Page 22 of His Mafia Bodyguard

Julian rolled his eyes. Why were tough guys like this? He squirmed out of Bear's arms, narrowly missing being dropped.

Even in the gloom, he could see the dark stain of blood rapidly spreading across Bear's side. "Bear, are you okay?" His voice was laced with fear, and for a moment, the world seemed to shrink down to just the two of them.

"I'm fine," Bear gritted out between clenched teeth. "Just a flesh wound."

"Let me see." With gentle but determined fingers, Julian pushed up Bear's shirt, revealing the angry red line that marred his otherwise perfect flesh: a glancing gunshot wound.

He hesitated for a moment, but he couldn't help himself. "Nice muscles, by the way."

Bear huffed out an incredulous laugh, the sound strained by pain. "Not the time, Julian."

"Sorry," Julian mumbled, though he couldn't help but enjoy the sight of Bear's gentle eyeroll. He quickly pressed down on the wound, trying desperately to remember the one first aid course he'd taken in first year university.

"It's not a big deal," Bear said, despite the shocking sight of so much red blood against his skin.

"Bullshit! Everything going on right now is a big deal."

Bear's voice was deep and earnest. "I'm sorry you got caught up in all of this."

Julian glanced up at Bear, his eyes locking onto the enforcer's gaze. The care that he found there threatened to undo him entirely. "I was afraid I was going to lose you," he confessed quietly, his fingers still pressing firmly against the wound.

"Same here," Bear replied, his voice equally soft. "I couldn't bear the thought of you getting hurt because of me."

"Next time, let's agree to skip the firefight foreplay," Julian suggested. "There are much better ways of getting your blood pumping."

Bear cupped Julian's cheek with a surprisingly gentle touch. "Deal."

Julian leaned into Bear's hand for a painfully brief moment before Bear reluctantly pulled it away. "We need to get out of here before they come back with reinforcements," he explained.

Bear gritted his teeth as he attempted to help Julian stand. He managed to get Julian to his feet, Julian's arm slung across Bear's shoulders for support.

As they limped their way toward the exit, Julian couldn't help but think that, despite the pain and danger, there was something undeniably satisfying about surviving together. About being cherished, and protected.

Whatever lay ahead, he wanted Bear by his side.

Just as they neared the exit, the sound of gunfire erupted outside. Julian froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He glanced at Bear, who looked equally alarmed.

"Stay here," Bear ordered, leaning against a wall for support. "I'll check it out."

"Like hell I will," Julian retorted, defiance gleaming in his eyes. "We're in this together, remember?"

Bear sighed, clearly knowing better by now than to argue with the stubborn young Toscano. "Fine, but no hero moments. Behave yourself."

Together, they peered around the corner—but this time, it wasn't more attackers.

Marco King was standing over one of the men that Bear had defeated, gun still smoking, his men rounding up the last of their attackers with ruthless efficiency—though, in most cases, 'rounding up' meant 'dragging'.

"Bear." Marco let out a relieved breath, and then gave them a nod. "And Toscano Junior. Good job keeping him alive."

"Donotcall me that," Julian insisted, but Marco had never listened to him. Cocky asshole.

Cocky, but good at his job. When Marco approached Julian and Bear, his keen gaze took in the telltale closeness between them—Bear's arm still draped over Julian's shoulder, their faces flushed from adrenaline and intimacy. From the broody look that entered his expression, Julian knew, without a doubt, that he was on to them.

"Bear, one of my guys can take you to get stitched up. Junior, you come with me," Marco commanded, his voice as business-like as ever, but there was an unmistakable hint of suspicion in his eyes.

"Y-yeah, sure," Julian stammered, feeling suddenly self-conscious under Marco's scrutiny. He tried to shift away from Bear, but the injured man tightened his grip on his shoulder, refusing to let go.

"Thanks for the backup, Marco," Bear said gruffly, his expression unreadable.

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