stood with one hand resting casually on Aiden's chained shoulder, as if this entire night was entertainment.
Matthew shifted forward, every muscle coiled, ready to strike.
Tom saw it.
And smiled.
"You really thought you could steal from me?" Tom murmured. "You thought you could take what belongs to me?"
Matthew's voice dropped to a growl. "Aiden doesn't belong to you."
Tom moved faster than expected. A gun appeared in his hand, pulled from the inside of his suit, already cocked and aimed—
At Matthew.
Vinny's heart stopped.
"NO—!"
Time fractured.
The gunshot exploded like thunder.
But the bullet never reached Matthew.
Because Vinny moved first.
He lunged—shoving Matthew hard—throwing himself between the bullet and the man he loved.
The impact slammed into his side.
Burning. Tearing. Blinding.
Vinny gasped, knees buckling as blood immediately soaked his shirt.
Matthew caught him before he hit the ground.
"Vinny. Vinny— NO. NO." Matthew's voice broke open, rawer than anything Vinny had ever heard.
"I—I'm… okay—" Vinny whispered, voice shaking, eyes unfocused.
"Don't you lie to me." Matthew pressed his hand against the wound, desperate, terrified. Blood poured between his fingers.
Tom laughed.
Actually laughed.
"How touching," he sneered. "Throwing yourself in front of a bullet for a man who doesn't even know how to stay in his place."
Matthew froze.
Something in him snapped.
Something old and dark and barely chained.
He lifted his head slowly, turning toward Tom with murder carved into every line of his face.
Tom expected fear.
He got death.
Matthew's voice dropped to a whisper soaked in violence.
"You shot him."
Tom shrugged. "I shot you. He got in the way."
Aiden screamed from the chair, straining against the chains until the metal cut his skin.
"VINNY! VINNY—! LET ME GO—!"
Vinny choked out, "Aiden… I'm okay— go back— Matthew—"
But Matthew wasn't hearing anything anymore.
He laid Vinny gently on the ground—hands trembling—and rose with a silence more terrifying than any scream.
For the first time since he'd met Tom, Matthew smiled.
And it was cold.
"You're dead."
Tom lifted his gun again.
"Kill him."
The guards fired—
—but they weren't shooting at Matthew.
They were shooting at the other guards.
Because they weren't Tom's men.
They were Matthew's.
Hidden among Tom's. Waiting.
The betrayal was instant and bloody. Bodies hit the floor. Shouting. Gunfire. Screams. Confusion spread like wildfire.
Tom spun, furious. "WHAT—?!"
Matthew was already moving.
A blur of vengeance.
He slammed Tom into the wall so hard the glass shattered. Tom gasped, dropping his gun. Matthew grabbed him by the throat and smashed him onto the floor.
"Matthew—!" Vinny cried weakly, trying to reach him.
Aiden ripped the gag off his neck, tears streaming. "VINNY, DON'T TALK— STAY STILL— PLEASE—!"
Matthew didn't hear either of them.
He dragged Tom across the room, threw him against the metal table, punched him again and again, each hit louder than the storm outside.
"This," Matthew snarled, "is for Aiden."
He struck again—Tom's nose shattered.
"This is for me."
Another blow—two teeth flew.
"And this," Matthew whispered as he pinned Tom to the ground, voice trembling with agony—
"Is for Vinny."
He took Tom's own gun and pressed it under his jaw.
Tom choked on blood. "Matthew— listen— we can deal— I can give you— power— money—"
Matthew pressed harder.
"I don't want anything from you."
Tom tried one last time. "He took the bullet for you. Does that mean— he's yours now? You're so predictable, Matthew. You're just like your father, soft for—"
Matthew pulled the trigger.
One shot.
Straight through the skull.
Tom's body slumped, blood pooling beneath him, staining the white marble floor.
Silence.
Only rain and Vinny's ragged breathing filled the space.
Matthew dropped the gun.
His hands were shaking uncontrollably.
He turned—slowly—and saw Vinny struggling to breathe, blood soaking the floor like black ink in the dim lights.
And something inside Matthew shattered.
He rushed to him, falling to his knees, gathering Vinny into his arms.
"Stay awake. Stay with me. Vinny, look at me—"
Vinny smiled weakly. "You… you always look so angry when you're worried…"
Matthew's breath caught. "Don't joke. Not now. Please—"
Vinny lifted a bloody hand, brushing Matthew's cheek. "I'm okay… you're… warm…"
Matthew pressed Vinny's hand to his chest. "You're going to be fine. My men are coming. You hear me?"
Aiden had finally ripped free of his chains—arms bruised, wrists bleeding—but he didn't care. He crawled across shattered glass and collapsed at Vinny's other side.
"Vinny— Vinny— please— please don't die—" Aiden sobbed, grabbing Vinny's shirt.
Vinny turned his head slightly toward him. "You're… alive… I told you I'd find you…"
Aiden broke down completely.
Matthew's bodyguards rushed in, armed and fast.
"Boss—!"
"Get them to the car! NOW!"
Two men lifted Aiden. He fought wildly.
"No— LET ME STAY— VINNY! VINNY—!"
Another guard pulled Vinny from Matthew's lap. Matthew's hands tightened around Vinny instinctively.
"No," Matthew whispered, voice cracking. "No, don't take him—"
"Sir, he needs immediate surgery. We must move."
Matthew looked like a trapped animal.
"I'm going with him."
But two guards blocked him.
"Sir, you can't. Police and Tom's remaining men are closing in. You must secure the scene."
"MOVE," Matthew snarled, voice deep and lethal.
Vinny, half-conscious, reached toward him weakly.
"Matthew…"
Matthew froze.
Vinny's eyes were barely open. His lips were blue. His hand trembled as he touched Matthew's arm.
"It's… okay… go… I'll wait…"
Matthew's soul broke open.
"No. I'm coming with you."
The guards grabbed Vinny and Aiden, hauling them toward the exit.
Vinny whispered, "Matthew… please…"
Matthew's breath hitched.
Torn. Lifeless. Destroyed.
He stood.
He didn't give the order.
He didn't fight the guards.
He let them take Vinny and Aiden away—
—while his heart stayed kneeling on the floor beside Tom's corpse.
The last thing Vinny saw before darkness swallowed him was Matthew's silhouette, standing alone in the middle of the destroyed room—
—blood on his hands
—rain in his hair
—and grief carved into every inch of him.