12. Paolo

While things may have taken a step forward between him and Tommy, Paolo was still feeling a definite sense of unease regarding the situation with Mick Teale.

Of course, there had been no official confirmation that Teale was back, but every bone in Paolo's body told him that it was Mick. There was a bond between hitmen that ran deep – even between deadly rivals. And Paolo trusted his instincts. It absolutely was Mick who had been asking about him, and it was only a question of when he would make his next move.

Paolo was determined to stay one step ahead of the game.

He knew that he was the better hitman across all the key skillsets. He was a better shooter, a superior analyzer, and he could move undetected like no one else. But Mick Teale did hold one ace in the pack, and it was an ace that Paolo simply had no answer to…

‘Teale doesn't follow the code,' Paolo said, sitting opposite Bear at Power Roast Coffee Bar. ‘And that makes him dangerous.'

‘How so?' Bear replied, looking extra-strong having just arrived from a heavy workout. With his enormous shoulders and arms like trees, Bear was as formidable a presence as they came. ‘Surely if he doesn't follow the code, he'll make mistakes?'

‘Maybe,' Paolo replied. ‘But while a loose cannon hitman won't care about a long career, he'll certainly be dangerous for as long as he's out there. Teale doesn't give a fuck about honor, decency, or the right thing. What I'm most worried about is…'

Paolo didn't want to say the words out loud.

The reality was that if Teale was going to be making a move against him, he might target those closest to Paolo as a way of drawing Paolo out and angering him. And it was even possible that Teale was so bitter and twisted he might just go for Paolo's loved ones for fun.

And there was one very obvious target who was potentially in danger…

‘The boy,' Paolo continued. ‘I think if Teale finds out about me and Tommy, there could be a problem there. Trust me when I say that there isn't any depth that this sonofabitch won't sink to.'

‘I hear you,' Bear replied. ‘Trust me, I saw some bad, bad dudes during my time with the Mafia Daddies NYC. We're talking the worst of the worst. It's a whole heap more difficult going against someone who doesn't have a code, that's for sure.'

‘Tell me about it,' Paolo said, a wry smile on his face.

‘But no matter what, I'm here for you,' Bear said, a reassuring look of determination on his face. ‘Anything you need to help take this asshole out for good, I'll step in if you need me. Okay?'

Paolo nodded and then two men finished their espressos and signaled for another round at the same time.

‘Great minds think alike,' Paolo smiled. ‘Anyway, tell me about your date last night.'

Bear smiled and rolled his eyes.

‘Well… it was actually two dates,' Bear replied, his eyes giving away just how much fun he'd had. ‘Two naughty boys on either side of the city. Both needing some serious discipline from Daddy.'

Paolo laughed.

Bear hadn't settled down with a boy and seemed to have a real fondness for playing the field. But Paolo didn't judge him. Bear was always open with his dates in making it clear that he was single and would never lead anyone on in terms of suggesting otherwise. And Bear certainly did know how to have fun.

‘You should have brought them both to the same place and spanked them at the same time,' Paolo chuckled, gratefully receiving his new espresso.

‘That's next time,' Bear chuckled. ‘But enough about me. How are you and Tommy getting on? I can tell that this ain't a fling. I'm guessing that you both want the same?'

‘I think that's what it looks like,' Paolo replied. ‘I don't want to put any pressure on him though. He's young, he's got his hockey career to think about. I just want him to be happy, you know?'

There was a pause before Bear responded.

Paolo wondered if he'd given too much of himself away. He liked Bear and appreciated his friendship but being so open about his feelings wasn't something that came naturally to Paolo, and talking like this was still very new to him.

‘I know exactly what you mean,' Bear said, reaching over and fist bumping Paolo. ‘I'm not there right now, but I know that when I do meet the right boy, I'll be the same. We live in a dangerous world. Soldiers fall every day. Life is short. But the right boy can change our whole outlook on life.'

Paolo nodded in agreement. Bear might have loved beers, boys, and having a wild time. But there was another far more sensitive side to Bear too, and Paolo valued his friendship immensely.

But with the clock ticking, Paolo knew that he needed to drive back to his place and put in some serious thinking time. It was time to figure out exactly how to handle the Mick Teale threat – and Paolo was even beginning to wonder if for this one hit, he should drop his own code of honor and sink to Teale's level.

Teale won't have it all his way.

I'll show him why I'm number one.

And it'll be the last lesson he ever learns too…

As he drove back toward his apartment, Paolo's mind was slowly beginning to zone in on how he could try to take Mick Teale out. This time, there would be no forgiveness, no second chances, and absolutely no mercy.

For a moment, Paolo cursed himself as he thought back to that fateful moment years ago when he let Teale live. It would have been easier to kill him. Had he done that, then none of this would be happening right now.

But Paolo knew that now wasn't the time to wallow in regrets or mistakes from the past. It had been that kind of approach that had kept him from finding a boy for so many years. And by letting go of his bitterness, he had found Tommy.

With that in mind, Paolo vowed that he wouldn't punish himself for letting Teale off the hook. What he needed more than anything was to treat this as a brand new hit. If Paolo could look at Teale with fresh eyes, then the solution would present itself.

Paolo knew that a man like Teale wouldn't stop until he got his twisted revenge.

With the daylight rapidly turning to dusk, Paolo felt a sense of ease coming over him. There was something about this time of day that made Paolo feel free. Maybe it was all the years of training as a hitman, but Paolo never felt happier than when the lights dropped and day turned into night.

There was something too about driving around the city at night that appealed to Paolo. Inside his car he felt untouchable. There was a safety and sense of ease that didn't truly exist in his life otherwise. Paolo valued the moments when he was able to switch off and simply concentrate on driving. It was like therapy to him.

But all good things eventually came to an end and Paolo soon found himself drawing close to his apartment building. However as he approached, he saw a familiar figure hanging around outside the front entrance…

‘What the… how did… he know?' Paolo muttered, slowing the car down and bringing it to a stop.

It was Tommy.

Somehow, the boy must have found out where Paolo lived.

It wasn't that Paolo wasn't happy to see him. Far from it. But Paolo had to take a moment to consider his options. With the Mick Teale situation feeling like it was building to a head, was there too much risk in letting Tommy any further into his life than he already was? They were safe together at the academy given the intense levels of Doni security. But out in the city? That was a whole other question.

‘What do I do?' Paolo questioned, his voice low and focused.

The truth was that Paolo knew exactly what he wanted to do. He wanted to take Tommy inside the apartment with him and give the boy everything he craved and desired.

As he continued to watch Tommy hop, skip, and jump his way up and down the entrance steps, Paolo felt his cock harden inside his pants. Tommy was something special, and Paolo couldn't deny it.

The boy had the looks, the attitude, and the sweetness too. He was the complete package. And while it might have been dangerous for the two of them to be together, Paolo knew that there was no one better to protect the boy than him.

And with that, Paolo put the car into gear and rolled up toward the apartment building. It was time to take the boy for the ride of his life…