Page 78 of Iced Up Love: Part Two
Then another.
Then another.
There’s no rhythm to it, no measured control, no attempt to keep it neat. It’s all body. All impact. All the things in Elijah that have been trapped without a target for too long finally finding somewhere to go.
“Enough,” Christian says sharply. “Let us get information first.”
Elijah doesn’t stop immediately. His chest is rising too fast, his hands flexing at his sides, his entire body wound so tight it looks like it might split.
Then, slowly, he steps back.
Not because he’s calmed down.
Because he’s choosing not to ruin the chance.
Lucian moves forward and stops beside me for one second before he drops into a crouch in front of the dealer.
“Watch carefully,” he says, not looking at me. “I’ll show you that violence isn’t always the only way to get what you want.”
The dealer spits blood onto the floor and glares up at him.
“Go fuck yourself.”
Lucian doesn’t touch him.
Doesn’t threaten him.
He just looks at him with that same controlled attention he’s had all night and says, “You know they’re not coming for you.”
The dealer’s expression flickers, just for a second.
“You know exactly what this is,” he continues, still calm. “You’re not important enough to rescue. You’re not important enough to avenge. If they lose you tonight, they replace you tomorrow and keep moving.”
“Bullshit,” the dealer snarls, but it lands weaker than he wants it to.
Lucian glances toward Christian.
“Call one of our dock men,” he says. “Tell him to ring Carrero’s second and let him know we picked up a runner.”
Christian doesn’t question it. He pulls out his phone immediately.
The dealer’s eyes move.
Fast.
Back to Lucian.
“Why—”
“Because if Luis Carrero wants you alive,” Lucian says, cutting over him, “he’ll call back before I finish counting to ten.”
Christian is already dialing.
The dealer shifts on the chair, trying to hide it, trying to look defiant, but I can see the first crack in him now. It isn’t pain. It isn’t fear of being hit. It’s the possibility that no one is coming.
Lucian lifts one hand and starts counting.
He does it quietly.
