Raised guns

‎Elias (POV)

A faint laugh came from Roman. “You’re quick. I like that."

Alessio tilted his head.

One masked man stepped forward. “Last warning. Step away from the contract.”

‎ My hands trembled.

‎ Alessio’s voice cut in. “Sign it.”

Roman spoke at the same time. “Don’t.”

‎ Elias froze.

‎ Two commands. Two predators. One choice.

Then—

‎ A gun clicked against his head.

‎ “Wrong choice will get you killed, accountant.”

‎ I didn’t move. My heart raced in fear.

‎ And in that instant, I understood.

‎ This was never a job. Never a contract application.

‎ The pen slipped from my fingers, hitting the floor.

‎ Clink.‎

‎Guns were pointed at my head.

‎The pen was still touching the paper. The ink spilling. One signature and I was his. Legally and completely.

‎Roman's men didn't lower their guns.

‎"Drop it," the one in the front threatened. "Now."

‎ ‎Alessio didn't even look at them. His eyes were locked on mine. Dark. Commanding. Like the rest of the room didn't exist.

‎"Sign it, Elias," he said again. Soft. But it hit harder than the guns.

‎My hands shook. ‎I signed anyway

‎Each stroke messy. Panicked. But it was my name. Elias Hart.

‎The second the ink dried, Alessio moved.

‎I didn't see him pull the gun. One second his hands were empty. Next there was a pistol against the lead gunman's head.

‎"Rule two," Alessio said, voice flat. "Don't point guns at what's mine."

‎The gunman froze in fear. Roman laughed, amused from the doorway. " Brother, you can't shoot all of them."

‎"I don't need to," Alessio said before he fired.

‎A shot rang out. The man crumpled without a sound. Blood spreading on the marble floor in a wet bloom.

‎Chaos exploded. The other men raised their guns.

‎Glass shattered above my head.

‎I flinched instinctively.

‎Alessio grabbed my wrist. "Stop shaking.“

‎ ‎"I'm not.” I retorted.

‎"You are.“

‎He dragged me behind his desk as bullets tore through glass. His expression cold. He wasn't panicking like I was.

‎Another shot rang out. Somebody screamed.

‎" Stay down," he ordered.

‎Terrified I pressed my body to the floor. Marble was cold against my cheek. My heart hammering against my ribs.

‎For one terrifying second, I was sure the next bullet would find me. ‎

‎The contract was still clutched tightly in my hand. My own signature stared up at me from the bottom of the page like a death sentence.

‎Three minutes felt like three hours. Then silence.

The silence felt odd. I peeked over the desk to see Alessio walking over. Stepping over the bodies like they were trash.

Roman looked a little disheveled, before he straightened his jacket. His expression ferocious.

‎"Enjoy your victory, brother.“ He spat out venomously.

‎His gaze settled on me.

‎"I'll take him eventually.“

‎ ‎He sauntered off. Not looking back.

‎Alessio turned back to me. His left hand in his pocket with a hand stretched out to me.

‎"Come."

‎I didn't take it. " You killed a man."

‎"He pointed a gun at you," Alessio responded.

‎I finally took his hand. He pulled me up too easily. ‎Like I weighed nothing.

‎I noticed he was still holding my hand. ‎I tried taking my hand but his grip didn't loosen.

‎"Let me go.“ I panicked now. My hands now hurting from his tight grip.

‎He merely looked at me. I pulled my hand again. This time he let it go.

‎I stepped away from him. Afraid he might grab my hand again.

‎"You said you don't share," I said, voice slightly shaken.

‎"But your brother—"

‎"Roman doesn't get to have you," Alessio cut in. He walked slowly to me. My feet moved backwards at each step he took.

‎His hand grabbed my wrist. Pulling me.

‎His strides were fast, Throwing me off balance as we passed office hallway.

‎His voice echoed as his steps quicken."I own you now. Your signature was on that contract before his ever touched paper."

‎He shoved me into a private elevator. Steel doors closed. No buttons on them. It started moving down on it's own.

‎He faced me with his back to the elevator door.

‎"Where are you taking me," I asked scared. Stepping back to the inner part of the elevator in a trying to avoid Alessio.

‎"Home," He responded. "You signed the contract . You're Moretti property now. That means you live where I can see you."

‎The elevator stopped. Doors opened to a penthouse. Black marble. Floor-to-ceiling windows . The whole city spread out below with dark dim lights flickering.

‎It looked like he owned the whole city. Because he probably did.

‎Alessio let go of my wrist. Walking over to a bar stand.

‎Poured out two glasses of amber liquid. It didn't seem like I was going to be offered one.

‎"You stay here from now on," he said. "You'll eat. You'll sleep. And breathe when I tell you to."

‎"Or what," I snapped. The fear from before turned into anger. "You'll kill me too."

‎Alessio turned to look at me. He took slow sips of his drink. Eyes never leaving me.

‎"No," he drawled out. His lips curled up coldly. "I'll let Roman have you."

‎The threat landed like a punch. Because now I knew what Roman was like. Roman was like a smiling tiger who ate people. While Alessio didn't smile at all.

‎I set the contract on the nearest table. "I want to leave."

‎"You can't," Alessio said. His face blank. "The contract is non- revocable. My lawyers drafted it. The judges enforce it. My subordinates obey it."

‎He walked up to me. Before stopping an inch away. He didn't touch me. But his presence was a weight.

‎"You have two choices, Elias Hart," His voice low but it sent shivers down my spine.

How did he know my real name

‎"Stay here. Under my protection. Under my rules. Or walk out that door and see how long you survive before Roman finds you."

‎I looked at the locked penthouse doors. Then at him. Before glancing at the windows, sixty floors up.

A way to escape seemed impossible.

‎"You're both monsters," I said. Clenching my hands in defeat.

Alessio lips curled. His expression made me uneasy.

‎"Yes. But I'm the monster standing between you and the worst ones."

‎He reached out and tucked a hair stand behind my ear. His fingers were cold against my skin. The touch lingered. ‎

"Fix my books," he said. "Prove you're worth keeping. And maybe I'll let you keep your freedom too."

‎He turned and walked away Into another room.

‎Door closed behind him.

‎I was alone in a penthouse I couldn't leave. with a contract I couldn't break. ‎

"I do regret coming for this interview,“my fingers dung into my palm.

‎My phone buzzed.

Unknown Number:

You made the wrong choice. —R

I looked at the locked penthouse doors.

Then at the city sixty floors below.

That's when it hit me.

I wasn't just trapped with an cold, unreasonable psycho.

I was trapped between two of them.