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"Would you prefer to stay here and wait for them?" Toro replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Fair point," Julian conceded. His knees already felt like jelly; the thought of even more running cast a shadow of fear.
But he wasn't the only one the men were gunning for… "Will you be okay?
Toro snorted. "You have no idea, Toscano." He grinned a wild grin. "Now, on my mark... Go!"
Julian's heart raced. He sprinted, adrenaline pumping through his veins like liquid fire, willing his body to carry him through the deadly streets.
Behind him, he heard Toro's voice, fierce and gleeful. "Get ready for some fun, you sorry sons of bitches!"
And with every pounding footstep, Julian wished Bear was by his side to provide the security and comfort he so desperately craved.
Chapter ten
AsfarasBearwas concerned, his apartment was just a place to store his things and to crash after long nights on reconnaissance. He preferred to spend his time on his work, arranging security, identifying threats, and finding ways to shield the Toscano empire from harm.
But now, he was stuck at home. He felt like a zoo animal, pacing his cage. He sat in a worn leather armchair, nursing a glass of whiskey as he brooded over his complicated feelings for Julian. The ice cubes clinked gently against the glass each time he took a sip, the once sharp edges now smoothed by the amber liquid.
"Damn it," Bear muttered under his breath, his gravelly voice barely audible. He couldn't shake the image of Julian's mischievous grin from his mind: those piercing eyes that seemed to see right through him, daring him to let down his guard just for a moment.
Bear's thoughts wandered to their past encounters, a kaleidoscope of tender and tense memories swirling in his head. Bear could nearly feel the warmth of Julian's body radiating against him still, the electric current of desire that had coursed through him as he fought the urge to close that gap between them.
"Should've done better," he grumbled, taking another swig of whiskey. The burn did little to distract him from the nagging feeling that he might have missed his chance with Julian.
But what would that even look like? Bear, the hardened mafia enforcer, tangled up in the sheets with a pretty little thing like Julian?
Angelo would kill me, he thought, but even that threat did little to quell the heat that pooled in his stomach at the idea of Julian's strong, slender fingers tracing his tattoos, or the taste of his lips.
"Damn you, Julian," he whispered into the empty room, the weight of his unspoken desires heavy on his shoulders.
As if summoned by his inner turmoil, Bear's phone buzzed out its ringtone, cutting through the haze of his thoughts. He glanced at the caller ID: Marco. His chest tightened with a sense of dread.
"Marco," Bear answered gruffly, trying to mask his unease. "What's going on?"
"Shit's hit the fan, Bear," Marco replied, his voice tense with urgency. "Toro and Julian got jumped. It's all hands on deck."
Bear's heart skipped a beat, and he clutched the phone tighter, his protective instincts flaring to life. "Where?"
Marco spat the address, his words clipped and sharp. "I'm on my way there, but you're closer, Bear."
"Understood," Bear said, already on his feet. "I'll be there."
"Thanks, man," Marco breathed, relief evident in his voice. "Be careful, alright? We still don't know who these guys are, but they mean business."
"Always am," Bear replied, ending the call before anxiety could wrap its tendrils around his throat.
He didn't hesitate; there was no time for doubts and second-guessing. He darted to the closet, grabbing his holster with practiced ease. As he moved, Bear's mind raced with strategies, weighing the risks and potential escape routes. The stakes were higher than ever: Julian's safety hung in the balance.
As he swung the door open, the chilly night air rushed in to greet him, wrapping its icy tendrils around his body like a lover's embrace. Despite the cold, Bear felt a thrill of excitement course through his veins.
This was what he lived for. The thrill of the chase, the uncertainty of danger.
And most importantly, the chance to protect those he loved.
"Hold on, kid," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the wind. "I'm coming."
Chapter eleven
