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They may have been on the same side, working for the same organization, but Ollie had become Toro's unspoken territory.
"That's the right kid, all right, and he's still in one piece," Bear began. "So why isn't Petrov playing ball?"
"You tell me. I've been playing babysitter for days, and as far as I can tell, he's just been sitting around with his thumb up his ass."
"Please," Ollie whispered, looking up at Bear with a pleading expression. "I didn't ask for any of this."
"None of us did," Bear said, reaching out to playfully ruffle Ollie's wavy hair. Ollie looked astounded at the casual touch, blinking wide-eyed. "But unfortunately, life has a way of throwing us into situations we never could have anticipated."
"Enough," Toro growled, feeling a possessive surge wash over him. He couldn't deny the way his heart raced when he saw Bear's fingers in Ollie's hair, a subtle reminder of the things they had done together in the darkness.
"Sure," Bear conceded, his eyes narrowing at Toro's sudden outburst. "But remember, Toro: eyes on the prize. This is for the Toscanos. It would be wise to keep your feelings out of this business."
With a curious glance at Ollie, Bear stepped closer to him. His gaze focused on Ollie's neck… where a lovebite stood out against his pale skin. At the realization of what Bear was looking at, Ollie went scarlet.
"Seems like someone's been enjoying himself," Bear remarked, a chuckle in his voice as he raised an eyebrow at Toro. "I'm sure you've been... professional, haven't you?"
Toro avoided Bear's probing gaze, knowing full well the implication behind his words. " I'm just following orders."
"Let's hope so, for both our sakes," Bear replied, his eyes flicking to Ollie one last time before he stepped away. "Let's talk outside for a moment, Toro."
Toro nodded, following Bear out of the room, leaving Ollie alone again. As soon as they stepped outside, Bear confronted Toro directly, the facade of indifference gone.
"Are you sweet on the kid?"
"The fuck are you talking about?"
"You know damn well what I'm talking about." Bear snorted. "Necks don't bite themselves."
Toro's hands tightened into fists. "I'm fucking him up, just as planned. We've got to get his daddy's attention, after all."
Bear waved that away. "Yeah, yeah. Do your thing, T. That's why I let you take point on this whole fuckin' mess." His voice was amused, but his eyes didn't leave Toro's. "Lovebites are one thing. You squaring up the instant I touched him… that's something else entirely."
Fuck. Bear had played him.
"Has your relationship with Ollie gone beyond the boundaries of our business arrangement?"
"Absolutely not," Toro replied, trying to sound convincing. "The instant Petrov pays up, I'm handing him over. I know the importance of loyalty to the family."
"See that you remember it," Bear warned, his eyes boring into Toro's soul. "We have a job to do, and we can't afford any distractions." He paused, studying Toro's face for any sign of deceit. "Remember who you are, Toro. And what's at stake here."
Toro nodded, his heart pounding with the weight of Bear's words and the realization that his growing feelings for Ollie were a dangerous liability.
But as he watched Bear walk away, he couldn't help but wonder if it was already too late to reclaim control over his heart.
There was a creak of a floorboard. Toro looked up sharply.
Ollie was peeking at him from behind the door. "Is everything okay?" Ollie asked, his voice quiet.
"Everything's fine," Toro lied, forcing himself to focus on the ransom money and not let his feelings interfere with his duty to the family. "Bear's just a stickler for details. He's a pain in the ass."
"Okay," Ollie said, nodding hesitantly. His eyes roved over Toro's body, clearly picking up on the change in his demeanor--the tension that now sat heavy on his shoulders. "Just… tell me what you need me to do."
Toro couldn't help but let his eyes wander over Ollie's body, taking in the curve of his ass, those long, lean legs, and the enticing promise of pleasure hidden beneath his clothing…
He swallowed hard, trying to push those thoughts away and concentrate on the task at hand.
"Right now," Toro said, his voice thick with desire even as he fought to maintain control, "I need you to stay quiet and out of sight. I need to focus."
