He looked at You

‎No one spoke. The air felt frozen

‎Alessio stood at the doorway. Roman stood between Elias and the exit. Elias stood with his back to the sink, caged.

‎Three seconds. That was all it took for the bathroom to almost become a battlefield.

‎Roman spoke first. “Knock next time, brother.”

‎Alessio didn’t look at him. His eyes were on the way Elias's hands were white-knuckled against the porcelain.

‎“I don’t knock in my house,” Alessio said. His voice was low with a quiet rage in it. “Especially when something of mine is missing from the table.”

‎Something. Not someone.

‎Elias stilled. His stomach lurched at the way

‎Alessio referred to him.

‎Roman smirked lightly.“He’s not a fork, Alessio. You can’t just claim him.”

‎Alessio stepped inside. The door stayed open behind him.

‎“He works for me,“ Alessio's gaze never left Roman. "That's all you need to remember.“

‎Elias finally found his voice. “Excuse me, I’m—”

‎“Quiet.” Alessio didn’t raise his voice. “You lost the right to speak when you followed him in here.”

‎“I didn’t follow—”

‎“Did I ask?”

‎Roman laughed mockingly. “He’s right, you know. You didn’t follow. You ran. From him. To me.”

‎Alessio took a slow step forward.“Say that again.”

‎“You heard me.” Roman wasn't intimidated by Alessio. His tone was taunting. “He ran. From you. The great Alessio Moretti. Your little accountant would rather lock himself in a bathroom with me than sit beside you.”

‎Elias’s stomach dropped. That wasn’t true. That wasn’t—

‎“Elias.” Alessio’s voice was sharp like a blade. “Is that true?”

‎Elias looked at him. Alessio’s jaw was locked. His pupils were blown. His expression made Elias swallow hard.

‎“I asked for permission,” Elias said. His voice steady. “To use the restroom. You said—”

‎“I said be quick.” Alessio’s eyes cut to Roman. “I didn’t say be found.”

‎“Found by me.” Roman pushed off the doorframe. One step closer to Elias. “Because he knew I wouldn’t search him. Not like you did in the office.”

‎Alessio went still.

‎Elias stopped breathing.

‎Roman knew. He knew about what happened at the office.

‎“You’ve been watching,” Alessio said. It wasn’t a question.

‎“I’ve been waiting,” Roman corrected. “Who would've thought a little accountant could ruffle your feathers this much, Brother?“

‎This wasn’t about business anymore. It wasn’t about files, briefings or accountants. It was about something else entirely.

‎The realization hit Elias like cold water.

‎Alessio moved. He crossed the space in two strides, grabbed Elias by the arm yanking him away from the sink. Away from Roman.

‎“Get out,” he told Roman. Not a request. An order.

‎Roman didn’t move. “Make me.”

‎“Romano.” Vito’s voice boomed from the hallway. He was standing there. He’d heard everything. “Outside. Now.”

‎For a second, Roman looked like he’d refuse. Then he smiled. That same infuriating smile. “Of course, Father.”

‎He walked out. His shoulder brushed past Alessio's. A challenge.

‎Alessio didn’t react. His grip on Elias’s arm only tightened instead.

‎Vito looked at them. At Alessio’s hand on Elias. At Elias’s face. His expression was unreadable.

‎“Fix this,” Vito said to Alessio. “Before I do.”

‎He left.

‎The dining room was in chaos when they emerged. Aunt Marisol was crying. Uncle Carlo was shouting into his phone. Guards were at the doors.

‎Alessio didn’t stop to explain. He simply dragged Elias through the foyer, past the staring staff, out into the driveway.

‎“Alessio—”

‎“Shut up.”

‎The car door opened. Marco didn’t dare ask questions. He just saw Alessio’s dark face and got out of the driver’s seat.

‎Alessio shoved Elias into the passenger side. Not hard enough to hurt. Hard enough to make a point. Then he got in, slamming the door, and started the engine.

‎The tires screamed.

‎The car shot out of the estate, gravel spraying behind them as Alessio accelerated onto the empty road. Elias fumbled for the seatbelt, his trembling fingers barely managing to click it into place.

‎"Alessio, slow down."

‎No response.

‎The speedometer climbed. Seventy. Eighty. Streetlights stretched into blurred lines beyond the windshield. Alessio's hands stayed fixed on the wheel, his jaw locked so tightly a muscle ticked beneath his skin.

‎"You'll kill us."

‎Silence.

‎Another sharp turn. The tires screeched against the asphalt, throwing Elias against the passenger door. His fingers tightened around the handle above the window.

‎Then Alessio spoke.

‎"Did he touch you?"

‎Elias stared at him. "...What?"

‎"Roman."

‎The question caught him completely off guard.

‎"Did he touch you?"

‎"No."

‎Alessio's grip tightened on the steering wheel.

‎"So he only cornered you."

‎The words sent a chill through Elias.

‎"You make it sound normal."

‎"It isn't."

‎For the first time since leaving the estate, Alessio looked at him. The cold mask was still there, but something underneath it had cracked. It wasn't rage anymore. It was something Elias couldn't name.

‎"He shouldn't have been alone with you."

‎"I'm an adult."

‎"I know."

‎The answer came immediately.

‎"I also know my brother."

‎The car finally slowed. Alessio guided it onto the shoulder of the empty road before shifting it into park. The engine continued to idle between them.

‎Neither spoke.

‎Elias broke the silence first.

‎"What is wrong with you?"

‎Alessio didn't answer. His eyes remained on the windshield.

‎"When I opened that bathroom door..." His voice was quieter than before. "...he had you trapped."

‎"I wasn't trapped."

‎"You couldn't get past him."

‎"I could've handled it."

‎"I know."

‎That answer surprised Elias.

‎Alessio finally turned toward him. His gaze lingered on Elias's face before dropping briefly to the faint marks around his wrist where he'd grabbed him earlier.

‎Slowly, he reached across the center console.

‎Elias stiffened.

‎Alessio noticed.

‎His hand paused for the briefest second before settling on the collar of Elias's jacket instead, brushing away an invisible crease.

‎A pointless excuse to keep his hand there.

‎"Don't let him isolate you again."

‎It sounded less like advice than an order.

‎Elias searched his face.

‎"This isn't about work anymore... is it?"

‎A long silence followed.

‎Then Alessio withdrew his hand, restarted the drive, and pulled back onto the road.

‎"No."

‎His voice was calm again.

‎"It stopped being about work the moment my brother looked at you."

‎The rest of the drive passed in silence.

‎Elias touched the ache blooming along his jaw.

‎The bruise would fade.

‎What unsettled him wasn't the pain.

‎It was that Alessio had never once asked about the document.

‎Not once.

‎Whatever had happened in that bathroom mattered more.

‎And Elias still didn't understand why.

‎