Shattered

MALACHAI

I barely had time to react before the gunshot rang through the room, tearing through my shoulder with a burning agony that made my vision blur for a second. I staggered back, gripping the wound as my blood seeped between my fingers, but I couldn't afford to falter. Not now. Not with Ezra still in front of me.

Lucius stood there, breathing heavily, his eyes wild with rage. "What gave you the fucking guts to touch what's mine?!" he spat, his voice shaking with fury. His gun was still pointed at me, but his gaze flickered to Ezra, and that's when my stomach twisted in fear.

Ezra lay there, his body trembling, eyes wide with pure terror. His legs were still bent awkwardly from before, and when Lucius turned his full attention to him, I saw what was coming before it even happened.

Lucius growled, stepping closer. His boot slammed down on Ezra's already damaged knees, forcing them straight with a sickening pop.

Ezra didn't even scream. He just gasped….like the air had been stolen from his lungs, and then his body went limp. His head lolled to the side, his eyes fluttering shut as he passed out from the pain.

"Ezra!" I shouted, trying to move toward him, but Lucius was faster. He turned the gun back to me, the barrel now aimed directly at my forehead. "Ah, ah, ah," he taunted. "Not so fast, Malachai. We still have unfinished business."

My heart pounded as I stood there, my injured arm throbbing, my mind racing. Ezra was unconscious, helpless, and I was bleeding out. But none of that mattered. I had to get us out of this alive.

Lucius tilted his head, a slow smirk spreading across his face. "You thought you could just take him and be happy? That you could fuck my doll and walk away? You're dumber than I thought."

I clenched my jaw, rage burning through my veins, but I forced myself to stay still. "You're a coward, Lucius," I spat. "Hiding behind a gun, torturing someone who was never yours to begin with."

His smirk faltered, just for a second, and I knew I had struck a nerve. But it didn't last long. He stepped closer, pressing the cold barrel against my forehead. "You think I won't pull the trigger? After everything you took from me?"

I stared him down, my breathing steady despite the pain. "Go ahead," I said, voice low. "Do it. But you'll never get him back."

Lucius' finger twitched on the trigger, his jaw clenching. I could see the conflict in his eyes. He wanted to kill me…God, I knew he did..but he also wanted Ezra. And if I was dead, Ezra would never willingly go with him.

For a moment, it was a silent standoff. The only sounds in the room were my ragged breaths and the faint crackle of the fireplace in the corner. Then, out of nowhere, the door burst open.

Elvis.

"Let him go, Lucius," my brother's voice rang through the room, firm and steady. He had his own gun raised, aimed right at Lucius' head. "This isn't your fight anymore."

Lucius let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, it is. You think I'm just going to walk away after everything? After what he did?"

"You don't have a choice," Elvis said, stepping closer. "Drop the gun."

Lucius' grip tightened on his weapon, his face twisting in frustration. But he hesitated.

And that was all I needed.

With a surge of adrenaline, I lunged forward, grabbing Lucius' wrist and twisting it. The gun fired, the bullet barely missing my ear as I forced his arm up. We struggled, our bodies crashing into the bedside table, sending the lamp to the floor with a shatter. I ignored the searing pain in my shoulder as I slammed my fist into his face, feeling the sickening crunch of his nose breaking beneath my knuckles.

Lucius let out a strangled grunt, stumbling back. Before he could recover, Elvis was on him, kicking the gun away and pinning him down. "You're done," Elvis hissed, pressing his own weapon against the side of Lucius' head.

Breathing heavily, I staggered back to Ezra's side, gently cupping his face. "Ezra," I murmured, my voice hoarse. "Baby, wake up."

His eyelashes fluttered, but he didn't stir. My heart clenched. "Please," I whispered, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I need you to wake up."

Elvis glanced at me. "We need to get out of here, now."

I nodded, gathering Ezra into my arms as carefully as I could. "We're leaving," I told him, even though he couldn't hear me. "I've got you."

As I carried Ezra out of the room, I cast one last look at Lucius, still pinned beneath my brother. "You'll never touch him again," I vowed, my voice laced with venom.

Then I turned and walked away, holding Ezra tightly, never looking back.