The next few days passed in a blur of confusion and frustration. Elijah couldn't stop replaying the events of that night—Dominic's kiss, his words, the intense, almost suffocating desire in the air.
He had tried to push it away, to focus on anything other than Dominic's promise. But every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was Dominic's gaze, that dark, possessive look that made his heart beat too fast.
It was dangerous. He knew it.
He didn't belong in that world. The world Dominic lived in—where power and control were the rules, where lives were tossed aside like pawns in a game. Elijah wasn't a part of that world. He wasn't like them.
But despite all that, Elijah couldn't stop thinking about Dominic.
---
Elijah sat at the café, a steaming cup of coffee in front of him, but his mind was elsewhere. His fingers tapped restlessly against the table. He had told himself he'd be fine, that he wouldn't let Dominic get to him. Yet, here he was, obsessing over him.
Just then, his phone buzzed on the table, breaking him from his thoughts. His heart skipped when he saw the name on the screen: Dominic Moretti.
For a moment, he debated not answering, but curiosity won out. He picked up the phone.
"You've been avoiding me." Dominic's voice was smooth, confident, but there was a slight edge to it—something that made Elijah's stomach tighten.
"I'm not avoiding you," Elijah lied, his voice almost too casual. "I've been busy."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line. Then Dominic's voice returned, laced with amusement. "I don't like being ignored, Elijah."
Elijah clenched his jaw. "I'm not your pet, Dominic. You don't get to tell me what to do."
"I don't need to tell you anything," Dominic replied, his tone turning dark. "You'll come to me, and when you do, you'll understand why this game is dangerous."
"I'm not playing your game," Elijah muttered, his chest tight with frustration.
"I think you already are," Dominic said, a quiet smirk evident in his voice. "You just don't realize it yet."
Before Elijah could respond, Dominic hung up. The line went dead, leaving Elijah staring at his phone, a mix of confusion and anger swirling inside him.
---
That evening, after trying to distract himself with everything he could think of, Elijah found himself walking through the quiet streets, lost in his own thoughts. As he passed by a dark alley, a voice called out to him, breaking the silence.
"Elijah, right?"
Startled, Elijah turned to find a man standing in the shadows, his posture relaxed but still exuding an undeniable presence. Elijah recognized him immediately—it was Matteo Romano.
Matteo had always carried a charm about him, an unsettling confidence that made him impossible to ignore. He was dressed in a tailored suit, his dark hair neatly combed, but there was something dangerous about the way he approached.
"Elijah, I've been meaning to talk to you," Matteo said, his smile smooth but with an edge to it. "I've been watching you."
Elijah frowned, his instincts telling him to step back, but there was something about Matteo's presence that held him in place.
"You've been watching me?" Elijah asked, a mix of disbelief and curiosity in his voice. "Why?"
"Why not?" Matteo chuckled. "You're an interesting person. Different from the others I've met. You don't belong in this world, Elijah, and that makes me want to know more about you."
Elijah crossed his arms, already feeling uneasy. "I'm not interested in whatever you're selling, Matteo. I'm not part of your games."
Matteo's eyes twinkled with amusement, and he took a step closer. "You'll change your mind. Everyone does eventually."
Elijah's heart skipped a beat. There was something predatory in Matteo's gaze, a dangerous allure that made it impossible to look away.
Matteo continued, his voice soft and enticing. "You don't have to choose yet, Elijah. You don't have to choose between Dominic and me, between the chaos and the calm. But remember, I'm offering you something Dominic can't. A way out of all this." He paused, allowing his words to sink in. "You just have to take my hand."
Elijah's mind raced. What was Matteo offering him? A way out? Or was it just another trap?
Before Elijah could respond, Matteo leaned in, brushing a lock of hair from his face in a strangely tender gesture. "I'll be waiting, Elijah. Whenever you're ready to make a real choice."
Elijah stood frozen, staring after Matteo as he walked away. A part of him felt the pull of his words, but he couldn't let himself fall into the trap. He couldn't trust Matteo, not when he was already tangled in Dominic's world.
As he walked home that night, Elijah couldn't shake the feeling that his life was spiraling out of control. Matteo's words echoed in his mind, blending with Dominic's promise. They were both playing a game. But which one was the real danger?
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