Ethan's phone buzzed on his desk, snapping him out of his thoughts. He answered, listening to his lieutenant's voice on the other end.
"Hawk, we've got a situation," the lieutenant said, his tone serious. "One of our runners has gone missing."
Ethan's gut tightened. Missing runners were never a good sign. "Get a team together and find him," he ordered. "I want to know what happened."
As he hung up the phone, Ethan's mind began to spin. Who could be behind the missing runner? Was it a rival family, or something more internal?
He pushed his chair back and stood, pacing across the room. Roman's presence in his life had brought a new level of complexity to his business. He couldn't let his feelings cloud his judgment, but at the same time, he couldn't ignore the danger that Roman might be in.
Just then, the door to his office opened, and Roman walked in. "Hey, I was looking for you," he said, his eyes scanning Ethan's face. "What's wrong?"
Ethan hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Roman's expression made him trust that he could handle the truth. "One of our runners has gone missing," he said, watching Roman's reaction.
Roman's eyes widened, and he took a step closer to Ethan. "Do you think it's related to...us?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan's heart skipped a beat. Roman was getting too close to the truth. But he couldn't deny the spark of fear that had ignited in his chest. Could their relationship be putting Roman in danger?
"I don't know," Ethan said finally, his voice rough. "But I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe."
Roman's eyes locked onto Ethan's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Ethan could feel the tension between them, the unspoken words and emotions that hung in the air.
And then, without saying a word, Roman stepped closer, his body inches from Ethan's. Ethan's heart pounded in his chest as he wrapped his arms around Roman, pulling him into a fierce hug.
"I'll keep you safe," Ethan whispered into Roman's ear. "I promise."
Roman's arms wrapped around Ethan's waist, holding him tight. "I know you will," he whispered back.
As they stood there, locked in each other's arms, Ethan knew that he would do anything to protect Roman. Even if it meant putting his own life on the line.
As they stood there, locked in each other's arms, Ethan felt a sense of calm wash over him. Roman's presence had a way of soothing his nerves, of making him feel like everything would be okay.
But as the moment stretched on, Ethan's mind began to wander back to the missing runner. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that this was more than just a simple case of a runner getting caught up in a rival family's business.
Roman seemed to sense Ethan's tension, because he pulled back and looked up at him with concerned eyes. "Hey, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice soft.
Ethan hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Roman's expression made him trust that he could handle the truth. "I'm just worried about the missing runner," he said, trying to downplay his concerns.
Roman's eyes narrowed. "You think it's related to us, don't you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan's heart skipped a beat. Roman was getting too close to the truth. But he couldn't deny the spark of fear that had ignited in his chest. Could their relationship be putting Roman in danger?
"I don't know," Ethan said finally, his voice rough. "But I'll do everything in my power to keep you safe."
Roman's eyes locked onto Ethan's, and for a moment, they just stared at each other. Ethan could feel the tension between them, the unspoken words and emotions that hung in the air.
And then, without saying a word, Roman stepped closer, his body inches from Ethan's. Ethan's heart pounded in his chest as he wrapped his arms around Roman, pulling him into a fierce hug.
"I'll keep you safe," Ethan whispered into Roman's ear. "I promise."
Roman's arms wrapped around Ethan's waist, holding him tight. "I know you will," he whispered back.
As they stood there, locked in each other's arms, Ethan knew that he would do anything to protect Roman. Even if it meant putting his own life on the line.
But as the moment stretched on, Ethan's phone buzzed again, breaking the spell. He reluctantly pulled back from Roman and answered the call.
"Hawk, we've found the missing runner," his lieutenant said, his voice grim. "But it's not good. He's been beaten pretty badly."
Ethan's gut tightened. This was getting worse by the minute. "Get him to the doc," he ordered. "I want to know what happened."
As he hung up the phone, Ethan turned to Roman, his expression serious. "I have to go," he said. "But I'll be back. And I'll make sure you're safe."
Roman nodded, his eyes wide with concern. "Be careful," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ethan smiled, trying to reassure him. "I will," he said. "I promise."
And with that, Ethan turned and walked out of the room, leaving Roman alone with his thoughts.
As Ethan made his way to the doc's office, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The missing runner, the beating...it all seemed too convenient.
And then there was Roman. Ethan's feelings for him were getting stronger by the day, but he couldn't shake the fear that their relationship was putting Roman in danger.
Ethan's mind was racing with questions and concerns as he arrived at the doc's office. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to face.
And then he walked inside, ready to face whatever lay ahead.