Page 29 of King of Violence

The soft knock on my door is unexpected. I debate ignoring it, but the knock comes again, firmer this time.

“Jules, it’s me,” Elijah says, his voice muffled through the thick wood.

I hesitate, then force myself upright with a wince. “Come in.”

Elijah steps inside and closes the door behind him. His usual cocky smirk is absent, replaced by something harder to read. He looks at me, his eyes flicking to where I clutch my side, and for a moment, there’s something almost like concern on his face.

“He really did a number on you, huh?” he says, leaning against the doorframe.

I shrug, wincing at the movement. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

Elijah scoffs as he runs a hand through his hair. “That’s not the point, Julian. You could’ve avoided it.”

“Yeah? How?” I snap, the words sharper than I intended. “By doing everything he asks? By turning my school into his personal playground?”

Elijah narrows his eyes, his expression hardening. “You think you’re better than the rest of us, is that it?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“But it’s what you meant.” He steps closer, his voice low and intense. “You’re so caught up in this self-righteous act, like you’re above the family business. Newsflash, Jules: you’re not. None of us are.”

I glare at him, my jaw tightening. “It’s not about being above anything. I’m not dragging innocent people into this mess, Elijah. I’m not ruining lives just because Father snaps his fingers.”

Elijah exhales sharply and drags a hand down his face. “Do you think I like this? Do you think I enjoy watching him knock you around? Because I don’t.”

“Then stop defending him.”

“I’m not defending him,” Elijah snaps, his frustration spilling over. “I’m trying to protect you. You keep pushing him, and he’s only going to push back harder. You know how he is, Julian. He doesn’t care how much you bleed as long as you fall in line.”

I look away, my gaze fixed on the worn wooden floor.

“You think this is easy for me?” Elijah continues, his tone softer now. “You think I don’t want to tell him to shove it? But we don’t have that luxury. Not you, not me. You’ve got a good thing going at that school. Don’t screw it up by being stubborn.”

“I’m not stubborn,” I mutter. “I’m just...I can’t do it, E. I can’t look Felix in the eye knowing I’ve dragged him into this shit.”

“Felix?” Elijah’s brows lift, a flicker of surprise breaking through his frustration. “This is about him?”

“It’s not just about him,” I say quickly, but the lie tastes bitter. “It’s about doing something that doesn’t leave a trail of destruction behind.”

Elijah shakes his head, letting out a low laugh that lacks humor. “You really think you can keep everything separate? Your school, your friends, your boyfriend?—”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I cut in.

“Whatever he is,” Elijah says, waving a hand. “You think you can keep him safe by playing this game of defiance? Dad’s not going to stop, Jules. The longer you fight, the worse it’s going to get—for you and for him.”

I don’t respond. What can I say? He’s right. But giving in feels like something I’d never come back from.

Elijah sighs and runs a hand through his hair again. “Look, I don’t want to see you get hurt. But I don’t get why you’re making this so hard on yourself. You think Felix would thank you for it? Or anyone else, for that matter?”

“I don’t care if they thank me,” I say quietly. “I just care that they don’t have to deal with this...this life.”

Elijah studies me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he shakes his head, pushing off the doorframe.

“You’re a real idiot, you know that?” he says, though there’s no malice in his tone.

“Yeah,” I mutter. “I know.”

He lingers for a second longer, then turns and walks out, leaving me alone with the ache in my ribs and the weight pressing down on my chest.

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