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"Stay down!" Bear growled, scanning the area for any sign of the shooter. It was chaos, with all kinds of people running in fear.
Then he spotted someone running in a different way: not hunched and terrified, scampering for safety, but moving purposefully.
"Angelo!" he called. "West exit!"
He forced himself to focus, his training kicking in as he assessed the situation. They were out in the open, with minimal cover: not an ideal position for a firefight. But there was no time to waste—every second they spent there increased the risk of the shooter getting away.
"Can you handle this, big guy?" Julian asked, being a pain in the ass even as the fear flickered in his eyes.
Bear had to suppress the urge to roll his eyes. "Watch and learn," he replied tersely, shifting his weight and springing up. He charged through the crowd, racing after the attacker.
As he closed the distance between them, Bear's instincts took over. With a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins, he launched himself at the gunman, his body a weapon honed through years of relentless training. The impact sent them crashing to the ground, the force of the collision rattling his bones.
The metallic tang of gunpowder filled the air, mingling with the scent of fear and desperation. Bear's grip tightened around the assailant's wrist, his fingers digging into flesh, his strength overpowering. He wrestled to keep control, the struggle fueled by a primal need to protect his turf.
Every move was calculated, precise. He twisted the gunman's arm, forcing him to release the weapon. It skittered across the pavement, a discarded tool of destruction. Bear wasted no time, his fists raining down upon the assailant's body, delivering powerful blows with lethal accuracy.
His heart pounded in his chest, a thunderous rhythm that drowned out all other sounds. In the chaos of the scuffle, Bear's thoughts raced, his internal narration a relentless mantra.
This was his territory, his domain, and no one threatened it without consequences.
From somewhere behind him, Julian let out a cheer and a round of applause. "Nice job!"
Bear rolled his eyes. He pinned the attacker down underneath him, arms twisted behind him, and darted a look back at Julian. He was exactly where Bear had left him, tucked down low behind the table.
At least you can obey orders when it counts,he groused. "Get your ass up!" Bear barked at him. "We need to move!"
"But you already got the bad guy…"
"One of them!" Bear's nerves were on fire, waiting for another shot to ring out. "THey were after you!"
One gunman wasn't enough.
If you came for the Toscanos, you'd better bring everything you had.
Angelo ran over to Bear, his face a storm of fury and concern. He looked down at the struggling gunman, and snarled. "I'll handle this mess," he said. "Take Julian and get out of here!"
Bear didn't need to be told twice. Julian, however…
"Where are we going?" Julian asked, even Bear gripped his arm and guided him towards the nearest waiting car.
"Doesn't matter—just go!" Angelo snapped. "Bear, don't leave his side for the rest of the week! Understood?"
"Understood," Bear replied, feeling a sinking sensation in his gut.
A full week with Julian, cooped up in some unknown location? He couldn't decide if it was a blessing or a curse.
Chapter four
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Theairinthemotel room was heavy with tension as Bear and Julian settled in, both men acutely aware of how close they were to each other.
"Does this place have a mini-bar?" Julian asked, his voice light and teasing despite the day's events. He flopped onto the bed, legs dangling off the side, and eyed Bear expectantly.
They'd barely been there five minutes, and Bear's patience was already wearing thin. "Are you serious?" Bear snapped. "We're supposed to be laying low, not getting hammered."
"Fine," Julian huffed, rolling onto his side and propping his head up on one hand. "So what are we going to do to pass the time? Want to play cards? Watch TV? Or are we just going to sit here and stare at each other?"
