The man stared at Elio's unconscious form. He thought he had left everything behind but here he was, haunting him back. He never thought that he would ever see him again.
"You still look so beautiful," he whispered under his breath as his hand caressed Elio's hair. "I'm sorry we meet again this way."
Elio stirred in his sleep. His eyes opened and a faint smile appeared on his lips. The man was confused. He was expecting Elio to be mad at him. Resent him for what he did.
"You really show up with no fail, huh?" Elio chuckled. "It's really not good that my husband just died and you're the one showing up in my dream," he mumbled.
The man froze. He was Lorenzo's husband. All along he thought he was just Lorenzo's right hand. Lorenzo was not an ally or an enemy. They simply coexisted with them and not once were there any rifts between the two families, seeing how Lorenzo has relatively less power than him and mostly dealt with businesses he could care less about. Elio also hadn't meddled in the mafia's business. He mostly worked directly under Lorenzo and training his men.
It was only when he heard about plans for the death of his father that he looked into them and that's when he saw Elio. At first, he didn't want to believe it but the more he investigated, the more he realized that it truly was him. He wanted to end Lorenzo's life then and there, by pulling Elio into this kind of life. The life he never wanted for him.
"Killian, I miss you so much. After all these years I still fucking miss you yet I hate you at the same time," Elio said as he reached out to touch the hand on his head.
Elio's body tensed, his eyes were wide in shock when he realized that he was indeed holding a man's hand. His eyes stared into Killian in disbelief.
"Hey," Killian greeted.
Elio pushed his hand away and scrambled off the bed, searching for a gun or a weapon to use against him. Killian didn't stop him. He knew that it was all a shock to him.
"Who the fuck are you?!" Elio asked in a state of panic.
"You need to calm down Elio," Killian said as he stood up from the chair and approached him.
Elio found himself stuck. He was already pressed against the wall and his mind couldn't conjure up a plan to escape.
"Answer my question!"
"Killian. I'm Killian," Killian calmly answered.
"No! No, you're not him! You're not my KIllian. He could never be involved in something like this," Elio cried, tears now freely flowing down his face.
"Elio, look at me please," Killian said as he held ELio's face.
He coulnd't look. Elio couldn't look. It wasn't real. He might still be dreaming. That was what he was telling himself. HE could feel Kilian's pleading look but he kept his gaze down. His fingers felt rough against his skin. This wasn't his KIllian. Kiliian was obessessive with his hands and always carried a hand lotion. It wasn't his KIllian. It doesn't feel like his Killian.
"Eli, please, look at me," Killian begged.
Elio broke down. He hadn't heard that name in so long. Lorenzo called him that once and he snapped. Hearing that name just brought too many unpleasant memories. Elio looked up and the face that he longed to see for years was now right in front of him. Killian smiled once their eyes met. Those eyes that he had to let go of so long ago was now in front of him once again.
"Hi," Killian greeted, joy evident in his voice.
Elio felt his anger rise up. He pushed Killian away from him and delivered a punch straight to his face. Killian stumbled backwards but kept his balance. He could barely get his footing back before another punch was sent his way. This time, Killian fell backwards and hit the bedside table, causing the vase to crash on the floor.
Elio took the opportunity to straddle Killian and deliver another punch, and then another, and then another until he was forcibly pulled off by Killian's men who had barged in the room at the sound of the commotion. Killian didn't even fight. He didn't want to. He coudln't lay a hand on Elio. He understood where his anger is coming from.
Cole Helped Killian up and he spit out the blood that was pooled in his mouth.
"You, okay boss?" Cole asked.
"Yeah, I'm good," he said as he wiped off the blood off of his face.
"Why didn't you fight back? You could've easily overpowered him," Cole said, pointing over to Elio who was thrashing against the two men holding him back.
"I'm going to fucking kill you!" Elio screamed.
Cole was about to pull out his gun but Killian stopped him. He raised hi brow at his boss.
"Long story," Killian sighed.
"What do we do, boss?" one of the men holding Elio asked.
"Let him go," Killian ordered.
The two hesitated but did otherwise. Elio fell to the ground, breaking down. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours and he was struggling to take it all in. Killian approached him and engulfed him in a hug. Elio tried to push him off but Killian wouldn't budge until he finally gave in. He let his head fall on Killian's shoulder and his scent instantly hit him.
The familiar scent helped him calm down. Killian kept his arms around him and Elio returned the hug, his tears soaking Killian's shirt. Killian held Elio in his arms as he cried until he calmed down.
"Why am I here?" Elio asked.
"You're Lorenzo's husband," Killian said with bitterness in his voice.
Hearing his name made Elio break down again. Killian felt a bitter jealousy bubble within him when he didn't have the right to be jealous. He left Elio all those years ago without an explanation. Elio wasn't his anymore. He couldn't be jealous.
"Please take me back. I need to bury my husband," Elio begged.
Killian felt jealous once again but he had to push back his emotions.
"I'm sorry, he had taken something to me. It's only fair that I take something in return," Killian calmly said.
His words sunk into Elio's head and he immediately pulled away from Killian. Pain, anger, and betrayal were clear in his eyes. Killian felt the urge to get on his knees and beg for his forgiveness but he knew he only did what he had to do.
"You killed him?" Elio asked in disbelief. "Why? Why did you kill him? Why?!" He cried.
"He killed my father."
Silence followed after those words. Elio could barely describe the pain that he was currently feeling. The man he vowed to spend the rest of his life with was killed by the man who he loved with all his heart. Killian tried approaching Elio but he quickly crawled away from him.
"I'm sorry, I really am. I just did what I had to do," Killian tried to explain. "If I don't kill him, someone else would and I can't promise you that they'd do something worse. I gave him a peaceful death."
I killed him because I wanted you back in my life, was what he wanted to say but he knew it would make matters worse if he did. He didn't care that Lorenzo had killed his father but he wasn't lying when he said if he didn't someone else would. He just spared Elio the pain and having him here would keep him safe. Now everyone would think he's his trophy and no one would dare to touch him.
He had Elio back with him and he could guarantee that he was safe with him. Elio saw otherwise. His life was in danger now that he was with Killian. Years ago, Lorenzo promised him a normal life if he ever dies. Lorenzo had bought a house for him somewhere in Europe and made him a new identity.
"Elio, come to me, please," Killian begged but Elio shook his head.
Killian grabbed his leg and pulled Elio toward him. Elio thrashed and tried to pull away but Killian held him in place. Elio wanted this nightmare to end. Why did his life have to come to this? He was waiting for the day that he and Lorenzo could finally be free but somehow he found himself deeper into the underground world.
"Please, Elio. I'm so sorry. I know you can't forgive me for what I've done but you were never supposed to be involved in this kind of life in the first place. I made sure that would've happened," Killian explained.
"What do you mean?"
"I've been in the mafia since before I was born."