The Price of Thrills

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The sound of shattering glass jolted me awake. For a moment, I was disoriented, my heart pounding as I tried to make sense of what was happening. Then I heard it - a voice I knew all too well, slurred with alcohol and rage.

"Come out, come out, Mr. Moneybags!" Darius's voice echoed through the quiet neighborhood. "I know you're in there!"

Panic seized me as I scrambled out of bed. Enzo was already up, pulling on a robe, his face a mask of confusion and concern.

"Imani, what's going on?" he asked, moving towards the window. "Who is that?"

I grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back. "Don't," I pleaded. "Enzo, please, don't go out there. He's dangerous."

Enzo turned to me, his dark eyes searching my face. "You know him," he said. It wasn't a question.

Before I could respond, another crash came from outside, followed by more shouting. "You think you're better than me, rich boy? Come out and face me like a man!"

Enzo's jaw tightened, a look I'd never seen before crossing his face. "Stay here," he said, his voice low and firm. "Call the police."

"Enzo, no!" I cried, but he was already moving, striding purposefully out of the bedroom.

I rushed to the window, my heart in my throat. Outside, I could see Darius swaying in our front yard, a bottle in one hand, something else glinting in the other. With horror, I realized it was a gun.

Enzo stepped out onto the porch, his posture calm and controlled. It was such a stark contrast to Darius's wild, drunken state that for a moment, everyone seemed to freeze.

"Can I help you?" Enzo's voice carried clearly in the night air, steady and unafraid.

Darius let out a harsh laugh. "Help me? Nah, pretty boy. But you can give me back what's mine."

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," Enzo replied, taking a step forward. "I think you should leave now, before things get out of hand."

I watched, terrified, as Darius's face contorted with rage. "Out of hand? You wanna see out of hand?" He lurched forward, swinging wildly at Enzo.

What happened next seemed to unfold in slow motion. Enzo, moving with a grace and speed I'd never seen from him before, easily sidestepped Darius's punch. In one fluid motion, he grabbed Darius's arm and twisted, using the drunk man's momentum to throw him to the ground.

Darius hit the lawn with a thud, the wind knocked out of him. For a moment, I dared to hope it was over. But then I saw the glint of metal as Darius pulled the gun from his waistband.

"Enzo!" I screamed, but it was too late.

Darius scrambled to his feet, pressing the gun to Enzo's head. "Not so tough now, are you, rich boy?" he snarled.

Enzo froze, his hands raised slightly. "Let's calm down," he said, his voice still maddeningly steady. "There's no need for this to get violent."

Darius laughed, a cold, harsh sound that sent chills down my spine. "Oh, but there is. See, you took something of mine. And I'm here to take it back."

His eyes found me in the window, and my blood ran cold. "Imani!" he shouted. "Get your ass out here now, or I swear to God, I'll blow your husband's brains all over this fancy lawn."

I was moving before I even realized it, running down the stairs and out the front door. "Darius, please," I begged, my voice shaking. "Don't do this. Just... just let Enzo go. I'll come with you, okay? Just don't hurt him."