The tension in the jet didn't let up. Adrian was still staring at Elijah like he was insane, Dominic looked as unreadable as ever, and Vincent was watching everything like a movie he was enjoying way too much.
Elijah let out a sharp breath. "Can we at least talk about this like normal people?"
Dominic arched a brow. "You think any of this is normal?"
Elijah shot him a glare. "You know what I mean."
Adrian crossed his arms. "No, actually, we don't. Because one minute, I think my best friend is living a normal life, and the next, he's mixed up with the freaking mafia!" He turned to Dominic. "And you-you just say things like he's mine like that's a perfectly fine thing to say in a relationship. Newsflash, bro, that's not romantic. That's psycho."
Dominic tilted his head, completely unbothered. "Yet, he's still here."
Adrian turned back to Elijah. "Eli, I swear, if you tell me you actually like this guy-"
"I don't," Elijah cut in quickly.
A flicker of something dangerous flashed through Dominic's eyes, but he stayed silent.
Adrian let out a relieved sigh. "Okay, good. Because this whole setup is-"
"But," Elijah added, rubbing the back of his neck, "it's... complicated."
Dominic smirked.
Adrian groaned. "God, I hate you."
Vincent snorted. "I like this one."
Elijah ignored him and looked back at Dominic. "What did you mean when you said Matteo isn't done?"
Dominic's jaw tightened. "He has other plans."
Elijah frowned. "What kind of plans?"
Vincent answered for him. "Let's just say, Matteo isn't the type to give up. And since he didn't get what he wanted with you, he's going to make sure he gets back at Dominic in another way."
Elijah's stomach twisted. "Which means?"
Dominic's gaze darkened. "He'll go after something else I care about."
Elijah froze.
Adrian blinked. "Wait-what does that mean?"
Elijah didn't dare look at Dominic. He didn't want to see confirmation in his eyes. He didn't want to know what it meant that Matteo would go after him just to hurt Dominic.
Vincent sighed. "Well, at least it makes things interesting."
Dominic gave him a sharp look. "Shut up."
Vincent held up his hands. "Just saying."
Elijah let out a breath. "So what do we do now?"
Dominic stood, straightening his suit. "We prepare for war."
The jet landed smoothly, but the tension in the cabin was anything but.
Elijah stepped onto the tarmac, stretching his arms with a deep sigh. He had barely processed what happened in Italy, and now they were back, expecting him to carry on like normal. Yeah, right.
Adrian was still fuming. "So you're just going to act like everything's fine?"
"Would you rather I cry about it?" Elijah shot back, adjusting his hoodie.
"I'd rather you tell me what the hell is actually going on between you and him." Adrian threw a glare at Dominic, who looked completely unbothered as he buttoned his jacket.
Dominic smirked. "Ask him."
Elijah gave Dominic a sharp look. Not helping, asshole.
Adrian groaned. "This is insane. Do you hear yourself? Do you even understand what kind of situation you're in?"
"Trust me, I know," Elijah muttered.
Dominic stepped closer to him, voice low. "Then act like it."
Elijah tensed. "Excuse me?"
Dominic leaned in, close enough that Elijah could feel the heat of his breath. "You act like you're free to do whatever you want, but let me remind you—you belong to me now."
Elijah scoffed and took a step back. "I don't belong to anyone."
Adrian looked between them, his frustration growing. "Okay, what the hell did I just walk into?"
Vincent, who had been silently watching, finally chuckled. "A mess. A very entertaining mess."
Dominic shot him a glare, and Vincent held up his hands. "I'll go warm up the car."
As he walked off, Adrian turned back to Elijah. "Tell me you don't actually have feelings for this guy."
"I—" Elijah hesitated.
Dominic raised a brow.
Adrian's eyes widened. "Oh my God, you do."
Elijah groaned, shoving a hand through his hair. "It's not like that."
Adrian crossed his arms. "Then explain it."
Dominic interrupted, voice smug. "He doesn't need to."
Elijah shot him a glare. "You are not helping."
Dominic's smirk didn't fade. "I wasn't trying to."
Adrian groaned again. "I hate everything about this."
Before Elijah could respond, Vincent's voice crackled through the earpiece in Dominic's ear. "Boss, we might have a problem."
Dominic's playful demeanor vanished in an instant. "Talk."
Vincent's tone was serious. "I think we're being followed."
Elijah's heart skipped a beat. "What?"
Dominic immediately grabbed Elijah's wrist and pulled him toward the waiting car. "Get in. Now."
Adrian hesitated. "Wait—"
"Now," Dominic ordered, his tone sharp.
Elijah climbed in, his pulse racing. Adrian followed, still looking confused and pissed.
As the car sped off, Elijah couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over.
Matteo wasn't done.
And neither was Dominic.