Submitting to my Ex Uncle-Chapter 221

Music Recommendation: Eyes Closed by Jisoo, Zayn.

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Elias sat on the cold bench across from Amara’s apartment. His eyes were fixed on the faint silhouette moving behind her curtains.

He wasn’t sure what exactly he was waiting for. Maybe, he was waiting for a sign she was fine, or maybe a reason to leave. But until he saw her go to bed safe, he wasn’t going anywhere.

The night air was cold. Extremely cold.

He drew a slow breath and let it burn through his chest before he exhaled smoke into the quiet street. He looked down at the dying cigarette between his fingers and took one last puff.

He never got to finish it.

An elbow slammed into the side of his head, sharp and sudden. The cigarette fell from his hand.

Elias’s head jerked to the side. His senses sharpened instantly. He turned, and his gaze met the sight of a man in a dark jacket, with a grin stretched across his face. Behind the man, seven more shapes emerging from the shadows.

They were eight in total.

His fingers twitched. His body shifted, ready. His eyes swept the street. There were no witnesses. Just him, the quiet street, and men before him.

"Didn’t think we’d find you this easy," the man in front said. His tone was smug and casual. "Carlos sends his regards."

Elias didn’t move. His heartbeat didn’t even stutter. He wasn’t surprised, only half sure. He’d known Carlos wouldn’t let him stay out of reach forever.

"Tell him he could’ve just called," Elias said quietly.

The leader chuckled. "You’re not exactly the phone type. You ignore calls, and only reply when you like."

The others fanned out, forming a loose circle. Elias counted their steps, breaths, and distance. They were confident. That was their first mistake. He rose slowly from the bench, brushing his coat sleeve once as if shaking off dust. His jaw flexed.

"I don’t want trouble," he said.

"Then don’t make us work for it."

The first man lunged. Elias sidestepped, grabbed his wrist, and slammed his elbow down in a clean motion. The man’s bones cracked. He screamed. The others didn’t hesitate. They came at him all at once.

The street erupted into chaos.

Elias wasn’t impressed by them. His moves were precise. He wasted no energy. He ducked one swing, caught another’s collar, and drove his knee into the man’s ribs.

Another came from the left. Elias twisted, his fist snapping out, and hitting the side of his neck. He heard the choked gasp before the man hit the ground.

However, they kept coming.

A kick landed at his back. He turned sharply, blocking the next punch with his forearm, but the second blow came too fast. It caught his jaw, snapping his head sideways. Pain flashed bright behind his eyes.

He gritted his teeth, steadied himself, and drove his fist into the gut of the nearest man. He could feel his strength slipping, but adrenaline pushed him harder.

They weren’t amateurs. Whoever Carlos sent knew how to corner someone. He didn’t even hear them coming. Worse still, he wasn’t with a gun.

One of them swung a metal rod. Elias caught it midway, wrestled for control, and yanked it free. He slammed the end of it into another man’s leg. Someone grabbed him from behind. He turned sharply and sent his elbow into the man’s throat. For a brief second, he had space again. He took it.

Two of them were on the ground groaning. Another spat blood into the gutter. But there were still too many.

"Enough!" someone barked.

The blow came before Elias could turn. It was a hard strike to the back of his head. His vision flickered. He stumbled forward, and the world spinned in quick, uneven motions. A boot slammed into his ribs, forcing the air out of him. He dropped to one knee, breathing hard.

Someone grabbed his collar and yanked him up. He swung blindly, hitting nothing. The next hit landed across his temple, and the sound was a distant, hollow thud. The street tilted.

Elias fell against the bench. The taste of blood filled his mouth. He could still hear the faint hum of a car engine nearby. A black SUV laid idle at the corner. Of course they came prepared.

"Carlos said bring him in breathing," one of the men muttered.

"Looks like he’ll still manage that," another replied.

They grabbed his arms, dragging him toward the car. His boots scraped against the pavement. His body felt heavy, and distant. He could barely lift his head.

He was just about to shut his eyes when he saw Amara’s window.

Her curtains shifted, and the light inside spilled faintly across the street. The window opened just a little, and her silhouette appeared, fragile, and familiar.

She looked around once, maybe sensing something. Her gaze swept across the street, lingering just long enough for him to believe she’d seen him.

His lips curved faintly, even as his body protested every move. There was blood on his teeth, and his breath came uneven, but he smiled anyway.

She was there. He wouldn’t die tonight but even if he did, this would be enough.

The night blurred. The men hauled him toward the open car door. His knees gave out once, and they cursed, lifting him roughly again. His eyes found her window one last time.

He stayed there, silently waiting for her to look in his direction. He wanted her to smile if she saw him.

She looked around again, searching. Then slowly, she closed the window.

Elias let out a quiet, broken laugh that ended in a wheeze. His smile lingered, small but certain. He didn’t know if she’d seen him, but he wanted to believe she had.

The last thing Elias heard before the car door slammed shut was the faint rustle of her curtains closing. That sound followed him into the darkness like a heartbeat he refused to lose.

His head lolled back against the seat as the SUV pulled away. The metallic taste of blood coated his tongue, thick and bitter. Every bone in his body ached, but it didn’t matter. She was fine. She was safe. That was all he needed to know.

He smiled faintly to himself. His breath was shallow, and his eyes were barely open. "Everything would be better," he muttered under his breath, before the world slipped quietly out of focus.