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Normally,Julianlovedbeingcalled degrading names by big, tough men.
This was not one of those times.
"Where do you think you're going, pretty boy?" yelled one of the men chasing him. "We've got some unfinished business with your family."
Shit. Julian's heart raced as he realized the gravity of his situation. These men were here for revenge against the Toscanos, and they intended to use him to get it. He could feel his palms growing clammy with fear, but he refused to let that fear show on his face.
He threw a dustbin behind him as he ran. The pounding footsteps behind him didn't slow at all.Why did they always do that in movies?!he thought wildly.It doesn't even work! What a rip-off!
Bin or not, he never stood a chance. He'd spent his time at university partying and studying, not running track. With a solid smack, one of the men tackled him, smashing him to the ground and pinning him down.
Pain screamed through his body. Julian struggled, but to no avail. "What did my family ever do to you?" he yelled, trying to keep his voice steady despite the way he was trembling.
The men flipped him over. Three of them, it turned out.
Julian had seen Bear take out more than three guys.
Too bad Bear wasn't there to save him now.
"Your brother killed our boss," one of them growled, leaning forward menacingly. "And now, we're gonna make you pay for it."
Julian's heart hammered in his chest, threatening to escape as the assassins closed in around him. He tried to push aside thoughts of what these men intended to do to him and instead focused on a plan to buy time for help to arrive. As he wracked his brain for a solution, the men hauled him to his feet and dragged him towards the mouth of the alley.
"Let him go," came a deep, gravelly voice from the entrance of the alley. Julian's heart leapt in his chest as he recognized it immediately: Bear.
Julian's eyes widened as he saw Bear stride into the alley, his muscular form silhouetted against the faint glow of the distant streetlights. His injuries from their previous encounter were still evident in the way he held himself, but they didn't seem to hinder his determination. The sight of him, battered yet unbowed, sent a shiver of relief down Julian's spine.
"There you are," Julian said, shivering from adrenaline but unable to suppress a grin. "Right on time. I've been having quite the stimulating conversation with our new friends here. Care to join us?"
"Sorry, kid," Bear replied, cracking his knuckles menacingly. "I'm not much for small talk."
The men fanned out in the alleyway, one holding Julian while the others got out knives.
"Let's get down to business," Bear growled, his eyes locked onto the men with predatory intent.
The first one lunged at Bear with a knife, but he easily deflected the attack with a swift motion, sending the weapon clattering to the ground. The second moved in from the side, attempting to take advantage of Bear's distraction, but was met with a powerful blow that sent him staggering.
Julian watched, heart pounding, as Bear continued to battle the assassins with brutal efficiency. Each strike and counterstrike was a dance of deadly grace, Bear's movements full of raw power and confidence. As much as Julian had fantasized about the man over the years, nothing back then could have prepared him for the sight of Bear in action like this. His childhood crush mixed with an adult love, both intensifying each other to a fever pitch, mingling with the adrenaline coursing through his veins.
"You thought you could mess with the Toscano family?" Bear snarled, dropping one of the men with a bone-crunching strike.
"Die!" one of the others snarled, swinging a chain towards Bear. With a fluid motion, Bear caught the chain mid-air and used it to yank his attacker off balance, delivering a scattering punch to his face.
Julian was unable to tear his eyes away from the brawl. He knew he should be terrified, but there was something undeniably thrilling—even sensual—about watching the man who starred in so many of his fantasies fighting for him. And it wasn't just the raw physicality of it; it was the knowledge that Bear was putting himself in danger to protect him, despite his own injuries.
That was messed up, Julian knew. He couldn't help but bare his teeth in a dark grin. Maybe he was a real Toscano deep down after all.
He struggled in the arms of his captor, throwing his weight back and then stomping down on the man's feet with everything he had. The man held him in a painful grip, but Julian threw him off balance.
With a roar, Bear came in hot. With rage in his eyes, he didn't even need a weapon. He slammed the man against the alley wall with a sickening crunch. The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
"Is it over?" Julian asked tentatively, his voice shaking as he stumbled on his feet.
"For now," Bear grunted, breathing heavily as he surveyed the defeated assassins sprawled around him. Blood trickled down his face from a nasty gash above his eyebrow, and his stitches were clearly causing him pain.
Julian watched as Bear's breaths came in heavy pants, his chest heaving from the exertion of the fight. Blood trickled down Bear's chiseled jawline, and Julian couldn't help but reach up to wipe it away with the pad of his thumb. The touch seemed to startle Bear, who looked down at him with a mixture of confusion and vulnerability.
"Hey," Julian whispered, his voice tinged with a mix of fear and arousal. "You okay?"
