My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 148: A Race Against Time

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘❦✾❦∘∙⊱⋅•- 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

3rd Person Pov

Ethan let out a slow breath, as if he had been mulling something over and finally came to the conclusion that there was no point in holding back anymore. He leaned slightly forward, hands clasped tightly between his knees, staring intently at the road as it slipped by under the streetlights.

"Look," he started quietly, "I know you might have some thoughts about me and Noah. Maybe you believe I’m just pretending to care about him or that I’m trying to get something from h or just want to look good in front of everyone. I get why you don’t trust my intentions."

Adrien shot him a quick glance, tension evident in the way he held himself, even if he tried to mask it.

Ethan pressed on. "But I really do love him. Not in some fleeting high school crush way either. I’ve loved him for a while, long before he ever thought about dating me." His voice had a genuine softness, no defensiveness—just honest emotion. "I treat him right because he deserves it. He’s been through too much already, and I would never hurt him."

Adrien didn’t reply, but something shifted in him—his grip on the wheel relaxed a bit, and he took a deeper breath, as if Ethan’s words had hit home.

Ethan kept his gaze steady on Adrien’s profile. "I understand that you’re trying to protect him. You’ve known him longer, and considering the trouble you put him through, I see why you want to make things right now. But you need to know something, too." He leaned back, eyes unwavering. "I would never let anything happen to him either. So instead of us fighting like we usually do, maybe we can work together for tonight. Just tonight. For him."

The car’s engine hummed beneath them, filling the silence that hung in the air. Ethan’s offer hung there, a shaky truce born out of love and urgency.

Adrien let out a slow, heavy breath, as if he had to let something go before he could respond. "Fine," he muttered, but there was more weight to his word than mere irritation. "We’ll work together. For Noah. After this, we go back to hating each other’s guts."

Ethan nodded once, accepting the agreement without a smile, just a shared understanding that neither of them was the priority right now.

Adrien squinted through the windshield, recognizing the landmarks as the road narrowed and streetlights spaced out. "We’re getting close... This is East Curneil." He glanced at the GPS, though he wasn’t really paying attention, scanning the area with a focused intensity. "Now we just need to find that workshop."

Ethan straightened, tension creeping back into his shoulders. "Just tell me what you need me to do."

Adrien hesitated for a moment, slowing the car as he spotted clusters of old industrial buildings looming in the moonlight.

They were almost there.

Noah’s Pov

The clang of my metal swing still rang in my ears when Liam crashed to the floor, gripping his head and muttering curses through clenched teeth. His raw, furious groan sent a shiver down my spine. Before I could even process it, the other two rushed in, their heavy footsteps echoing on the concrete, voices sharp and panicked as they hurried to Liam’s side.

That was my chance.

I scrambled toward the nearest door, dragging myself up even though my legs felt like jelly. I grabbed the handle and twisted hard.

Locked.

Panic surged through me. "C’mon, c’mon," I whispered, tugging at the door as if sheer desperation could force it open. It wouldn’t budge. My heart raced so loudly it felt like the whole workshop was shaking. There had to be another way out...there just had to be, but the space felt like a maze of darkness and dead ends.

Then I heard footsteps, steady, confident ones, coming right toward me.

I turned, clutching the pipe tightly until my fingers hurt. Jace was the first to step into view, the dim workshop lights highlighting the wicked grin on his face. Liam staggered in behind him, still muttering curses, while Patrick lingered near the doorway, holding his lip where I’d caught him earlier.

I exhaled shakily. "Stay back," I warned, raising the pipe like it was my only weapon. "Back off, Jace. I swear I’ll break your skull open."

He halted a few steps away, his head tilted in a mocking way that made me feel sick. "Wow," he said, chuckling like this was all just a big joke. "Look at you. Honestly didn’t expect you to be up and ready to fight." His smile sharpened. "Guess I misjudged you."

"You don’t say," I shot back, though my voice trembled. I swallowed hard, forcing my fear down. "J–just let me go. I’m giving you one chance. Move before I rearrange your face."

Jace clicked his tongue and shook his head slowly, like he was dealing with a child who didn’t get the rules. "Sorry, Noah. No can do." He stepped closer, eyes gleaming with something creepy. "I’m in too deep to just let you walk away now."

"Then that’s your problem," I hissed. "Not mine."

"Oh, sweetheart..." His voice turned soft and chilling, dripping with poison. "Don’t worry. It’ll all be over soon. Just be the good little boy you pretend to be and comply." His grin widened, revealing a threat that didn’t need to be shouted. "Otherwise... things are going to get really ugly. And trust me, you don’t want that."

Ice coursed through my veins.

Every fiber of me wanted to collapse, scream, or cry, but a part of me, the one that had survived every humiliation he threw at me, forced me to stand tall. I tightened my grip on the pipe until my knuckles throbbed.

I wouldn’t go down quietly.

I wouldn’t let them take anything from me.

Not tonight.

Then I gripped the pipe and I just swung.

The metal pipe cut through the air with a sharp whistle, the kind that should have connected with bone, but Jace moved faster than I anticipated. He jerked to the side, caught the pipe mid-swing, and yanked it with a force that nearly ripped my shoulder out of its socket. I held on anyway, fingers burning, refusing to let go.