Between Bullets and Breath

Chapter 10: Too close

No one could sleep.

Rafael sat on the couch, elbows on his knees, gun still in his hand. The adrenaline hasn’t faded yet. His pulse was still racing, his mind still repaying the sound of bullets and Lucien’s voice cutting through the chaos.

Lucien moved around the room, checking the windows one last time. His movements were steady, calm.

“You’re going to open that cut wider,” Rafael muttered.

Lucien paused. “It’s fine.”

Rafael stood. “You keep saying that.” He grabbed the first aid kit from the shelf and tossed it on the table. “Sit.”

Lucien gave him a look, cool, unreadable. “You think you can order me now?”

Rafael smirked, stepping closer. “If you bleed and die on my watch , Marcus will have my head. So yeah, sit down.”

Lucien exhaled quietly and sat. Rafael knelt in front of him, opening the kit. The air between them grew heavy.

Rafael cleaned the blood from Lucien’s cheek. His fingers brushed against his skin, and for a second, Lucien froze. His gray eyes flicked up, meeting Rafael’s brown ones.

“Hold still.” Rafael murmured.

“You’re terrible at given orders.” Lucien’s voice was low.

“Rafael chuckled under his breath. “And you’re terrible at taking them.”

The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable it was charged. Each breath felt too loud, too close.

Lucien’s eyes followed Rafael’s hands has he worked, rough hands, scared and steady.

When Rafael was done, he leaned back slightly, his voice quieter. “You should be more careful next time.”

Lucien tilted his head. “Worried about me, cruz?”

Rafael’s lips curved. “Don’t want you to die now.”

Then Elara’s voice broke the moment. “My dad called.”

Both men turned.

She stood at the doorway, holding her phone tightly. “He wants to meet tomorrow.

Lucien nodded. “Did he say why?”

“No.”

Rafael frowned. “I wonder what it is this time.”

“You think he knows some new information.” Elara said softly.

Lucien’s tone softened. “If he doesn’t, he will soon.”

Rafael leaned back against the wall. “Then we better be ready.”

The three of them sat in silence for a moment.

Lucien finally stood, walking to the window. “You should get some rest, Elara.”

She nodded and left quietly, leaving them alone again.

Rafael’s gaze lingered on Lucien’s reflection in the glass. “I think the boss is hiding something.”

Lucien didn’t turn. “I think so too.”

Rafael crossed his arms. “And are we still going to follow his orders.”

Lucien’s voice low. “ We must keep her safe.”

They stood face to face, inches apart, tension cutting through the quiet like a blade.

Lucien expression softened just a little. “Try sleeping. We move at dawn.”

Rafael watched him walk away, every step calculated, every movement controlled.

When the lights finally went out, Rafael stayed awake, staring into the dark.