My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}

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I pushed myself further into the cramped shadow under the old workbench, forcing myself to breathe slowly despite the panic that rose in my throat like a living thing, desperate to claw its way out. My heart thudded loudly, and I was terrified they might hear it. Everything around me smelled like oil, metal, and dust, and the air was heavy with a cold that felt like it seeped right into my bones.

When I heard their voices erupt into frantic arguments, it was a mix of relief and terror that nearly made me sob. They hadn’t found me yet-but I knew they would. I wasn’t naive enough to think they’d give up easily; this was clearly planned. Every footstep on the concrete sent a jolt of fear through my body, making me feel like some cornered animal in a horror movie, just waiting for the killer to pull me out by the ankle.

I forced myself to look around, desperately searching for anything I could use. My eyes landed on a long metal pipe wedged between a toolbox and an old tire. It wasn’t huge, but it was heavy enough. Before I knew it, my fingers closed around it; the cold metal stung my palms, grounding me and reminding me that if I didn’t fight now, I might not get another chance.

I swallowed hard. Three guys. Stronger, bigger, faster.

Every part of me screamed that this wasn’t a fight I could win... but I didn’t need to win. I just needed to survive.

Just as I adjusted my grip on the pipe, the footsteps grew louder-slow, cautious steps that told me they were searching now. My breath caught in my throat as a shadow stretched toward me, creeping across the floor like ink until it reached the edge of my hiding spot.

"Shit! Check over there, Liam!" Jace barked from somewhere across the workshop, his voice cold and impatient.

Liam grumbled something under his breath, and then I heard the heavy tread of his sneakers coming closer-too close for comfort. I shut my eyes for a moment, forcing myself not to panic, not to cry, not to make a sound.

Then his hand appeared, brushing aside a stack of boxes, and his face followed, bending down to look under the workbench-his eyes widening the instant he spotted me.

"Here he is-!"

I didn’t wait for him to finish. Instinct kicked in, roaring louder than fear, louder than reason. I swung the metal pipe from my shoulder in one desperate arc, feeling it connect with the side of his head in a sickening thud that vibrated up my arms.