The air was thick with tension. Dominic's grip on his glass tightened as he sat in his dimly lit office, eyes fixed on the security footage playing on the screen. The sight of Matteo smirking at Elijah earlier still burned in his mind, and his patience was wearing dangerously thin.
Vincent stood near the door, arms crossed. "You're overthinking it," he said.
Dominic scoffed. "Overthinking? Matteo doesn't make moves without a reason. He's planning something, and Elijah's in the middle of it."
As if on cue, the phone on Dominic's desk buzzed. One of his men's voices came through, hurried and sharp. "Boss, we have a problem. The shipment at the docks—ambush."
Dominic shot up from his seat. "Who?"
"Romano's men."
Vincent cursed under his breath. Dominic didn't waste a second. "Get the men ready. Now."
Elijah, who had been lounging in the next room, stepped in just as Dominic was grabbing his gun. "What's going on?"
"You stay here," Dominic ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Elijah frowned. "Like hell I will."
Vincent placed a hand on Elijah's shoulder, a rare moment of concern in his usually cold demeanor. "It's not safe. Stay put."
Elijah watched as Dominic stormed out, his men following close behind. His gut told him something bigger was happening. And he was right.
---
At the docks, the night was alive with chaos. Gunfire echoed through the air as Dominic and his men arrived, bullets slicing through the darkness. Matteo was nowhere in sight, but his men were here, and they were ready for war.
Dominic ducked behind a crate, reloading his gun. "Find Romano," he ordered. "End this now."
The battle was fierce—Dominic's men pushed forward, but Matteo's forces weren't backing down. A sudden explosion rocked the docks, sending flames into the night sky.
Dominic's eyes narrowed. This wasn't just about business anymore. This was personal.
---
Meanwhile, back at the estate, Elijah couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. His fingers itched to do something, anything, rather than sit and wait.
Then, a shadow moved outside the window.
Elijah's heart pounded. He wasn't alone.
---