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Julian took a step and then winced at a stab of pain. His heart sank: his leg ached too badly to put weight on.
Bear didn't miss a beat. Without asking, he simply scooped Julian up into his arms as if he weighed nothing at all, and left the scene. He carried Julian down a side street, moving fast.
"Whoa!" Julian clung to his shoulders. "Where are we going?"
"There's a warehouse nearby. We can lay low there until backup gets to us," Bear replied, his voice strained with effort as he kept sweeping the surroundings for signs of their attackers.
As they entered the musty confines of the warehouse, the smell of rust and decay filled Julian's nostrils. It was far from the glamorous world he'd grown accustomed to, but there was something strangely comforting about being in Bear's arms as they hid from their pursuers.
Bear took in the layout of the building in a heartbeat, and with quiet steps, headed up a nearby walkway to a small room. An overseer's office, Julian realized, taking in the wide window that looked down over what had once been an active factory floor. From there, the two of them could track who was entering the factory—and if things went sour, they'd have a vantage point.
"Put me down," Julian whispered, not wanting to be a burden any longer. Bear obliged, setting him down carefully before pressing their bodies together, shielding Julian with his muscular frame. In that moment, Julian felt a strange mix of emotions: fear, desire, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for Bear's unwavering protection.
"Listen," Bear said, his warm breath tickling Julian's ear. "I need you to stay quiet, alright? If our enemies get to us before backup does, they'll be searching for us, and we can't afford to make any noise."
Julian nodded, acutely aware of the pounding of his own heart in the space. He tried to focus on his breathing, silently cursing himself for being a burden.
All of his life, he'd felt useless compared to the rest of his family. He'd acted as if he had made the choice to reject those qualities, heading overseas in search of intellectual pursuits instead of staying at home to work the family business.
It hurt less that way. But when it came down to it, he was really just scared of being inadequate. And now, his worst nightmare was coming true: he was letting down someone that he cared about.
If he got out of this—whenhe got out of this—he'd have to work on that side of him.
"Promise me something," Julian whispered, unable to resist the urge to let Bear know how much he meant to him.
"Later," Bear replied, his voice tight with tension. "We need to focus on getting out of this alive."
"Okay," Julian agreed, but the words felt hollow in his chest. As they found a position to wait in in silence, tucking themselves down behind cover, Julian couldn't help but allow his thoughts to drift back to that moment when Bear had first awakened him from his unconscious state.
The tenderness in Bear's eyes as he'd cradled Julian's head in his hands was a memory that would be seared into his mind forever. He knew that there was more to their relationship than just the sex–and it both terrified and exhilarated him.
For now, though, all he could do was wait, pressed together in the shadows, praying that they'd both live to see another day.
And then, over the distant sounds of the city and its wailing sirens, there was a new noise.
The sound of footsteps.
They echoed through the vast, decrepit space, like a predator's growl reverberating in the darkness. Julian's heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through him.
He wasn't great at this whole Mafia life thing, but he knew one thing for sure: if someone had come to save you, they didn't come creeping in.
Bear, ever vigilant, had his gun in hand, his eyes narrowed and focused on their unseen enemy. Silently, he gestured for Julian to get behind him, and in that instant, Julian felt an overwhelming sense of being protected.
A guy could get used to that,he thought.
Please let a guy live long enough to get used to that.
Julian, still favoring his aching leg, squirmed forward and peeked through a crack in the office door. His heart skipped a beat at the sight that unfolded before him. A team of men, clad in dark suits and guns in hand, infiltrated the desolate warehouse with calculated precision. Each step they took exuded a menacing confidence, their eyes scanning the shadows as if they could pierce through the veil of secrecy.
Shit. Definitely not backup, then.
A shiver ran down Julian's spine as he felt the stark contrast between these trained professionals and his own vulnerable state. Fear gnawed at his insides, threatening to consume him whole.
These were the kind of men who belonged to this world, who thrived in its darkness. He was just a failure caught in its crossfire.
Bear's presence provided a thin shield of reassurance, but even that couldn't fully quell the panic swelling within Julian. He gripped the edge of the door, his knuckles turning white, as he desperately tried to steady himself.
And then there was a soothing touch on his shoulder. Julian looked up to see Bear giving him a steady, soothing look. Julian's heart abated a little under the reassurance; he reached up and squeezed it back.
