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Inwardly, Bear marveled at the courage radiating from Julian, the way he stood up to his brother without flinching. It only served to strengthen the love he held for the younger Toscano, but it also filled him with dread. He knew all too well the consequences of defying Angelo.
"Enough!" Angelo bellowed, silencing Julian's objections. "I won't have my brother seduced by a man whose loyalty should lie with me and this family. You may think you're in control here, Julian, but you're not. Bear's in charge. He should never have let it go this far."
The room went quiet, the air thick with unspoken words and shattered illusions. Bear's heart ached as he looked at Angelo, his voice struggling to maintain control. "I love him, Angelo," he admitted, his voice gruff. "But I would never betray you or the family. My loyalty has always been with you."
"Love?" Angelo scoffed, his eyes darkening with anger. "You think that excuses your actions? I trusted you, Bear. You were supposed to look after my brother, not seduce him."
"Even so, you've crossed a line," Angelo replied icily. "And there are consequences for that."
Bear watched as Angelo turned away from them, his hands gripping the back of a high-backed leather chair, his knuckles white from the strain. The mafia boss was clearly grappling with his emotions, torn between his family and the trust he had placed in Bear.
"From now on, you'll no longer serve as a top enforcer," Angelo announced coldly, his decision having been made. "You'll be demoted back down to a footsoldier. I hope you understand the gravity of what you've done."
"Angelo..." Bear started, taken aback. It sounded like a punishment—but in a life as ruthless as theirs, anything that left him alive was an act of mercy. He swallowed hard, and nodded. "I understand."
In the silence that followed, Bear couldn't help but feel a sense of loss wash over him. He had worked so hard to prove himself within the mafia world, and now it was all slipping through his fingers like sand.
His love for Julian had brought him both happiness and heartache.
But the feeling of protecting Julian, of being his rock, of bringing out the vulnerable side that was hidden beneath all of his annoying bluster…
It has been worth it.
"Furthermore," Angelo continued, his voice calm but steely, "Julian, while you are in town, I am assigning Toro as your new bodyguard. He will keep you safe and ensure that family business remains...uncomplicated. Understood?"
"Understood," Julian said, but his eyes were downcast.
"Understood," Bear replied, his voice low and gravelly. "I'm sorry, Angelo," Bear said, sincerity lacing his voice as he looked directly into his boss's eyes. "I never meant to hurt you or the family. I promise to continue serving you loyally, regardless of my position."
Angelo studied Bear's face for a moment, searching for any signs of insincerity. He took a deep breath and nodded curtly, seemingly satisfied with Bear's response.
"Very well," he said, his voice cold. "You're dismissed."
Chapter nine
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Julianwalkedinsyncwith the heavy footsteps of his new bodyguard, Toro. Despite the warm sunlight washing over them as they strolled down the bustling street, Julian couldn't help but shiver under the shadow cast by Toro's rippling muscles and piercing gaze. With each step, the enforcer surveyed their surroundings like a guard dog preparing to pounce on any unsuspecting threat.
Toro's eyes narrowed at every passerby, and Julian couldn't shake the thought that he looked utterly vicious. It was as if even the slightest misstep would cause him to unleash a torrent of violence upon the world. Julian swallowed hard and felt a flicker of longing for Bear's familiar presence beside him. But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
"Hey," Julian began, trying to engage Toro in some light-hearted banter. He gestured towards an elderly man wearing a garish Hawaiian shirt and lime-green shorts. "That guy's outfit is so loud, it's practically screaming. Don't you think?"
Toro's stoic expression remained unchanged as he glanced at the man and then back to the street ahead. The silence between them stretched on, causing Julian's heart to sink. So much for cracking through that tough exterior.
But Toro's face remained a mask of indifference, his focus never wavering from their surroundings. Julian sighed internally, feeling the weight of disappointment settle in his chest. Perhaps Toro was simply too hardened to appreciate humor. Or maybe, Julian thought with a pang in his chest, he just missed the connection he'd shared with Bear.
"Nothing?" Julian pressed, his voice laced with playful exasperation. "Not even a smirk? Come on, Toro, give me something."
"No, thanks. Sounds like your past bodyguard gave you a little too much."
"Ouch." Julian's cheeks reddened.
It wasn't just the shame of everyone knowing what he'd done. He didn't mind people thinking that he was a slut—it was true, after all.
But what had he done to Bear's reputation? Just because he was a horny little shit, Bear's name had been dragged through the mud, and he'd been kicked back down to being a grunt.
Great job, Julian! Way to go!
